Functions of buyers’ agent in leather exporting process: a brief analysis on the intermediary in the leather industry of Bangladesh

Abstract

Intermediaries play an important role in the exchange of goods and services across borders. The main purpose of this report is to conduct a brief analysis on the contributing role of an agents’ buyer as intermediary in the leather industry of Bangladesh. It can be also viewed as providing a justification for why there are professionals to facilitating a trade in between the local producers and the international buyers. This report follows qualitative research method and most of the information was collected from secondary sources. A thorough unstructured interview was conducted with two experienced buyers’ agents. This brief research shows that buyers’ agent performs several roles besides acting as the intermediary. A middleman or agent holds higher reputation in market for selling high quality goods. An agent works like an appraiser who is an expert in leather field. The purpose of conducting business through the agents is due to the intensive that the agents make large investment on relationship marketing to secure interactive relation with foreign buyers. Moreover, agents are skilled experts who have complete expertise in detecting quality of leather. They monitor and manage every step of the consignment on behalf of the foreigner buyers. Through comprehensive and secured financial tool like letter of credit, agents insure the payments from the buyers. These factors are main concerns for buyers’ to order from our country. Hence, activities of agents’ are the prime source for drawing foreign buyers into our leather industry