We live in an increasingly interconnected world, where the rise of the ecommerce business model has made the notion of establishing an international venture increasingly viable. Remember, ecommerce grew to account for 13% of all retail sales in the U.S. last year, and this trend remains prevalent across the globe.
Regardless of the nature or purpose of your international business, however, you may occasionally need to host clients who are based overseas. This could prove crucial to the long-term success of your business, particularly with statistics showing that it’s around five-times cheaper to retain an existing client than acquire a new one.
In this article, we’ll offer some actionable advice to help you host international clients successfully, while also operating within a clearly defined budget.
1. Ensure that your client travels in style
According to studies, we only have around seven seconds to make a positive first impression on others, and this is a crucial consideration when hosting clients.
More specifically, it’s imperative that you ensure your guest is couriered and greeted in style so that they understand their value and importance to the business.
One way to achieve this is to consider charting a private jet transport them from one destination to the other. Although this may seem like an expensive option, it has become increasingly affordable in recent times while forward-thinking brands have also reduced costs and improved efficiency by ensuring that empty leg flights are kept to a minimum.
You should also remember that you’re saving money by retaining an existing client, so don’t be afraid to reinvest some of this when hosting,
Otherwise, be sure to have someone greet your client when they land in the UK and provide them with courteous and helpful assistance at all times.
2. Pay attention to dietary and cultural restrictions
When hosting clients from different and diverse parts of the world, it’s also important that you make allowances for their unique dietary and cultural restrictions.
This may seem like a relatively small detail in the grand scheme of things, but it can make a significant difference to your client and make them feel comfortable in your country of origin.
So, whether you’re taking them out to something to eat or organising meals at their accommodation of choice, take steps to ensure that their dietary needs are catered for at all times and that alcohol is not offered inappropriately.
Similarly, be sure to educate your employees to ensure that they avoid any cultural faux-pas, such as discussing business during meal-times or using unfamiliar slang.
3. Create an itinerary for your guest
If your international client is enjoying an extended stay in Britain, it’s important to ensure that you plan an enriching experience that enables them to take in several of the surrounding landmarks.
This not only affords your guests a personalised insight into your businesses city of origin, but it also lays the foundation for a relationship that extends beyond commerce and mutual gain.
This can help to build customer and client loyalty over time, which can prove crucial in instances where the economic climate worsens or specific partnership terms need to be renegotiated.
Above all else, this shows a distinct willingness to spend time with your client outside of the workplace, and this investment can go a long way when dealing with people who are away from their home comforts.