Find out how the Branded Program can help offset international marketing costs for a U.S. supplier using an international importer.
Let’s say you’re a US supplier with an importer in place in an overseas market. They regularly order from you, it’s a well-oiled machine, but you’d like to grow this business, gain more market share.
Or maybe you’re a US supplier with a new importer. You got that first order (congrats!) but are unclear of the future of this relationship. You want it to be steady and long-term, but it’s too new to tell.
Here’s where the Branded Program comes in. You offer your importer a marketing budget. This helps your importer grow that business and gain that market share, and the best part is that you won’t be paying for this marketing budget. The Branded Program will.
Here’s how to do this, step by step:
Set up some time to chat with your importer and gauge their interest in receiving support for their marketing. Make a few things clear up front:
You and/or your importer will develop this plan. Food Export is going to need a plan that at least includes the following:
Here’s an example of what you might put together:
Our program runs annually. Ideally you want to submit this application before the new year starts, so the whole year is open to reimbursable marketing. But, we accept applications on a rolling basis pending available funding. Just be sure to submit the application before you pay and conduct any marketing you want to be reimbursed. Here are the steps in the application process:
Your importer will put on the activities listed in the application, take lots of pictures, and save their documentation
Follow a schedule for requesting reimbursement – perhaps quarterly, annually. The last day to submit documentation is two months after the year ends (February 28th).
Either you or your importer will submit a reimbursement “claim” on Food Export’s website. A claim typically corresponds to one invoice, or one marketing event/activity. For each expense, we require the following:
Food Export reviews the claim and follows up if there are any questions. If not, we give the go-ahead to you that the claim will be approved.
Food Export only reimburses US suppliers, so you will need to reimburse your importer before we reimburse you. We will reimburse you exactly what you pay to the importer, and we try to reimburse you as quickly as possible.
Typically, a US supplier will reimburse the importer in one of two ways:
Once we have your payment proof, we try to move fast to pay your claim. Claims are typically paid within 30 days of submission.
Your Connection To Growth®
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