When Sifra Geytenbeek's first daughter was born, she sewed a cover for the second hand bouncy chair she just bought. A few years and lots of seat covers later, she is a rock star in the world of entrepreneurs and the CEO of Ukje, whose mission is to create happy families - today and for generations to come.

Enjoying a challenge, she expanded Ukje to the US market. And a challenge it was! When Sifra started her American Adventure, she did not think there were cultural differences to pay attention to. Along the way, she quickly learned that there are differences in the way Americans shop, assemble products and what customer service means to an American audience.
Curious how this award winning entrepreneur is on her way to conquer the American market? Sifra shares her "lessons learned" in this episode of The Dutch American Connection podcast.

What you will learn:

• Major differences between the Dutch and American customer journey
• How to use these differences to your advantage
• What to adjust when selling on the US market
• What drives American buying behavior, what drives Dutch buying behavior
• How to adapt to the 50 states' unique identities
• How important "environmentally friendly" is in the US

Listen to this episode of The Dutch American Connection to find out who you can find the right partner and successfully expand your business into the USA!

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Check us out on LinkedIn
Sign up at DutchAmericanConnection.com to receive this podcast in your inbox

When expanding to the USA, working with a local partner can be one of the most powerful ways to fuel your growth engine. But did you know that the American partner’s definition of a successful collaboration often differs from a European partner’s expectations? The foundation of a strong partnership is built on a shared vision of success! But where to start in the search for a US partner?

Sophie Boutelegier shares what makes a European American collaboration successful. Sophie is the owner of Expandify, a California based consulting firm which helps European businesses build a strong expansion strategy for rapid implementation.

Sophie and I will continue the conversation on what makes Dutch American collaborations successful on 20 April 2023 at 5 PM CET. We will be joined by the CEO of a Dutch company which successfully expanded into the US, using local partners. Join us by sending me an email.

In this podcast you will learn:

- 3 things you need for a successful European/ American partnership

- How to determine if you are ready to take the leap and expand in the US

- What most European companies do wrong when working with a US partner

- How the American and Dutch perceptions of risk differ, and how to manage risk

- Are Americans loyal? How can you make sure they stay committed to the partnership?

Listen to this episode of The Dutch American Connection to find out who you can find the right partner and successfully expand your business into the USA!

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Ready to scale up and set up a US business? There are a lot of factors to consider when sending an employee to live in the US. A vital yet often-overlooked consideration is the US visa application: when to apply and what visa has the best chance of approval? EU citizens planning to live and work in the US can’t just move and work in the US; the US government requires them and their company to meet certain criteria, which aren’t always easy to prove. The type of visa a company applies for will determine the application time, approval or denial chances and duration of the visa. Whatever visa selected, the most crucial element is proving that there is a benefit for the US. What does this mean, and how to make sure your visa application does not get denied? Steve Maggi of SMA Law Firm shares examples of his extensive experience in helping expats secure their visas and explains the crucial do’s and don’ts when applying for a US visa. To sum it up: It is a question of mentality- don’t cut corners!

“There are different kinds of visas, one is more easily approved, and the other is more easily denied”

Steve Maggi, SMA Law firm

In this podcast you will learn

· How to apply for a US visa?

· Do I need a US visa?

· What is most important to secure a US visa?

· How much money is needed to obtain a visa?

· Different types of visas?

· Why “How will this benefit the US?” is one of the most important questions on a visa application

· Why the text on the Statue of Liberty is outdated

· What is an ESTA and what does it allow a visitor to the US do?

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