Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, Sales and Marketing: The Essential Cultural Guide—From Presentations and Promotions to Communicating and Closing

THREE TIPS FOR SELLING IN TURKEY

1. Secularized Islamic Nation

2. Relationships and Patience

3. Presentations

1. SECULARIZED ISLAMIC NATION

Turkey is not like most of its neighbors in the Muslim world. It is a parliamentary democracy, not a dictatorship, and the government is fiercely secular.

Turkey has no official religion, but 90 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim—many of whom are part of a nonorthodox sect called Alevi. While every Turk is basically familiar with the precepts of Islam, they do not read Arabic, and they have passed legislation to ensure gender equality. However, your Turkish associates will probably observe Islamic holidays like Ramadan, which may affect their work schedules on Fridays.

For the foreign businessperson, ...