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Brazilians conduct business only through personal connections. There
must also be an implicit understanding that the business
relationship will be long-term.
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Before putting the resources into a trip, hire a Brazilian contact
in your industry that can help you make the right connections. For
that you should look for the chamber of commerce or consultants that
specialize in this type of business. Trade shows are very good
'feel' for the country's business environment.
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Make appointments of any kind at least one week in advance. Showing
up at an office without an appointment is unacceptable in Brazilian
business culture. This is especially true if the person you are
there to see is a director of higher position.
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Generally, the best times to schedule appointments are between 10:00
a.m. and noon, and 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
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Give yourself two to three hours between each meeting, rather than
scheduling your appointments 'back to back.' One exception is if you
are in a central location and people will be coming to see you.
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Avoid scheduling any appointments around 'Carnaval', which precedes
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
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'Official' business hours are 09:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Higher- ranking
individuals, particularly those with decision-making capacities,
usually begin work later in the morning and stay later in the
evening.
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Poor punctuality is characteristic of Brazilian business culture.
You will have to accept that waiting around for your Brazilian
counterparts will be part of doing business here. Also, traffic in
the main cities is chaotic and most of the time is responsible for
the delays.
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Business travelers should still make the effort to be punctual. You
may want to bring some work or another diversion to fill the time
while you wait.
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Always arrive on time for a business meal or meeting at a
restaurant.
Usually,
Brazilian business protocol demands punctuality on these occasions.
