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.
Question I would like to import a product from mexico into Australia and sell via my website. I can spend 1000.00 Aus dollars per month. The first problem is in finding a product, then finding some one to represent me, customs and finding a supplier.
If you could shed some light on my situation it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for you time
Anna Shewring
Answer Ms. Shewring:
Hello and thank you for your email. I hope my team at Crossborder Group can be of help.
Let me first start by saying that I'm not sure if the AUS$1,000/month you're referring to is the amount you have available to actually "buy" product, or if that's what you have budgeted for an "in-market" agent that will help you find products, negotiate, etc. If it's to cover the cost for an in-market agent, then perhaps even our own firm can help - we have offices in both Tijuana and Guadalajara, and are specialists in market research and business consulting, and could help you find products and facilatate possible transactions. If the AUS$1,000/month is for product, then clearly we're thinking about lower cost items for possible export from Mexico -- something that is possible, but would just take some investigation on your part.
Learning from our own experience in importing products from Mexico (for sale in the US), it's important for you to define what "kinds" of products you might be looking for. For instance, what are the likely lines of products you would be most successful in eventually selling in Australia? Do you have experience and/or contacts in the retail industry? food? wine/spirits? gift? etc.... For instance, we used to import home decor products from Mexico -- and had to understand how to get the attention of buyers from retail chains, what trade shows to target, whether to use rep groups or not, etc. Depending on your own background and contacts, you might focus on one or another type of potential exports from Mexico.
Customs is usually not a big challenge -- once you've done it several times. There are freight forwarders or customs brokers in each region that have experience with managing the paperwork and requirements, and will advise you. Once you've identified several prospective products, you can get quotes from 2-3 freight forwarders to help figure out the logistical costs to get those products into the market.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions. If you'd like to follow up with more specifics, I'd be happy to try to answer in more depth.
Good luck and feel free to contact me directly.
-Kenn
Kenn Morris
Crossborder Group Inc.
www.CrossborderBusiness.com
kenn [at] crossborderbusiness [dot] com
