Webinar: How not to fail in the US 🇺🇸

Expanding into the US is a big opportunity, but it’s not a simple copy-paste of what’s worked at home. This webinar will help you understand what matters most before you launch: from getting your product offering right to avoiding expensive missteps around market entry.

Whether you’re in marketing, export, or leadership, you’ll walk away with practical ways to set your brand up for success, and avoid the headaches that trip many businesses up.

You’ll hear from:

• Nicola O’Rourke, Director + CPG Expert – on the reality of taking a consumer brand into the US, and what she’d do differently next time
• Anna Henwood, CEO at Stickybeak – on why testing before you launch gives you faster confidence and better results
• Scott Glassman, Managing Partner at TAG CPG – on how local partners can help you move smarter and scale faster
• Mario A. Torrico, Associate at ArentFox Schiff Attorneys – on US tariffs: What you really need to know, how they will impact your brands, especially if China is part of your production story.

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Here are 4 quick takeaways from our expert speakers:

🧩 1. Pick a niche (and a zip code)
Nicola O’Rourke kicked things off with a reality check: what works in your home market won’t automatically fly in the US. US consumers are different.
Her advice? Solve a problem for US customers and consumers. Build out your US value prop, start small - pick a hyper-targeted launch area (down to a single zip code), and know your margin tree - commercials are the most important thing to get right.

📦 2. De-risk your US launch
Anna Henwood from Stickybeak shared real examples of how consumer testing helps you make better calls on packaging, pricing, product, and campaign strategy - before you burn through your budget.
Test early, test often, and use insights to brief smarter, not just sign things off at the end.

🚛 3. Logistics will make or break you
Scott Glassman from TAG CPG got real about back-end operations.
US retail isn’t plug-and-play: your distributor won’t store bulk inventory, timelines are long, and one bad customs doc could cost you $30K.
His top tips:  where possible, have boots on the ground, plan for multiple scenarios, and play the long game.

💰 4. Tariffs are complex and changing fast
Mario Torrico from ArentFox Schiff walked us through the ever-evolving US tariff landscape.
From HTS codes to origin claims, the risk of fines or retroactive penalties is real.

His tip? Get legal advice before you ship, documentation is key, and keep tabs on policy shifts.

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