Stocking your store with goods from around the globe can help differentiate your supply, expand your customer base, and refresh your inventory—at no additional cost to you. However, we know that buying internationally can also seem complicated and costly if you haven’t bought from brands outside of your country before. That’s why we’re here to guide you through the process.
We’re excited to provide you with a comprehensive overview of what European retailers need to know to buy internationally on Faire. Our hope is to make an ordinarily complex process simple, so that buying from international brands on Faire becomes as easy and cost-effective as shopping for domestic goods.
How international buying works on Faire
Before ordering internationally, you will need to ensure you’re purchasing products that you are authorized to introduce and resell in your country and that you meet your country’s import requirements. Please note that these requirements vary depending on the type of product and the country you are importing them into. You can find guidance on import requirements in our International buying guide.
As the importer, you may be required by Customs authorities to provide permits or licenses if you are ordering controlled product categories, tax ID or additional information about your business in order for your orders to clear customs. For orders that require an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number, you’ll be prompted to provide the number prior to checkout. Visit our help center for the latest guidance on this topic and learn how to apply for an EORI.
Brands ship products directly to you and communicate through Faire’s messaging tools
On Faire, brands are responsible for shipping products to retailers. They can communicate directly with you through our messaging feature.
Though retailers are typically responsible for shipping costs, for a limited time we’re covering the full cost of shipping for European retailers.
Sometimes, orders from international brands can take a few days longer to arrive due to customs. For this reason, many brands on Faire fulfill international orders first so that they can offer the same delivery windows to their international and domestic buyers.
When your order arrives in your country, a customs authority does a quick review to ensure it complies with local guidelines
Customs then determines how much to charge for duty and tax. Faire currently offers a promotion that covers your duties cost, saving you an average of 15% on every order.
The VAT process for international orders is nearly identical to that of domestic orders
As mentioned above, all international orders are subject to import duties (temporarily covered by Faire) and import VAT.
If you are a VAT-registered retailer, you can reclaim import VAT the exact same way you reclaim VAT for domestic orders—making buying internationally is equally simple and cost-efficient as buying domestically.
When you place an order, you will be charged for import VAT in one of two ways:
- If a brand ships with one of Faire’s partner carriers: Faire will prepay the duty and tax invoice on your behalf, and then add the cost of VAT by adding it directly to your Faire invoice. You pay Faire directly and we will take care of all logistics.
- If a brand chooses to ship with an alternate carrier: You will receive a separate invoice from your country’s customs authority charging you for duties and tax 1-2 weeks after your order has been delivered. You will still be responsible for paying the entire invoice (duty and tax) to your customs authority.
Your order will be delivered within your shipping window, even if it’s coming from an international brand
International orders will be delivered to the address you provided during checkout the same way domestic orders are. In rare cases, customs may need more information from you, in which case they will contact you directly.
Enjoy Faire-funded free shipping and duties through 2021
When buying on Faire, in most cases, there is no additional cost or paperwork to buy from international brands. This is made possible through a few limited-time promotions we’re offering European retailers:
- Free Duties on all international orders
- Free shipping on all orders, international or domestic
These costs save you up to 30% on each order and allow you to try new international goods in your store, risk-free.
Learn more about international buying on Faire
We hope this guide helps answer questions and alleviate concerns about buying from international brands on Faire. Buying internationally can help make your store stand out to buyers who are looking for unique products.
If you’d like to learn more, you can visit our international buying guide on our help center. And join us in September for a webinar to learn about international buying from the Faire team and have your questions answered, live! RSVP Today.
