TNT to offer discounts to SMEs for European exports

Parcel carrier TNT has said it it to launch a key marketing push throughout Europe to entice small business customers to expand their sales on an international scale. TNT is to offer a 20% discount to new customers if they export shipments of up to 250kg to any of nine key European countries. These countries include UK, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

The offer is due to run for three months with day-definite delivery services by air and road qualifying for the discount. Existing customers of TNT will also benefit from the reduced prices. TNT has said 70% of its goods are exported within Europe are sent to countries within its "Blue Banana" zone, named after an expression which is regularly used to describe the densest business region in Europe stretching from England to Italy.

Managing Director for TNT International Europe, Ian Clough, has said: "TNT's initiative will encourage European SMEs to look beyond their domestic markets. Exporting to Europe, and particularly to the "Blue Banana" countries, has become one step easier with TNT.

Dealing with customs: advice for a painless internationally parcel delivery

In an increasingly globalised world, the ease of international travel, increased economic migration within the European Union and the proliferation of e-commerce can make national borders seem more porous than ever. It's therefore easy to forget - especially if you're new to international export or parcel delivery - that all shipments from the UK to any non EU country are subject to customs clearance.

If you are shipping within the EU, then your goods are moving within the EU customs union, meaning that they will not be subject to any duties or taxes imposed by customs clearance, but if you are shipping internationally, the customs service of your destination country has the authority to impose restrictions and levy any associated duties.

In order to ensure you are prepared for customs clearance in advance, we recommend you follow our top tips:

Don't assume your goods are immune: Even if you are shipping items which you believe to be of no commercial value such as a gift or personal effects, this does not automatically mean you will be not charged for the clearance of your goods - always check.

Do your research: although some countries have more transparent customs clearance procedures than others, most customs authorities have websites which list their restricted items and many give an indication of the taxes levied for certain categories of items. It's a good idea to check these in advance.

Complete all relevant documentation: shipments to non-EU countries require four copies of a Customs Invoice at the very least - this is a document detailing the items contained within your shipment and the value of each. Different countries have different requirements of this document, so check with your chosen carrier in advance so you know that is required.

Seek Expert Advice: Exporting can be complicated. If you're shipping for commercial reasons then it's a good idea to seek expert advice in advance of shipping your goods. UK Trade & Industry offer a "talk to an expert service" and there is also lots of useful information on the HMRC website.

Sending a Parcel to New Zealand | Exporting Advice for SMEs

There are many reasons why UK residents may want to send a parcel to New Zealand. Since it is estimated that 70% of the Kiwi population has family links in the UK, it is not surprising that many British people send parcels to the Pacific nation for personal reasons. But as well as sending gifts to friends and loved ones, UK SMEs could also benefit from shipping to New Zealand for commercial purposes.

Due to historical links, cultural similarities, a shared language and comparable finance and legal systems, it can be relatively easy for British firms to grow through exporting to New Zealand. In addition to this though, New Zealand is an attractive market in its own right. If you haven't considered New Zealand as part of your export strategy, maybe the following information will make you think twice:

1. Demand for British Goods

Trade between the UK and New Zealand is strong: Britain counts itself among New Zealand's top five trade partners, and demand for British goods is high. Clothing, gift-ware and food and drink from the UK is especially popular in New Zealand.

2. New Zealand's Economy

New Zealand is a relatively small market, making it an ideal target for SMEs that are new to exporting. It's also closer to, and has important trade agreements with, many other important markets in the South Pacific and East Asia, including Australia, China and Japan.  If your export strategy is successful, New Zealand is a great location from which to develop it further.

3. What about the distance?

With over 11,000 miles as the crow flies between London and Wellington, it's understandably a daunting prospect for many SMEs to consider shipping to New Zealand. Fortunately, parcel delivery resellers such as Transglobal Express provide a valuable service to UK business, allowing them to book shipping services from major international carriers at a fraction of the price. Exporting to New Zealand can therefore be much cheaper than you expect. You can get a quick quote and compare prices via our website.

4. For More Information

The website of UK Trade & Investment provides lots of  invaluable information about exporting to, and doing business in, New Zealand. You can access a variety of reports and even arrange to speak to an export expert for your chosen market.

5. And finally...

New Zealand is a nice place!  It was recently deemed the least corrupt country in which to do business and (OK, so it's not directly related to export but...) the Maori name for New Zealand is often translated as "land of abiding day" - who wouldn't want to export there?

"Exporting is GREAT" campaign kicks of UK Export Week

Are you thinking of growing your business by exporting abroad? This week is Export Week in the UK, and there are lots of opportunities for SMEs to learn more about exporting and access support. Marking the beginning of the seven day campaign, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) launched "Exporting is GREAT" on Monday, an initiative forming part of the larger "Business is GREAT" campaign that will promote the benefits and possibilities of international export to over 700,000 firms across the country. Its main aim is to promote the support currently available to SMEs.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said of the campaign: “British small and medium sized businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. Many are doing incredible things and selling their services and products abroad. But too many do not realise their global potential." The campaign is intended to help SMEs tap into this potential with a variety of tools. On the campaign website, SMEs can arrange to speak to an export advisor, read inspirational testimonials from successful export ventures and sign up for regular export-related newsletters. The campaign is expected to generate 3,000 appointments between UKTI and aspiring exporters and to drive £1.2 billion in additional export revenue.

Speaking at the launch of "Exporting is GREAT", Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green said “The UK’s future prosperity will not come from relying on domestic markets alone. Businesses excel with UKTI’s support and we want to make sure that UK firms are not just trading abroad but thriving there and competing with the best the rest of the world has to offer.” 

Contending with customs: advice for people new to exporting

Exporting your goods overseas can seem a daunting experience. It can be difficult to determine which regulations apply to you and which forms are applicable to your business - never mind how to fill them in!  Generally speaking, trade within the EU tends to be a simpler process, but if you're thinking of making the leap and expanding your sales beyond the European Community we have some customs tips and advice for you.

1. Inform your customer of the potential costs of Customs Clearance in advance

Typically, the receiver will be liable to pay any charges associated with Customs Clearance before your goods are released for delivery. This is called DDU (delivered duty unpaid) shipping. Most seasoned shippers are well aware of this but it's a good idea to make sure your customer knows of potential customs charges in advance- the last thing you want to do is give your customer a shock before they have even received your goods! Alternatively, if you'd prefer to pay the charges yourself, you can always opt for a DDP (delivered duty paid) service when booking UPS, DHL and TNT services through Transglobal Express. Such a service bills all charges back to you, the exporter, and usually entails a small fee. 

2. Research country-specific regulations

As well as familiarising yourself with general restrictions imposed by all major carriers, you also need to check the restrictions for your particular export country.  Restrictions can vary a lot depending on the policies and priorities of different governments, and there are also some historic and sometimes very strange trade restrictions, so you should always double-check with the relevant customs authority before implementing your export strategy. Want to send plastic flowers to Nigeria or toothbrushes to Algeria? Believe it or not, customs law prohibits the import of such items! Want to send tents to Jordan? You need a license first! The best advice? Always check! 

The best place to start when carrying our your research is the customs website of the relevant country: countries publish detailed lists of restrictions on their webpages. Customs Forum is another useful website where you can ask questions and advice of other exporters.

3. Choose the right delivery service

UPS, DHL, FedEx and TNT Express - the largest global carriers - tend to take care of customs clearance on behalf of the shipper. If you book with a reseller such as Transglobal  Express, you can enjoy the expertise and excellent international networks of these brands at highly reduced rates. But equally importantly, you can benefit from our own expertise developed from over 20 years experience in the industry. Given the fact that Transglobal ship to over 220 destinations worldwide, using a variety of the biggest and best carriers, we are unable to give definitive advice on specific customs policies, but we do know where to direct you if you need any further advice, and we are always willing to help wherever we can - personal service can make all the difference when trying to navigate what is often a daunting collection of rules and regulations!

Do you have any general customs advice to share with other exporters? Let us know and we'll publish it here- happy shipping!

Bizarre Canadian customs regulations and prohibited items

Here is what you need to know about Canadian customs. Do not be fooled if you thought the USA had strict regulations regarding prohibited items. Remember to contact the Canadian customs office before you send a parcel to Canada and are unsure if it may be restricted or forbidden items.

When reading through Canada’s prohibited items list, you might find that it starts out simple but the further you read the more bizarre its gets.

 

Section 1 - guns and firearms which could cause serious injuries.

The listed items include firearms of all types, replicas of weapons, toys guns, bows and cross bows as well as slingshots and harpoons. All of these items can obviously be dangerous and therefore are considered “prohibited”.

Beyond that, no goods manufactured in prison labour are allowed into Canadian territory.

 

 

Let’s continue with Section 2…

This part refers to devices with stun or immobilising effects including chemicals, sprays, animal stunners and shocking devices.

 

 

Next up are sharp objects (Section 3).

Canada experiences a rather rough climate in winter. However, this should not motivate you to pack snow tools such as ice axes or picks. If needed, surely you will be able to buy them in Canada, but it is best not to send them with your parcels.

 

The same applies to swords and martial arts gear.

Do not hide them in your parcels. Canadian customs as well as all big couriers are likely to x-ray your consignments for dangerous contents. If you still wish to ship your martial arts gear to Canada, you may want to speak with your local training studio as well as Canadian customs to see if there is a special service which could deliver it.

 

 

 

Following Section 3, is Section 4 – work tools which could cause serious harm.

It is rather straight forward. Do not send any crowbars, hammers, drills, bolt guns, saws etc.

 

 

As for bizarre objects Section 5 – blunt objects – and Section 7 - Liquids - outperform everything else.

Golf and hockey players may be disappointed about this one, but according to Canadian customs is not possible to import golf clubs or hockey and lacrosse sticks to Canada. After all, one could injure somebody else with them. 

 

On the other hand, be advised not to send any containers with breast milk or milk formula to Canada which are bigger than 100 ml / 100 g. Generally speaking, no liquids, aerosols or gels are allowed to be imported. This includes baby milk, juice or foods for infants.

 

 

Explosives and Incendiary substances

Lastly, and most commonly known, Canadian customs law forbids to ship any explosives or incendiary substances to the border. This also includes fireworks.

Finally.

Always remember to check back with the full list of prohibited items before sending your parcels to Canada, no matter if sent by courier or postal mail and potentially risking problems with customs.

Source: Transport Canada