Importing Wholesale
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
What is DrawbackContact usImporting wholesale is a common starting point among those who are just entering the import and export industry. Anyone can go into this business as it is not too difficult to learn how to find suppliers and manufacturers, import from other countries, and sell products for a good profit. When importing wholesale, it is important to take these five steps as you go along.Do your research by studying the latest trends, studying emerging trends, identifying niche markets. The last thing you want is to import goods from another country and lose money because they will not sell.Identify good suppliers by taking the time to authenticate and verify the integrity of suppliers that you do business with. If you look for suppliers online be careful of fraudulent websites. Make phone calls, study them, and read all reviews and feedback received.Do not be afraid to contact the supplier to get the specifics and arrange for a small sample order. By getting a small sample order you will be able to do things like test, validate, and inspect the product.Once you have done your research, found a good supplier, and tested your supplier/product you are ready to place an order. When doing so make sure you contact a certified customs broker to ensure that you have filled out the correct forms and all import requirements are addressed.Lastly, receive the goods and turn it into a profit. This last step can be hard because although you did your research and studying beforehand, you have to continue to do so as you sell. Markets change, customers change, preferences change. To make sure that your products keep bringing you a profit, continuously do your research and stay informed!Take these five steps when you are importing wholesale and you will be off to a great start to success.Importing from China
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
Many companies within the U.S. import goods from China. Last year China’s trade surplus reached $422 billion U.S. dollars. Why? Well, China is a low-cost labor country, their raw materials cost about 1/10th of U.S. raw materials, and the Chinese are simply the best designers. Their vision of product design across industries is second to none. That being said, it is not hard to see why many companies choose to import from China. If you run a company that is looking to import goods from China, well, that is not a bad idea at all. But, you should consider doing a few things.
Define your product’s quality benchmark. In order to do this, you and your team need to work on three design aspects. First work on your ideal design and specifications. Then, finalize the flow of work to be carried out on raw materials. Lastly, decide on a benchmark. Know what your ideal quality standards are and your acceptable levels of flaws.
Next, you need to communicate quality standards to the supplier. Define things like protocols and timing. Communicate in person as much as possible. Form that relationship and do not get comfortable doing business only online.
You should also ensure that your product’s quality criteria is fulfilled by the supplier. In other words, compare what they give you to the benchmark that your company has created. A good way to ensure that your product is up to your standards is to implement pre-production audits, in-progress audits, and post-production audits. In these audits, you can sample test and make sure everything is on track.
Lastly, delegate a responsible authority for conducting those quality control audits. It can be you, it can be someone on your team, it can be a hired on experienced professional, or it can be through a contract with a third party. Whichever option you choose, make sure someone is in charge of checking the quality of your products through audits.
Importing from China can have various benefits but highly consider doing these things when doing business with them. You will be in a much better position to succeed if you follow these suggestions.
For more information on importing and exporting stay updated here on our monthly blog.
Varying Cargo Volumes
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc across the globe. Importers and exporters are scrambling as some industries are booming while others are really struggling. It has been a mixed bag in terms of cargo volumes received last month. In May of 2020 the Port of Oakland and the Port of Los Angeles reported significant drops in cargo volumes while the Port of Long Beach reported significant growth. Oakland reported this month that the loaded box volume is projected to continue to decline as it did last month. Los Angeles moved 29.8% less in May than it did a year ago. To date, overall cargo volumes have decreased 18.7% compared to last year’s numbers. Keep in mind that May 2019 set a pretty high bar as it was the busiest month in the Port of Los Angeles’ 114-year history. The decline seems really drastic for the month of May but this is in large part because of the great month they had a year ago. In turn, the Port of Long Beach has received a shift of some services from the Port of Los Angeles and they have seen a 10% increase in their normal business traffic. The Port of Long Beach moved 628,205 TEUs last month which is a 9.5% increase from May 2019. Imports grew 7.6% to 312,590 TEUs while exports increased 11.6% to 134,556 TEUs. Though the Port of Long Beach has seen impactful growth Los Angeles’ Port Executive Director Gene Seroka says that, “any notion of economic recovery in the shipping industry is a little bit too early to discuss.” Overall, this year the cargo statistics show a 7.8% decrease compared to the same time period just a year ago. Until we see consistent growth in the majority of Ports, we cannot assume that the U.S. economy is beginning to recover.
Take Your Business Global
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
Doing business with international companies is a very daunting yet rewarding task, if done correctly. If you are in the import and export industry looking for ways to improve the way you trade across borders, here are three tips from our experts at DutyCalc.
For more tips or more information about DutyCalc, visit our website or contact us directly! We look forward to doing business with you!
Understanding Risks
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
Entering the global marketplace is a challenge that requires education, experience, and a driven mindset. Along with these qualities you must understand that this industry comes with risks that could lead to significant repercussions. Before entering the international marketplace, understand these risks and how to avoid them.
One risk that import and export businesses face is unpredictable shipping logistics. When its all said and done, your business success is dependent on whether you can ship goods safely and efficiently. You need to make sure that your product gets from point A to point B on time. You need to account for everything that could possibly go wrong from an employee calling in sick to damage to the cargo. The best way to mitigate this risk is to stay organized, be prepared, and partner with a reliable freight forwarder that will help you ship your goods without a hitch.
Another risk that import and export businesses face is not knowing enough about the current market. For example, did you know that exports contracted 6% last month which narrowed the trade deficit to $13.45 billion? Did you know that this was the second time that exports contracted in the current fiscal year? If not, you need to do more research on the current market. With the trade war causing changes to the global marketplace daily, it is important to consider those changes before you decide to enter the industry.
The last risk that import and export businesses face is running into problems at the border. Customs is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, hurdle that importers and exporters have to face. Customs rules are not uniform throughout the world. To avoid significant slowdowns at international customs, again, do your research or hire experts in customs law and trade compliance to help you navigate this area of the business.
Bottom line is that the import and export business is one with opportunity but is also one that comes with risks. To find success in this industry understand all of the risks, stay organized, prepare for the worst, and know how to handle logistics. If you have all of these qualities, you will be that much closer to finding success in the import and export industry.
Starting Your Import Export Business
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
Starting your own business is hard. Starting your own import/export business is even harder. There is much more to understand and things can go really bad really fast if you are not careful. That being said, if you have the experience, education, grit, and drive to take on this industry you can be successful. If you are looking to get into the import/export industry by starting your own business here are a few pointers that we recommend you follow.
You need a strong online presence. Without an online presence you will not be able to have a networked import/export business. The goal of this is to balance the flow of communications, sell products online, and most importantly build your customer base to drive profits for your international business. Having a professional blog on your website will allow you to have a continuous flow of engaging communications with your clients, something that most customers want in brand new companies.
Along with an online presence you need to find out what you want to sell. This includes understanding which markets are good to enter. We recommend that you find a product or industry that you are passionate about and that you think could sell in international markets. Looking for which markets to enter is where your trend-spotting skills come in to play. In general, the best products are ones that are just starting to become popular or show some promise to being so in the future. Do your research and think before you begin because finding the right product and the right market is probably the biggest decision you will make.
When you have your online presence and product/industry decided, focus on your logistics. Logistics is the most complex aspect of importing and exporting. Think about it, you have to take a product created somewhere and sell it somewhere else. For example, how do the grapes from the vineyard in South Africa make it to the wine glasses of drinkers in California? Every successful business has a strong logistics team, plan, and strategy that makes the flow very easy for all employees. When you get your logistics down to a science, you will be ready to hit the ground running.
Building a strong online presence, figuring out what to sell and where, and getting logistics down is all very important in this industry. However, these are only three of the many aspects that make a successful import/export business. Bottom line is that this industry is a complex system that requires nothing but hard work and determination.
For more recommendations or for more general information on the import/export industry give us a call or browse our website.
Partner with DutyCalc
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
When it comes to dealing with money, it is important to work with reliable and trustworthy partners. Whether you’re running a small business or a Fortune 500 company, you don’t want to run the risk of losing money because of a bad partnership. Good financial partnerships are critical especially for companies in the import/export industry because of all the details regarding drawback. If you and your business are in the import/export industry and in need of a dependable partner to help with drawback, look no further than DutyCalc. Here are 3 of the most important factors that make DutyCalc the best partners for importers and exporters.
DutyCalc has experience. Collectively, the DutyCalc team has over 4 decades of experience in duty drawback. Part of DutyCalc’s experience in duty drawback has come from partnerships with some of the biggest companies you can think of. Companies like FedEx, Fender, and TaylorMade are all current or previous clients of DutyCalc. We understand how to manage duty drawback for large companies, and we understand all of the necessary steps in the process based on our experience. Put your trust in us as we have the knowledge of how to be successful.
DutyCalc has a proven track record. Whether it was the full service drawback or the software system, Drawback.NET, we have helped clients from around the country claim drawback without fail. We help clients claim up to 99% of duty drawback! DutyCalc systems are efficient and cut down processing times significantly. Our process works and will be worth the investment. Refer to our Testimonials to see our successful track record with our clients.
Last but not least, partner with DutyCalc because we always put customers first. Providing the best customer service is our number one goal so, as a client, understand that your needs come first. If you don’t understand part of the drawback process, we’ll walk you through every step. If you’re running into technical problems with Drawback.NET, call our support team and they won’t hang up until your problem is fixed. Happy customers are what drives our business, so making them happy is our number one priority. By partnering with DutyCalc, you and your needs will always come first.
For those in the import/export industry, partner with DutyCalc as we are partners that you can rely on and trust. We have experience with some of the largest companies on Earth, we have a proven track record, and you will always get great customer service. For more information on what DutyCalc has to offer, give us a call! We look forward to working with you.
Drawback NET
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
Drawback.NET If you run your own company, from the beginning, one of your goals was probably to mitigate as many costs as possible. Any successful company will have low costs and high profits, right? If you are in the import/export industry, one way to accomplish this objective, one that is often overlooked, is through duty drawback. Duty drawback provides a way to offset duties that are paid with refunds. To keep it simple, drawback is a refund of Customs duties that is paid on imported materials that are either exported or used in the manufacture of exported articles, according to American Shipper. With appropriate documentation, guidance, and filing system, you can claim up to 99% of duties paid. This is where DutyCalc comes into play.
DutyCalc has been helping companies across the country mitigate costs by helping them properly file for drawback on all of their duties. DutyCalc’s most popular product is their drawback software, called Drawback.NET. This software allows businesses to file drawback for their company by themselves. The software is user friendly and current customers have given nothing but positive feedback. DutyCalc’s goal with this software is to allow customers to have full knowledge and control of filing their duties without having to pay for a full service drawback solution. By purchasing this software, you will also be signing up for a partnership with DutyCalc. This meaning that although Drawback.NET is a self-operating software, the DutyCalc team will always be available to answer any questions or help you navigate through the software at any point in time.
Due to the recent changes in the trade war, DutyCalc has been an essential tool in the import/export industry. Filing for drawback has skyrocketed and Drawback.NET has seen great success. DutyCalc is here for you and your company to ensure that your money is claimed in full. Don’t wait any longer as our software will only benefit your company.
For more information visit our website or give us a call. Work with us to get your money back!
Stalled Agreement
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
Where the U.S. and China stand in the trade war is currently unknown. There were Washington
insiders claiming that a trade war deal was around the corner, all to find out that the deadline has
been pushed back. Last month Chinese officials proposed a push back of 90 days on increased
tariffs on Chinese imports. Though China is showing tremendous respect and actively trying to
come to an agreement with the U.S., a 60 day push back is all the U.S. granted. The two
presidents were scheduled to hold a meeting before the initial March deadline in Florida, both
parties hoping to strike a deal. This meeting never happened. Though we do not currently know
where both countries are in the process of coming to an agreement, we can be certain of one
thing: both countries still do no see eye to eye.
The topic that is stalling this agreement is the tech industry. China wants the U.S. to be more
flexible with products in tech industries like telecommunications systems. The U.S. wants China
to enforce stricter policies on intellectual property. The so-called tariff war is now shifting it’s
focus and becoming specifically a tech war. According to Michael Pillsbury, the American
Director of the Center on Chinese Strategy at the Hudson Institute, “Chinese demands have yet
to be addressed. They want to break into the U.S. e-commerce payments system, and have it
blessed by the U.S. side. And the U.S wants the Chinese to promise not to retaliate if there are
new tariffs. I cannot imagine China agreeing to this.” Because the U.S. and China still do not see
eye to eye, this is stalling the two countries to coming to a deal.
A deal was close to being agreed upon just a month ago, but now neither side seems to think an
impasse on disagreements is likely. More updates on the trade war will be posted here next
month.
Section 301 Developing News
Duty Drawback Software | Import Export Consulting | Processing Filing | Full Service
Last month we left off with an understanding of where the United States and China currently stand in the Section 301 trade war. At the beginning of the year the United States initially planned to increase rates on list three items to 25%. However, the United States granted a 90 day period in which the rates on list three items would remain at 10%, allowing more time for an agreement to be made between both countries before raising the rates. The two countries are still trying to come to an agreement. Below are some updates on the trade war.
On Monday February 11, “the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 53.22 points lower at 25,053.11, giving up an earlier gain of 90 points. The S&P 500 ended the day up less than 0.1 percent at 2,709.80 as gains in the industrials sector were capped by losses in health care and communications services. The Nasdaq Composite closed 0.1 percent higher at 7,307.90” according to CNBC. The United States is halted at a waiting point and not much fluctuation will occur as people are just waiting out to see the likelihood of a trade deal.
There is speculation that the two Presidents will meet in Florida within the next month or so. This week the United States and China will continue to try and strike a deal by focusing specifically on intellectual property. United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer wishes to operate in an environment where technology, innovation, and know-how are all protected.
Analysts expect a deal as early as the end of this month. China needs a deal badly to calm the United States’ President from imposing another round of tariffs on imports from China. It has been reported that last month, the Chinese economy grew at it’s slowest pace in 28 years.
A deal is on the horizon and drastic changes are in the near future. Stay updated on Section 301 news here on the DutyCalc blog.
