The international trade of goods and services has been going longer than recorded history, and is just as prevelant today as it has been in the past. However, technological advances in transportation infrastructures and global networking patterns have made it easier and faster than ever before to import and export goods across the Earth.

Some products and services are produced mostly at a local level and distributed to a local market, whereas others are more centralised in a particular region or group or regions and depend heavily on the international export industry for distribution. The awning (Markisen) industry is a good example of one sector of the economy that relies heavily on international export and trade, although recent changes have seen a decentralisation in the countries producing awning (Markise) and related shade products.

The international trade of goods and services represents a large share of the gross domestic product (GDP) in most nations, and also has a big effect on the social, political and cultural spheres of human relations. Industrialisation, globalisation, advances in transportation, and the proliferation of outsourcing have all had a huge effect on the changing patterns of international trade. Multinational corporations are able to take advantage of these changes, and use new digital media networks to market, sell, and distribute their products all over the world.

A typical modern awning product is produced at a large factory and distributed on both a domestic and an international level. The marketing and selling of awnings takes place though a number of different media channels, which depend on the particular business management strategies of the company in question. Internet sales are increasing throughout the world, and the awning industry is also being swept up in these changes. Online marketing and sales provide companies with easier access to a global market, and those with already existing international export infrastructures and distribution networks are much more likely to be able to take advantage of these changes. Awnings are a popular product all over the world, and large awning companies are able to use inexpensive transportation and increased global advertising opportunities to sell their goods on an international level.