For a lot of products working with a local sales agent or with a dedicated sales representative can be a good solution.
Especially if you have a customized product or service, or you want to work with a number of resellers in the country, an agent can be the one connecting these parties to your organization abroad.
Agents can be individuals, but I often recommend to work with established companies who already have a good network and where you are not dependent on just one person.
Africa, the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent, has a diverse population exceeding 1.3 billion. It’s characterized by its youth, with a significant portion under 25, presenting both challenges and opportunities for development.
African economies are diverse, ranging from resource-rich nations like Nigeria and South Africa to rapidly growing economies like Ethiopia. Key sectors include agriculture, mining, energy, and increasingly, technology and services. Investment in infrastructure and technology is crucial for future growth.
Opportunities abound in renewable energy, agribusiness, digital services, infrastructure development, and tourism. The continent’s growing middle class and urbanization also open up markets for consumer goods, financial services, and healthcare.
A successful market entry strategy for Africa involves conducting thorough market research to understand regional differences and consumer behaviors. Partnering with local businesses can provide valuable insights and facilitate smoother operations. It’s crucial to adapt products and marketing strategies to local preferences and regulatory environments.
Establishing a local presence, either through direct investment or partnerships, can build trust with consumers and stakeholders. Additionally, leveraging digital platforms for marketing and sales can tap into Africa’s rapidly growing internet user base. Prioritizing sustainability and community engagement can also enhance brand reputation and acceptance.
A local consultant can find possible business partners, or you have identified them yourself. But how to convince them to market and sell your products or services?
For this you need an export plan with a clear strategy and sufficient financial details.
If you don’t want to work with agents, you can always set up a local office yourself or try to sell your product from abroad. This all depends on the product or service and the ease to reach the right buyers. Be careful with the contracts that you close with agents. In many countries their status is well protected and you can’t take their recurring income easily away from them.
I always put a lot of emphasis on drafting a good distributor pitch. Even if you already have great sales materials for your end-users, this often does not make clear what the benefits are for a potential agent, distributor or retailer to work with you.
When you approach potential sales channels with your standard documentation, chances are high that they are holding of. If you make it crystal clear what are the benefits for them, like in the example presentation, you will get a much higher response rate.
Please note that it helps to put concrete data in your presentation. You may think it is sensitive, but just know the secret is in how you achieve the rotation or the low returns level, not in the data itself. So share it here, in order to get the right attention.
Entering a new market is an investment. Finding partners, contracts, translations and marketing costs money and you may need additional working capital.
Only with a good plan with enough financial data you can convince banks and investors to fund you. We help you with the complete business case and documentation.