<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Any new business is created by&ensp;one question. Will people actually buy this?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Most businesses don&rsquo;t fail because the product is bad,&ensp;but because there was no true demand in the market. Hunches,&ensp;assumptions, and guesswork usually result in bad decisions. This is where trade&ensp;data comes in handy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data allows you to see what goods&ensp;are already crossing international borders. It&rsquo;s a look at what buyers are buying, how often&ensp;they&rsquo;re buying and from where. Rather than relying on guesswork to measure demand, you can see real&ensp;activity. This blog demystifies how trade data can confirm market&ensp;demand and is written in plain English with simple examples.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">What&ensp;Is Market Demand in layman&rsquo;s terms

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Market&ensp;demand is how many people want a product and are willing to pay for it.If a product is&ensp;being bought repeatedly by many buyers, demand is high.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">If only a&ensp;few buyers are sampling it at any one time, demand may be weak or uncertain. Validating demand is a way to verify proof&ensp;before you invest time, money, or effort.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">For example

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">You&ensp;need a market to sell cotton bags abroad. You believe that some&ensp;people will buy them. But how do you know.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">If nothing else, trade data can reveal how many cotton bags are already in transit, how regularly they make their way into&ensp;shipments and which countries are purchasing them with frequency.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">That is the demand that exists in the real world, not&ensp;our imaginations.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Why Guessing Demand Is Risky

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Most people get in business&ensp;because it&rsquo;s trending or from social media hype.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">But trends can be misleading.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Here is what often happens

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; A product appears to&ensp;be in demand on the internet
&bull; Not many people are buying&ensp;it in bulk
&bull; Sellers face slow sales
&bull; Inventory gets stuck
&bull; Money is blocked

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade&ensp;data eliminates that risk by providing a look at what is actually being purchased in bulk.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">What Trade Data Really Tells&ensp;You

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data isn&rsquo;t hard, if you think&ensp;about it the right way.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">It shows simple things like

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; What item is&ensp;being shipped
&bull; Which country is buying it
&bull; How often shipments happen
&bull; Among those selling and&ensp;buying

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">It&rsquo;s this information&ensp;which enables you to answer one vital question

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Whether such article is already in movement in commerce&ensp;or not.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">How Trade Numbers&ensp;Validate Market Demand

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Shows Real Buying Activity Trade&ensp;data lists real shiploads, not interest or inquiries.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Example

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">If a&ensp;product comes up in shipment records every single week, there is demand. If it shows up&ensp;even once in six months, demand could be soft. You are&ensp;not going on hearsay. You&ensp;are observing true buying behavior.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Helps You Spot Consistent Demand

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">One-time orders are not indicative&ensp;of strong demand.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Return Purchases Shipments arriving&ensp;twice signify yes, buyers are returning.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data allows&ensp;you to notice trends.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; margin: 12.0pt 0cm .0001pt 36.0pt;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Are shipments happening every month.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Are the quantities growing?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; margin: 0cm 0cm 12.0pt 36.0pt;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Consistent movement means stable demand.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">It allows you to Compare Products Before Purchasing&ensp;Them So let&rsquo;s say&ensp;you&rsquo;re interested in selling either kitchen supplies or fabric products.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">By using trade data, you&ensp;can compare

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; Which item tends to ship more&ensp;commonly?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; Which one has more buyers
&bull; The one that spreads to more&ensp;countries

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">But rather than pick at random, you pick&ensp;what&rsquo;s already working.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Aides in&ensp;Finding Countries Where There is High Demand

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Demand&ensp;is not uniform across the board.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">A certain&ensp;product sells and does not sell in one country or another.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data shows

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; Countries importing the product
&bull; Frequency of imports
&bull; Volume trends

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">This way you can concentrate in markets where demand is already&ensp;proven.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Helps You Avoid Oversaturated Markets

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">High demand is good. Too much competition is risky.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data can show

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; The number of&ensp;sellers who already offer a product
&bull; Whether demand&ensp;is rising or stagnant

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">When many sellers must compete for the same buyers and demand is&ensp;not growing, it&rsquo;s hard to gain entry.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Helps Validate New Business Ideas

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data is&ensp;a latter-day reality check before taking the next product leap.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Ask simple questions

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Do they ship this&ensp;yet?
Are buyers ordering it regularly
Is demand increasing or declining

If&ensp;the answers are affirmative, your idea is market supported.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Easy to grasp&ensp;example for this extremely helpful feature:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">For instance, let's say you wish to export eco-friendly notebooks.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; margin: 12.0pt 0cm .0001pt 36.0pt;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Without trade data

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->You use either trends or&ensp;personal belief.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; margin: 0cm 0cm 12.0pt 36.0pt;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->With trade data

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">You see, there are notebooks&ensp;sent out on a regular interval to three countries

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">The&ensp;buyers repurchase the same orders

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Quantities increase every quarter

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">This&ensp;is proof that demand is real and rising.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">That is validation.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade Data and the&ensp;Decrease of Business Risk

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Every business decision has risk.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data&ensp;chips away at it by substituting assumptions with evidence.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">It helps you

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; Invest in the right product
&bull; Enter the right market
&bull; Steer clear of&ensp;items with low demand
&bull; Plan inventory better

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">There&rsquo;s&ensp;no guarantee of success, but it increases your odds.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Testing Demand Before Going&ensp;Big With Trade Data

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Scaling too soon can&ensp;be bad for business.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Being easily traders, you can test demand such in small&ensp;portions.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">First - Check if shipments exist

Second-Check how often they occur

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Third-Watch for volumes either holding steady&ensp;or increasing

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">You should only scale after&ensp;this.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Combining Trade Data With&ensp;Basic Research

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade&ensp;data is most effective when married with straightforward checks.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">For example

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; Compare prices online
&bull; Check local buying habits
&bull; Understand packaging preferences

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data gives direction. Basic research adds clarity.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Why Small Businesses&ensp;Want Trade Data as Well

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Lots of people&ensp;assume that trade data is something for big companies. That is not true.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Small&ensp;businesses fare even better since

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; They have limited funds
&bull; Wrong decisions cost more
&bull; They need faster clarity

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade&ensp;data aids smaller firms in competing smartly, not blindly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Typical trade data mistakes people make without access to&ensp;the Trade Data.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; Picking products based on trend for&ensp;its own sake
&bull; Entering markets without proof
&bull; Overestimating demand
&bull; Ignoring buying patterns
&bull; Following competitors without data

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data can help steer clear&ensp;of such blunders.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">How&ensp;Siomex is Helpful in Validating Market Demand

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Siomex&ensp;is import export data suppliers which use to inform you the real market movement.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">With Siomex, you can

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; Check the latest&ensp;on which products are trading most actively
&bull; Identify countries&ensp;where there is steady demand
&bull; Track buying patterns
&bull; Know who&rsquo;s buying&ensp;and selling

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Since Siomex is not just guessing&ensp;but actually providing you with real shipment data to make better choices.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Siomex makes it easier and more transparent for anyone who wants to validate&ensp;demand before entering a market.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade Data Isn't&ensp;All That Complicated

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Many people are scared off by data; they perceive it to&ensp;be complex.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">But maybe trade data is more about the simple&ensp;questions

<ol style="margin-top: 0cm;" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">What is selling</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">Where it is selling</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">How often it is selling</li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">You don't need to be an expert to understand&ensp;demand if data is reported clearly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Why You Should&ensp;Start With Demand Validation

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">The majority wait to&ensp;validate demand once they have launched. That is risky.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Demand validation should come before

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">&bull; Production
&bull; Marketing
&bull; Hiring
&bull; Expansion

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data allows you to &ldquo;test before&ensp;investing large,&rdquo; Mr. Rosenberg said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Conclusion

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">You know it's the market that makes or&ensp;breaks any business.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Trade data gives&ensp;you evidence rather than hope.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">It actually shows real buying behavior, it mitigates risk and helps you select markets&ensp;wisely. A new seller or an&ensp;experienced one, you make better decisions when validating demand using trade data.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Products such as Siomex makes this data convenient, available and actionable for&ensp;companies to scale confidently instead of guessing.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Frequently Asked Questions

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Does new business benefit from trade&ensp;data?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Yes. It helps nascent companies steer clear of products that have little&ensp;demand and focus on established markets.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">How frequently trade data needs to be&ensp;verified

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">It&rsquo;s a good idea to re-cap on it every once in a while, especially before venturing into a&ensp;new market or when releasing new products.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Can trade data substitute&ensp;for market research?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">No. It supplements&ensp;basic research by demonstrating actual buying activity.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">How does Siomex help businesses

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Siomex offers its customers Import Export Data which can be utilised&ensp;to verify demand, understand market movement and make decisions.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Is trade data expensive

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12.0pt 0cm 12.0pt 0cm;">Pricing is provider, but the value you get in mitigating risk more&ensp;than pays for itself.

<p class="MsoNormal">