The container arriving at the farm. Like many of you I multi-task. As well as writing and the family, I also own an e-store - East is East. I've been ask what it was like to import goods into the country so I thought I'd share my experiences with you about how I started importing home accessories from Indonesia.
It was as I stood and watched the articulated lorry beeping, backing its way through the huge farm shed doors I asked myself, not for the first time, ‘What could possibly go wrong?’ After all I’d only wired a very large sum of money to a man I’d never met, on the other side of the world to get to this point. I was about to open the seals on a 20ft container piggybacked on the artic lorry. I prayed that it wasn’t: a) empty, b) full of damaged goods or c) full of stowaways ready to make a run for it.
I’m not ‘Made in Chelsea’ rich nor reckless but I have been itching to have my own online store for a long time. www.eastiseasthome.co.uk started in earnest when I tried to source an item I really wanted in my own home - genuine shell curtain tie backs; exquisite and beautiful. I searched the web. One retailer popped up on the screen. He was in Australia but I had to buy in bulk. That got me thinking. I decided to search further for other unusual items of home ware. I eventually unearthed marvellous tea lights and candle lanterns. East is East was born. If I worked on the premise that I only chose handmade, unique items that I would love to have in my own home, I was surely onto a winner? Most people like to be a bit different and if my products weren’t available elsewhere in the UK, that would be my unique selling point.
I researched more wholesalers in Indonesia. Some had websites I didn’t like. Some only had a few items I thought would appeal to customers in the West. I narrowed it down to two that I felt might work and emailed them. With the mind of a stalker I scoured the Internet for everything I could find on their history. If I was going to part with my hard earned cash I needed to know that I was likely to end up with quality goods. I emailed other retailers around the globe chasing up references, Facebooked and chatted to everyone I could think of who had experience in this field. Decision made. With everything crossed I chose a few samples and got them delivered to check the quality before I placed an order for a container load. If a few dozen items couldn’t make their way safely across the skies to my door, how could I expect my container to have a peaceful cruise? I said a trepid goodbye to my money and pinged it across the globe and waited.
One day not soon afterwards, I came home to a large box. The items had arrived. Some were perfect but others were too flimsy to survive their journey. I researched again. I produced a product list and sent it back across the world hoping that it could all be made in time for the Christmas trade. This was May. We had a total of five months to wait: two months to make the goods and three for them to cross the seas. I felt reasonably confident.
As the days counted down, an email arrived from the wholesaler. Although it was a sunny summer here it was monsoon season in Indonesia and the paint on some of my mobiles wouldn’t be dry in time if the shipment was to catch the boat. I could delay and wait or go ahead without them. Reluctant to wait any longer I decided that the few that were dry were better than none and that I could always get the others in the next order. It was mainly the baby tropical fish causing the problem. Kids eh? Always do make you wait for them.
A week went by. Another email arrived. My wholesaler told me he needed my Eori number before he could complete the import paperwork and release the cargo. Eori number? He might as well have said he needed my late mother’s waist measurement. I had no idea what it was nor how to get it. I returned to my trusty Qwerty. It seemed not only did I need an Eori number but I had to have something called a ‘Bill of Lading’.
For any of you who have tried to understand the Customs and Excise website guidelines you will know that you have to digest it slowly. For starters I recommend a dictionary, then a thesaurus for mains and a sugar laced dessert of Psychology. And in case of complete overload, wash it down with a large glass of patience. Arghhh… the days ticked away towards Christmas.
Then another problem reared its ugly head. When the ship arrived at the UK docks, I somehow had to complete all the import paperwork at this end in an allotted time otherwise the goods would not be released. As far as I could see I had two choices. I could either drive down to Southampton not knowing what I was supposed to do and hope for success or I could engage someone called a freight forwarding agent to process the documents in a more civilized fashion. It was all becoming a bit complicated.
I am a firm believer that there is someone waiting 24/7 to upload a video about ‘everything you want to know but are afraid to ask’ on Google. I tracked down a few forwarding companies. At random I picked one and rang. I explained to the woman on the other end of the telephone what I was trying to accomplish. She was extremely helpful and told me about the documents I needed to have in place before customs would allow me to get my sweaty mitts on my purchases. I clicked here and there between forms and websites whilst juggling numerous cups of coffee. I rang her again. She explained something else. I managed to fill in part of a form then, like in an exam, came to a question I didn’t know the answer to. I rang her a third time. With the patience of a saint my new best friend explained what I had to do. Good enough for me. If she could cope with a harassed, import-naïve newbie and still be polite, she could have my business.
Months later it was 8.30 on a dreary November morning when the phone rang. Other half, Nick, was walking the dogs. The lorry with the container had arrived at the farm where we planned to store our container, earlier than expected and the driver was having a cup of tea. Cup of tea! Why hadn’t I been told the moment he had left the docks at Southampton? We only had three hours to unload the 20ft container before we went into extra time and penalty charges. I rang Nick and shrieked at him to skedaddle his way home. The dogs would have to wait. An hour into our allotted time we both arrived at the farm.
Bolt cutters (I hadn’t realised I’d need them in my handbag) were produced to crack the seal so we could open the container doors. They swung open. My neatly stacked brown paper packages were tied up, not with string, but in some places nailed to the floor. First hurdle over. At least I hadn’t paid for the container to sit empty on the ship for 3 months and I didn't appear to have any unwanted visitors to declare to immigration… unless…I quickly opened the nearest box. Shredded newspaper like confetti tumbled out. I put my hand in hesitantly. What if a large, hairy fanged spider had stolen its way into one of the boxes and was about to give me a fatal bite?
‘Do you know if they have deadly spiders in Bali,’ I casually inquired.
In the end whilst the driver sat in his cab and looked at his tabloid, the unloading only took four of us half an hour. As the end of the lorry came into view I gave into temptation and started opening a few of the boxes stacked neatly in the storage. Like Christmas morning I got more and more excited as I pulled first one, then another exquisite handmade item from their wrappings. Beautiful butterfly tea lights, owl lanterns and real cowry shell curtain tie backs surrounded me. I lifted a large, green, wooden, duck mobile above my head and pulled the thread to make its wings flap to admire the paintwork and craftsmanship. Nothing seemed broken or damaged from its long journey over the high seas and after a quick count of the carefully labelled boxes, all seemed present and correct.
Now a year and a bit down the road, I can’t wait to arrange for another container to sail its way to me. Yes, it was a steep learning curve to import the goods from another country but… nothing ventured, nothing gained. And yes, I relied on my faith in my fellow man’s integrity. I was lucky, but yes, it is something I would do again.
East is East is having a sale of up to 25% off while stocks last. We are hoping to import new items this year and we are always on the look out for new stockists to sell our goods so that we can spread the word and help style your home from distant shores.
Teresa x
East is East
www.eastiseasthome.co.uk
Twitter: @eastiseasthome
FB: eastiseasthome.
