Adapting to local cultures is vital for international expansion to succeed

Once specilaity 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 Bernard Lucas,
Operations Director, VCSTIMELESS