
(1) Know your markets
There is no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to entering multiple countries overseas. Whether you?re looking to conquer an established market or an emerging one, you must consider the individual customs, regulations and code of etiquette for each country, including licensing requirements and quotas. Costa Rica, for example, controls trade in certain wool fabrics, whereas Mexico requires textile or material importers to hold a license or visa.(2) Keep up-to-date on charges and other trade rules
During the transportation process, you may have to pay two sets of charges ? firstly at the point of export and secondly at the point of import into the destination country. Understanding the costs involved at each end will help you to plan ahead accordingly. Do bear in mind that as a member of the Customs Union, the UK benefits from restriction-free trade with other EU countries. If you are exporting clothing to the EU that has been processed from imported EU raw materials or goods, you may be able to apply for additional relief from customs duties. Think about where your goods are made and how much is of EU origin, as you may get duty relief from other ?preference-giving? countries outside of the EU that favour imports from this area.(3) Overcome customs challenges with accurate labelling
Specific rules apply to the transportation of fabric and clothing. To ensure you give an accurate valuation, you must provide a detailed description of the contents of the shipment being exported. For example, rather than “bolt of wool”, the recommended description would be “bolt of plain red wool”. This will help ease the goods through customs and allow officials to calculate the correct duties and taxes to be paid, without any holdups. Stating the gender for which the garment is designed is also important, as this will impact on the duty rate when being transported overseas. In some countries the country of manufacture needs to be disclosed, namely the US, where the manufacturer needs to be identified via a code or the manufacturer?s full name and address.(4) Be aware of counterfeit products
(5) Give good customer service through realistic guarantees
The size of the UK means next day delivery is generally a given to the vast majority of cities and towns across the country, but reaching customers abroad with a pristine product may well take more time. Larger, global corporations often also absorb customs charges, to help keep customers happy with lower delivery rates. Your logistics provider can advise on likely delivery times based on individual country tariffs and border requirements. While sourcing or selling goods on a global scale can seem like a complex procedure, now is an exciting time to start building an overseas presence for your fashion brand. The total value of UK apparel exports now stands at an impressive ?7.3bn?? a figure that has no doubt been achieved through assistance from a range of sources, from the UKTI and similar government agencies, to logistics partners. Hopefully, considering some of these advice points will ensure emerging designers and startup brands make a bold fashion statement the world over. Image: Henry JoseSign up to our newsletter to get the latest from Business Advice.