• An overview of exports of Indian Handicrafts and its trends in the past & future forecast (Please click here)

• Export statistics of the product can also be studies to find out which products are already importing from India.
• Detailed export statistics (Please click here)
• Direction of export of product
• Best examples of products ( (Please click here)

• Either the exporter should be manufacturer of the product or he can be an agent of the product or he should have a tie-up with manufacturer / supplier so that there is no problem in export after obtaining the order and that there is proper coordination about prices and supplies etc.
• The products so selected should be available for exports and there should not be any frequent fluctuations in cost and price.
• There should not be any restriction on export of this product.
• There should not be any cut throat competition with others viz manufactures / suppliers for export of this product.

• Approachthe Export Promotion Organisation concerned for advice on the market to beapproached of selected product. NormallyExport Promotion Organisations [ EPO's ] / Export Promotions Councils [EPC's] have this kind of information.
• Makepreliminary study on the basis of information already available with EPC's /EPO's / Chambers / Trade Associations /National Council for Trade Information [ NCTI] etc. tofind out the correct and possible market.
• Exportstatistics of the product can also be studied to find out which country isalready buying from India.(Please click here).
• Marketsurvey report for the product can be studied at the libraries of variousorganizations to know about the new market. Click on the following links : Frost Sullivan & Dun & Bradstreet (Please click here)
• Searchon internet, sites of various organizations can also be made to get more information (Please click here)
• Having done theabove exercise a fairly good idea can be made about the market to beapproached.

• Costof manufactured product.
• Costof packing individually or in bulk.
• Costof financing.
• Costof Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd [ECGC] cover
• Costof expenses incurred on promoting / booking of order.
• Costof documentation
• Costof transport to the port including freight handling and other expenses.
• Costof taxes, duties, Levy's etc. if any.
• Profitmargin.

On total of all above the elements Freight on Board [FOB]export price will be reached. For Cost Insurance Freight [CIF] price cost offreight from the port of export to the port destination and the cost of insurancehas to be added in FOB.

• ApproachExport Promotion Council's / Export Promotion Organisation's / Chambers / TradeAssociations / National Centre for Trade Information [NCTI] to get a list ofForeign Buyers of the product identified. Click onthe following links:
• EPCH (Please click here)
• ALLEPC's (Please click here)
• Chamber of Commerce & Trade Associations : (Please click here)
• ApproachExport Promotion Council's for obtaining a list of overseas agents / importers/ distributors / mail order houses / trade associations / import organizationsetc. for information on possible buyers / buying organizations.
• Onceinformation on above points is available then approach can be made to thebuyers or agents or others relevant for booking orders.

• To constitute a company for exports, open a bank account, obtain Importer Exporter Code no. from DGFT (Please click here) for online form and get registered with the concerned Export Promotion Organisation.
• Prepare publish and print a small catalogue on the company and its business line, giving details of products to be exported.
• Print promotional material on the product such as product profile, giving full details of specifications also quality aspects.
• Export prices to be fixed for each product both Freight On Board [FOB] and Cost Insurance Freight [CIF] .

Information on your competitors should be obtained sothat you are not caught unaware.

• Buyer has to be reputed and his credentials can be verified from Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd. (Please click here)
• Buyer should be prepared to do business on safe terms of payment viz. preferably letter of credit, advance payment, D/P etc.
• Buyer net work in his country should be got verified.
• Once the above information have been checked then a decision can be taken on Buyer/Agent to be approached for business.

Incaseof selection of agent, query should be made from the Agents Association in thecountry of import about the reputation of agent and also from the IndianEmbassy or Embassy of the country concerned. Agent can also be asked to givereferences of the companies represented by him, products represented by him,country represented by him and the name main buyers etc. Itis necessary to know the expertise and business turnover of agent in theproduct which is being exported so as to form an idea about working capacity ofthe agent.

• Exportis covered either by Bank Guarantee or ECGC Guarantee.

Or

• Suchexport is to own subsidiaries / own Trading Companies / Own office-cum-warehouses.

• DirectMail :

After obtaining complete list ofbuyers, a communication can be sent to buyers with details of productssoliciting export order.

• Personalvisit :

A personal visit can also be undertakento the buyer alongwith full preparation about the sample of products to beexported, export prices, delivery schedule, printed literature etc. (This is an expensive method)

• Advertisementin Business Magazine/ Magazine of Chambers and Trade Associations:

A beginner can advertise its productsdetails in the relevant business magazines and In-House magazines of Chambersand Trade Associations for soliciting export orders. Advertisement in business magazines will bean expensive venture whereas advertisement in In-House magazines of Chambersand Trade Associations may be better

• ThroughBuying agents:

Important buyers/buying houses andtheir agents located in Indiacan be approached for soliciting business.

• Participationin Trade Fairs:

Participation in trade fairs isanother important and effective method of reaching prospective buyers. This method also educates the beginner on theproducts sold in the market. These Trade Fairs are held overseas and also in India. List ofsome of the prominent events organized, participating by EPCH is at (Please click here).

• OnlinePromotion: Listing of products profiles an important trade portal.

• Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS): In order to givethrust to the manufacturing and exports of Focus Products (Handicrafts items)(Please click here) an incentive of 3% or 5% duty credit scrip facility is available tohandicrafts exporters.

• Duty drawback scheme for exporters: The objective of the scheme is to refund the incidence of custom duty, excise duty (additional custom duty), and service tax etc. on export products. The list of handicrafts items on which duty draw back is available is at (Please click here)

• Market Access Initative (MAI): The assistance in terms of Reimbursement of Space charges subject to conditions is provided to exporters for participation in International shows.

• Duty Free import provision of Consumables / Embellishments: In order to enhance the quality of handicrafts products the member exporters of handicrafts are allowed duty free import of consumables / embellishments and tools to the tune of 5% of their export performance during the preceding financial year. (Please click here).