Following a three-year stint residing in China and the Middle East, Allison returned to Vancouver and joined Small Business BC as an International Trade Advisor. Additionally, she established her own consultancy, providing valuable assistance to entrepreneurs seeking global expansion. During her time overseas, Allison pursued her MBA and served as the China Director of Marketing and Trade Sales for a prominent importer and distributor of North American beverages. Before her international endeavors, Allison held the position of Director of Operations at a prestigious Canadian winery, overseeing exports to more than 20 countries.
Driven by her passion for travel and a deep curiosity about diverse lifestyles worldwide, Allison has explored over 30 countries. She leverages this extensive experience to guide clients not only in navigating international trade regulations but also in understanding the cultural nuances of various countries—an essential element for businesses aiming to thrive in the global marketplace.
Explore the pros and cons of exporting with our comprehensive guide. Understand how exporting can boost your business growth, diversify market exposure, and increase sales while also considering the potential challenges such as cultural differences, logistics complexities, and regulatory hurdles.
Read our guide on export licenses to learn about the different types, understand the requirements, and discover the steps to apply for them.
Understand the intricacies of a Bill of Exchange and learn how this payment order issued by the drawer can streamline transactions and boost cash flow. Discover its importance, types, and how to manage it effectively.
Explore the ins and outs of Cost and Freight (CFR) in international trade. Understand its benefits & drawbacks and find out if it's the right Incoterm for you.
Discover the intricacies of port-to-port shipping & get insights into the process, benefits, and key terms involved in this fundamental aspect of global trade.
Discover how freight insurance can protect your goods during transit, understand its various types, & learn how to choose the right coverage for your business.
Understand the key differences between Ex Works (EXW) and Free on Board (FOB) Incoterms from the responsibilities of buyers and sellers to risk transfers.
Dive into our comprehensive guide on annual freight contracts. Learn how they provide stability in pricing, ensure capacity, & can streamline your logistics.
Learn the differences between shippers, consignees, and notify parties, how each role contributes to a successful shipment, & understand their roles.
Dive into our comprehensive comparison of Master vs. House Bill of Lading. Understand their differences, uses, and which one is right for your shipping needs.
Learn about the importance of AES filing, when it's required, & the process to ensure your exports are compliant with US regulations.
Discover the step-by-step guide on how to apply for a Letter of Credit. ✔️Learn about the documentation required, the parties involved, and the overall process.
Discover how to avoid customs delays. ✔️Learn about essential documentation, customs regulations, and more to ensure your goods sail smoothly through customs.
✔️Dive into our comprehensive guide on the shipping process and understand its key steps to streamline your supply chain.
Discover essential insights for your business with our guide on how to export to India. ✔️Master customs regulations, cultural nuances & more to ensure success.
✔️Discover how to negotiate payment terms with suppliers to ensure a win-win situation & foster strong relationships, including an example letter to send.
Explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming procurement. ✔Learn about AI's role in automating tasks, driving cost savings, etc.
✔️Discover the essential guide to understanding Incoterms for air freight. Learn how these international trade terms affect your shipping processes and costs.
✔️Discover the essential differences between a bill of lading and a packing slip. Learn their unique purposes, required information, & grab free templates.
✔Discover the importance of a Certificate of Origin in international trade & learn about the process and benefits of obtaining one from the Chamber of Commerce.
✔️Learn about the benefits of being eco-conscious, how it can impact your bottom line, and learn from example from 3 shipping companies that are going green.
✔️Discover how SaaS solutions are revolutionizing supply chain management by streamlining processes, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs.
✔️Learn how to identify and eliminate supply chain bottlenecks, ensuring a smooth, efficient, and cost-effective logistics process.
✔️Transform your logistics operation with 7 proven strategies to boost supply chain efficiency, enhance performance, and drive cost savings.
✔️Discover expert tips for efficient cargo shipping packaging to streamline your logistics, reduce costs, and boost your business's overall performance.
✔Discover the power of lean logistics with strategies & best practices to streamline your supply chain, reduce costs, &improve efficiency for long-term success.
✔Master the art of freight negotiation with our comprehensive guide, packed with tips to help you optimize your shipping costs & streamline logistics processes.
✔️Learn how to build a resilient supply chain to enhance adaptability, optimize efficiency, and minimize disruptions for long-term business success.
Keep your shipments safe & secure with the best practices for shipping hazardous materials. ✔Learn everything from proper labeling & packaging to documentation.
✔️Learn about the importance of load planning and learn five tips to make the process efficient and cost-effective.
Need help in efficiently running your shipment operations? ✔️Use our shipping quotation template to quickly get the right quotes and have an organized system.
✔️Discover the many advantages that export documentation software brings, from improved accuracy to cost savings.
Easily create a shipping packing list with our step-by-step guide and template. ✔️Ensure your shipments arrive safely without any complications.
✔️Get a comprehensive overview of the shipper's declaration of dangerous goods and access our downloadable template to ensure you're following regulations.
Looking for ways to save time and money? ✔️Here's a practical guide on how to avoid costly demurrage charges.
✔️Get an overview of what is involved in a purchase order, why it is important for international shippers, and how to create one using our free PDF template.
✔️Learn why a commercial invoice is essential when it comes to international shipping, how to fill out one, & download our handy PDF template.
✔️Learn the important differences between Free on Board (FOB) and Free Carrier (FCA) Incoterms, including when to choose one over the other for your business.
Confused about Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) Incoterm? ✔️Learn why businesses use it, what its advantages are, &how you can benefit from understanding it.
✔Find out the ins and outs of Ex Works Incoterm, one of the most used Incoterms in international trade, including benefits, obligations, etc.
✔️If you're choosing between air freight vs. ocean freight, here is the breakdown of all the important factors that can influence your decision.
Free Alongside Ship (FAS) is one of the most popular incoterms. ✔️Learn what it is, when to use it, and how to make the most of it with this guide.
What is Free Carrier (FCA)? How does it work? What are the benefits? ✔️Learn everything you need to know about this Incoterm in our comprehensive guide.
✔️If you're looking for a comprehensive list of shipping container dimensions, read about the 15 types of containers, their sizes, and specifications.
Wondering what types of shipping containers are available? ✔️Here's a complete list of the most common types of cargo containers.
Are you looking to ship a full container load? ✔️Here's everything you need to know about FCL shipping, from what it is to price quotes and how to get started.
✔️Learn about the Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP) Incoterm, what it covers, when it's used, and how it benefits both buyers and sellers.
✔️Learn the key differences between a proforma invoice and commercial invoice, and discover which one is right for your needs.
Ready to grasp DAP Incoterm? It's complex, but we'll shed light on its intricacies. ✔️Understand its practical applications with our help.
Looking for a proforma invoice? ✔️This guide will show you what it is, how to fill it out, and provide you with a free PDF template to get started.
✔️Read our article to find out what a shipper's letter of instruction is, how to fill it out, and download the fillable PDF template.
✔️Learn the definition, advantages, and disadvantages of the Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) Incoterm and get tips on whether it's the right choice for your business.
When it comes to global trade, the United States has a lot of free trade agreements in place. ✔️Here's a comprehensive list of all 14 US FTAs.
Freight bills are important documents in the shipping process. ✔️Learn what it is, how it's used, & the difference between a freight bill and a bill of lading.
Free on Board (FOB) is a commonly used Incoterm. ✔️When should you use it? ✔️How does it work? Get all the answers to your questions about this Incoterm here.
When it comes to logistics, sometimes it's best to leave it to the experts. ✔️Here are 5 reasons why outsourcing your logistics might be a good idea.
What's the difference between Delivered at Place (DAP) &Delivery Duty Paid (DDP)?✔Get an in-depth look at both incoterms & decide which method is right for you.
If you’re both an importer and an exporter looking for cost svings, look no further than the customs duty drawback.✔️Find out everything about the process.
✔️If you're importing to the US, read our guide to learn the ins and outs of filing and importer security filing (ISF) and how it impacts your business.
Read an overview of the differences between FCL & LCL, ✔️with insights into how choosing the right option can save you time, money, and stress.
When it choosing the right incoterms, do you know the difference between CIF and FOB?✔Get an in-depth explanation of both terms and the difference between them.
Here’s (nearly) everything you need to know about importing.✔️From the required import documents to practical tips, our import guide has it all.
Choosing the right delivery terms is vital for your success.✔️Read our article to learn the difference between Free on Board (FOB) and Delivered at Place (DAP).
✔️Whether you're just getting started or an expert, our guide to exporting will help take the mystery out of this complex process.
Ocean freight visibility is a complex process, but tracking of your sea shipments is essential.✔️Read our guide to learn everything everything you need to know.
Wondering how to get a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Certificate of Origin (CO)?✔️Here's everything you need to know and how to get one.
✔️Read our article and find out what Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) Incoterm is, how it works, and who is responsible for what during the shipping process.
✔️Learn everything you need to know about going digital with an electronic bill of lading and learn how to make the switch to paperless trade with Cargoflip.
✔️Read our article to discover the true cost of manual data entry in logistics — it might be costing your business more than you think.
The demand for international trade has increased exponentially as the world becomes increasingly globalized.
Outsourcing logistics can be a daunting task. ✔️Read our article to learn the difference between 3PL and 4PL and make the best decision for your business.
Before shipping an item internationally, you need to clear it through customs first.✔We've put together a comprehensive guide to the customs clearance procedure
✔️Learn about the benefits of real-time supply chain visibility and how you can implement it at your organization.
Want to know the difference between CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) and DDP (Delivery Duty Paid)?✔️We'll explain the terms and how they affect your shipments
Outsourcing logistics to a 3PL provider has become standard practice.✔️Here's the selection criteria you should look out for when choosing a 3PL provider.
What is the Carriage Paid to (CPT) incoterm? What are obligations and when does the risk transfer?✔️Find out everything you need to know
Here are the 5 most popular payment methods in international trade.✔Read our article to learn more about them and find out which one is right for your business.
When it comes to shipping, do you know the difference between FOB and FAS?✔️Get a quick overview of both methods, so you can choose the best one for your needs.
Wondering what the difference is between a POD and a BOL?✔️Check out this post for a breakdown of each and when you might use them.
✔️Find out which 3 elements of supply chain sustainability are critical for your business and follow simple steps to achieve it.
✔️Learn everything there is to know about LCL shipping - from what it is and how it works to the pros and cons of using this type of freight transport.
Bill of Lading (BOL) is one of the most important legal documents to a shipper, an importer and an exporter.✔️Here's what you need to know about it.
✔️Find out what landed costs are and how you can use them to assess the profitability of your shipments.
✔️After a successful launch, Cargoflip is back with new features that make shipping and logistics easier than ever.
Customs requirements for import and export can be confusing. ✔️Learn what international shipping documents you need to have in order, and how to obtain them.
Do you know what Incoterms are and how they affect your shipping? ✔️Check out this post for a comprehensive guide to understanding Incoterms.
The Harmonized System or HS Code is a machine-readable worldwide system for classifying goods. ✔️Find out how it can help your business.
Less than a year ago my co-founder, Prateek, and I decided to set off on a new path to building Cargoflip.