| If you are a company wanting to increase sales, one | | | | areas or certain types of goods, so it may be more |
| of your first thoughts will probably be to investigate | | | | helpful to use the Internet to search for your specific |
| the export market. There is a lot of help available in | | | | shipping need. |
| the UK for potential exporters; the government | | | | Many first-time shippers don't realise that 'who pays |
| obviously wants to encourage export trade, and has | | | | the freight calls the tune' - in other words, whoever |
| an informative website uktradeinvest.gov, giving | | | | pays the freight charges decides which shipping |
| plenty of background information on all the countries | | | | company provides the service. In the UK, companies |
| of the world. This site will also put you in touch with | | | | have often traditionally sold their products 'ex Works' |
| a consultant who can advise your company | | | | - which means that their customer pays the freight |
| specifically. | | | | charges, and decides which freight company to use. |
| It is not so easy to find advice about how to get | | | | But if you have put a lot of money and effort into |
| your product to your overseas customers, once you | | | | finding an export market for your product, why |
| have found them and they have placed an order. | | | | would you want to lose control of it as soon as it |
| This is when you need to use the services of a | | | | leaves your premises? Surely it is better to feel |
| shipping company. | | | | confident that you have chosen the right shipping |
| Although the economy of the UK has been | | | | and forwarding company to do the job and that you |
| dependent on international trade for hundreds of | | | | have negotiated a fair price with them. |
| years, there is somehow a lack of knowledge about | | | | In conclusion, it's really better to think about your |
| how the goods actually move around the world, and | | | | shipping needs simultaneously with sourcing your |
| what companies perform this important function. It is | | | | export markets - that way a professional forwarder |
| easy enough to find a reputable shipping company by | | | | can advise you on the best and most economical |
| logging onto the website of the British International | | | | way to transport your goods, and you can include |
| Freight Association, (bifa.org) but most forwarding | | | | the freight cost in your quotation to the customer. |
| companies tend to specialise in certain geographic | | | | |