Generalizes on the best strategy to enter the market, e.g., visiting the country; importance of relationships to finding a good partner; use of agents.
Best practices for market entry strategies encompass the following:
  • Secure an agent, representative, or distributor in Colombia, which requires a contract that meets the provisions of the Colombian Commercial Code. Focus on formality, personal relationships, and trust when negotiating agreements and contracts.
  • Conduct thorough due diligence in order to know your partner and understand the market- the Commercial Service offers a host of services to assist your company with its due diligence process.
  • Communicate with the U.S. Commercial Service and the Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bogota regarding specific concerns, such as regulatory issues.
  • Offer excellent after-sales service arrangements and maintain the sales relationship; warranties on imports are critical for supporting after sales service in Colombia.
  • Provide high quality products and/or services and offer affordable financing and competitive pricing.
  • Support your local partner’s marketing efforts with advertising campaigns or by participating in trade shows.
  • Visit the market often; take advantage of Colombia’s geographic proximity to the United States and the abundance of flights connecting Colombia to all regions of North America.
  • Translate sales collateral and service manuals into Spanish, as this may be required in certain sectors like medical products; a U.S.-based staff with Spanish language skills is useful.
  • Attend functions of local business promotion organizations such as the Council of American Businesses (CEA) and the American Chambers of Commerce (AmCham), which number five in Colombia (Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, and Cartagena). 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.