A US buyer never orders on the first email. We describe the journey that actually leads to an order, and the points where most exporters stumble.
The first step is the right target: a buyer who already imports your product category. The second step is an approach that shows you understand their business, not a mass email. The third step is a fast and businesslike reply to their first question, because in the US emails are answered in hours, not weeks. The fourth step is a product sample or technical specification that arrives by the promised time.
It sounds simple, but it is exactly at the fourth step that a surprising number of European producers fail: the sample is late, the specification is incomplete, or the English is shaky.
The fifth step is a price quote in DDP logic, where the buyer sees the final cost at their warehouse. The sixth step is agreeing on payment terms: on early deals advance payment and a letter of credit are often required, later moving to a normal payment period. The seventh step is the trial order, usually one container or less, and its flawless fulfilment.
Everything is decided after the trial order. If the first container arrives on time and with the right quality, the US buyer becomes a very loyal partner.
A realistic time from the first email to a trial order is three to nine months. Anyone promising a faster result is embellishing. Our role is to make that journey shorter and more certain: the right targets, proper materials and consistent communication on your behalf.
The first consultation is free: together we'll see who in the US already buys your product and how to reach them.