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International Checkout Inc

 

2010 Stevie Award Winner

Company: International Checkout Inc, Santa Monica, CA USA
Company Description: Since 2002, International Checkout has been at the forefront of global e- commerce, providing an integrated solution which allows US retailers to sell worldwide with no associated risks or difficulties. International Checkout serves over 110 online retailers, guaranteeing them against fraud and providing worldwide fulfillment and customer care services.
Nomination Category: Company/Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Overall Company of the Year – Service Businesses – up to 100 Employees

Nomination Title: International Checkout, Inc.

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated company during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):

In 2003, Saskia Strick, a single mother with less than $1500 in the bank, launched
the first of International Checkout’s offerings, a concierge shopping service which
enables international consumers to acquire goods from the USA. By filling out an
online order form, international consumers can shop from any US websites and
My American Shopper purchases the goods on the customer’s behalf and ships
them to the customer’s doorstep.

Saskia soon identified fraud risk, fulfillment, and customer service as the main
barriers which kept US retailers from entering the global marketplace on their own
and single-handedly developed a global e-commerce solution unlike any that had
existed before; International Checkout. International Checkout enables US
retailers, from small to enterprise level, to sell globally with a simple
integration which takes less than a day to implement.

Today, more than 300 US retailers, including Jockey.com, bebe.com,
DrMartens.com, and Meijer.com, enjoy the benefits of selling globally without risk
or difficulty by partnering with International Checkout. The innovative solution
guarantees its retail partners against fraud, ships to more than 250 destinations,
and provides world class customer service.

International Checkout’s Key Benefits Include:

• Guarantee against international fraud
• Fulfillment to over 220 destinations
• Preparation of customs documentation
• Pricing and settlement in 37 local currencies
• Ten international payment options.
• Multilingual customer service.
• Duties and Taxes at a guaranteed rate.
• On demand reporting to the merchant

In 2009, Strick noticed a growing market in the parcel forwarding arena and added
My American Shipper, a service which provides international consumers with a US
address to use while shopping on US websites, to the International Checkout
portfolio. International Checkout provides the only such service which does not
charge its members any sign up or membership fees and providing a host of free
services that its competitors charge for. My American Shipper boasts international
shipping rates averaging 25% lower than its competitors and further distinguishes
itself as the only solution to offer its members free insurance, consolidation,
repackaging, digital product images, merchandise storage, and document
preparation.

Due to tremendous growth during the eligibility period, International Checkout
moved to a 16,000 square foot warehouse, quadrupling the company’s space.

Some of International Checkout’s most noteworthy accomplishments during the
eligibility period include:

• Inc. 500|5000 company: 2009 (No. 61) and 2010 (No. 610)
• Winner, Small Business Administration’s Award for Innovation through
Technology
• Winner, World Trade Week’s Award for Service to Exporters
• Winner, Stevie Awards for Women, 2009 Fastest Growing Company
• Honoree, International Business Awards, 3 Categories
• Finalist, American Business Awards, 3 Categories
• Los Angles Business Journal’s Fastest Growing Companies in LA (# 9)
and Fastest Growing Women Owned Companies.
• Launch of My American Shipper
• Developed iFrame technology, enabling international customers to
remain on the retailer’s website throughout the checkout process.
• First global solution to settle in Japanese Yen with JCB card
• Projected 45% increased revenue for 2010
• Negotiated with carriers, cutting shipping costs by 20%

List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:

http://www.internationalcheckout.com
http://www.internationalcheckoutsolutions.com
http://www.myamericanshopper.com
http://www.myamericanshipper.com
http://www.inc.com/inc5000/2009/company-profile.html?id=200900610
http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/international-checkout
http://www.internationalcheckoutsolutions.com/newsdetail_1.html?newsId=64
http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/ca_los_angeles/ca_la_springissue2010.pdf
/women/2009-honorees
http://www.lachamber.com/news/2010/05/03/press-release/governor-schwarzenegger-
speaks-with-business-leaders-at-84th-annual-world-trade-week-kickoff-breakfast/

Provide a brief biography of the person or persons who lead the nominated company (up to 100 words):

Raised in Holland, Saskia Strick was a top fashion model, appearing in such
venerable publications as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Marie Claire, and starred in
Milli Vanilli’s music video, Blame It on the Rain.

Strick settled in Los Angeles in 1997 and was soon kept busy with requests from
friends overseas anxious to acquire goods from America. Recognizing the
opportunity provided by their unmet demand, Strick launched a business to help
international consumers acquire goods from the USA. Her “aha” moment came a
year later, when she realized that she needed to get the retailers to work with her.

Choose one (even if both apply):

The CEO (or other principal manager) of this company is a woman, and at least 40% of the management team is comprised of women.