Im A Wannabe Import Exporter Can You Help!!

[peruuk]

HI EVERYONE
Im seeking advice to help me start a international import export company

I would like to network and absorb your wisdom. Can you help?

My dream is to find a niche product or products to import and export around the world.

I have spent the last 2 years in Latin America Peru.

Between studying Spanish and enjoying myself in Peru I spent a lot of time trying to get my breakthrough into the Export Import market. I am 110% sure that I can make a great business out of Peru but just don't know where to start. I looked at mushrooms, beans, fish, textiles, gold, jewelery, handcraft, alpacas, pisco, holidays etc

How do I get companies to take me seriously without any trade history?

How do I choose the right Product/Sector to export from Peru or even import into the thriving Peruvian economy?

How do I finance all this?

How do I Start this business professionally?

How do I bring work to my company?

Does anyone out there run a logistics or import export company that could help advise me or is anyone out there interested this topic and feels they have something to add.... Please do Write

 

[oldeagleeye]

It is a dream my friend when you know absolutely nothing about the business itself let alone the market - but that is OK. You need to learn the very basics however. Go and work for an import and export company for 6 months. You have the language. Hope this helps Rob

 

[peruuk]

one more question

Do you have experience in the Import Export industry?

 

[oldeagleeye]

No but 40 years experience in business and that has taught me that you must research the market and be able to exploit it and you do not even seem to know the basic of import & exports. All the products you mentioned for instance have already been over exploited.

You will not get finance for a project like this either. As I said previously. You must learn the logistics first and you can not do that from a book. Those coffee beans you mentioned for instance may have drugs hidden in them. You need experience in knowing how to protect yourself.

Go around the docks where you live and get a job with a company in the business even if is driving a trolley. It is the only way that you will learn.

Rob

 

[xujing]

hi
I do think you need find a company to learn some skill about import & export. It will help you find your own way to strat your business.

The product you choice is very important for you. You need know what kind of product suitable for your maket.

 

[CISK]

Peruuk

• Identify the top 10 companies in Peru( in food and drink for example)
• Identify which are locally owned, not by multi-nationals.
• Research the sector
• Contact the company and arrange a meeting- with view to becoming UK Agent
• Pre meeting, assess the value of the market for the product in the UK.
• Share market size and potential with brand owner
• Arrange meeting with Peruvian Embassy in UK, Peruvian trade commission in London

( In the meantime work out currency issues, tariffs, shipping routes,shipping agents, storeage in UK,intra UK deliveries etc)
http://www.tastees.info/

 

[dantheman]

Oldeagle eye is right.

You mentioned importing foodstuffs - highly complicated, even for me at times & I am an Customs Clearance guy who has been in freight & logistics for 12ish years.

As soon as you start with animal products such as fish it gets even more complicated.

Handicrafts might be the way to go but I would thought you would need large stock levels here as customers would not want to wait 3-4 weeks while the vessel trundles over from Peru.

Airfreight is quicker but costs shed loads.

I think a niche is the key here.

With regards to finance any freight forwader who does not know you & can't check your credit score will want payment for everything (freight, clearance & customs charges) before you get your goods.

If clearance & delivery is delayed beacuse you do not have funds immediatley you will incurr rent & demurrage charges on the quayside which is expensive.

Hope you have found something useful here.

 

[snipe12]

How do I get companies to take me seriously without any trade history?

They wont, just be honest and one of them will be happy to talk with you.

How do I choose the right Product/Sector to export from Peru or even import into the thriving Peruvian economy?

Find something which they use but no one in the UK does or visa versa but that would be of benefit.

How do I finance all this?

With difficulty. The finance market is pretty locked down at the moment barring for solid investments. The only way to get finance would likely be from a private investor but at least try the banks first.

How do I Start this business professionally?

You have to learn on the job and mistakes will be made. Research as much as you can is the only answer but there are many things you will not think of in a million years.

How do I bring work to my company?

By litterally hitting the streets and speaking to buyers at companies. Just be cheeky and see how far you can get. One thing is most emails will be deleted by receptionists so the best way is to make calls and send samples to the right people.

Does anyone out there run a logistics or import export company that could help advise me or is anyone out there interested this topic and feels they have something to add.... Please do Write

I run a food import company but until you decide on the product then it is hard to advise you. The thing is it is hard to find something no one else does but if you do, it could be a big money maker.

The one thing is Peru has some great food, some interesting items but it would be very expensive to ship as most would require refridgeration or freezing - which increases the shipping costs further and then of course I hardly imagine there is much of a market in England for that food, meaning it would cost a fortune to market. So I would avoid food.

Have a look at this website:
http://indexmundi.com/trade/exports/?country=pe

Pretty poor volume of items are exported from Peru but on the flip side a lot is imported:
http://indexmundi.com/trade/imports/?country=pe

Only you can find a niche but it certainly wont be easy.