International Trade Resources Podcast

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Gabriel Santos, a foreign trade leader with Polarium in Guadalajara, to discuss the application of Lean Six Sigma principles in the field of international trade. To begin, Gabriel discusses the reasons for pursuing Lean Six Sigma certification, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in the field of in...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Sin Kit I (Sinki), who has years of experience in business development to lend insight into the opportunities and challenges of international investment in South America and the region's potential for economic growth and investment. To begin, Kim and Sinki discuss growing foreign investment in South Ameri...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Andrew Kennedy, Logistics Manager at Kitagawa Europe, to discuss the challenges and strategies to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the post-Brexit trade environment.   To begin with in the podcast Kim and Andrew explore changes in customs procedures. With the UK no longer part of the EU, customs de...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Nathan Reed, a licensed customs broker and Director of Customs and Foreign Trade, to discuss the importance of knowledgeable and reliable customs brokers. Navigating the complexities of international trade regulations and customs compliance can be complex, and knowing how to make the most of your relationship...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by Kenton Grimes to discuss the challenges companies face when negotiating an annual contract with a freight provider. They explore topics such as identifying suitable providers, determining who can offer comprehensive services, and what to have in your freight contract. First, Kim and Kenton emphasize the significance of...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by Michel Nouafo, who has a wealth of experience in international sales, market development, and channel development positions. They explore diverse topics, including the influence of cultural differences on product choices (such as the significance of colors in different regions), variations in pricing strategies based o...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by two of her team members to discuss mistakes companies make when dealing with suppliers in Asia. This is a behind the scenes discussion with people who have boots-on-the-ground in China and Vietnam. See below - if you liked this episode you can buy us a coffee to say thanks.  To begin the podcast, Kim and her team dive...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by Axel Kruse from Griffin Business Consulting to discuss licensing brands overseas, emphasizing the importance of quality control, understanding market nuances, and fostering a win-win relationship between licensors and licensees. Axel shares valuable advice on finding the right licensee, key elements in licensing agreem...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is happy to be speaking with Alejandro Alcalde to discuss how to stay current on compliance changes, whether that means new regulations or modifications. In a previous episode, Alejandro shared information on USMCA compliance changes for US, Mexico, and Canada and we are happy to have him back. To begin the podcast, Alejandro and K...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by Dr. Uny Cao, a technologist based in Hangzhou, China, to discuss valuable insights into the opportunities for startups and SMEs to use multi-national locations to launch and grow their business. Currently Uny is the Executive Vice President of Zhejiang Intellectual Property Exchange Center Co., Ltd., affiliated with Zh...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by Julia Jones, Chief Hope Officer at JJ Consulting, formerly with KPMG, ANZ, and in other roles.  In this podcast they discuss how to expanding exports, particularly in agricultural products. Their conversation covers a range of products beyond traditional food stuffs, including nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, recovery...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by Phillip Michel.  Operations Manager at Amazon On-Demand Production in Germany, formerly managing supply chain logistics in China for Mercedes, to discuss how to Manage 3PL Providers.  First, Kim and Phillip discuss what 3PL means. Phillip explains that 3PL encompasses a range of services, including warehousing, transpo...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by Zach Selch, Founder of Global Sales Mentor and author of Global Sales, to discuss boosting distributor engagement.  First, Kim and Zach discuss maximizing sales by strengthening your relationship with your distributors. It's crucial to foster a sense of unity and dedication among their salespeople. You want them t...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall goes solo! In this episode she gives listeners a comprehensive overview of her experiences traveling to China in 2023. Whether you are a seasoned traveler, business professional, or someone simply curious about the evolving global landscape, Kim offers valuable insights into navigating the intricacies of visiting China in the post-...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, Kim Kirkendall is joined by Russell Brown, CPA Acclime China and Art Dicker, Attorney at R&P Lawyers China to discuss scaling back or closing down operations in China. This podcast is an excerpt from a webinar on the topic presented recently.  First Kim and Art give an overview of employment basics in China, emphasizing the importance of sign...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast we have taken an excerpt from a recent webinar. The webinar is moderated by Kim Kirkendall and she is joined by Russell Brown, and Art Dicker. They discuss the complexities and regulations involved in closing or scaling back business operations in China, with a focus on regulatory, financial, and strategic aspects. This episode includes a focus on...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Josh Rodman, a partner at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, to discuss the complexities of Country of Origin, or COO. Country of Origin is not as simple as it seems, with different definitions by different agencies that can impact both import and export. In this episode, we dig into the details with Josh as he...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Ricardo Moreira to discuss Total Cost of Ownership or Optimization (TCO). Many companies already have implemented a series of initiatives to reduce costs, which has made it more difficult to find ways to bring costs down even further.  In this episode we explore ways to find “hidden” supply chain costs that ca...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Scott Scofield to discuss the keys to success when importing into Japan. Kim and Scott break down the ways in which Japanese import compliance is opaque, not digitized, and how it relies heavily on the import partner.  Why are import partners so critical to success?  They hold many of the rights and responsibi...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Pradeep Sacitharan to discuss Using Data in E-Commerce for Product Optimization. He trained as a scientist at University of Oxford and at Harvard, and is founder and CEO of Donsfield, a company focused on International E-Commerce Development.  First, Kim and Pradeep dive into one of the major ways to succeed i...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Bob Eckman to discuss tangible concrete steps companies should be taking to protect their data in a global business environment. This episode is full of actionable information to help your company assess risk and protect data.  Bob joins us with over 30 years experience in IT and as a leader in Cyber Security...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Alejandro Alcalde to discuss the recent impact supply chain disruption, politics, and tariffs have had on trade between Mexico with the US and Canada. Alejandro is a trade compliance professional who is also currently studying for his trade lawyer diploma and consecutively attending the Mexico Trade and Law Co...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Andrew Jeanblanc to discuss credit risk insurance. Andrew has spent the last eight years in trade finance and international credit risk insurance. Currently he’s the business development manager broker for a Risk Insurance company which specializes in private trade risk and credit risk insurance. He’s also wor...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Tony Nogueras, owner of Alliance International, to break down Duty Drawback. Not enough companies take full advantage of this program which allows people to recapture duties on products that were imported - either when they later export the same or similar goods or when there is another triggering event. Tony...

Today on the International Trade Resources Podcast, our host Kim Kirkendall is joined by Hiten Shah, founder and President of MES, an Inc 500 company supplying critical components from Asia, to discuss supply chains shifting to India. With tension between the U.S. and China, many companies are setting up dual sourcing in India. In this podcast episode we explore the latest trends and best practice...