In Reply to: advice on importing clothes please!!! posted by Halia on Monday, 8. August 2005 at 08:48 Bali Time:
Been importing from Bali, on and off the last 8 years. Selling via markets and party plan. Opened a shop recently just knowing that it would work. Keeping prices low for the big turnover, and everyone has commented on how realistic prices are and its nice not to be ripped off. Beaded thongs (i cant keep up with). Clothing is taxed at 17.5% as with shoes, bags,wood,handicraft at 5%,rattan tax free or 5% depending on what it is.
I have ALWAYS shopped for my stock personally and never just placed and order and crossed fingers, i have 2 friends that did it this way and neither are still in business as they lost alot of money 'fixing stuffed up orders/quality etc'.
i am heading over in the next 2 weeks to organise my first shipment, all other have been sent air frieght via custom broker, the secret is to make sure you have alot of smaller items to spread the costs of getting it here (eg jewellery which is cheap,light and small and can fill in gaps around bigger items). Hope i have been some help, if you want more just email