People have traded as long as human history has been recorded. It’s one of the oldest and most timeless professions around. Trade via land and sea routes connected the first civilizations in Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean. There is record that the Phoenicians traded overseas as early as 3000 BC.

One of the most important and most well known trade routes was the Silk Road which connected the East and West, namely China with the Roman Empire. Spices, silks, perfumes and other goods traveled along this route from 300 BC onwards. The European part of this route was first controlled by Constantinople and later by major cities in northern Italy, namely Venice.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Spanish and Portuguese began to use the waterways to explore new trading opportunities in Africa and Asia. Through these new trading posts, Europeans began to import rare spices, foods and other exotic goods. Europeans began to set up trading posts throughout the world, which later developed into colonies.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution was having a strong effect on worldwide economies, especially the British economy. Factories, such as cotton factories, throughout Britain were quite lucrative and needed raw materials imported to be able to keep these factories supplied.

Thus, Great Britain became the leading nation in international trade. Then, with the introduction of railways and steam ships, trade was booming. North America and most of Europe were industrialized nations by the 20th century. After the 20th century, trade was no longer dominated by primary products, but also secondary and tertiary products.

Today, trade is even more complex. Developed nations often set up their factories in developing nations where the costs of labor and manufacturing are much cheaper. Trade agreements abound and new regulations and restrictions are being introduced at an alarming rte due to security threats, whether perceived or real. International trade continues to change and adapt to the current global context. This may be your opportunity to become part of a continuum that is both historical and promising to the future of the planet.

Even though international trade has been around for centuries, in this globalized, technologically advanced age, it is bigger and more lucrative than ever. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, importing brings in a whopping $1.2 trillion in goods annually. The outlook is favorable for small startups like yours, as they dominate the market rather than the large corporations.

So why are consumers so eager to buy imports? It may because of availability. That is, there are many items that you just can’t find in your area. Maybe we’re talking about mangoes in New Mexico or lobsters in Kansas. Often, it has to do with the image. It’s much more romantic to buy French perfume, Indian textiles, or Egyptian cotton. Sometimes, it’s for economical reasons. Production costs are much less in countries like Taiwan and Mexico. Many businesses take advantage of this to provide their customers with lower priced items.

Keep in mind, though, that importing is not for the faint at heart. To succeed in this field, you need to thrive on getting the sale. You need to enjoy the art of negotiation, follow up, marketing and have a strong propensity for organization. You need to be a people person and definitely not shirk at the idea of dealing with people from other cultural backgrounds.

Learn from us. Purchase and download the eGuide on how to break into and succeeding as an importer directly here.