Peter Wright spent ten years attracting new businesses to B.C. Now, as an Export Advisor for Export Navigator, he is exploring the other side to the conversation – helping B.C. businesses thrive in international markets.
Export Navigator: Can you introduce yourself and what you do in your role as an Export Advisor?
Peter: My name is Peter Wright, and I’m an Export Advisor for the Lower Mainland.
As an Export Advisor, my job is to help businesses grow so they can increase their earnings, grow their staff, and reach their goals. I connect business owners to the support they need, whether that’s government contacts, lawyers, accountants, or freight experts.
While my main focus is helping businesses start exporting, I also provide information on grants, tax credits and other resources that can help entrepreneurs overcome economic ups-and-downs, so they can focus on other areas of their business.
Export Navigator: What kinds of businesses do you mainly work with?
Peter: I tend to see three types of businesses: software, services, and those that manufacture hard goods. In my region, I’d estimate that 85% of my clients are selling manufactured goods. For the most part, my clients have goals to export internationally, as many of them have already distributed across Canada.
In the Sea to Sky corridor, I’ve noticed there are more and more businesses making products related to outdoor activities, which is an interesting geographic trend.
Export Navigator: What is your professional background, and how did that prepare you to work as an Export Advisor?
Peter: My background is in policy analysis and investment attraction. Before working with Export Navigator, I spent a decade attracting businesses to B.C. In this role, I attended a range of conferences and trade shows across Canada and internationally.
My role as an Export Advisor goes hand-in-hand with my experience in investment attraction. While I used to focus on bringing business into B.C., I now help B.C. businesses grow around the world.
In my previous role, I developed a broad network of contacts who are experts in B.C. business and international markets. I continue to work with those contacts today for insights about export regulations and market trends.
Export Navigator: What do you look for in a business to determine if they are ready to grow beyond B.C.?
Peter: There are many things to consider when determining a business’s export readiness. I start by looking at their current earnings and business structure to understand how prepared they are to expand. In the case of manufacturing companies, it’s important to assess whether a business is truly able to increase production to meet the needs of the new market.
As well as assessing export readiness, it’s essential to explore which target markets are a good fit for the business. I work closely with business owners to understand their export goals and suggest markets that can help drive their business forward.
My job is to work with clients to look at the current landscape, their export goals, and to identify markets that meet their needs. The last thing I want is for a business owner to encounter strong headwinds in their first attempt at exporting and become discouraged from trying again in a new market that could have worked better for them.
Export Navigator: How would you describe your advising style/approach to working with clients?
Peter: I take a one-on-one approach. Every business is different, and each business owner has their own story. I don’t want to learn about a business from their website. I’d rather hear directly from the client. I ask a lot of questions to prevent me from making assumptions.
I tailor my support to what the business owner cares about most. At the end of the day, the client is the most important person, and I want to make sure I support them the best I can.
Export Navigator: Aside from being an Export Advisor, what else do you like to do in your free time?
Peter: I spend as much time outside as I can. I enjoy being in the mountains: hiking in the summer, skiing in the winter. I also like to go boating whenever I get the opportunity.
Export Navigator: What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Peter: Don’t get discouraged by everything you read online about exporting. As good of a tool as the internet can be, sometimes it is not your friend.
Export Navigator exists to demystify the export process and help you find resources that are valuable to you. Even if your business isn’t quite ready for exporting, we can connect you with our partners, like Small Business BC, to get you the support you need.
Export Navigator is a free resource – we’re here to help your business grow.
Learn More
Thinking of exporting? Find an advisor in your region today and discover what opportunities are available to you.
