International Trade & Manufacturing

Michelle
(93 posts)

Written January 16 2009

International Trade & Manufacturing

I am very interested in learning about your international businesses!  Let's start a Q&A or educational series about import/export, international sales and offshore manufacturing.

Tell me about a recent experience you have had or would like to have about the topics mentioned here.

Michelle
Expedient Trade
www.expedienttrade.com

Britta
(102 posts)

Written April 09 2009

Hi Michelle,
I tried to calculate how much of taxes I would have to pay when I sell my products (clothing) manufacted in Germany - in the USA?

YOu mentiones something like 4 %, can that be true od did I get it all wrong?

What does it depend on?

Happy Eastern wishes from

Britta

www.live-con-arte.com

Michelle
(93 posts)

Written April 10 2009

Hello Britta,

EXCELLENT question (with a most detailed answer)!
Every product that enters the United States will have a different code and duty tax assigned to the product. In your case; apparel, the duty rates will vary greatly depending upon the textile/surface treatment that is used to make the clothes.

If you can provide me with detailed specifications of the clothing: textile, surface paint, and type of clothing (dress, blouse, jeans etc.)
I can better help you to determine what (% value) a USA customer will expect to pay in duty tax.

The reason this is SUCH a GOOD question for others to see: by knowing what the tax payement will be for your customer, the better able you are at assiging a realistic and attactive price point for your foreign buyer.

Well done!

Michelle Bonn
Expedient Trade
www.expedienttrade.com

Britta
(102 posts)

Written April 14 2009

Dear Michelle,
thanks, I will send you the details with Mail.

Another question maybe for you as an expert - If it is the wrong forum, tell me please,

What is the best way to get into a fair or trade show? And how do I find the ones I'm looking for? Can I search bby myself or do I better get an Expert in the USA to do sofor me?

I find it kind of hard to get throught the modern web sites and usually they tell you be a visitor first. But I cannot be a visit on the trade shows around the world. Is there maybe an associatio`?

Many best wishes from Germany
Britta

Margaret
(19 posts)

Written April 24 2009

Hi Britta, I am Margaret and just about a day old on Connected-Women and have read some of your posts and I organize fairs independenly or with other organizations for women in the gifts and handmade industries living in developing countries to sell in North America and Western europe. I assume that you are looking for USA shows (Show) as it is called in USA and Fairs in Europe.Examples are California Gifts Show, New York Gift Show, Chicago Gift Show, Orlando gift show are a starting point.Unlike European shows(Fairs), these shows are similar to Ambiente in Germany. no selling is allowed, d not expect immediate result and it takes a longer period for retail buyers to build that supplier/buyer relationships.You will need to attend many shows a year inorder to establish a presence and it is costly.Another option to access USA Markets is go through niche speacilty ine networking marketers who sell to well targeted consumers seeking very Unique one-of-a-kind items from afar,Trunk Shows and Hotel Suite Shows, the exhibitors showcase their product lines in their hotel suites to invited buyers. The organizers.Most of the organizers of these specialty targeted shows are industry players or have been in the industry as buyers, PR people among others and know the retail buyers that they invite very well and what they are looking for.My strategy for women entrepreneurs in emerging markets is to start with the European Fairs such as L"Artigiano Milan, Fiera del levante Bari, Import-Shop Berlin to name a few, these Fairs last 9 days, over 2 million visitors, open to the general public and offer exhibitors the opportunity to test market their products, earn immediate income , in addition to learning the skills and information to succeed in TRADE ONLY which are more tedious and take a longer process to build a buyer/supplier relationship
I am going to be hosting a World Women Trade Fair joint-International Pavilion during Import-Shop Berlin Fair in Berlin November 11th-November 15th 2009 and DUU ND DEINE WELT in Hamburg from November 14th-November 22nd to introduce the women entrepreneurs we work with to the German Market.We have been doing the Italian and UK Fairs and now expanding into Germany.
You are very dynamic and full of innovative and creative ideas and I hope we can network in some areas.Margaret

Margaret
(19 posts)

Written April 27 2009

Hi Britta. www.floridafashionfocus.com

Margaret
(19 posts)

Written April 27 2009

Hi Michelle.. this is a great Educational Series on Import/Export/International business.At a time of economic recession, new knowledge and resources can significantly help us to sustain our businesses.

Britta
(102 posts)

Written April 28 2009

Dear Margaret,
thanks for the link. That is really an interesting option for newcomers to slide into a market.

What I could recommend for the "Du und Deine Welt" in Hamburg in November 2009, be carefull where you are located. A friend of mine was located with art (paintings) among the "Kunsthandwerk" - that means where the low price offers from hand made artesians- sorry. I do not know the difference in englisch between hand crafted art work and art maybe - where all located.

She could not sell anything because her prices where up too high for here "booth" area. And people wanted hand crafted art - not paintings like unique.

Maybe this helps.
Britta

Lillian
(6 posts)

Written April 28 2009

Dear Britta, thank you for helpful information ..Du und Deine Welt. I will keep that in mind as we work on pavilion construction and space.The

Floridafashionfocus show is very cost-effective and result oriented, it is owned by members who are jointly committed to making it a success.A plus for you as a foreign exhibitor is that you may find trade partnership with fellow exhibitors who may want to sell your products. I had an associate in Jewelry who attended from Singapore and another exhibitor became partner and representative in USA.
Shefinds.com,momfinds.com, executivemoms.com,Dailycandy.com,ladies who launch are other cost-effective options to test- market before you make hugh investments , they write an editorial about your product and promote on their daily e-mails that reach thousands of recipients.

This is a nice International Business Thread to share ideas
Have a good day
Margaret

Lillian
(6 posts)

Written April 28 2009

Hi Margaret- did not finish my message and wished you a good day- I have 2 other exhibitors signed up for the pavilion, and happy to get the Britta's assistance. Having a prime location at these fairs is very important.
Linda is signing up with connected-women also.
Have a good day Britta

Michelle
(93 posts)

Written April 28 2009

Hi Margaret and Lilian,

Very good to meet you both. I am pleased you are able to share information with us about trade shows and venues that can help CW sell their products internationally.

I'm curious, what advice can you give to foreign exhibitors at these trade shows? How should they present pricing? What expenses should be included in the price of the goods. I'm interested in hearing about the shipping and import duty "issues" that some of your foreign exhibitors may have experienced.

Michelle Bonn
www.expedienttrade.com