Importing to UK

[Lily May]

Hello Members!

I am new to this forum and excited to be a member. I am on here predominantly to seek advice and hope that you entrepreneurs out there can help me out!

I am in the process of producing some custom-designed Kitchen textiles and crockery that I am hoping to sell online and also to local retail outlets (initially). One of my suppliers is in China.

So, my VERY naive question is this: What do I have to do to successfully import my fine bone china items from China after they have delivered them FOB to my local port?

I have researched this on various websites, particularly HMRC of course, but still feel a little over-awed and out of my depth on how to import correctly, pay what I'm supposed to pay, fill in the forms I'm supposed to fill in, and generally keep everyone happy!!

Does anyone have a 'importing for dummies' step by step guide for me please??!!

HELLLLLP!

Lily May

 

[Dan@FreightFirst]

Hi Lily, I'm sure I can help you.

We don't have a "dummies guide", although it's a good idea. What we do have is a very nice guy called Paul who can give you a call/email if you like? He's our import expert and has been in the industry for years so he really knows his stuff.

If you want to PM me an email address or number, i'll pass it onto Paul tomorrow.

 

[Lily May]

Hi Dan,

Many thanks for your post. Excited about the opportunity to talk to Paul.

I tried sending you a PM but it says I'm too new (!) Can you send me your email address and I can reply to that?

Many thanks.

regards
Lily

 

[Dan@FreightFirst]

No problem Lily. My email address is [email protected]

 

[Socio South West]

It's generally far easier and quicker to put the shipment in the hands of a freight forwarder and let them deal with all the formalities - yes, it may cost a few quid, but it should lose you a lot of frustration, and possible delay, and also avoid steep storage charges if you get something wrong that causes a delay.
Hopefully your budgets have taken these costs into account, and are of a sufficient size that the unit cost has not dramatically risen.

That leaves you free to keep going with finding a market to shift the stock while the shipment is in transit to you.