Looking at having some (retail store) clearance items shipped from UK to PH and be sold here for more. But what would you think would sell here in PH and also what would sell in the UK if imported from PH (or even Asia)? Good idea or bad?
I reckon that as long as it stays just an idea, it won't do any arm. UK to Phil............. Collection, warehousing, Transport costs, custom clearance, export duties, storage, distribution ....... And a host of many more little or large niggling payments over and under the counter... And as long as it says made in Britain it will be saleable.. now... But what is made in Britain nowadays...??? Phil to UK........... Collection, warehousing, Transport costs, custom clearance, import duties, storage, distribution ....... And a host of many more little or large niggling payments over and under the counter... And that is in Phil ............ To get the stuff, any stuff out... A Pinay lady I met, a few years ago, imports bamboo gazebos, and sells them from County and flower show around the Country. I presume she makes some money out of it, but not a great amount, as the sales are mainly seasonal in this respect. To be fair, I wouldn't know what to recommend, as I haven't seen anything worth bringing over that the chinese don't do cheaper....
A lot of people have thought about this one! Since I'm in the shipping business, a few thoughts on the mechanics of shipping UK/Philippines. It happens that 90% of containers leave the UK empty, but the big idea is to get them back to China, not to Manila let alone a smaller port. None the less ocean freight eastbound is less than westbound! A box for Manila will be transhipped either at Singapore or at Hong Kong for a Philippines port; this adds quite a bit to the costs. The best economies of scale will be found by shipping an "FCL" (full container load) but remember that you will be responsible for Customs clearance, renting a truck, devanning (emptying the container!) and returning the container pronto. Alternatively, and probably best for a trial shipment, go to a forwarder and book an "LCL" (less than container load) shipment and get them to arrange Customs clearance and delivery to your door. You are still responsible for packaging; get the exporter to ship the goods non shrink wrapped pallets. As to "what", my suggestion would be biscuits...
My wife and I were in a kitchen shop here in the Isle of Man and we bought some icing decorations for a cake. To my surprise they were made in the Philippines.
Yes, we had a local delicatessen run by a Filipina who stocked a big range of those as well as Sky Flakes decent rice etc. They were very good. Sadly she's just sold the business and retired.
I would say clothing, but given how cheap some retailers can get it sold here in the UK, it is doubtful
From the UK to the Phils or Phils to UK? UK to the Phils would only work for high end items high fashion where there are huge margins and a fairly small market in the Phils. Phils to UK, I can't see it being worth it, retailers here already have too many well established low cost suppliers. There are places in the Phils where you can buy extremely high quality wooden furniture made by excellent craftsmen, the stuff I saw was both stylish and to my eye incredibly cheap, I had wondered about the logistics of filling a container with it for shipping to the UK, however the market for this in the UK has probably dried up with the recession and many more folk heading for Ikea. Probably not a great idea to ship low volume high value items rather than high volume low value items, probably easier to shift low value items at a profit
David Maynard, a Welsh friend of mine, has been manufacturing high quality reproduction and modern furniture in his factory in Mandaue City for the last 8 years with a workforce of around 25, many of whom have been with him for from the beginning. He was sending a container each month to the UK until bank crisis sparked the recession but nowadays much of his output is made to order for the domestic and American markets. You will have seen some of his work if you've been to the Gustavian (Banilad and Ayala), Urban Cellar, Jokers Arms or the Emerald Isle restaurant where he has made the traditional British bars and most of the other tables and furniture. But his stuff is not cheap (I did ask him for a quote to make a pair of 8'6" high, two inch thick Cathedral doors spanning 6' complete with wrought iron studding and handles - including the frame I wouldn't see much change from 70,000 Pesos just for the materials!) The problem with exporting ready-made furniture is the high shipping cost.
I received a shipping cost quotation, yesterday, for a 20 container UK -door -to - door to our PI home, c£4,500 or double that of 5 years ago.? "Loading (1 Packer, 3 Lifters), UK Customs documents, Freight to Philippines, Custom clearance in Manila, Unloading / onward shipping to Bohol. Unloading at destination address TOTAL COST = £4,475.00". An alternative quick quote UK to manila was £2,800 + VAT = £3,500 - no packing/extras - just to Manila Port with Manila "Customs clearance" at a staggering "Christmass comes every day" cost of £1,500. The Mancunian Agent said "lucky you are not shipping to Nigeria where they are even more generous with the Customs clearance charge." My oak rolltop desk would therefore be £130 d to d. in a container and using the "Balikbayan Box service" puts the desk @ £270 ! We are leaning towards the Balikbayan Box service @ £9 cubic foot and taking the minimum of our posesions which would not 1/2 fill a container in any case. On the "Balikbayan Box service" cost of a bed, for example, is £540 so out of the question. More doom & Gloom increaces in shipping cost's will damage exports. Tom
My ex-fiancee's sister made her own shell jewellery in the Philippines and exported it to the USA. Not sure if she really made a living from that as she went to the Middle East to work as a nanny.
