Firm Helps Foreign Companies Establish Presence in the U.S.
This is part of a series of small-business profiles called "Between the Elephant's Toes" -- a term that refers to a business that does have a lot of competition and can therefore fly "under the radar." Is your business between the elephant's toes? Drop us a line at entrepreneurs@aboutguide.com and tell us about it.
Yoav Amiri is the founder and president of the Remington Business Group, a New Jersey-based firm that assists small foreign companies do business in the United States.
Its main expertise is in managing administration and operations for foreign-based small businesses in the U.S. Its services include setting up U.S. corporations, opening and managing bank accounts, organizing marketing material and activities, managing vendors, and hiring and managing employees. Remington also acts as its clients' first-line customer interface, providing pre-sales, demos, initial support, and trade show participation and follow-up. Its clients are located primarily in western Europe. "They have great products and would like to penetrate the U.S. market. But due to their limited resources and the distance and different business practices between Europe and the U.S., they find it daunting and often too risky or costly," Amiri said.
Amiri answered some questions about how to start and run an under-the-radar business.
How did you get into this business?
My life and career made me start this business. I have lived and worked throughout my life in Europe, Israel and U.S. I understand the different cultures, speak six languages and enjoy working with people from different countries.
When I was between jobs almost five years ago, people started approaching me asking for assistance with business plans, visits to shows, analysis of sectors in the U.S. I started off helping them as a consultant would but I saw that this was a unique opportunity to develop a business.
What does the business look like now?
The business is small and the service is very personal. We basically serve as our clients' U.S. subsidiary and in many cases we are the only presence they have in this huge market. They don't have to relocate or travel here that frequently. We prepare business plans, follow-up on contacts that clients make at trade shows, all the way to being their full-fledged presence here. During the financial crisis, smaller companies suffered and many stopped doing anything for fear of losing it all. But now we are seeing a growing interest as the U.S. market remains an interesting one with many opportunities for smaller foreign companies.
What's the competition like in your segment?
We have not seen companies that focus on first-line customer interface, operations and administration with a target of smaller companies. The risk is too great and rewards too small. By being persistent, offering personalized and professional service -- I have personally met all of the owners of our clients' companies -- we are sought after by companies needing assistance.
How do you get new clients?
Referrals, workshops in our target countries, networking contacts, local organizations that promote exports and local partners we have in various countries.
What are some examples of clients you work with?
One of our customers decided to start with the U.S. market as their first foreign country. We established all of their marketing material in English, consulted on the adaptation of their product to the U.S. market, established a corporation in the U.S., obtained customers, trained and supported them and managed all of their operations and administration. Neither the owner nor any of the foreign employees ever visited the U.S.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs starting a business today?
Start with something that you really like and are good at doing. If it's unique then all the better. Don't give up if things don't go the way you wish they would, but be flexible enough to adapt your ways, approach, marketing and service or product. Don't reinvent the wheel. There are many services out there that will help you with the nuts and bolts of the business without you spending too much time and resources doing them yourself.
Yoav Amiri is the founder and president of the Remington Business Group, a New Jersey-based firm that assists small foreign companies do business in the United States.
Its main expertise is in managing administration and operations for foreign-based small businesses in the U.S. Its services include setting up U.S. corporations, opening and managing bank accounts, organizing marketing material and activities, managing vendors, and hiring and managing employees. Remington also acts as its clients' first-line customer interface, providing pre-sales, demos, initial support, and trade show participation and follow-up. Its clients are located primarily in western Europe. "They have great products and would like to penetrate the U.S. market. But due to their limited resources and the distance and different business practices between Europe and the U.S., they find it daunting and often too risky or costly," Amiri said.
Amiri answered some questions about how to start and run an under-the-radar business.
How did you get into this business?
My life and career made me start this business. I have lived and worked throughout my life in Europe, Israel and U.S. I understand the different cultures, speak six languages and enjoy working with people from different countries.
When I was between jobs almost five years ago, people started approaching me asking for assistance with business plans, visits to shows, analysis of sectors in the U.S. I started off helping them as a consultant would but I saw that this was a unique opportunity to develop a business.
What does the business look like now?
The business is small and the service is very personal. We basically serve as our clients' U.S. subsidiary and in many cases we are the only presence they have in this huge market. They don't have to relocate or travel here that frequently. We prepare business plans, follow-up on contacts that clients make at trade shows, all the way to being their full-fledged presence here. During the financial crisis, smaller companies suffered and many stopped doing anything for fear of losing it all. But now we are seeing a growing interest as the U.S. market remains an interesting one with many opportunities for smaller foreign companies.
What's the competition like in your segment?
We have not seen companies that focus on first-line customer interface, operations and administration with a target of smaller companies. The risk is too great and rewards too small. By being persistent, offering personalized and professional service -- I have personally met all of the owners of our clients' companies -- we are sought after by companies needing assistance.
How do you get new clients?
Referrals, workshops in our target countries, networking contacts, local organizations that promote exports and local partners we have in various countries.
What are some examples of clients you work with?
One of our customers decided to start with the U.S. market as their first foreign country. We established all of their marketing material in English, consulted on the adaptation of their product to the U.S. market, established a corporation in the U.S., obtained customers, trained and supported them and managed all of their operations and administration. Neither the owner nor any of the foreign employees ever visited the U.S.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs starting a business today?
Start with something that you really like and are good at doing. If it's unique then all the better. Don't give up if things don't go the way you wish they would, but be flexible enough to adapt your ways, approach, marketing and service or product. Don't reinvent the wheel. There are many services out there that will help you with the nuts and bolts of the business without you spending too much time and resources doing them yourself.