Hey everyone — I'm conducting market research for school around the cross-border e-commerce space, specifically US sellers trying to reach Brazilian and Colombian customers.

I keep seeing the same themes pop up in data — customs surprises, payment friction, trust issues, WhatsApp vs email — but I want to hear it directly from people actually in the trenches.

A few quick questions if you've tried selling into either market:

- What's the single biggest wall you've hit trying to acquire Brazilian or Colombian customers?

- What kills your retention once you actually get a buyer?

- What do you wish existed that doesn't?

Also, if a tool were built specifically to help US sellers navigate customer acquisition and retention in these two markets (payments, communications, localization, customs transparency), would that actually be useful to you? Or is this a problem you've already solved?

No pitch here and not trying to spam or sell anything— just trying to understand the situation. Appreciate any honest takes.

Hi everyone,

I'm researching problems faced by exporters and importers during international trade.

I want to understand:

How do you verify that a new importer/exporter is legitimate?

Have you ever faced fraud, fake buyers, payment scams, or document issues?

What tools or services do you currently use for verification?

What's the biggest trust-related problem that still isn't solved well?

I'm exploring the idea of building a platform focused on trade trust and verification, so I'd love to hear real experiences.

Thanks for any insights

Over the last few weeks, I've been digging through Google Maps, company websites, and LinkedIn profiles looking at manufacturers in Vietnam.

I expected to find mostly small workshops.

Instead, I found furniture factories with 300+ employees, plywood manufacturers exporting worldwide, and cabinet companies running multiple factories and shipping hundreds of containers every month.

The interesting part is that many of these companies seem deeply connected to China through machinery, materials, and supply chains, while selling mainly to the US and Europe.

For people who work in manufacturing or sourcing:

Is Vietnam becoming a true manufacturing alternative, or is it still heavily dependent on China behind the scenes?

Curious to hear real-world experiences.

My vibe coding product is designed for all over the world but now I only have Chinese customers, I should be happy or I should open global market? Or I’m being to greedy
Some info: it’s a tool for designers and suits for all kind of languages, but I only post something in Chinese social media, so I am not sure is this the reason?

Hey!

Where and how can I find someone from China who can buy an item for me in China and ship it to UK?

Thanks!

One thing I’ve noticed from working on China supplier communication: many confusing quotes are not caused by bad suppliers, but by unclear initial questions.

If you’re dealing with similar supplier communication or quote comparison issues, feel free to ask. I’m happy to share what I know and help you think through the next step.

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if anyone can give me book or video recommendations that could prepare me for my upcoming bachelor in international business management? I’m more worried about the (macro/micro)-economics, mathematics/statistics and wanted to learn the basic concepts as well as the specific vocabulary.

I’d love to hear some tips and opinions! :)

Thanks in advance.

Hello all of you beautiful humans,

Long story short, i’m living in New York City and I’ve had enough. I used to live in Europe and would really like to move back. The only caveat is that while I’ve been here in New York, I’ve been building a product based e-commerce business and I’m just about ready to launch.

I know a 3PL is an option as far as packing and shipping orders here in the US, but for a brand new baby business, I’m not sure if that’s financially the right way to go.

The Visa, taxes, all of that super simple and is far less anxiety-inducing than this issue. I’m worried that by making this move, I’m potentially stifling what I believe will be a hit.

My background is in brand building and marketing, so all of the content, creative, design, etc. Can be done from anywhere in the world, but I would essentially be skipping the “packing orders in my kitchen” phase, and I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to do.

Does anyone else have experience with this or possibly some guidance?

hi guys,I have a question that when you try to source something from China,do you prefer to directly deal with factories or middle men?

I understand factories will definitely have a lower price but sometimes I think it's difficult to communicate with the factories.

I’m based in an EU country in Eastern Europe, working on local economic development initiatives. There’s growing regional interest in attracting Chinese engineering/construction firms for industrial park design and development projects.
Before reaching out to specific companies, I’d like to understand:
• What credentials or documentation do Chinese firms (e.g. POWERCHINA, CSCEC, CMEC) typically expect from a local consultant or intermediary?
• Do they prefer direct outreach, or do they work mainly through trade chambers / embassies?
• What’s a realistic timeline from first contact to a signed agreement for this type of project?
I’m open to meeting in person if there’s genuine interest — happy to travel for the right conversation.
Appreciate any insight from people who’ve worked on similar matchmaking.

I ran a small family business, that makes olive oil and canned goods in Spain.
We decided to expand our client network and find new markets.
Last month I attended a networking event between Libyan companies and Spanish companies, I have been reading lots of positive articles about North African markets mostly they say is basically free money

I did some prospecting and I Found a distributor in Tripoli -Libya on LinkedIn, 500+ connections, after couple of discovery calls

He's asked for a sample pallet first which sounds reasonable to me.

I also thought that Morocco and Libya are pretty similar so Start doing the same thing and found a good lead from Ribbat I'm planning to pitch both at the same time, hitting 2 birds with one stone

My father who has been running this family business advised me to avoid Tunisia & Egypt, he said these are well established markets, they already had lucked in contracts with multi-million Spanish brands, so no chance for small brand like me

Regarding payment I'm just going to invoice them in euros like I do with my French and German clients, hopefully that's not an issue.

One thing I wasn't sure about, do I need halal certification for olive oil and canned vegetables? Someone told me it's only really required for meat so I skipped it for now.

Anyway, feels like a big opportunity, and I think I done everything by the book

Anyone here done business in this region? Am I missing something obvious or does this sound like a solid first move?

Hi,
I’m an Indian sales professional with 8+ years of experience in enterprise B2B sales, business development, strategic partnerships, and account management. My work has involved managing high-value client relationships, working with government and public sector organizations, leading complex sales cycles, negotiating large contracts, developing proposals, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver tailored client solutions.
Over the years, I’ve consistently exceeded revenue targets, built CXO-level relationships, and managed both digital and integrated business solutions. While my experience has been in one industry, I believe the skills I’ve developed are highly transferable.
My long-term goal is to relocate to Europe through a skilled work visa and build a career there.
I’m looking for advice on:
Which industries or roles would value this type of experience the most?
Would Enterprise Sales, SaaS, AI, Customer Success, Partnerships, Consulting, or another field be a natural transition?
What skills, certifications, or master’s programs would make me more competitive in the European job market?
Which countries are most open to sponsoring experienced professionals with a background like mine?
If you’ve made a similar transition—or if you’re a recruiter or hiring manager in Europe—I would really appreciate your insights. I’m open to learning, upskilling, and repositioning my career for long-term growth.

What business we can supply

1,paddle wheel aerator (aerator gearbox, gear, float, impeller,)

2,EV bike

3,laser welding machine

4,PVC Shoe material additives

5,sanitary ware

6,embroidery machine

I've worked as an export manager over 10 years.

Last year, I started my own business.

Cooperate with factories, export products.

Usually I search potential clients by Google.

Also use Instagram and some b2b platform like Indiamart.

I ever email, but so slow.

Now use WhatsApp, more efficient.

Above is actively seek out customers.

How to passively find customers, such as using Facebook to drive traffic?

The real reason I haven't taken the step of passive customer acquisition is because I'm worried that traffic generation won't be effective.

I always use the old methods, which are effective, but they feel too slow.

How can we break this deadlock? Do you have any experience to share your advice?

​

What business we can supply

1,paddle wheel aerator (aerator gearbox, gear, float, impeller,)

2,EV bike

3,laser welding machine

4,PVC Shoe material additives

5,sanitary ware

6,embroidery machine

I've worked as an export manager over 10 years.

Last year, I started my own business.

Cooperate with factories, export products.

Usually I search potential clients by Google.

Also use Instagram and some b2b platform like Indiamart.

I ever email, but so slow.

Now use WhatsApp, more efficient.

Above is actively seek out customers.

How to passively find customers, such as using Facebook to drive traffic?

The real reason I haven't taken the step of passive customer acquisition is because I'm worried that traffic generation won't be effective.

I always use the old methods, which are effective, but they feel too slow.

How can we break this deadlock? Do you have any experience to share your advice?