Customs Broker and Importing

Very early in my business, I decided I had to find out about importing and what I needed to know. There is lots of information from the Customs website but it still takes a bit of digging and checking. Checking is really important. I would probably talk to a customs broker before I had ordered from the Chinese supplier.

I found that any clothing has a 17.5% import duty. GST is 10% but this is refundable on BAS statement. Labels are really important on clothing. The company name, size and country of origin needs to be included on the label as well as washing instructions on clothing.

I live 4 hours from Brisbane so I decided to check out a few customs brokers when I was there on a trip. I found 3 names and rang them first to make an appointment. To me, a phone call tells a lot about the company. All 3 seemed good.

Then I organised to visit them. Some were a long way from the docks so that influenced my decision to an extent. Prices were similar although one company was twice the price of the others!!

I only had one question and that was what do I need to do to import my products. One company seemed disorganised and the other expensive. Customs and Forwarding Services really impresses me. They were very professional and I left with information about their business. They answered the questions easily and I went away feeling like I had found the company that I needed.

This company - CFS - has been fantastic. Everything goes without a hitch. They organise my shipment to get to a transport company and delivered to Bundaberg. They are totally in control of each shipment and I never have to worry about anything! I have full confidence in them and couldn't recommend them highly enough!

I cannot emphaisis enough how important a good customs broker is. They do this each and every day - I assume - so know exactly what to do. They give great advice and this makes the process easier. It is worth doing some homework on this though. Get a good one and stick with them.

Getting samples

Buying something from overseas can be a bit scary. Samples are crucial to the process. Usually, they cost a lot. I pay about $150 for a few sets of underwear!!! But the supplier sends them to your door by courier, such as DHL.

With my business, I get the samples in my size. This allows me to check how well the bras fit. (Prior to this, I have provided the supplier with all of the measurements.)This gives me a good idea about what I am getting, the sizing, quality, etc. I ask everyone to comment on them. Usually, the samples are white because dyeing procedures can be quite complex.

Samples need to be perfect. I check them very carefully for any small imperfections. I still got caught and had to reorder some things because they were not good enough to sell to the general public. The shipment cannot be returned because of shipping costs, customs, etc.

I then discuss any changes I need to be made with the supplier. This takes me a few hours but well worth the trouble. I have suppliers who are very particular and make sure they understand everything. That is great for me even though I get impatient at times because we seem to go over things several times. (This is the same for all 3 suppliers I have dealt with!!) The language difference also plays a part in this, so we need to get everything right.

Next post will be about paying deposits.

World Internet Summit UK 2007 DVD review

Since this seminar, I have discovered The World Internet Summit. The organisers of this are Brett McFall and Tom Hua.

They organise seminars with speakers (from around the world) making a lot of money on the internet. We have all heard about people making a lot of money on the internet. Well, these guys all assemble together to show how we can do what they are doing. They run about 4 of these events a year I think.

One of the most powerful things they talk about is our own mindset about making a lot of money. The payoff is a completely different lifestyle and doing what you want to do, not working forever on a 9 to 5 job.

During the last few days I have been watching the DVDs of the World Internet Summit in the UK in November 2007. Again, this information is mindblowing! Shaune Clarke shows how to get a website up and running, the hits, advertising and the start of an amazing business. He does this onstage and shows all of the steps that need to be taken to get to that point. Very powerful!!

I now have the resale rights to sell the DVDs. There are 17 and the price is $997 for the set. Really, I believe that is amazing value. This event costs $997 to attend.

I don't know about you, but I can't afford the airfares, accommodation and food expenses that go along with a 4 day event! So for the same price of the ticket, you can purchase this set of DVDs.

Now, I know things change quickly on the internet but I truly believe that most of the content is still current. (I haven't seen all of the DVDs yet, so I cannot make a claim that ALL of it is still current.)

The other thing I wondered was how many people actually attend these events. Well, would you believe about 500? Then add in the statistic that from these 500, only 1% will actually do anything with the knowledge they have.

So, are you a doer? an action person? This is for you!! The best $997 you have ever spent. If you implement even one of these ideas, you can make way more than the cost of these DVDs.

Believe me, a whole new world will be open to you!!

Tomorrow...I will let you know how to buy these amazing DVDs. (I am not sure but will find out before tomorrow!!)

Making the decision

I have always wanted to start my own business - probably since my 20s. Then along come study, children, divorce, being a single parent and the thought disappears from our minds. Getting through the days seems to take priority. Then the children grow up and leave home!

Our priorities change. So do our responsibilities! What to do now?

I felt burnt out after teaching for 20 years. I felt I was doing the same things each year - fixing the students' problems. This can be very draining. I loved doing this - helping the underachievers. I loved allowing them to see their potential whether it was academic or in other areas. But it was losing its attraction! I needed a break.

My priorities had changed. So did my responsibilities! What to do now?

At the beginning of last year, I wrote a list of ALL of the things that interested me. I quite surprised myself. The list was quite long. I really had lots of choices!!

Often I get frustrated about because I want something and it is not available on the market!!

This led me to my starting my current business - selling cotton underwear sets online.

This is an amazing journey! I am not there yet! I am still learning!

The most amazing things have happened! Everyone is so supportive! I have been given advice and help from lots of different places.

Join me on my journey! I hope you may learn from this and at the same time I am hoping to learn from you as well!!