parallel imports

jelly · 03-13-2006, 11:39 PM

anyone got any tips on how to parallel import? is there a list of companies in europe that offer parallel imports? do they deliver or do you have to collect? any tips will help?

CD · 03-14-2006, 12:52 AM

Yeh there are loads of wholesalers that parallel import. Most offer collection or delivery.

You have to purchase in size runs e.g. s, m, l , xl, xxl. If you see things in quantities e.g. 25, 50, 200 they most proabably fake (see it on ebay all the time!). What they do do, is offer a cheaper price for say 20 of the same items which would be 4 of each size. Occasionally you may be able to break a size run - but this tends to ruin the whole process for them.

You HAVE to provide proof that you are trading or intend to trade (no ebay sellers, market stall sellers, party planners etc).

If your wanting to do it yourself then you need to do alot of travelling to make contacts & source the best deals! Then you got to get into import tax, customs etc, paying countries to export it. Also getting it over here - which I imagine would take along time if not by Air (season would have gone by the time it comes over) so would therefore be expensive. All these costs have to be added on the price, plus you need to make a profit! Would be hard to set it up as a wholesaler (most have been importing since the 80's) so could do it on a smaller scale - just for your shop.

Forgot one thing when this was being discussed last week - reason it's done is to offer cheaper products than what is officially offered here in the UK.

So do parallel imports exist in other countries? E.g. do other countries import our brands? I know someone says Aquascutum is very expensive US & Italy. So are there people who import clothes from Britain to their own countries. There can't be that many are we some of the highest prices in Europe & most proabably the world!

xzibit · 03-14-2006, 01:28 AM

cd man, do you do parallel imports?

CD · 03-15-2006, 03:40 PM

I sometimes deal with PIs and know people that do.

**dumb5** · 03-15-2006, 07:31 PM

cd -- is there a good profit margin or is it tight and hard work?

CD · 03-15-2006, 07:59 PM

yeh can be a good profit margin. have to sell cheaper than in the shops so may need to 'undercut' but still good profit.

xzibit · 03-15-2006, 09:31 PM

i sell a few pieces from nyc. get some authentic liquidated consignments from a bro. will shortly be selling some gear on the kitmeout auction. never looked into this parallel import thing. is it possible to do parallel imports in the usa?

CD · 03-15-2006, 11:31 PM

It all depends on how much brands/items sell for in the USA.

Over here in the UK Ralph Lauren polos are about £55/£60 for basic styles, which works out at about $96/$104!! I know that you can buy them for around $60. My auntie sends some from the sale over & they cost her about $30/£35. So RL polos are something that would be imported into the UK & could be profit making & still sold at a cheaper price!

When I went to NYC last year in April Ben Sherman & Ted Baker was being sold as a designer brand with designer prices, with the likes of D&G, Moschino etc. Over here BS / TB are not really considered to be on a par with D&G / Moschino. But they are way cheaper than what they were being sold for in NYC. So BS / TB may be something that is imported into USA.

So it all depends upon the price of each brand to work out if its viable to import it. Here in the UK we have some of the highest prices in the world. So thats why so many designer clothes are imported. I imagine it is a different story in countries where the price is cheap - guess they don't paralel import.

So you'd have to find out what the expensive items were & if you could get them 'considerably' cheaper else where in the world. But don't see why you can't - check the laws / regulations on importing incase taxes/quotes are in place on imports.

xzibit · 03-16-2006, 03:43 AM

nice one man. advice & time appreciated

SW1 · 03-16-2006, 06:21 AM

I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW PARALLEL IMPORTERS MAKE A PROFIT. FIRST THEY HAVE TO BUY THE GEAR FROM AN OVERSEAS RETAILER WHO NEEDS TO MAKE A PROFIT AT LEAST 10%. THEN THEY HAVE TO IMPORT THE GEAR AND PAY ALL THE ASSOCIATED SHIPPING & CUSTOMS AND THEN THEY HAVE TO TRY TO UNDERCUT OFFICIAL UK RETAILERS. HOW DO THEY DO IT?