Customs clearance is probably one of the most complex and intimidating aspects of global freight shipping. Small businesses must devote a lot of time and energy to make sure they get the process right if they are to avoid fines and delays. Whether you opt to use a broker or decide to go it alone, Read More
Category: Logistics
Smart Directions is Now Offering Alcohol and Tobacco Customs Clearance
Now we offer alcohol and tobacco customs clearance, we thought it would be good to tell you a bit about these goods and the hoops you have to jump through when importing and exporting them. Alcohol and tobacco are excise goods. As such, UK excise duty is chargeable when imported into or produced in the Read More
Should You Outsource to a 3PL Provider or Invest in a Warehouse?
At some point, all e-commerce businesses have to decide whether to outsource to a 3PL provider or invest in warehousing facilities. As your business grows, your operations must evolve to meet the growing demands of your business. E-commerce means getting your head around burgeoning fulfilment needs. At some point, you will reach a crossroads: do Read More
How to Tell If You Need a Customs Broker
Does dealing with customs send a shiver down your spine? Just thinking about the paperwork involved is headache-inducing, so any opportunity to reduce the stress of importing is tempting. But is using a customs broker right for your business? Let’s take a look at what they do, and then you can make your mind up. What Read More
Making Your Logistics Practices Sustainable
Sustainability is today’s buzzword, but is sustainable logistics something that can be applied to the logistics industry? The answer is yes, it can. Sustainability is all about being green. The problem is many people associate green with extra costs. But it doesn’t have to mean that. Let’s face it; you’re not going to change your Read More