Shipwire is proud to offer existing customers and partners access to our New UK Warehouse beta. To help smooth the process we recommend going over this orientation and business checklist as part of your entry into the European Market.
Shipwire’s London facility gives our customer retailers and manufacturers a direct line into the second of the worlds top 3 consumer markets, with no hassles and unified administration with their US and Canadian warehouses.
The London UK warehouse is your initial beachhead for the European Union marketplace. Your London facility is driving distance to Ireland, and a “chunnel” stop away from France, Brussles, Belgium and the Netherlands. No more Trans-Atlantic boat or expensive Air-Freight shipments.
The Shipwire network is now 3 countries, 5 locations and 2 continents all through 1 interface.
While we are trying to make it as easy as possible, there are still some business hurdles that we’re here to help you work through. Contact us for help with import and Customs
Getting Ready to Operate in the E.U.
Import and Customs
- London and the EU are not free trade between the U.S. To Import your inventory it will need to pass through Customs.
- You will need to pay tax and customs duties. Look up customs duties and restrictions for your products.
- The following forms are needed to clear customs
- A completed C88 form: C88 is the customs declaration form all importers (or their agents) need to complete to declare goods to Customs. The form specifies information about the parties involved in the import, how the goods were transported, and statistical data. A paper C88 form presented manually is certified when presented by being stamped by a Custom’s official. Alternatively, details can also be submitted electronically via CHIEF (Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight), if used, Customs will issue an Entry Acceptance Advice in place of a stamp as proof that entry was accepted by Customs.
- An attached copy of the supplier’s invoice (used for VAT)
- Goods classified appropriately in order to ensure that the correct tariff is applied
- Any special licenses that may be required
- It can take a few weeks for inventory to clear Customs. Expect Import delays the first few times if you are using a 3rd party customs broker or freight forwarder. If your shipments are timely, take this into consideration.
- Payment of customs duties: Once an import C88 has been submitted and accepted by Customs and Excise, any amounts owed are due. All duties and tariffs must be paid before they are released. Importers with goods arriving regularly usually pay by using a Deferment Account for them or their agent. You can also pay by Sterling traveler check, bank draft or company check.
- For more information
Contact us for help with import and Customs
Business Registration
- You must register your business with the local tax authorities.
- Shipwire has partnered with local accountants if you would like a referral and a pre-negotiated package.
- to do it yourself, go to the HM Revenue and Customs Business Site
Contact us for help with business registration
VAT Tax Implications
- If you have sold into the UK or Europe in the past and had product returned by end buyers because they received their purchase and a nasty VAT bill, you already know to watch out for Value Added Tax.
- Moving product in bulk to your new London facility means you clear VAT once and establish the Import VAT base, by shipping it to yourself. You now know your base VAT tax obligation and can reprice your merchandise accordingly.
- Shipwire has partnered with leading Tax experts in Europe to offer you competitive VAT Tax Quarterly and Annual returns to help you understand and learn to profit from VAT tax transfers in your business to Consumer (B2C) and Business to Business (B2B) transactions.
- Here is a great overview of VAT
- HM Revenue and Customs
Contact us for help with VAT Tax implications
Delivering the Goods
Shipping Fees
- Your shipping fees are denominated in US dollars. This means that shipping rates will fluctuate as the dollar fluctuates.
Options for Movement of Goods
- Royal Mail - This is our initial service offering, and is comparable to the US Postal Service, and Canada Post.
Shipwire has been listening to your requests for more shipping options. Here is a list of shipping methods for the UK facility:
- UPS Saver
- UPS Expedited
- UPS Standard
- UPS Express
- Royal Mail is comparable to the US Postal Service and Canada Post. Quickly Check rates. Convert £ to $
- Royal Mail First Class Large Letter
- Royal Mail Second Class Large Letter
- Royal Mail First Class Packet
- Royal Mail Second Class Packet
- Royal Mail Airmail
- Royal Mail Airsure
- Royal Mail International Signed For
- Parcelforce 24
- Parcelforce 48
- Parcelforce International Datapost
- Parcelforce Euro 48
- Parcelforce International Scheduled
- Parcelforce International Standard
- Parcelforce International Economy
- Pharos Hercules
- Eurotrux Ground
How to Use Store-Sell-Ship™, The Shipwire Platform, to make it happen.
We recommend getting started on your business registration and VAT accounting first. Contact us for help with import and Customs
Tell Shipwire you are sending goods to the UK
Sending your inventory to the UK is just as easy as sending your inventory to the other Shipwire warehouses.
Log into your acount, select “Store” from the Left navigation and click “Send to Shipwire” to create an Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN). Tell us what products you are sending and in what quantity. Please input your shipping tracking information and your expected delivery date to the warehouse.
Once your inventory arrives at the warehouse it will be measured, reviewed and inventoried. Once complete all inventory will be available for shipping.
Backorders
You can instantly signup for a Shipwire account, and immediately enter orders. Your orders will simply backorder until your inventory is received in our UK warehouse.
Getting started quickly
- Setting up eBay auctions, and collecting money via PayPal, is the easiest way to get started in minutes
- Or choose any compatible cart.
Understanding Pricing
- Pay with PayPal, credit card or bank transfer
- You simply pay a monthly fee + shipping. You can pay via PayPal, credit card, or bank transfer. Denominated in US dollars (convert £ to $, or convert € to $)
- Monthly Fees - Your Shipwire monthly fees are denominated in US dollars. This makes running your business consistent and free of conversion issues. Customize a monthly plan.
- Shipping Fees - Your shipping fees are also denominated in US dollars. In the case of Royal Mail, this means that shipping rates will fluctuate as the dollar fluctuates. Check rates. Convert £ to $.
- Shipping 1 item from the UK is the same as shipping 1 item from Los Angeles. For example, say your monthly plan has 60 items. If you ship 1 item from the UK, and 1 item from the US, you have 58 items left in your plan.
- Storing 1 pallet in the UK is the same as storing 1 pallet in Chicago. For example, say your monthly plan includes up to 4 pallets of storage. If you store 1 pallet in the UK, and 1 pallet in the US, you have 2 pallets of storage left in your plan.