About Kenn Morris, CrossborderBusiness.com Expertise Kenn Morris is an bilingual expert in Mexico and US-Mexico business issues and crossborder markets. His areas of expertise include Mexico`s maquiladora (manufacturing) and technology industries; US-Mexico market research, border business and consumer markets, Mexican culture and business etiquette; and strategic analysis of Mexico business and political situations. Kenn has over 14 years experience working in various capacities in California-Baja California border region and in key business regions in Mexico (including Nuevo Leon, Jalisco, Mexico City and others). His firm provides border market research, industrial marketing, consulting, and governmental relations services.
Experience Kenn started Crossborder Business Associates in 1996 while living in Mexico, with the goal of providing market research, analysis, and consulting support to both US and Mexican firms interested in business across the border. Since that time, CBA has evolved into Crossborder Group Inc. (www.CrossborderBusiness.com), serving a wide range of clients -- from smaller firms, to Fortune 100 companies, to government agencies and universities -- in such areas as maquiladora research and siting studies, crossborder technology research, border crossing studies, analysis of crossborder economic relationships, marketing strategies and more. In addition to his work for Crossborder Group, he is also the past-coordinator for US-Mexico Business program at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Extension; and directed UCSD San Diego Dialogue's Crossborder Innovation & Competitiveness Initiative.
Expert: Kenn Morris, CrossborderBusiness.com Date: 3/30/2008 Subject: Export to Mexico
Question Dear Sir;
I have used clothing business in Houston, Texas. How can I source genuine buyers of good quality used clothing in Mexico. Can you give me some leads; and what documentation I will need to sell across the border. Thank you
Answer Tahir:
Thank you for your question. Focusing on the second part -- what do you need -- I'll assume first that you have a buyer in Mexico, and that they are going to become the "importer of record". To bring any product into Mexico, you need an official exporter, and an official importer -- parties that will be responsible for the product in either country. Sometimes it's the same company that handles both sides of the trade process -- that way, your customers don't have to handle the challenges of importing (one less barrier to buying your product). If you decide to handle the importation and become the "importer of record", you'll also have to start a business in Mexico (which I've covered in other answers here).
Again, assuming your customer handles the importation issues, then you would simply work with a Customs Broker that would tell you what tariff or quota issues might apply to your products (most textile trade between the US and Mexico is without tariffs at this point); and the Customs Broker will handle the logistics and the paperwork to actually get your products to your customer in Mexico. That's the easy part.
In terms of the question about providing leads -- that's not something that I can do for free through AllExperts. Finding quality leads takes time, and would take hours of work (which is why we provide such services through our consulting firm). I would suggest either retaining someone to assist with finding good targets; or starting with some online searching for textile importers, and over time building up better contacts as you become more familiar with the marketplace.
Good luck, and I hope that this is helpful,
-Kenn Morris
President/CEO
Crossborder Group Inc.
www.CrossborderBusiness.com
