Guide to Making a Business Offer

A complete export offer may mean the difference between an importer contacting your office or deciding to deal with another company.
A complete export offer may mean the difference between an importer contacting your office or deciding to deal with another company. Therefore, everything you want the importer to know should be mentioned at once. There may not be another chance!
 

Correspondence

The offer should be simple, easy to understand and typewritten. These days delivery is often made via e-mail but postal mail or fax delivery is also possible if agreed to by both parties.
The majority of Canadian importers speak either French or English. Therefore, an export offer should be provided in either one of these two languages. If you are writing to a company in the Province of Québec, you should probably write in French. Elsewhere in Canada you should initially write in English.

Products

It is not to your advantage to include a large number of products in your offer. Product specialization gives an impression of product expertise.

Describe products and relevant information as fully and technically as possible.
Include two copies of each photograph and/or brochure representing the product(s) to be offered. Canadian Buyers also appreciate receiving photos of the manufacturing/production plant.

Prices

Either in Canadian or US dollars (Please indicate F.O.B/C.I.F. designated North American port).
Price list should correspond to the photographs included in your export offer.
In order to avoid confusion, the items on your price list should be grouped logically, (i.e. all the fabrics together, all the gloves, etc.)
Provide dates of validity for the prices quoted. This will avoid an importer being dismayed by the fact that your product is no longer offered at the price they were expecting.

Quantity

When stipulating the minimum quantity for an order, take into account that although Canada is an affluent market, its population is only 10% of that of the United States. Small trial orders should be accepted if you wish to create a permanent presence in the Canadian market.