AIT eliminates U.S. duty fees, enhances e-Commerce shipment security for major Australian retail brand

Published on: Sep 17, 2020

Summary

AIT’s secure and reliable export and delivery solution helped a multi-million-dollar Australian retail brand make its successful U.S.-market debut in September 2020—without a hefty duty added to the price tag.

CHALLENGE: Shifting costs, limited resources

In Q2 2020, a private equity firm began to plan the U.S.-market debut of a top Australian apparel and accessories brand. While they had a group of established products that thrived in Australia and a manufacturing base in Asia, they also had limited internal staff and no U.S. distribution infrastructure. For a successful launch, they needed a protected, cost-effective export process, as well as dependable delivery services to U.S. consumers.

SOLUTION: Full-service, door-to-door logistics

In a matter of days, AIT’s e-Commerce logistics experts developed a tailored, start-to-finish, turnkey offering for the client, including:

Ocean transport from Australia and China to Los Angeles
Bonded trucking to an ultra-secure Tijuana, Mexico, distribution center (DC)
Product inspection, storage and pick and pack services
Access to consumer-packaging expertise and immediate local supplier base
Item-level inventory and tracking detail
Special access to temporary, duty-free import via Mexico IMMEX authorization
Trucking from DC to San Diego warehouse
Tender to any U.S. parcel carriers for final delivery nationwide

The AIT Difference Makers

Section 321 customs clearance management and IMMEX bond expertise
In-country professionals and a global network of high-quality, vetted facilities
Non-asset-based forwarder flexibility means AIT isn’t bound by limitations to a single air or ground fleet

RESULT: Secure, duty-free U.S. import

AIT’s solution not only removed duty costs from the client’s bottom line, but also:

Introduced additional layers of security to the client’s supply chain at the DC with product inspection, 24-hour guard service and a closed-circuit camera network
Ensured the client’s inventory is ready just over the border, prepped to fill online consumer orders in United States, duty free