Seven Essential Questions to check if your company is ready to import
(S,P) These questions may be unrelated to the practical importing process but are equally important to consider.
Only when you worked through these fundamentals, would be recommended you consider importing.
Is your product successful in your domestic market or in other countries?
Does your company have the capacity to buy the product in foreign markets outside your country? Does it have sufficient staff, time, financial and legal resources?
Is your company ready to make international sales, choose the most appropriate means of transport and go through customs procedures?
Does your company have a comprehensive financial/marketing/business plan with clearly defined goals in support of importing products from countries outside your country?
Does your company have a concrete strategy for how to import the product to your market? For example, you may import your product directly from the producer or indirectly by employing a third party, such as a distributor. Both direct and indirect imports may also be supported by e-commerce platforms.
If applicable, is the intellectual property related to your product protected in your export market?
Does your company have the capacity to analyse and check if the product complies with health, safety, technical and/or marketing standards in your country?
Before you continue, consider the questions above carefully and discuss them within your company to decide whether you are ready to trade with other countries, or which steps you need to take to prepare yourself to do so.
We would be pleased to work through these questions with you.
Essential, online Customs & Global Trade Support
You can:
get advice on our Information Hubs.
find out how to determine the relevant duty rates and commodity codes for your goods in our Classification Hub
get help by asking the Customs Manager Ltd experts a question
Where to find even more help and support
For online support, join our educational live webinars, subscribe to insightful short Twitter updates and informative YouTube videos, and stop by at our expert blog page, updated weekly: https://www.customsmanager.org/customs-global-trade-blog
Join us on Linked In, too: www.linkedin.com/company/customs-manager-ltd
We also offer a resources hub that covers a lot of topics, videocasts and step by steps guidance: https://www.customsmanager.org/ -> Resources
There are regular customs and global trade update sessions to discuss what is coming up: https://www.customsmanager.org/customs-and-global-trade-update
Join our wide range of LIVE or online training courses on the customs and global trade topics that matter to you
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About Customs Manager Ltd.
Working with us means having a Customs Advisor, Global Trade Expert and Export Controls Consultant, on speed-dial. If you are looking for a customs consultant UK and EU, let us help you trade effectively, efficiently and, of course, compliantly, wherever you want to go in the world.
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To complete our support for globally trading businesses, we are also a UK Customs Broker. We act as a customs clearance agent on behalf of many EU and UK businesses, assisting with customs documentation and all other formalities to ensure the customs clearance of our goods. Whether you’re seeking a long-term partner to look after your customs clearance or require support for a one-off shipment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your requirements.
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