Once speciality retailers reach a critical size, expanding abroad is an inevitable
step to ensure future growth. The process is complex and delicate, with many risk
factors to take into account including: which geographic area/country to enter first
and which business model to employ, specific cultural, legal and technological
requirements, how to go about finding the right local teams and how to streamline
processes between the head office and the widely dispersed owned or franchised
stores. These are just some of the challenges faced when considering international
expansion.
By Sylvain Jauze, Director of International Operations, Cegid
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