#smesupport

Fashion Wholesale Supplier Made Simple

Discover verified fashion wholesale suppliers and grow your business confidently.

By Engin Sindel, Assist Export, Türkiye

Talk to any seasoned exporter and they’ll tell you—the margin between a successful export deal and a disappointing one often lies in the details. Not just in the price negotiations or logistics costs, but in how well you navigate the myriad incentives and supports that governments and trade institutions provide. In Türkiye, those incentives are extensive. Generous even. But they’re also layered, sometimes buried in bureaucracy, and, to be candid, not always easy to decode.

That’s where the conversation gets interesting.

At Assist Export, we’ve long believed that documentation and compliance are only part of the value chain. The other part—equally important, arguably more impactful for small and medium-sized exporters—is helping clients identify, apply for, and ultimately secure the benefits they’re entitled to. Because these aren’t bonuses. They’re strategic tools.

Let’s take a simple example. One of our newer clients, a furniture manufacturer based in Bursa, had been exporting consistently to Eastern Europe for over a year. Their business was growing, margins were tight, and they were reinvesting in design and production. What they didn’t realize was that they qualified for government-backed export incentives under the Ministry of Trade’s market entry support program. They just hadn’t applied. Why? Because they didn’t know it existed. Or how it worked.

After a review of their operations, we helped prepare a complete documentation pack—invoices, logistics proofs, certifications, and market reports. It took a few weeks, yes. But within the quarter, they were approved for a partial reimbursement of promotional expenses and a contribution to freight costs. That translated into real savings, which they could then reinvest.

That’s not an outlier. It’s a pattern.

Incentives in Türkiye cover a broad spectrum: export credits, tax reductions, insurance premium supports, R&D assistance, even booth costs for international fairs. But each has its own application cycle, documentation demands, and post-audit requirements. For a business focused on selling and shipping products, keeping up with those cycles isn’t easy. That’s why we integrate it into the advisory side of our service.

Sometimes, it’s as straightforward as explaining eligibility. Other times, it involves rethinking how a company structures its export pricing to reflect potential refunds or rebates. And occasionally, we advise clients to hold off on a specific incentive application if it conflicts with a longer-term objective. It’s not about chasing every lira of savings. It’s about making each lira work smarter.

Another layer to this is compliance. Government incentive schemes come with strings attached—rightfully so. Funds disbursed must be justified, timelines respected, and reporting accurate. We once worked with a tech exporter that was penalized due to an incorrectly coded customs declaration. The actual shipment was valid, but the paperwork misalignment triggered an audit delay. These things happen. But they can also be avoided.

And then, of course, there’s the bigger picture. As exporters navigate more competitive global environments, incentives are not just financial cushions. They’re positioning levers. Being able to reduce costs in one area can allow for better flexibility in pricing or more investment in market expansion.

This ability to look beyond the immediate transaction is something we’re constantly refining. It’s also why we’re proud to share that Assist Export, based in Türkiye, has been nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards. The event, hosted by the International Trade Council this November 18–19 in London, isn’t just about applause. It’s a gathering of like-minded businesses looking beyond borders. It’s where new connections are made, methods are challenged, and future ideas are planted. Being a part of it reaffirms what we’ve always believed: that exporting is not a solo effort. It’s a shared endeavor built on trust, expertise, and a willingness to dig deeper.

With real-time access to multiple suppliers, product catalogs, and price comparisons, businesses can make faster, more informed purchasing decisions.

Digital B2B platforms like Pepagora help small and medium enterprises compete in large markets by offering visibility, scalability, and access to verified buyers.