Business 101: What You Need to Know Before Shipping Internationally

Sending your products overseas normally means that your company is committed to international growth. By knowing a lot about the shipping process before you get started exporting, you will have a much greater chance of creating sustainable international growth.

Here are some things to know before you get started exporting:

Hazardous materials require special treatment: If you are shipping items that contain hazardous materials as defined by Canada or your destination country, you will need to arrange to package it very carefully and ensure that you include a material data sheet that describes precisely what types of hazards that customers and countries that receive it can be exposed to.

Not crating something can be frustrating: A lot of times when the objects that you are sending are fairly solid, it seems like it would be okay to just put them on a skid and send them. Unfortunately, as many people know in the world of international shipping, there can be a heightened potential for breakage when items are not crated. According to one company, Pack-All International, crating large items stabilizes them and decreases returns or claims by your client.

Be careful when choosing a packaging partner: The location of the crating partner can make a large difference because inland shipping costs will go up with bulky items if they are moved around too much in your metro area. The type of products and materials you are shipping will also affect your cost. So when it comes to choosing a packaging partner, you will want to research what deals (if any) they can give you. Sometimes the more you are willing to ship, you might be able to get a better deal from giving that partner your business.

Another important factor in selecting a packaging partner is their ability to allow you to drop ship if you are wholesaling or retailing an item. By drop shipping from the manufacturer directly to the packaging partner, your goods will go out faster than they would if you included your facility as a destination. You will also save money because it is less expensive to ship overall. Of course it is important to remember to have one of your staff examine the shipment when it comes in onsite before it is crated or packaged.

Documenting a shipment is a must: It isn't that hard to create the proper paperwork that needs to accompany the shipment. Typically, you will create invoices and packing lists and documentation that the country of destination needs for your specific product. It can be difficult to know specifically which documents you need when there is a language barrier with the country that you are exporting to. Because of this, it is always important to research the details in advance for each country.

Overall, shipping internationally can be a good way of enhancing your bottom line. As with any part of business, it can make sense financially to work with partners that specialize in areas like packaging.