2012-05-17T20:03:45Z TWI Staff Copyright 2012, TWI Staff SPHPBLOG
Rate of Exchange – The rate of currency exchange established daily as the buying rate of foreign currency by the Federal Reserve Bank. The daily rate is used only when it varies by more than 5% from the quarterly rate. When applicable, the daily rate is the rate that is certified on the day of exportation.

Shipper’s Export Declaration – A form that is required by the Treasury Department and completed by the shipper showing the value, weight, consignee, destination, etc. of export shipments as well as the Schedule B identification number.

Temporary Import – Exhibition material whose temporary import status exempts payment of duties and taxes on arrival.

Temporary Import Bond/Deposit (TIB) – Articles that are not imported for sale, admitted into the US on a temporary basis without the payment of duty, under bond for their exportation.

TIR Carnet – Similar to an ATA Carnet, but used for trucks from Non-EC Countries. Can be used for different unloading locations. The truck(s) must be sealed by Customs.

VAT – Value Added Tax. VAT applies to all EC countries, Switzerland and other countries around the world. The percentage applies to CIF value and duties and the percentage differs from one country to another. Local VAT on forwarding/handling services is not charged between ECE companies with a registered VAT number or to non-EC exhibitors on condition the local forwarder executes Customs clearance and transport.

Thanks for checking out our blog! If you have any shipping questions or if there's anything you'd like to see featured on our blog, don't forget to leave a comment and let us know. We'll be sure to answer your questions in one of our next blog posts!
]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry120216-182635 2012-02-16T00:00:00Z 2012-02-16T00:00:00Z
I met my husband at TWI -- he was in the cubicle next door -- and we celebrated our 5 year anniversary last August. On a personal level, I need only look at my Facebook account to see the many colleagues, clients, and overseas agents who have now become real friends all over the world. They have chased boxes and have argued/begged/pleaded with Customs with me, they have made miracles happen and celebrated (like only those in the tradeshow business can) when that crate made it to the booth just in time.

Professionally, TWI has allowed me to see the world and learn how to problem solve in a variety of cultures and situations. Success at TWI means being able to critically think and knowing the importance of following through on commitments. It means representing a family and employee-owned business where everyone has a stake in the success of not just TWI, but all the companies whose products and services we help promote. Whether it’s a large Fortune 500 company or a starter company exhibiting at their first show, a successful show for our exhibitors is a successful show for every employee at TWI.

TWI is company where our executives don’t just have signs that tout an open-door policy, they practice it everyday. No matter what position you are in, you can always go to Steve or Greg to ask for help, voice dissent or simply to talk. Although I know their time is precious, they never make you feel as if it’s too precious to spend with you. As many TWI employees can attest to, if you are willing to learn and to try, then you will always have the support of this company’s leadership.

TWI is a company that has made my life better in a great many ways and I am so thankful to have had this amazing experience and to have learned so much along the way. I will take those lessons learned with me to the State Department and use them every day in my professional and personal life. I’m truly proud to have been a part of something so great.


-- by Wendy Dowling, former Sales Representative at TWI Group, Inc., the premiere specialist in international tradeshow logistics. To find out how TWI Group can help with your upcoming tradeshow shipments, please call our Las Vegas Headquarters at 702.691.9000.

]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry120119-131633 2012-01-19T00:00:00Z 2012-01-19T00:00:00Z
Well on May 16 of this year Mexico became the 2nd Latin American country to accept ATA Carnets, the “merchandise passports” honored in some 80 countries and customs territories, according to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which issues and guarantees the internationally recognized customs documents in the U.S. Chile became the 1st Latin American country to accept them in 2005.

Carnets are accepted for: Commercial Samples, Exhibitions and Fairs, and Professional Equipment.

Mexico is the United States’ second-largest export market and third-largest trading partner overall. Top U.S. exports to Mexico include electrical machinery; vehicles; auto parts; plastics; aircraft and aircraft parts. Until recently, Mexico and other Latin American countries were not a part of the international Carnet system, which originated in Europe in 1961. Mexico’s acceptance of ATA Carnets opens the region to this innovative and valuable service.

Worldwide, more than 160,000 Carnets are issued every year, accounting for hundreds of thousands of customs declarations and covering goods with a total value of over $20 billion (U.S.). The Carnet system is overseen by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Customs Organization.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

• Carnet goods will be allowed to stay in Mexico for a period of six months and may request an extension for an additional 6 months. Requests for extensions must be received by the Mexican Customs office at least 14 days prior to the Carnet expiration date.
• Carnets entering Mexico must be registered before arrival. For details contact your TWI representative.

• Only the following ports in Mexico are authorized to handle ATA Carnets. For full port details contact your TWI representative.

o Tijuana
o Juarez
o Nuevo Laredo
o Altamira
o Veracruz
o Manzanillo
o Monterrey
o Guadalajara
o Cancún
o México City Airport

For more information on Carnets:
http://www.twiglobal.com/services/carnet-services.html

Upcoming Exhibitions in Mexico:
Aeroxchange Annual Conference 2012 February 28 – March 01, 2012 – Cancun
Expo Seguridad México 2012 April 24 – 26, 2012 – Mexico City
Expo AMPIMM 2012 June 13 - 16, 2012 - Mexico City



-- by Janice Cooper, Sales Support Representative at TWI Group, Inc., the premiere specialist in international tradeshow logistics. To contact Janice, or to find out how TWI Group can help with your upcoming tradeshow shipments, please call our Las Vegas Headquarters at 702.691.9000.

]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110921-134005 2011-09-21T00:00:00Z 2011-09-21T00:00:00Z
PLANNING TOO LATE
Planning early for international even shipment always helps in the long run, according to TWI sales representative Marianne Giddens. Knowing what type of show event properties are being shipped to, and what country they are being held in can help shipping partners identify red flags immediately. For example, you can't bring medical equipment to medical shows in South America without a permit -- a key point that should be addressed early on.

"Some clients don't understand how important the paperwork is. With TWI behind the scenes, we deal with the headaches and not sleeping because things aren't going through customs so our clients don't -- that's why they use us," Giddens says.

OVERLOOKING TIMEFRAMES
The reality is that the timeframes for getting this work done are getting tighter and tighter. The key to smooth international shipping for events is keeping your teams informed, both internally and externally.

"Every event manager knows their game plan for the out years, where they will be going for events and when they are happening. We keep our freight forwarders aware of schedules as soon as we're able to publish that, if it's not proprietary to the company. It's something we want them to know early on. The more people you can keep informed up fron, that's certainly the key," says Lockheed Martin event manager Len Rizzo.

CRATING
Packaging and crating is an international exhibitor's first responsibility; a good rule of thumb is to package event properties as if you are packing your own personal property. If you wouldn't feel right shipping something valuable in your brand's crates, it's time to reassess how you're doing things.


Crates need to protect and have some survivability if dropped. Remember, a lot of unseen people will be handling your shipments, and you're not in control of your freight at all times.

INVENTORY
Providing a proper, detailed description of everything on a shipment's commercial invoice is critical. While you may know your brand's products and properties by name alone, a product name on an invoice means nothing to customs officials. Provide detailed information on what's being shipped to avoid a headache.

"It will make it easier clearing customs. Sometimes clients will toss in some small extra items in a shipment without listing them on the commercial in voice. If it does get pulled for inspection, it can create problems, even for something as small as an extra power cord," Giddens says.

Having a proper inventory of what you're sending and making sure it's all accounted for can help solve these types of issues. "We like to get our clients' commercial invoice in advance so we can go through it and catch any problems on the front end," Giddens says.

DON'T ASSUME
Drew Camier, Station Manager with TWI's New York office, says the best shipping advice for event managers is don't assume anything. "Especially shipping overseas. If you think you know it, you don't. Customs regulations overseas change on a week-to-week basis. Just because you ship to one place over and over doesn't mean it will stay the same moving forward. There are no slam dunk shipments any more," Camier says.

]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110824-171719 2011-08-24T00:00:00Z 2011-08-24T00:00:00Z International Shipping 101 post here: (Shipping Terms A-F), we know all the lingo thrown around when shipping international freight can sometimes be confusing. Following are explanations of some of those tricky terms, beginning with letters E through P:

EC – European Community

Export License – A permit required to engage in the export of certain commodities to certain destinations. Lists of such goods are found in the comprehensive Export Schedules issued by the Bureau of Foreign Commerce.

Foodstuff/Edibles – Imports are subject to sanitary/veterinary health certificates. Live animals and/or plants may be quarantined.

Fumigation – Required in some countries for live plants and wooden packaging.

GST – Goods and services taxes.

Harmonized System – International commodity description and classification referencing system. Formerly known as Schedule B.

Ocean Bill of Lading – A receipt for cargo and a contract for transportation between a shipper and the ocean carrier.

Permanent Import – In case of sales, with payment of duties and VAT, or in case of free distribution, disposable or consumables are usually exempt from payment of duties and VAT depending on each country. The quantity and value exempted at discretion of Customs authorities.

Pier Demurrage – A charge that is assessed when the container is removed from the carrier’s control and is not returned within the allowable free time.

Power of Attorney (POA) – A “grant of authority” from the principal (importer) to the agent (broker) to perform certain acts on the principal’s behalf. A Power of Attorney is required by a broker to perform those activities, defined as “Customs business,” on behalf and in the name of a principal.

Prohibited Cargo – Goods restricted by International Convention. Also refers to drugs, weapons and ammunitions.

Stayed tuned to our blog for more "International Shipping 101" posts coming soon. And if you have any shipping questions or if there's anything you'd like to see featured on our blog, don't forget to leave a comment and let us know. We'll be sure to answer your questions in one of our next blog posts!

]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110803-112033 2011-08-03T00:00:00Z 2011-08-03T00:00:00Z

Air freight is the predominant method for transportation of exhibit material overseas. It is very quick, and can service most parts of the world. With the dominance of parcel services like Fed-Ex and UPS, air freight has become a very normal part of everyday transport. If choosing to use air freight for exhibits, you just need to be aware of the key factors surrounding this type of transport.

1. Size and Dimensions - If your crated goods are larger than 64 inches, this will severely restrict the capability of moving your freight by air. If over 96 inches, the choices become even more limited. Items exceeding 96 inches in length can create issues as well. Before deciding how to send your freight, it’s always best to know your dimensions so the best choices can be made.

2. Time Frames – Many people associate air freight with “overnight.” In the international exhibition arena, this is not usually accurate. You can typically expect 7 working days from pick up to delivery to your stand for Westernized countries, and 14 working days for other countries. The air portion may only take 1-2 days, however, due to airline security, limited flight schedules, sizing requirements, and over-booked planes, often times your goods may not fly until 1-3 days after pick up. Then, customs clearance in most of the destination cities may take another day or two. So the reality is usually a minimum of 3-5 days and an average of 7-14 working days.

Helpful hints
To make your air freight experience the best possible, remember:
- Crates and cases on wheels can easily be damaged, as they must be secured and not be able to roll.
- If you do not have proper fork lift holes in your cases to lift heavy materials with a fork lift, you will incur rough handling.
- Be sure to label each separate box/case. If you are skidding and shrink wrapping, be sure to do so very securely.
- Plan well. Weather, time of year, disaster areas and seasonal situations can cause flights to be delayed or cancelled.
- Be a Known Shipper - US Regulations allow for "Known Shippers” to have their freight on regular passenger flights instead of cargo only. This gives many more options on flight schedules and time frames.

Plan well, and your air freight shipment will be a success!


-- Greg Keh is Executive Vice President of TWI Group, Inc., the premiere specialist in international tradeshow logistics. To contact Greg, or to find out how TWI Group can help with your upcoming tradeshow shipments, please call our Las Vegas Headquarters at 702.691.9000.

]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110722-125015 2011-07-22T00:00:00Z 2011-07-22T00:00:00Z
BILLING
From left to right above: Destinee Marshall, Carolina Aviles, Matasha Aiken, Cathy Thibodeau Our billing team receives the costs of sales invoices and generates invoicing our clients. They are all extremely conscious of their responsibility for completing on-time billing to our clients.


COLLECTIONS
From left to right above: Laura Camier, Linda Waggoner, Shelly Ahrens Our collections team has the task of ensuring that TWI clients receive their invoices and assisting our clients with any payment inquiries. They process credit card payments and collect payment information. They also settle any disputes. Our collections team is great at interacting with clients.


GENERAL ACCOUNTING
From left to right above: Angie Bartruff, Debbie Hackney, Mary Williams Our accounting team is responsible for making sure all the work done by Billing and Collections is represented in a month-end closing. Cash receipts in, cash disbursements out – they keep meticulous track of all the dollars, dollars, dollars going everywhere.

Like peanut butter and jelly or unicorns and glitter … our entire accounting department really knows how to work together. Kudos to all of them for their hard work!
]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110715-165027 2011-07-15T00:00:00Z 2011-07-15T00:00:00Z
This year’s CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia shows saw an exciting change—they were held in new and different venues respectively. For the first time, the shows were not held at the Singapore Expo but were split in two separate locations throughout the city. BroadcastAsia was held at Suntec Convention Center which is in close proximity to many hotels and public transportation. Some of our flagship exhibitors such as Nautel and Evertz Microsystems returned to the show and new exhibitor Telairity made their debut as a TWI client. Suntec has held many tradeshows throughout the years and this was another success—the very last of our empties were returned by 6pm, only 2 hours after close of show!

In addition to being a logistically friendly place to do a tradeshow, Suntec has its own Mall (as do most buildings in Singapore) with an array of shops and meeting points for tourist attractions. If you need a local phone or SIM Card you can find them a few steps away at StarHub or 7Eleven.


Always of great importance in Singapore is the food, and the Food Republic at Suntec does not disappoint. From sushi to sandwiches, there’s something for everyone. My personal favorite is the ‘What You Do Prata’ stall. Prata is a thin flour pancake that is filled with many delicious things and grilled—reminiscent of a more savory crepe. I like mine with Egg and Mushroom with a side of red curry sauce for the bargain price of S$3.60.

Meanwhile, CommunicAsia was held at the brand-new Marina Bay Sands Exhibition Center (known as MBS to locals), right across from the 3 tower Sands Hotel.



This new venue hosted the show on 3 levels and saw very heavy traffic for exhibitors such as General Dynamics, Andrew and iDirect, among others. The Exhibition Center is along the water and adjacent to a spectacular Mall that has everything from high-end designer stores to a theater and skating rink. Food choices include Mario Batali’s Pizzaria Mozza (fantastic, woodfire pizza) and Kraze Burger, a Korean take on a variety of ‘healthy’ burgers. Along with a Casino and all the amenities of the Sands Hotel, this was a popular venue with a lot to do. The designs of the convention facilities do not accommodate the logistics processes as well as Suntec, but the large array of activities make up for it.

In addition to all the activities at the venues, TWI Group added to the fun for our exhibitors by co-sponsoring our annual party with Kallman Associates and PICO. Exhibitors gathered at Irish pub Molly Malone’s on Boat Quay for a night of cold beer, good fun and live music from Irish crooner Gerry Cox.

With a total of 56,000 attendees and exhibitors, this year’s CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia shows were a resounding success for all and the shows will return to the same facilities for 2012. We look forward to seeing you there!

-- by Wendy Dowling, Sales Representative at TWI Group, Inc., the premiere specialist in international tradeshow logistics. To contact Wendy, or to find out how TWI Group can help with your upcoming tradeshow shipments, please call our Las Vegas Headquarters at 702.691.9000. ]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110707-131141 2011-07-07T00:00:00Z 2011-07-07T00:00:00Z

For overseas exhibits and trade shows, ocean freight and air freight are the two methods of freight transportation. While air freight is the most common, ocean freight is a key and growing component for international exhibitions. Some important key notes about Ocean Freight vs. Air:

Ocean Freight

Ocean Freight is less expensive, based on dimensional sizes of per cubic meter, or by 1000kg. It can also be based on container size such as 20 or 40 foot containers. All freight should fit into one of the containers that are used to load vessels, and these do have some size limitations, based on the door openings. However, they have containers with open tops, flat racks and even roll on and roll off systems to accommodate most sizes, vehicles, trucks and even helicopters. Ocean freight offers the most flexibility in terms of size of exhibit that can be transported. It has extremely economical pricing and with proven delivery records.

Ocean Freight is more susceptible to weather and other delays, with less flexibility in solutions, proper management of time frames and deadlines creates a great deal of success for meeting trade show deadlines. Generally, ocean freight can take a minimum of 21 or 30 days to go from port to port. Be careful, as some foreign venues and contractors have minimum handling fees for containers and for ocean freight, so make sure that you take these minimums into your total pricing budget.

Air Freight

Very popular and accessible to most of the US, air freight is the preferred method for transporting exhibit materials around the world. Air Freight allows for greater frequency of service. More cities are reached by air freight, and if you have a short time schedule or rush shipment, air freight is the most flexible. There are size restrictions involved, and there are much more security requirements that can limit the choice and flight selections. Air Freight is more expensive for ocean, and the convenience and timing factor have a large roll to play in this. Yet, for shipments of fewer than 1000 lbs or so, air freight can be more economical than ocean freight to many destinations. Generally, air freight can take a minimum of same day or 2 days to transport from US to overseas destinations.

For a full detailed listing on size restrictions for air and ocean, contact your TWI representative or give us a call us at 702.691.9000.

-- Greg Keh is Executive Vice President of TWI Group, Inc., the premiere specialist in international tradeshow logistics. To contact Greg, or to find out how TWI Group can help with your upcoming tradeshow shipments, please call our Las Vegas Headquarters at 702.691.9000.

]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110630-165539 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z
Agent – One who negotiates contracts or acts in the legal capacity of another party.

Air Cargo – Any property carried, or to be carried, in an aircraft, excluding passenger bags.

Airway Bill – Also called an air consignment note. A bill of lading issued by the airline acknowledging receipt of merchandise, indicating conditions of cartage and issued only in non-negotiable form.

Arrival Notice – A document issued by railroads, airlines and maritime services identifying that the shipping is sent to the consignee or their agent and informing consignee/agent of the cargo’s arrival.

ATA Carnet – An International Customs document issued by authorized Chambers of Commerce allowing temporary admission of goods in many foreign countries without the need for bonds, deposits/guarantees, duty and Customs formalities.

Bank Guarantee Cash Deposit – Payable by the exhibitor to the forwarder, the Customs agent or official authorities in place of a temporary import bond to ensure the amount requested is the minimum amount of import duties and taxes which would be paid in case of final import.

Bill of Lading (BOL)– A contract between a shipper and a carrier providing proof that the merchandise was transferred from the shipper to the consignee and that the carrier has assumed responsibility for the cargo until it is delivered.

Bonded Warehouse – A warehouse that is approved by Customs into which goods that have not been cleared can be placed.

Cartage Agent – A Ground service operator who provides pickup and delivery in areas not served directly by an air carrier.

Certificate of Origin – A document certifying the origin of goods.

CIF – Cost plus insurance plus freight = CIF value. A pricing term that indicates the cost of goods, insurance and freight are included to establish CIF value.

Commercial Invoice – An invoice required that is to be presented to Customs representing one shipment of merchandise by one consignor to one consignee clearly identifying the product for classification and appraisement purposes.

Concealed Damage – Damage to merchandise that is not discovered until the shipment is unpacked.

Consignee – A party to whom goods are delivered.

Consolidation – A combination of more than one shipment going to the same destination, often with more than one consignee or shipper.

Container Detention – A charge which is assessed when the container is removed from the carrier’s control but is not returned within the allowable free time.

Customhouse Broker (US) – A person or firm that is licensed by the Treasury Department engaged in entering and clearing goods through Customs.

Customs – A government authority that is designated to regulate the flow of goods to and from a country and to collect duties levied by a country on imports and/or exports. The term also applies to the procedures involved in such collection.

Dangerous Goods – Articles or substances that are capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or property when it is transported and which are classified according to the most current editions of ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods and the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Declared Value (Cartage) – The value of goods that is declared to the carrier by the shipper for the purposes of determining charges or establishing the limit of carrier’s liability for loss, damage or delay.

Dock Receipt – A receipt given for a shipment received or delivered at a pier. When delivery of a foreign shipment is completed, the dock receipt is surrendered to the vessel operator or his agent and serves as the basis for the preparation of the Ocean Bill of Lading.

Duties – The sum of monies that is assessed by a country’s fiscal authorities to discourage imports.

Stayed tuned to our blog for more "International Shipping 101" posts coming soon. And if you have any shipping questions or if there's anything you'd like to see featured on our blog, don't forget to leave a comment and let us know. We'll be sure to answer your questions in one of our next blog posts!
]]> http://www.twiglobal.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry110617-131321 2011-06-17T00:00:00Z 2011-06-17T00:00:00Z