Why Are Merchants Going International?

2001 was a long time ago; in the United States, our lives are much different than they were before the events of September eleventh. Families aged quickly and consumers as well as merchants found the need to protect their businesses as the future, in every sense of the term was uncertain. This isn’t an attempt to reignite fear in any of my readers as it’s a reminder that the business arena has changed and every facet needs to be scrutinized, or rather rethought in order for that merchant to remain in the game.

As with all great wars that the United States has been involved with, American businesses play a great part in the success or failure that the country will endure for many years after the fighting has gone. It’s a lot more than weathering a storm when merchants attempt to forecast the economic climate for the next five and even ten years to come. Even more than the current political and military situations in which the US is consumed in, it is more than likely the actions of many “Big” businesses that have a huge impact on long term economic and social fears that engulf many of our lives and definitely sway even the most shrewd and conservative of American consumers when it comes to decisions with their money and their family’s futures. These actions revolve around large businesses within the past ten years becoming enormous. Don’t blame NAFTA or the politicians, this isn’t about that, this is about the survival and reemergence of quality businesses that can sustain global markets. This article isn’t about how big business has ruined America, because they haven’t. What has happened though, is great products have become so mainstream that branding a product is as easy as sourcing an Asian factory that will make them for .05% of the retail worth so that profits can be turned quickly.

Now, for a minute, it seemed like I was sounding a bit unfair, so I’ll get to the point, which is why US merchants are going international. International is easy to accomplish in terms of sales overseas, with the help of the internet; however international in terms of a successful banking profile is a little different. Because most markets are flooded with basic and (I don’t want to say cookie cutter), but cookie cutter products, product differentiation is the key to getting consumers out of malls and mass appeal stores and onto the internet where people can research and shop for the products that they really want. Going international is the key for the success of the merchants that carry specialty products, the one’s that those “In the know” want. They’re the products and services aren’t the result of a market test. The international marketplace is a way to create a volume atmosphere where suppliers and merchants can turn a profit decent enough to keep the costs of these products and services low enough while still keeping in the tradition of boutique and specialty stores. We hope that merchants who embrace this type of business forum will find success in their endeavors. Merchant service providers work closely with specialty, international and online businesses every day. We wish you success and look forward to your continued business.


Jennifer Loganathan is the President and CEO of Stradafee Limited. Stradafee is a leading international payments company based in New York. Stradafee is a retail and ecommerce payment processing provider specializing in international and Internet merchant account solutions. Stradafee also offers check processing, high risk merchant accounts and offshore merchant account options. Stradafee can help businesses of all industries and sizes. For more information on credit card processing and check processing please visit www.stradafee.com.