Part 05
Working across markets
Your buyers don't share your calendar or your first language. A quote that lands on their weekend, a shipment promised across a holiday, or a sentence their translation tool turns upside down can cost a week. This part covers the practical differences, not national stereotypes.
What actually changes from market to market
- Which days are working days. Not every country works Monday to Friday. See working weeks and holidays across export markets.
- Long closures. Factory shutdowns and holiday seasons affect your delivery dates, your quote validity and when a balance payment arrives.
- How your English is read. Many buyers read you through a translation tool. Short sentences and unambiguous dates and numbers matter more than polish. See plain English for buyers who don't speak it natively.
- Documents and terms. The same Incoterms rule means the same thing everywhere, which is why it's worth naming the version. A letter of credit follows international rules too, but the bank's own wording decides.
Time zones decide how fast you can reply to a new inquiry; relaysolo.com covers that in how to reply to a new inquiry.
Guides in this part
- 05 · Working across marketsWorking weeks and public holidays across export marketsSunday-to-Thursday markets, holidays that move every year, Lunar New Year closures, and the 2027 dates to plan around.
- 05 · Working across marketsPlain English for buyers who don't speak it nativelyShort sentences, one question per line, and dates, numbers and units that can't be misread, with before-and-after rewrites.
Other parts of the handbook
- 01 · Quoting and trade terms
- 02 · Getting paid
- 03 · Samples, orders and documents: samples, proforma invoices.
- 04 · Fraud and safety: bank detail change fraud, phishing.
How these guides are researched and checked: about this handbook.