My Visit to the Somerset International Trade Forum
On Tuesday, I attended the Somerset International Trade Forum. The Somerset Chamber of Commerce hosted the event at The Somerset Toiletry Company in Clutton, with sponsorship from Lloyds Banking Group.
With more than 25 years in freight forwarding, customs and global supply chains, I always value opportunities to learn from others. Firstly, the forum brought together businesses from across Somerset to discuss international trade. During the event, we explored both the opportunities and the challenges facing exporters and importers. Overall, events like this are invaluable for businesses looking to grow overseas.
Chris Loach chaired the session and set the tone for the morning. From the outset, he highlighted the increasingly complex trading environment that many exporters now face. Changing regulations, global uncertainty and rising customer expectations continue to reshape international trade. As a result, businesses must adapt quickly to remain competitive. Furthermore, the discussion reflected the experience and expertise of organisations from across the region, many of whom regularly participate in the Trade Forum for Somerset international business.
One of the highlights was hearing from Zantore Buoy, Director of The Somerset Toiletry Company, and Sakina Buoy, Chairman of the business. They shared their international growth story and offered practical advice based on real experience. Most importantly, their message was simple but powerful. Successful exporting depends on building strong, trusted relationships, just as was emphasised at the Somerset International Trade Forum itself.
Learning from Somerset’s Export Success Stories
Their focus on overseas distributors particularly resonated with me. When this happens, distributors become far more than a sales channel because they truly understand your products, values and brand. Instead, they become an extension of your business. Likewise, the same principle applies to logistics. Trust, communication and reliability create long-term success, these priorities were discussed in depth by forum attendees.
Another key theme was Somerset’s growing reputation on the global stage. The county is home to many ambitious businesses that already export successfully. In addition, many more have the potential to follow. Supporting local companies as they enter new markets strengthens both individual businesses and the wider regional economy, and the Somerset International Trade Forum plays an essential role in facilitating that.
Why Collaboration Drives International Trade
The forum also addressed the challenges facing international trade. However, the overall mood remained positive. Every conversation reinforced the value of collaboration. By sharing knowledge and learning from other businesses, everyone can make better decisions. Consequently, events like this help businesses build stronger networks and greater confidence when trading internationally. The collaborative atmosphere at the Somerset International Trade Forum really highlighted this benefit.
For me, these events are an important investment. Not only do they keep me informed about developments in global trade, but they also strengthen relationships within Somerset’s business community. As the owner of Fast Forwarding, I use these insights to provide practical, commercially focused advice that helps clients import and export with confidence, much like the practical knowledge exchanged at the International Trade Forum in Somerset.
Finally, I’d like to thank the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Lloyds Banking Group, The Somerset Toiletry Company, the speakers and everyone who attended. Without doubt, the event offered a fantastic opportunity to network, exchange ideas and discuss the future of international trade in Somerset. I’m grateful to have been a part of the Somerset International Trade Forum community.
I look forward to attending future forums. More importantly, I look forward to continuing to support businesses across the South West with their freight forwarding, customs and international supply chain requirements, inspired by the knowledge gained at the Somerset International Trade Forum.