It was not very long ago that the majority of buttons had a shiny, iridescent quality. In fact, take a look at shirts and dresses as recent as the 1970's, and you might notice these luminous buttons. They are made of mother-of-pearl, which is the inner shell layer of certain mollusks, and is made out of nacre - the same stuff that pearls are made of. Before the late 1800's, buttons were predominately an import item in the United States. That is, until John Frederick Boepple came along.
Born into a German button-making factory, Boepple honed his craft and expertise in Germany and Austria until 1887, when he reached a big turning point in his life. Prior to that time in 1887, stiffer and stiffer tariffs were being placed on imported material. Since Boepple used predominately imported shells and horns to make his buttons, this hurt his business very badly. To make matters worse, his wife died suddenly. With nothing left to live for, Boepple headed straight to the one place that he knew beautiful shells were abundant and untapped - the Mississippi River in the United States.
He had a hard road ahead. He had no friends or contacts in the U.S. and he spoke no English. He was focused on the task at hand, however, and even while he performed odd jobs for farmers and business owners in Illinois, he learned enough English to get around, and started collecting odds and ends of old machinery to start constructing a lathe with which to make buttons.
Lucky for Boepple, the MicKinley Tariff of 1890 echoed the stiff import tariffs that had been imposed just a few years earlier in Europe. Until this McKinley Tariff, people had been importing buttons from Europe. For the dual reason that the button industry was suffering in Europe because of the unavailability of inexpensive materials and the fact that it became even more expensive in the U.S. to order the already scant amount of buttons available in Europe, the U.S. was ripe for its own button industry.
Boepple realized he needed to strike while the iron was hot, and promptly moved to Muscatine, Iowa, where the Mississippi River had many thick-shelled mollusks for a fledgling button-maker. He built himself the best equipment he could muster out of the odds and ends he had collected, and started making buttons. He was very good at it, and word got around that mother-of-pearl buttons could be gotten in the U.S. and for a reasonable price.
Two investors, I.A. Kerr and William Molis, took an interest in Boepple's tiny business, and bolstered him enough to create the very first freshwater pearl button factory in the U.S. and even the world, as European button-makers did not make the buttons in factories. Unfortunately for Boepple, Kerr and Molis did not understand the delicacy required of working with mother-of-pearl, and purchased equipment ill-suited to the process. They were anxious to mass-produce the buttons, which Boepple saw basically as works of art. The alliance soon crumbled, and while Kerr and Molis's factory stayed open and produced buttons, Boepple made buttons out of his home, and opened a new factory that ran the way he wanted it to.
Muscatine thrived with this new business, and by 1905 produced more than 30% of all the buttons in the world at that time. By 1897 there were 53 button companies in Muscatine alone, not to mention the many other button factories along the Mississippi River. It wasn't very long before someone figured out a good way to automate the creation of mother-of-pearl buttons, thus making Boepple's old-world craftmanship (and the time it took to make a button) obsolete.
Boepple stopped making buttons, and concentrated on a freelance business that bought shells for other button companies. He soon realized that the quality of shells had diminished, and was dismayed to find out that this "button boom" had depleted the Mississippi River's natural supply of mussels. He went to work for the Fairport Biological Station, which was an initiative founded by Congress in 1908 to find out how to propagate mussels for this lucrative American industry.
Boepple modified the tool used most frequently to catch mussels - making it so it spared the younger mussels to allow them to grow bigger and multiply. While he was performing the duties associated with this job, he cut his fot on a broken mussel shell. Just a few months later, he died of blood poisoning in a Muscatine hospital.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
A Moral Question of Some Import
I am a passionate believer in limited government because I believe a small subset of people, no matter how intelligent, dedicated and well-intentioned, can never sustainably possess and exercise a level of wisdom that is superior to the collective wisdom of the entire population. In all forms of government prevalent in the world today, those "in the government" comprise a relatively small subset of the population. Aside from the improbability of the people in the government having better than average intellect, a far bigger impediment is simply the limitation of time. The most brilliant geniuses on earth still have the same 24 hours in a day available to them as the most consummate dunces in the world.
The world is increasingly too complex to lend itself to decent "management" by the smarts of the few, no matter how smart in their specific areas of specialization. So in regard to the desirability of limited government I subscribe to the conservative viewpoint that is embodied, and so assiduously codified, in the Constitution of the United States.
That said, I am confronted with another societal challenge that cuts at the heart of fundamental differences between conservative and liberal (to use contemporary monikers to denote certain familiar viewpoints and attitudes) orthodoxies that have lately developed.
One cannot, in all honesty, deny the empirical evidence that the Creator, if you believe in one, or nature, if you will, does not endow all human beings with identical intellectual ability. This is purely a clinical observation devoid of any value judgment. I believe intellect is but only one human endowment and achievement; it is certainly not the essence of our spirituality and humanity.
Now, those with superior intellect cannot claim that the entirety of their superiority in intellectual prowess is attributable solely to their volitional strivings, behaviors and diligence. Superior achievement of any kind no doubt requires a lot of personal and volitional effort and perseverance, but a significant part is played by the genetic apparatus and environmental factors that are not of one's own choosing. In other words, accidents of nature and luck play a significant part. One thus comes face to face with a fundamental question:
Do the people with superior intellect have any moral obligation to develop solutions to common problems that will benefit the whole society? The key question here is about a moral obligation, not about whether some people would do so as a natural bye-product of pursuing self-interest. Think about it. A lot depends on the way you answer this question for yourself.
The world is increasingly too complex to lend itself to decent "management" by the smarts of the few, no matter how smart in their specific areas of specialization. So in regard to the desirability of limited government I subscribe to the conservative viewpoint that is embodied, and so assiduously codified, in the Constitution of the United States.
That said, I am confronted with another societal challenge that cuts at the heart of fundamental differences between conservative and liberal (to use contemporary monikers to denote certain familiar viewpoints and attitudes) orthodoxies that have lately developed.
One cannot, in all honesty, deny the empirical evidence that the Creator, if you believe in one, or nature, if you will, does not endow all human beings with identical intellectual ability. This is purely a clinical observation devoid of any value judgment. I believe intellect is but only one human endowment and achievement; it is certainly not the essence of our spirituality and humanity.
Now, those with superior intellect cannot claim that the entirety of their superiority in intellectual prowess is attributable solely to their volitional strivings, behaviors and diligence. Superior achievement of any kind no doubt requires a lot of personal and volitional effort and perseverance, but a significant part is played by the genetic apparatus and environmental factors that are not of one's own choosing. In other words, accidents of nature and luck play a significant part. One thus comes face to face with a fundamental question:
Do the people with superior intellect have any moral obligation to develop solutions to common problems that will benefit the whole society? The key question here is about a moral obligation, not about whether some people would do so as a natural bye-product of pursuing self-interest. Think about it. A lot depends on the way you answer this question for yourself.
Foreign Business In The US And What About Europe?
I have been asked many times about how does one do a foreign business in the USA. Well other than the original inhabitants of the USA everyone there at one time or another was a foreigner! The first thing which amazed me when i opened a business in the US was how easy it was. For starters for my social security number all i had to do was go to one of their post offices and it was completed in twenty minutes.
The land of the free is just that, free enterprise rules in the US. It welcomes direct foreign investment and business enterprises, who ever you are. Foreign investors are able to organize their business activities in the United States in a number of various ways.
However there are various factors to consider and you need to be organised. Your particular business venture depends on a number of legal and tax considerations and making sure you have professional to fill out the required paperwork. However even with the paper mountain you may have to fill in foreign business in the USA is welcomed.
Well, what about Europe? Europe took note of the US example on doing free trade as trade in Europe at one time had so many restrictions and barriers that businesses gave up trying to meet the various criteria of the various nations. One of the reasons the EU (European community) was formulated was because of the free enterprise example of the USA. European business school and the best international business colleges regularly teach the USA trade model. International trade logistics can be a nightmare once governments start to organize them!
A foreign business can enter the US market by selling goods or services to non related US buyers. An example is online foreign currency buying. Once your business has developed you can go on to appoint US-based agent or distributor to market its goods or services in the United States. This can be done in a number of ways. While developing your foreign business, it will be important to develop credibility when it come to your business credit rating in the USA.
One great vehicle for developing your business is via USA business directories and trade shows. You can develop various trade show promotional items and trade show giveaways to further promote your business enterprise.
This initial start via agents may lead you to a direct presence in the United States. This will obviously be dictated by prudent business planning on your or your advisors part. Once again always remain open to the direction you want your business interests to take i.e. deciding to establish a direct presence in the United States, a foreign business should then determine whether to conduct business independently or in partnership with a US firm.
International trade logistics can be broadly termed as exchange of goods and services between two countries or across two international boundaries. For example Britons were trading with the Romans long before Rome established itself there for a few centuries. Foreign trade between nations existed from ancient times and will continue as long as the human race are here. It has a great affect on society, some say good and some say bad. Anyway long may it continue.
The land of the free is just that, free enterprise rules in the US. It welcomes direct foreign investment and business enterprises, who ever you are. Foreign investors are able to organize their business activities in the United States in a number of various ways.
However there are various factors to consider and you need to be organised. Your particular business venture depends on a number of legal and tax considerations and making sure you have professional to fill out the required paperwork. However even with the paper mountain you may have to fill in foreign business in the USA is welcomed.
Well, what about Europe? Europe took note of the US example on doing free trade as trade in Europe at one time had so many restrictions and barriers that businesses gave up trying to meet the various criteria of the various nations. One of the reasons the EU (European community) was formulated was because of the free enterprise example of the USA. European business school and the best international business colleges regularly teach the USA trade model. International trade logistics can be a nightmare once governments start to organize them!
A foreign business can enter the US market by selling goods or services to non related US buyers. An example is online foreign currency buying. Once your business has developed you can go on to appoint US-based agent or distributor to market its goods or services in the United States. This can be done in a number of ways. While developing your foreign business, it will be important to develop credibility when it come to your business credit rating in the USA.
One great vehicle for developing your business is via USA business directories and trade shows. You can develop various trade show promotional items and trade show giveaways to further promote your business enterprise.
This initial start via agents may lead you to a direct presence in the United States. This will obviously be dictated by prudent business planning on your or your advisors part. Once again always remain open to the direction you want your business interests to take i.e. deciding to establish a direct presence in the United States, a foreign business should then determine whether to conduct business independently or in partnership with a US firm.
International trade logistics can be broadly termed as exchange of goods and services between two countries or across two international boundaries. For example Britons were trading with the Romans long before Rome established itself there for a few centuries. Foreign trade between nations existed from ancient times and will continue as long as the human race are here. It has a great affect on society, some say good and some say bad. Anyway long may it continue.
Reliable Export Service Overseas
In this modern age of just in time manufacturing and retail supply practices, having a reliable shipping and export service on your team is vitally important. This is especially true when dealing with the international marketplace. If pallets of goods are missing, held up by customs, or otherwise delayed, it can represent thousands, if not millions, of dollars in lost revenues and productivity.
For this reason, when shipping to Europe and Russia, export service that is reliable and trustworthy should be a top priority. You will want to make sure that you can track your goods from door to door, and that your shipping partner has all of the right endorsements and licensing to smoothly move your goods through transit authority gateways.
First, the issue of endorsements and certification. The United States has some of the most strigent shipping requirements for inspections, load tracking, and bills of lading thanks to their security responses to the September 11th attacks. Thus, any company licensed by the United States Federal Maritime Commission will be able to partner effectively with other leading shipping commissions to smoothly manage Europe or Russia export and import needs. You should look for this endorsement when selecting your shipping and logistics partner to avoid problems.
Next, there is the issue of tracking your Europe and Russia export goods. This issue was brought to the forefront in the recent volcanic ash incident, as those companies who could pinpoint the location of their goods were best able to work around the disruption. You should therefore not partner with any firm for Europe and Russia export services who can't give you door to door tracking, as this places you at a competitive disadvantage.
With tracking like this and the right levels of port clearance for container movements, you should be able to manage your Europe and Russia export service needs effectively enough to ensure that you get the goods that you need at just the right moment. This will ensure that the wheels of production and product dispersement turn smoothly in your internal network, and that your just in time systems are not disrupted.
Not every Europe and Russia export service can deliver on their promises. Look for a firm that has the right licensing, such as that of the Federal Maritime Commission, and a firm that offers point to point tracking. This will ensure that you have a trustworthy and reliable partner meeting all of your export service needs.
For this reason, when shipping to Europe and Russia, export service that is reliable and trustworthy should be a top priority. You will want to make sure that you can track your goods from door to door, and that your shipping partner has all of the right endorsements and licensing to smoothly move your goods through transit authority gateways.
First, the issue of endorsements and certification. The United States has some of the most strigent shipping requirements for inspections, load tracking, and bills of lading thanks to their security responses to the September 11th attacks. Thus, any company licensed by the United States Federal Maritime Commission will be able to partner effectively with other leading shipping commissions to smoothly manage Europe or Russia export and import needs. You should look for this endorsement when selecting your shipping and logistics partner to avoid problems.
Next, there is the issue of tracking your Europe and Russia export goods. This issue was brought to the forefront in the recent volcanic ash incident, as those companies who could pinpoint the location of their goods were best able to work around the disruption. You should therefore not partner with any firm for Europe and Russia export services who can't give you door to door tracking, as this places you at a competitive disadvantage.
With tracking like this and the right levels of port clearance for container movements, you should be able to manage your Europe and Russia export service needs effectively enough to ensure that you get the goods that you need at just the right moment. This will ensure that the wheels of production and product dispersement turn smoothly in your internal network, and that your just in time systems are not disrupted.
Not every Europe and Russia export service can deliver on their promises. Look for a firm that has the right licensing, such as that of the Federal Maritime Commission, and a firm that offers point to point tracking. This will ensure that you have a trustworthy and reliable partner meeting all of your export service needs.
European Groupage - Cost Effective Transportation Within Europe For Less Than Full Load Consignments
Europe has one of the most sophisticated networks of groupage services anywhere in the world. Even the recession has not reduced the appetite of new players to enter the market.
The freight forwarding and haulage industries provide the market with an impressive choice of groupage services between all the main commercial centres of Europe. In many cases three tier services are on offer ranging from express overnight delivery, 48 hour delivery and economy delivery for customers where price is the overriding factor.
The type of players operating the services also reflects the structure of the industry. Multi-national companies have put together vast networks in every European country based on both organic growth and the acquisition of other businesses. At the other end of the scale are operators specializing in either niche markets or niche commodities where personal service and knowledge of a customer's individual requirements are paramount.
Road freight is the predominant means of transport for European groupage services. The flexibility of the road vehicle to effect door to door distribution has resulted in the elimination of rail from this particular market although environmental considerations are leading to a revival for the depot-depot haul. The construction of the Channel Tunnel has also meant that many groupage operations carried out by air have know switched to road transport.
To ensure a level regulatory playing field for both customers and operators all European groupage transport is conducted in accordance with the CMR Convention which sets out the rights and liabilities of all parties. This Convention was introduced in the 1960's but its text, together with many court judgments relating to specific cases, means that it continues to be relevant in today's market place.
The freight forwarding and haulage industries provide the market with an impressive choice of groupage services between all the main commercial centres of Europe. In many cases three tier services are on offer ranging from express overnight delivery, 48 hour delivery and economy delivery for customers where price is the overriding factor.
The type of players operating the services also reflects the structure of the industry. Multi-national companies have put together vast networks in every European country based on both organic growth and the acquisition of other businesses. At the other end of the scale are operators specializing in either niche markets or niche commodities where personal service and knowledge of a customer's individual requirements are paramount.
Road freight is the predominant means of transport for European groupage services. The flexibility of the road vehicle to effect door to door distribution has resulted in the elimination of rail from this particular market although environmental considerations are leading to a revival for the depot-depot haul. The construction of the Channel Tunnel has also meant that many groupage operations carried out by air have know switched to road transport.
To ensure a level regulatory playing field for both customers and operators all European groupage transport is conducted in accordance with the CMR Convention which sets out the rights and liabilities of all parties. This Convention was introduced in the 1960's but its text, together with many court judgments relating to specific cases, means that it continues to be relevant in today's market place.
Cuba Is One Of Five Healthiest Countries in the World
"Healthy countries" is not the most popular information subject for mass media. Newspapers usually write about viruses, diseases or epidemics threatening the whole region at once. The American magazine "Foreign Policy" has published the rating of the five healthiest countries and explained its choice.
Japan
On the whole, the Japanese live longer than representatives of other nations - their average lifetime makes up 86 years. The secret of the Japanese health consists in bodily exercise and food products with a low content of cholesterol. The Japanese diet includes fish, rice and sea-weed which lower the risk of heart diseases and cancer.
Fitness clubs have come in fashion in Japan. Sound health of several generations of this nation is maintained and improved due to a special state program which provides exercising before and during the workday. This program is financed by the Government.
The biggest Japanese mobile operator already offers "Fitness Phone", a service of measuring daily physical exercise, to lovers of the advanced technologies.
Nowadays, population health is threatened by the "western" food with its traditionally high content of fat: 7 million of the Japanese are suffering from diabetes, which spreads in Asia quicker that in other parts of the world.
France
France has the lowest rate of heart diseases which are considered the main reason of mortality. Specialists explain this fact by slow eating and daily consumption of a glass of wine. The French cuisine is traditionally rich in fats and carbohydrates, but it is eaten slowly, a little at a time and washed down with a moderate amount of wine.
It is worth mentioning that in 2002 the World Health Organization declared France the healthiest country of the European Union. Despite the fact that many of the French die of cancer and other severe diseases, the average lifetime in France makes up 75 years for men and 83 years for women, and goes on increasing.
Nowadays, obesity is declared a major problem, and a high rate of mortality caused by cancer and cardiovascular diseases is registered in France. The leadership of this country concerning the low rate of cardiovascular diseases is running the risk of becoming a negative leadership.
Iceland
Iceland has the lowest child mortality rate and the best antenatal care in the world. Figures speak for themselves: 2 deaths of children under five per one thousand of newborns. In the USA this rate makes up 7 children.
The Icelandic Government pays for a wide range of services of mother and child medical care. Besides, it assures maintenance of 80 per cent of the mother's salary during three months.
However, nowadays the Icelandic population also suffers from obesity. The country annually consumes an enormous amount of sugar per capita, mainly due to an exaggerated passion for carbonated beverages.
Sweden
Sweden may boast of the highest probability of survival in case of a cancer disease, as well as of an almost 100% rate of child immunization.
Almost 14% of the state expenses go to healthcare and make up 85% of expenses on medical care. Besides, the 9-million population is served in modern hospitals and clinics equipped with the latest medical equipment.
The Swedes believe that a comprehensive social assistance which provides everything from professional development support to street illumination lowers the population sickness rate.
There still is a problem of queuing: the Swedes have to wait for reception and operations. The attempts to transfer small medical institutions to private ownership do not result in any evident progress.
Cuba
The island of freedom may rightly be proud of a low child mortality rate and a medium lifetime. The rate of six doctors per one thousand of Cubans is the highest rate in the world.
According to the experts, a big number of doctors cannot guarantee the population health, however, in Cuba it contributes to efficiency of measures on disease prevention. Thousands of Cuban doctors annually go abroad on study tours. Due to professionalism and the state support of healthcare Cuba achieves results even Europe may be envious of.
On the other hand, the focus on prevention and early diagnosis leads to the lack of drugs in the country. Besides, it is expected that openness of the Cuban society and increase in purchasing capacity of big layers of population shall stimulate the "import" of European and American diseases connected with dieting and food.
It is also worth mentioning that according to the Public Organization "March of Dimes" the healthiest countries from the genetic point of view are France, Austria, Australia, Switzerland and Russia.
Japan
On the whole, the Japanese live longer than representatives of other nations - their average lifetime makes up 86 years. The secret of the Japanese health consists in bodily exercise and food products with a low content of cholesterol. The Japanese diet includes fish, rice and sea-weed which lower the risk of heart diseases and cancer.
Fitness clubs have come in fashion in Japan. Sound health of several generations of this nation is maintained and improved due to a special state program which provides exercising before and during the workday. This program is financed by the Government.
The biggest Japanese mobile operator already offers "Fitness Phone", a service of measuring daily physical exercise, to lovers of the advanced technologies.
Nowadays, population health is threatened by the "western" food with its traditionally high content of fat: 7 million of the Japanese are suffering from diabetes, which spreads in Asia quicker that in other parts of the world.
France
France has the lowest rate of heart diseases which are considered the main reason of mortality. Specialists explain this fact by slow eating and daily consumption of a glass of wine. The French cuisine is traditionally rich in fats and carbohydrates, but it is eaten slowly, a little at a time and washed down with a moderate amount of wine.
It is worth mentioning that in 2002 the World Health Organization declared France the healthiest country of the European Union. Despite the fact that many of the French die of cancer and other severe diseases, the average lifetime in France makes up 75 years for men and 83 years for women, and goes on increasing.
Nowadays, obesity is declared a major problem, and a high rate of mortality caused by cancer and cardiovascular diseases is registered in France. The leadership of this country concerning the low rate of cardiovascular diseases is running the risk of becoming a negative leadership.
Iceland
Iceland has the lowest child mortality rate and the best antenatal care in the world. Figures speak for themselves: 2 deaths of children under five per one thousand of newborns. In the USA this rate makes up 7 children.
The Icelandic Government pays for a wide range of services of mother and child medical care. Besides, it assures maintenance of 80 per cent of the mother's salary during three months.
However, nowadays the Icelandic population also suffers from obesity. The country annually consumes an enormous amount of sugar per capita, mainly due to an exaggerated passion for carbonated beverages.
Sweden
Sweden may boast of the highest probability of survival in case of a cancer disease, as well as of an almost 100% rate of child immunization.
Almost 14% of the state expenses go to healthcare and make up 85% of expenses on medical care. Besides, the 9-million population is served in modern hospitals and clinics equipped with the latest medical equipment.
The Swedes believe that a comprehensive social assistance which provides everything from professional development support to street illumination lowers the population sickness rate.
There still is a problem of queuing: the Swedes have to wait for reception and operations. The attempts to transfer small medical institutions to private ownership do not result in any evident progress.
Cuba
The island of freedom may rightly be proud of a low child mortality rate and a medium lifetime. The rate of six doctors per one thousand of Cubans is the highest rate in the world.
According to the experts, a big number of doctors cannot guarantee the population health, however, in Cuba it contributes to efficiency of measures on disease prevention. Thousands of Cuban doctors annually go abroad on study tours. Due to professionalism and the state support of healthcare Cuba achieves results even Europe may be envious of.
On the other hand, the focus on prevention and early diagnosis leads to the lack of drugs in the country. Besides, it is expected that openness of the Cuban society and increase in purchasing capacity of big layers of population shall stimulate the "import" of European and American diseases connected with dieting and food.
It is also worth mentioning that according to the Public Organization "March of Dimes" the healthiest countries from the genetic point of view are France, Austria, Australia, Switzerland and Russia.
French Press Coffee is a Little Known Treasure Outside of Europe
For most of my life I was raised drinking coffee that was made through a coffee maker that passed hot water through a filter. I had no idea how much taste I was sacrificing and how much better my coffee could taste. For all I knew, the filtered coffee was the best that I could get and I was happy with it anyway. Until recently, when I decided to branch out and try something new, was I able to truly experience my morning coffee and really taste my coffee for the first time.
The main difference is that with French press coffee, the coffee grounds are allowed to infuse in the hot water and then are "pressed" to the bottom. The coffee drink never passes through a paper or mesh filter at all. This makes a profound difference to the taste of what you are drinking. Now when I buy different types of roasts of coffee beans I can really taste the distinction between the tastes. If you have any doubts then I encourage anyone to try this for themselves.
I was excited when I went to buy my first coffee press. I decided on a simple 8 cup press that was created by Bodum. There are lots of companies out there that make French presses, but this particular press suited my needs just fine. In retrospective, I think the only different decision I would have made is to get a stainless steel insulated press so the coffee would stay warmer a little longer. After the coffee has brewed, it generally stays warm for about 40 to 45 minutes in a regular French coffee press. Stainless steel presses can keep coffee hot for up to 2 hours.
After getting my first coffee press home, and doing some minimal searching on the net for instructions on how to use it, I gave it a shot. I ground up my coffee beans in a coarse grind, added the hot water, let it brew for 4 minutes, and that's that. Other than the taste, the other noticeable difference is the sediment in the bottom of your cup of coffee. It is very minimal, and I think it actually increases the taste in a positive way.
One of the most interesting things to me is that the coffee press is not well known outside of Europe. When I try to describe my coffee press to my friends and family here in America, they look at me like I am crazy. They look at me like that, until they try the coffee that I prepared in my French press! It is so much fun to watch their opinions change rapidly. I don't know exactly why the French press hasn't caught on here in the U.S.A., but I do know that it might very soon, especially with the eco-friendly movement. The French press does not require any electricity to run. I heat my water on a gas powered stove and the coffee press doesn't plug in to anything. I hope everyone will at least try to have some coffee from a coffee press at least one time in their lives. I know that is all it would take and they would want to just go buy one for themselves!
The main difference is that with French press coffee, the coffee grounds are allowed to infuse in the hot water and then are "pressed" to the bottom. The coffee drink never passes through a paper or mesh filter at all. This makes a profound difference to the taste of what you are drinking. Now when I buy different types of roasts of coffee beans I can really taste the distinction between the tastes. If you have any doubts then I encourage anyone to try this for themselves.
I was excited when I went to buy my first coffee press. I decided on a simple 8 cup press that was created by Bodum. There are lots of companies out there that make French presses, but this particular press suited my needs just fine. In retrospective, I think the only different decision I would have made is to get a stainless steel insulated press so the coffee would stay warmer a little longer. After the coffee has brewed, it generally stays warm for about 40 to 45 minutes in a regular French coffee press. Stainless steel presses can keep coffee hot for up to 2 hours.
After getting my first coffee press home, and doing some minimal searching on the net for instructions on how to use it, I gave it a shot. I ground up my coffee beans in a coarse grind, added the hot water, let it brew for 4 minutes, and that's that. Other than the taste, the other noticeable difference is the sediment in the bottom of your cup of coffee. It is very minimal, and I think it actually increases the taste in a positive way.
One of the most interesting things to me is that the coffee press is not well known outside of Europe. When I try to describe my coffee press to my friends and family here in America, they look at me like I am crazy. They look at me like that, until they try the coffee that I prepared in my French press! It is so much fun to watch their opinions change rapidly. I don't know exactly why the French press hasn't caught on here in the U.S.A., but I do know that it might very soon, especially with the eco-friendly movement. The French press does not require any electricity to run. I heat my water on a gas powered stove and the coffee press doesn't plug in to anything. I hope everyone will at least try to have some coffee from a coffee press at least one time in their lives. I know that is all it would take and they would want to just go buy one for themselves!
RoHS Chemicals Legislation In Europe and China
The EU has developed the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2002/95/EC. This is only a directive (effective July 1, 2006) and member nations are to enact their own legislations based on its guidelines. The Chinese Administrative Measure on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products (popularly known as China RoHS) effective from March 1, 2007, is however a legislation. Both nations' regulations are targeted at their respective domestic markets.
The EU RoHS and the China RoHS both restrict the use of the same six chemicals used in electrical and electronic equipment. These are lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), and fire retardant PBBs (poly-brominated biphenyls) and PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). Both the RoHS limit Cd to 100 parts per million (ppm) and the other five to 1000 ppm on homogeneous material basis. This means that the restrictions apply to any single substance that could (theoretically) be separated mechanically. There are significant differences in the two regulations.
Firstly, the RoHS applies to ten categories of waste electrical and electronic equipment (referred to as WEEE) and includes a number of exemptions. It does not apply to industrial machinery, replacement parts for equipment sold prior to July 1, 2006, military equipment or aerospace applications. The China RoHS, on the other hand, proposes to include (in a catalogue to be issued), a list of electronic information products (EIPs) to which the regulation will apply. This will be a limited list (understood as 1800+) out of the universe of electrical and electronic equipment covered under ten broad headings in the document. Another difference is that the EU RoHS does not specify any labeling requirements whereas the Chinese document does so. Further, the Chinese RoHS will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 effective March 1, 2007 requires specific labeling and content disclosure. Phase 2 will enforce the actual restrictions and require mandatory testing in local laboratories.
The differences between the two regulations mean that EU RoHS compliant products may not automatically be China RoHS compliant. Suppliers will have to work hard for compliance, particularly to document the content of the hazardous materials at ppm level in the products in the disclosures that will be required in Phase 2.
The Chinese RoHS compliance is only one of the worrisome issues facing suppliers. Of even more import are the impending Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH), regulations which come into effect from June 1, 2007 in the European Union.
The REACH regulation, whose final draft was adopted in December 2006, is targeted at a wide range of hazardous chemicals and is not limited only to the electronics sector. It is much broader in scope than RoHS which covers only six hazardous materials. The REACH regulation will control the use of thousands of chemicals. Since many of the chemicals are likely to be used in the electronics supply chain, REACH will affect suppliers who have achieved RoHS compliance or are struggling to do so.
The RoHS and now the REACH, considered a bane by many suppliers, are stepping stones towards a cleaner, greener environment. Businesses which recognize this and embrace the change will surely prosper in this new century.
The EU RoHS and the China RoHS both restrict the use of the same six chemicals used in electrical and electronic equipment. These are lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), and fire retardant PBBs (poly-brominated biphenyls) and PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). Both the RoHS limit Cd to 100 parts per million (ppm) and the other five to 1000 ppm on homogeneous material basis. This means that the restrictions apply to any single substance that could (theoretically) be separated mechanically. There are significant differences in the two regulations.
Firstly, the RoHS applies to ten categories of waste electrical and electronic equipment (referred to as WEEE) and includes a number of exemptions. It does not apply to industrial machinery, replacement parts for equipment sold prior to July 1, 2006, military equipment or aerospace applications. The China RoHS, on the other hand, proposes to include (in a catalogue to be issued), a list of electronic information products (EIPs) to which the regulation will apply. This will be a limited list (understood as 1800+) out of the universe of electrical and electronic equipment covered under ten broad headings in the document. Another difference is that the EU RoHS does not specify any labeling requirements whereas the Chinese document does so. Further, the Chinese RoHS will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 effective March 1, 2007 requires specific labeling and content disclosure. Phase 2 will enforce the actual restrictions and require mandatory testing in local laboratories.
The differences between the two regulations mean that EU RoHS compliant products may not automatically be China RoHS compliant. Suppliers will have to work hard for compliance, particularly to document the content of the hazardous materials at ppm level in the products in the disclosures that will be required in Phase 2.
The Chinese RoHS compliance is only one of the worrisome issues facing suppliers. Of even more import are the impending Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH), regulations which come into effect from June 1, 2007 in the European Union.
The REACH regulation, whose final draft was adopted in December 2006, is targeted at a wide range of hazardous chemicals and is not limited only to the electronics sector. It is much broader in scope than RoHS which covers only six hazardous materials. The REACH regulation will control the use of thousands of chemicals. Since many of the chemicals are likely to be used in the electronics supply chain, REACH will affect suppliers who have achieved RoHS compliance or are struggling to do so.
The RoHS and now the REACH, considered a bane by many suppliers, are stepping stones towards a cleaner, greener environment. Businesses which recognize this and embrace the change will surely prosper in this new century.
Business Destinations in Europe
If you are looking to fly to some of the best business destinations in Europe, Paris, Brussels and Milan are some of the best options.
Paris:
Paris is a massive city with several districts, known as arrondissements. Each district has its own speciality, such as business, theatre, shopping, etc. Apart from being an important business centre, Paris is also a major cultural hub.
The Musée du Louvre is the largest museum in the world, spread over a 60,000m2 area. Paris also boasts of one the most recognisable monuments in the world, the Eiffel Tower.
Paris is also considered to be one of the most fashionable cities in the world. It is home to the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics manufacturers, such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent, Guerlain, Lancôme, L'Oréal, Clarins, etc.
Brussels:
Brussels is the capital city of Belgium. It is regarded as the headquarters of the European Union. It is also hosts the head offices of many European organisations.
Brussels offers a mix of culture - Dutch on one side, French on the other. Thus, you can expect to see various multi-cultural activities around the city.
Some of the main highlights of the city are:
- Mini Europe: Here you can see the miniature version of popular monuments from around the continent. From Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower and the Swedish Parliament, you can see them all here in one place.
- Atomium: This is one of the most unusual buildings in the world. It has nine spheres in the shape of an atom. Out of these nine atoms, only five are open to the public. These are used for expos and scientific exhibitions and also for viewing the spectacular sights of the city.
Milan:
Paris:
Paris is a massive city with several districts, known as arrondissements. Each district has its own speciality, such as business, theatre, shopping, etc. Apart from being an important business centre, Paris is also a major cultural hub.
The Musée du Louvre is the largest museum in the world, spread over a 60,000m2 area. Paris also boasts of one the most recognisable monuments in the world, the Eiffel Tower.
Paris is also considered to be one of the most fashionable cities in the world. It is home to the world's finest and most luxurious fashion designers and cosmetics manufacturers, such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent, Guerlain, Lancôme, L'Oréal, Clarins, etc.
Brussels:
Brussels is the capital city of Belgium. It is regarded as the headquarters of the European Union. It is also hosts the head offices of many European organisations.
Brussels offers a mix of culture - Dutch on one side, French on the other. Thus, you can expect to see various multi-cultural activities around the city.
Some of the main highlights of the city are:
- Mini Europe: Here you can see the miniature version of popular monuments from around the continent. From Big Ben to the Eiffel Tower and the Swedish Parliament, you can see them all here in one place.
- Atomium: This is one of the most unusual buildings in the world. It has nine spheres in the shape of an atom. Out of these nine atoms, only five are open to the public. These are used for expos and scientific exhibitions and also for viewing the spectacular sights of the city.
Milan:
Advancements in Green Home Buildings - Lessons From Europe
The Green Movement, popular with the Hippies in the early 60s was the precursor for the present interest in building Green homes. The movement caught on in Europe and the United States with some variations along the way. The political authority of the green movement gained significantly with the institution of the German Green Party in 1970s. Many more Green political parties came into being notably in Europe and thus an institutional approach to the green movement was in place in Europe. These Green parties often formed alliances in Europe giving the impetus to the green agenda. A prime example is the green legislation tax passed in the late 1990s by the German government.
Now, nothing of that sort has happened in America. In this country, the Green movement has continued its march without any federal support. During the early years, building green homes was significantly more expensive than normal homes. The American building industry following the pragmatic capitalist line, sought to maximize profits unlike the European builders who had the pressure of the governments and influential NGOs to persevere building green.
One of the popular movements in Europe that has persisted over 30 years is termed Building Biology, and opines that traditional brick and mortar buildings with its ingredients of steel, concrete, plastic foams are unhealthy; it also recommends that naturally occurring local building materials are a better choice. Consequently, over the years, Europeans have been building walls with the help of loam. For insulation, recycled newspaper is a prudent choice. Used bathing water which was till late considered as waste by Americans, can be sensibly utilized for landscaping. The US LEED initiative which aims at bringing green building into the mainstream is still not a federal law. One may look at the French initiative, to implement its local building green norms in the European Union, as a positive influence on the State.
For ages, Americans have built their houses with wood, a cheap and plentiful commodity. The swift expansion of the US construction industry raised import of wood and consequently the loss of substantial tropical rainforest areas. The real estate developers did not see it fit to consider the incalculable harm that was being done to the global environment. The Europeans on the other had very early on understood the likely adverse impact on the environment and commenced forest plantation in their own countries as also using bamboo and other quick growing woods instead of tropical rainforest woods. Wonder why Europe has maintained an ample lead over the United States in building green.
Now, nothing of that sort has happened in America. In this country, the Green movement has continued its march without any federal support. During the early years, building green homes was significantly more expensive than normal homes. The American building industry following the pragmatic capitalist line, sought to maximize profits unlike the European builders who had the pressure of the governments and influential NGOs to persevere building green.
One of the popular movements in Europe that has persisted over 30 years is termed Building Biology, and opines that traditional brick and mortar buildings with its ingredients of steel, concrete, plastic foams are unhealthy; it also recommends that naturally occurring local building materials are a better choice. Consequently, over the years, Europeans have been building walls with the help of loam. For insulation, recycled newspaper is a prudent choice. Used bathing water which was till late considered as waste by Americans, can be sensibly utilized for landscaping. The US LEED initiative which aims at bringing green building into the mainstream is still not a federal law. One may look at the French initiative, to implement its local building green norms in the European Union, as a positive influence on the State.
For ages, Americans have built their houses with wood, a cheap and plentiful commodity. The swift expansion of the US construction industry raised import of wood and consequently the loss of substantial tropical rainforest areas. The real estate developers did not see it fit to consider the incalculable harm that was being done to the global environment. The Europeans on the other had very early on understood the likely adverse impact on the environment and commenced forest plantation in their own countries as also using bamboo and other quick growing woods instead of tropical rainforest woods. Wonder why Europe has maintained an ample lead over the United States in building green.
Recycled Clothes and Textiles - What Happens to Them?
One product they end up as are cleaning rags and wipers. Made from recycled clothing and textiles they are an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable paper towels, and are not going to fall apart at the slightest sign of water and can be reused time and time again.
Textiles are sorted and the clothes that can be reused are sent for export. Those that can not be reused due to blemishes or rips are baled together according to garment and grade, and sent to recycling centers to be turned into wipers. In addition to this, textiles are also sourced from commercial laundries that dispose of bed sheets, pillow cases, and tablecloths, when their life is exhausted these make the best lint free wipers for the automotive cleaning industry.
The manufacturing (or recycling) process for all wipers is exactly the same. The textiles are firstly sorted to ensure that they are clean, dry and suitable as a wiper - this basically means that they are cotton rich and therefore absorbent. They are then graded together and sent to a cutting facility where they run along a conveyor belt to be cut into a specified size, dependent upon garment. This produces a wiper of a uniform dimension, which is free from zips, buttons and any other encumbrance.
Specially-built machines are used to ensure clean cut wipers, and once made each wiper is passed through a metal detector for final quality control prior to packaging. Due to the diverse nature of wiping cloths there are a few points to keep in mind when choosing your supplier:
Industrial wipers are sometimes regarded as a 'waste or bi-product' and not all wiper companies take the same time and effort ensure that their grading and quality is of a high standard.
An increasing number of companies simply export clothes for sorting and cutting in Eastern Europe and then import them back into the UK. The environmental footprint of all this haulage is massive. Find a company that does all there sorting and cutting in the country they are destined for reduces the need for long haulage whilst also employing local people.
Industrial wipers offer a valuable means of recycling thousands of tonnes of unwanted clothing and textiles. This must be a better solution to simply throwing away more than 1 million tonnes of textiles into landfill sites. Due to the high carbon footprint associated with the manufacture of cotton based materials - they will conform with and enhance your organisations' eco-friendly policies.
Textiles are sorted and the clothes that can be reused are sent for export. Those that can not be reused due to blemishes or rips are baled together according to garment and grade, and sent to recycling centers to be turned into wipers. In addition to this, textiles are also sourced from commercial laundries that dispose of bed sheets, pillow cases, and tablecloths, when their life is exhausted these make the best lint free wipers for the automotive cleaning industry.
The manufacturing (or recycling) process for all wipers is exactly the same. The textiles are firstly sorted to ensure that they are clean, dry and suitable as a wiper - this basically means that they are cotton rich and therefore absorbent. They are then graded together and sent to a cutting facility where they run along a conveyor belt to be cut into a specified size, dependent upon garment. This produces a wiper of a uniform dimension, which is free from zips, buttons and any other encumbrance.
Specially-built machines are used to ensure clean cut wipers, and once made each wiper is passed through a metal detector for final quality control prior to packaging. Due to the diverse nature of wiping cloths there are a few points to keep in mind when choosing your supplier:
Industrial wipers are sometimes regarded as a 'waste or bi-product' and not all wiper companies take the same time and effort ensure that their grading and quality is of a high standard.
An increasing number of companies simply export clothes for sorting and cutting in Eastern Europe and then import them back into the UK. The environmental footprint of all this haulage is massive. Find a company that does all there sorting and cutting in the country they are destined for reduces the need for long haulage whilst also employing local people.
Industrial wipers offer a valuable means of recycling thousands of tonnes of unwanted clothing and textiles. This must be a better solution to simply throwing away more than 1 million tonnes of textiles into landfill sites. Due to the high carbon footprint associated with the manufacture of cotton based materials - they will conform with and enhance your organisations' eco-friendly policies.
Start a Home Based Import Business For Travel, Fun, and Money
Is an import business in the stars for you? Let us see if it sounds like a good choice for you to start a home based import business for travel, fun, and money.
The import business is easier than you think. One reason is that the U.S. Government gives you all the help you need. Secondly, your market is enormous and has the money and desire to buy the goods you import. Lastly, you are physically present to receive the goods when they arrive. You know they will not be held up in the customhouse, or left alone at dockside.
I can tell you about a man who, on his own, started an organic food import business. Almost every month, he travels from a week to ten days. He attends food exhibitions, visits suppliers, factories, and farms. When he meets with his buyers, he presents them with lists of the latest goods with prices. He is so successful, he now exports American grain to other countries.
You can do the same thing with other goods - clothes, ladies bags, gadgets, art, home furnishings, or golf equipment.
Here are a few points to help get you started in the import business.
First, find your customer
Who do you want to sell to? New parents? Golfers? Music lovers? Sports enthusiasts? Remember, you can also sell goods to the big box stores, to catalogues, to online sellers, to the military, and to boutiques.
Choose products that are already in demand
Look through catalogues and popular magazines. They are filled with products that sell fast. Circle the ones that appeal to you. Go trade shows. Major trade shows attract millions of buyers each year in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Attend as many shows as you can. At these shows you can meet buyers, wholesalers and suppliers who want to do business with you.
By the way, recent hot selling products include cooking items, auto accessories, sports shoes, ladies bags, clothing, golf accessories, high tech gadgets, jewelry, and products for pets.
Locate major buyers at home
To make it easy on yourself, choose buyers who are wholesalers. Wholesalers can sell your products through their manufacturers' representatives, industrial distributors, department store chains, supermarket chains and mail order houses.
Let the Government help you
The United States lets you import goods from certain countries free of tariffs and quotas.
Here is one example: The Andean Product Tariffs and Drug Enforcement Agreement (APTDEA) lets you import over 6000 products duty free from Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador.
In addition, there are countless other perks the Government will give you to help you with your import business.
Determine how much money you can make
Now, here is the key question: How much money can you make in your import business? Add up costs and subtract them from sales to your wholesaler. Your profit should be about 15 percent. That is $75,000 for every $500,000 shipment. That is not bad, considering you can probably make eight or nine deals a year.
Yes, you can make money in the import business. But you can also have a lot of fun traveling around the world searching out fascinating products. Snacking on caviar and toast in a Venetian palazzo, gazing at the Taj Mahal just before sunset, or enjoying a café crème in a Parisian café can be a part of your working life.
The import business is easier than you think. One reason is that the U.S. Government gives you all the help you need. Secondly, your market is enormous and has the money and desire to buy the goods you import. Lastly, you are physically present to receive the goods when they arrive. You know they will not be held up in the customhouse, or left alone at dockside.
I can tell you about a man who, on his own, started an organic food import business. Almost every month, he travels from a week to ten days. He attends food exhibitions, visits suppliers, factories, and farms. When he meets with his buyers, he presents them with lists of the latest goods with prices. He is so successful, he now exports American grain to other countries.
You can do the same thing with other goods - clothes, ladies bags, gadgets, art, home furnishings, or golf equipment.
Here are a few points to help get you started in the import business.
First, find your customer
Who do you want to sell to? New parents? Golfers? Music lovers? Sports enthusiasts? Remember, you can also sell goods to the big box stores, to catalogues, to online sellers, to the military, and to boutiques.
Choose products that are already in demand
Look through catalogues and popular magazines. They are filled with products that sell fast. Circle the ones that appeal to you. Go trade shows. Major trade shows attract millions of buyers each year in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Attend as many shows as you can. At these shows you can meet buyers, wholesalers and suppliers who want to do business with you.
By the way, recent hot selling products include cooking items, auto accessories, sports shoes, ladies bags, clothing, golf accessories, high tech gadgets, jewelry, and products for pets.
Locate major buyers at home
To make it easy on yourself, choose buyers who are wholesalers. Wholesalers can sell your products through their manufacturers' representatives, industrial distributors, department store chains, supermarket chains and mail order houses.
Let the Government help you
The United States lets you import goods from certain countries free of tariffs and quotas.
Here is one example: The Andean Product Tariffs and Drug Enforcement Agreement (APTDEA) lets you import over 6000 products duty free from Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador.
In addition, there are countless other perks the Government will give you to help you with your import business.
Determine how much money you can make
Now, here is the key question: How much money can you make in your import business? Add up costs and subtract them from sales to your wholesaler. Your profit should be about 15 percent. That is $75,000 for every $500,000 shipment. That is not bad, considering you can probably make eight or nine deals a year.
Yes, you can make money in the import business. But you can also have a lot of fun traveling around the world searching out fascinating products. Snacking on caviar and toast in a Venetian palazzo, gazing at the Taj Mahal just before sunset, or enjoying a café crème in a Parisian café can be a part of your working life.
How to Spot a Fake Ferrari
Italian police broke up a Ferrari counterfeiting business earlier this year, confiscating 22 cars, 14 of which had already been sold to luxury sportscar collectors. The fake Ferraris seized in Italy were used Pontiac Fieros which had been altered to pass for Ferrari Testarossas. The counterfeit industry has grown 1,000 percent in Europe between 1998 and 2004 according to EU Customs and spans beyond designer handbags, shoes, watches, and clothes. Before purchasing a luxury car, do you homework so you can distinguish a real Ferrari from a fake.
1) Who is selling the Ferrari? Do a little homework on who the seller is. Are they an authorized Ferrari dealer? If it is pre-owned, where did it come from? Check out the owner documents, service records, and paperwork. Most fake Ferraris are sold as pre-owned classic models from the 1960s-1980s.
2) Do not be fooled by the exterior. Most Ferrari fakes look the same from a distance- the same tail lights, the same fenders, also the exhaust is the same.
1) Who is selling the Ferrari? Do a little homework on who the seller is. Are they an authorized Ferrari dealer? If it is pre-owned, where did it come from? Check out the owner documents, service records, and paperwork. Most fake Ferraris are sold as pre-owned classic models from the 1960s-1980s.
2) Do not be fooled by the exterior. Most Ferrari fakes look the same from a distance- the same tail lights, the same fenders, also the exhaust is the same.
Story On Legwear
People generally look at the face first. The second is the shoes and exactly next to the shoes what one observes are the socks, the safeguards of the feet, which prevent the feet from rubbing against the shoes, give the feet a tender feeling and add some style element in ones attire. As fashion has become more individualistic, every product that gives the look and reflects personality has drawn the attention of designers and fashion experts. From hat to legwear, every item worn by a person adds to the overall persona and appeal. In this varied scenario of dressing, every part of the attire has gained a makeover... legwear being the latest. Now various designing looks are given to the pair of clothing so that they have their own importance inside the clothing.
Knitted hose have been a part of clothing for the past 1,000 years. At the outset it was worn by men and not women. The first stocking knitted on a circular machine was made in 1589. The market has improved since then. The first nylon stocking was made in 1938 and the first tights were made in 1966. Over the years stockings have become less popular and, most recently, knee-highs and ankle-highs have become more popular because women now wear more of trousers rather than skirts.
Nowadays, the use of legwear increases with each season. With the introduction of design aspects in the legwear category and the aim of making one such product changing, the legwear production industry is experiencing a huge demand in the summer time too. Hot Sox, DKNY, Givenchy- licensed by JET, American Essentials- the licensee for Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, Leg Resource Inc., Infinity Classics International etc., are a few products that satisfy the demand of designer legwear. Many departmental stores have special hosiery departments that keep the best brands. Designers like Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs and Dolce Gabbana make legwear collections more appealing.
With many aspects of a jigsaw, the new collection offered on the shelves range from elegant classic and natural appeals to fascinating flamboyant styles. The new legwear styles take into consideration the several demands of the present trend and show off perfect style and beauty. The variety is so vast that legwear has appeared as a hip extension for designers to show their abilities. Since legwear is worn by everyone regardless of age, gender or profession, ¬ there are various designs that are made for each and every segment. The legwear market is gaining a specific space in the market, more so due to skirts and now dresses which have gained popularity as the hot fashion products. Legwear designers foresee a bright future for tights, sheers and socks.
Many producers across the globe are trying to renew particular styles in the legwear category in each and every season and market them for the season. Holiday- specific legwear that are aimed at holiday themes, patterns and designs specific only to the holiday season are now a thing of the past. Today, many legwear manufacturers target socks and sheers as they make a good gift due to its affordability and usefulness. The promotional market is another area where it is considered that legwear can solve the purpose.
Sheer with decorative backseams dotted with red flowers in both black or white or sheer red shapes and floral vine pattern are enormous. Sheer shapes are also being made with rhinestones: rhinestones decorate the backseams and are sprinkled on sheer black colour. Kayser-Roth Corporation in its HUE line, Fine Line Hosiery and The Randalman, NC Company are some of the companies that offer a design element to legwear. HUE came out with rhinestone backseams, tuxedo striped sheers in black or nude, lurex rib sheers, shimmer sheers in black, gold or silver; lace trim tulle thigh highs and stockings with built-in garters.
Traffic- stopping graphic prints, romantic openwork, textured legwear, solid opaque, school girl knee- highs, ladylike sheers and ribbed knits are a few of the latest vogue. Forecasted to hit the fashion field are knee-high socks that are anticipated to become one of the new fashion trends. Knee socks in bias plaids, classic argyles in both traditional and gloomy colours, contrast herringbone, heavy tweed styles, stripes and femme angora openwork are arrived in the market. Feature covers colour flecks, fur pom poms and embroidered stitching. In socks, surface attractiveness is vital with visible textures giving preference over patterns. Moretz has set up sock styles with a various tweed textures. Use of luxury blends with wools, angora and cashmere, and romantic affects continue to be the largest in ladies apparel, which provides another increment to the sale of tights and trousers.
In pink, white and black, there are various categories available with contrasting trim and seed stitching on the top of the feet with a flower around ankles. Tattoo sheer pantyhose, checkered thigh highs, cotton knee highs with bows, lycra mesh stockings, lace leggings, skulls and crossbones midcalves, fuzzy multi stripe, striped tigers, argyle clock, micro velour diamonds, shark bite 3D socks, rugby 3-striped, surprise rib and branches tights are a few sets that perform the genesis of designing element spotted on the 'essentials', as accepted by today's generation. The persistence of beadwork, embroidery and crochet in apparel and accessories compliment the net/ crochet designs and opaque textures used in a sizable way in legwear. Opaques (dark and ribbed) and cable knit tights, men'swear patterns and footless tights are anticipated to have a huge market share.
For many producers, collection of fashion tights covers bold plaid opaques, textured tights in leopard, houndstooth and herringbone, antique openwork, crochet and nets and colourful, crazy tights motivated by Pucci's graphic designs. Fine Line Hosiery offers many plated tights in diamond, floral heather patterns and ribs. The beauty of legwear is further enhanced with the use of colours in the perfect mix. Browns command the colour palette along with affluent burgundies, warm greens, gold and robust tones. Attractive palettes of blue cover turquoise and teal. Inky blues offer a sophisticated casual look with a laid-back attitude that matches the best with denim wear and offer a break from the khaki family. Colours of inky blues include Rio, Wonder Blue and Midnight. Metallics have become the new mortals.
The new transparent lines of curved hosiery from Hanes are available in many flesh tones that are transparent enough to facilitate consumers to harmonize their skin tones with superior support. Captivating its influence from movement in the beauty industry, which is blowing up with products meant to offer a tanned, shining effect to the legs, Hanes also deals with Sheer Radiance, a line of edge that offers a slightly tanned and shining look to the leg. Leg Resource Inc., which makes legwear for Anne Klein and Via Spiga, among others, is all about facets with zigzags, curlicue motifs and sewn-on lace. Items from Infinity Classics International, a Brooklyn-based producer and marketer of hosiery for Italian line Levante and British import Jonathan Aston cover ultrasheers and sheers; opaques in chevron, spiral or diamond patterns and fishnets in mini and maxi weaves. Silhouettes include a regular growth or an unusual low-rise 'hipster' cut.
The legwear market covers only a small fraction of the total apparel business, the US imported legwear worth $ 1.24 billion in 2004. Canada imported $ 120 billion while EU imported Euro 2.66 billion, a 21 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent increment, correspondingly over the previous year. Though, India could raise its share only in the EU market from 1.39 per cent to 1.47 per cent.
US market of legwear
US import of legwear boosted by 20 per cent in 2004
Legwear, including hose, pantyhose, tights, socks, stockings and other hosiery products and a necessary apparel items are quite popular world over. The US imported such items worth $1.1 billion in 2003. The imports rose by about 20 per cent to reach $ 1.3 billion in 2004. Legwear imports add just 2 per cent to total import valued at $ 65 billion of apparel into the US.
Stockings and Tights - UK market
Today's hosiery market is divided between sales of tights (84%), stockings (3%), hold-ups (4%) and knee-highs (9%).
In 2004 the fine hosiery market was about £250 million; with more than half a million pairs of tights, stockings and hold ups being purchased every day. Legwear is the most regularly purchased item of clothing with women purchasing on average of ten pairs a year. The average price of a pair of tights in 2004 was £1.19; though. In UK Pretty Polly, Elbeo Levante etc are the leader in tights and stockings.
India's legwear market in the EU's perception
For legwear in the EU market, China with a contribution of 1.5 per cent was better than India and all others in the Indian subcontinent. Though, legwear imports from China in the year 2003 decreased in value terms by over 4 per cent despite a raise of about 13 per cent in volume terms. Here again, Pakistan with a contribution of over 1 per cent was at number two position and imports of legwear from Pakistan raised by over 46 per cent in the year 2003 as against 2002. Among China and other competitors in the sub-continent, India gained number three position with making 0.55 per cent contribution to the legwear market in the EU. In 2003, import of legwear from India rose by about 13 per cent.
Knitted hose have been a part of clothing for the past 1,000 years. At the outset it was worn by men and not women. The first stocking knitted on a circular machine was made in 1589. The market has improved since then. The first nylon stocking was made in 1938 and the first tights were made in 1966. Over the years stockings have become less popular and, most recently, knee-highs and ankle-highs have become more popular because women now wear more of trousers rather than skirts.
Nowadays, the use of legwear increases with each season. With the introduction of design aspects in the legwear category and the aim of making one such product changing, the legwear production industry is experiencing a huge demand in the summer time too. Hot Sox, DKNY, Givenchy- licensed by JET, American Essentials- the licensee for Calvin Klein and Michael Kors, Leg Resource Inc., Infinity Classics International etc., are a few products that satisfy the demand of designer legwear. Many departmental stores have special hosiery departments that keep the best brands. Designers like Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs and Dolce Gabbana make legwear collections more appealing.
With many aspects of a jigsaw, the new collection offered on the shelves range from elegant classic and natural appeals to fascinating flamboyant styles. The new legwear styles take into consideration the several demands of the present trend and show off perfect style and beauty. The variety is so vast that legwear has appeared as a hip extension for designers to show their abilities. Since legwear is worn by everyone regardless of age, gender or profession, ¬ there are various designs that are made for each and every segment. The legwear market is gaining a specific space in the market, more so due to skirts and now dresses which have gained popularity as the hot fashion products. Legwear designers foresee a bright future for tights, sheers and socks.
Many producers across the globe are trying to renew particular styles in the legwear category in each and every season and market them for the season. Holiday- specific legwear that are aimed at holiday themes, patterns and designs specific only to the holiday season are now a thing of the past. Today, many legwear manufacturers target socks and sheers as they make a good gift due to its affordability and usefulness. The promotional market is another area where it is considered that legwear can solve the purpose.
Sheer with decorative backseams dotted with red flowers in both black or white or sheer red shapes and floral vine pattern are enormous. Sheer shapes are also being made with rhinestones: rhinestones decorate the backseams and are sprinkled on sheer black colour. Kayser-Roth Corporation in its HUE line, Fine Line Hosiery and The Randalman, NC Company are some of the companies that offer a design element to legwear. HUE came out with rhinestone backseams, tuxedo striped sheers in black or nude, lurex rib sheers, shimmer sheers in black, gold or silver; lace trim tulle thigh highs and stockings with built-in garters.
Traffic- stopping graphic prints, romantic openwork, textured legwear, solid opaque, school girl knee- highs, ladylike sheers and ribbed knits are a few of the latest vogue. Forecasted to hit the fashion field are knee-high socks that are anticipated to become one of the new fashion trends. Knee socks in bias plaids, classic argyles in both traditional and gloomy colours, contrast herringbone, heavy tweed styles, stripes and femme angora openwork are arrived in the market. Feature covers colour flecks, fur pom poms and embroidered stitching. In socks, surface attractiveness is vital with visible textures giving preference over patterns. Moretz has set up sock styles with a various tweed textures. Use of luxury blends with wools, angora and cashmere, and romantic affects continue to be the largest in ladies apparel, which provides another increment to the sale of tights and trousers.
In pink, white and black, there are various categories available with contrasting trim and seed stitching on the top of the feet with a flower around ankles. Tattoo sheer pantyhose, checkered thigh highs, cotton knee highs with bows, lycra mesh stockings, lace leggings, skulls and crossbones midcalves, fuzzy multi stripe, striped tigers, argyle clock, micro velour diamonds, shark bite 3D socks, rugby 3-striped, surprise rib and branches tights are a few sets that perform the genesis of designing element spotted on the 'essentials', as accepted by today's generation. The persistence of beadwork, embroidery and crochet in apparel and accessories compliment the net/ crochet designs and opaque textures used in a sizable way in legwear. Opaques (dark and ribbed) and cable knit tights, men'swear patterns and footless tights are anticipated to have a huge market share.
For many producers, collection of fashion tights covers bold plaid opaques, textured tights in leopard, houndstooth and herringbone, antique openwork, crochet and nets and colourful, crazy tights motivated by Pucci's graphic designs. Fine Line Hosiery offers many plated tights in diamond, floral heather patterns and ribs. The beauty of legwear is further enhanced with the use of colours in the perfect mix. Browns command the colour palette along with affluent burgundies, warm greens, gold and robust tones. Attractive palettes of blue cover turquoise and teal. Inky blues offer a sophisticated casual look with a laid-back attitude that matches the best with denim wear and offer a break from the khaki family. Colours of inky blues include Rio, Wonder Blue and Midnight. Metallics have become the new mortals.
The new transparent lines of curved hosiery from Hanes are available in many flesh tones that are transparent enough to facilitate consumers to harmonize their skin tones with superior support. Captivating its influence from movement in the beauty industry, which is blowing up with products meant to offer a tanned, shining effect to the legs, Hanes also deals with Sheer Radiance, a line of edge that offers a slightly tanned and shining look to the leg. Leg Resource Inc., which makes legwear for Anne Klein and Via Spiga, among others, is all about facets with zigzags, curlicue motifs and sewn-on lace. Items from Infinity Classics International, a Brooklyn-based producer and marketer of hosiery for Italian line Levante and British import Jonathan Aston cover ultrasheers and sheers; opaques in chevron, spiral or diamond patterns and fishnets in mini and maxi weaves. Silhouettes include a regular growth or an unusual low-rise 'hipster' cut.
The legwear market covers only a small fraction of the total apparel business, the US imported legwear worth $ 1.24 billion in 2004. Canada imported $ 120 billion while EU imported Euro 2.66 billion, a 21 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent increment, correspondingly over the previous year. Though, India could raise its share only in the EU market from 1.39 per cent to 1.47 per cent.
US market of legwear
US import of legwear boosted by 20 per cent in 2004
Legwear, including hose, pantyhose, tights, socks, stockings and other hosiery products and a necessary apparel items are quite popular world over. The US imported such items worth $1.1 billion in 2003. The imports rose by about 20 per cent to reach $ 1.3 billion in 2004. Legwear imports add just 2 per cent to total import valued at $ 65 billion of apparel into the US.
Stockings and Tights - UK market
Today's hosiery market is divided between sales of tights (84%), stockings (3%), hold-ups (4%) and knee-highs (9%).
In 2004 the fine hosiery market was about £250 million; with more than half a million pairs of tights, stockings and hold ups being purchased every day. Legwear is the most regularly purchased item of clothing with women purchasing on average of ten pairs a year. The average price of a pair of tights in 2004 was £1.19; though. In UK Pretty Polly, Elbeo Levante etc are the leader in tights and stockings.
India's legwear market in the EU's perception
For legwear in the EU market, China with a contribution of 1.5 per cent was better than India and all others in the Indian subcontinent. Though, legwear imports from China in the year 2003 decreased in value terms by over 4 per cent despite a raise of about 13 per cent in volume terms. Here again, Pakistan with a contribution of over 1 per cent was at number two position and imports of legwear from Pakistan raised by over 46 per cent in the year 2003 as against 2002. Among China and other competitors in the sub-continent, India gained number three position with making 0.55 per cent contribution to the legwear market in the EU. In 2003, import of legwear from India rose by about 13 per cent.
Spain's Rise to Economic Stability
For the past four decades, Spain has been one of the largest economies of the world. In fact in 2008, the country has been recognized as one of the most dynamic economy within Europe. Moreover, Spain was also the second largest economy of the world in 2008. After about forty years of struggle, the country was able to prove itself in terms of economy.
The reasons for Spain's economic growth are attributed to its virtual zero growth rate with some of its partners in Europe, and the global real estate boom. Aside from these, the country has also stabilized its import export activities to a number of partners all over the world. Since Spain is most popularly known for its agricultural products, most of its exports are agricultural-based.
The largest partners of Spain are the other countries in Europe. Despite its being a small nation, the country has been able to come up with goods and merchandise for trading with other countries around the world. One of the greatest advantages of Spain is its fertile soils and favorable climate. As such the growing of valuable crops such as oranges, olives, and grapes is one of Spain's major sources of income.
Spain's exports have amounted to a total of $248.3 billion, in 2007 alone. This amount has significantly increased since 2003. This only shows that the export ventures of Spain have been successful for these years. France is the biggest export partner of Spain which takes up 11% of Spain's exports. Germany, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States followed suit. Among these export partners, the United States is the only country outside Europe that is trading relatively well with Spain.
Topping the list of Spain's major exports is petroleum products. Spain is known to have an adequate amount of petroleum deposits such that Spain can afford to share these to other countries. The other major exports of Spain include antiques, stamps, artwork, vegetables, industrial machines, medicinal items, generators, transformers, transformer accessories, wall tiles, floor tiles, and wine. Spain produces some of the best wines in the world. In fact, wine is one of the most popular exports of Spain. Spain's wines have probably reached all corners of the world already.
On the other hand, in order to supplement the needs of Spain, Spain has to import some products from other countries. Importing these products does not necessarily mean in absence of, but rather insufficiency. The major imports to Spain include medicinal equipment, pharmaceutical productions, civilian aircraft and parts, fuel oil, industrial engines, telecommunications equipment, organic chemicals, and food stuffs.
The reasons for Spain's economic growth are attributed to its virtual zero growth rate with some of its partners in Europe, and the global real estate boom. Aside from these, the country has also stabilized its import export activities to a number of partners all over the world. Since Spain is most popularly known for its agricultural products, most of its exports are agricultural-based.
The largest partners of Spain are the other countries in Europe. Despite its being a small nation, the country has been able to come up with goods and merchandise for trading with other countries around the world. One of the greatest advantages of Spain is its fertile soils and favorable climate. As such the growing of valuable crops such as oranges, olives, and grapes is one of Spain's major sources of income.
Spain's exports have amounted to a total of $248.3 billion, in 2007 alone. This amount has significantly increased since 2003. This only shows that the export ventures of Spain have been successful for these years. France is the biggest export partner of Spain which takes up 11% of Spain's exports. Germany, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States followed suit. Among these export partners, the United States is the only country outside Europe that is trading relatively well with Spain.
Topping the list of Spain's major exports is petroleum products. Spain is known to have an adequate amount of petroleum deposits such that Spain can afford to share these to other countries. The other major exports of Spain include antiques, stamps, artwork, vegetables, industrial machines, medicinal items, generators, transformers, transformer accessories, wall tiles, floor tiles, and wine. Spain produces some of the best wines in the world. In fact, wine is one of the most popular exports of Spain. Spain's wines have probably reached all corners of the world already.
On the other hand, in order to supplement the needs of Spain, Spain has to import some products from other countries. Importing these products does not necessarily mean in absence of, but rather insufficiency. The major imports to Spain include medicinal equipment, pharmaceutical productions, civilian aircraft and parts, fuel oil, industrial engines, telecommunications equipment, organic chemicals, and food stuffs.
How to Get Started in the Import Export Business - Basics For Beginners - Startup Guide - Part 1
First thing's first you have to decide where you want to position yourself. There are several areas within international trade where most people decide to focus. Specialising in one of these areas is usually a good idea for those new to the market although further down the line you may wish to expand.
Import Merchant: In essence you are a freelancer. You find a product overseas you believe will sell in your domestic market. You buy directly from the manufacturer and import into your market. After organising freight and customs clearance with a freight forwarder (or if you feel brave by yourself) you ship the goods to your warehouse - which could be your bedroom. From here you may decide to repackage the goods to meet official local standards and/or regulations. Then comes the final and hardest part... you have to sell what you've bought. Your buyers could come from retailers, whole sellers, individual customers, catalogue companies etc... anyone is a potential buyer. The risk here is that you buy the product and therefore if you can' sell it you're stuck with it.
Sales Agent: Here you work with your supplier to source buyers within your market. Your capital outlay is minimum as you do not actually buy the product instead you receive a commission for every trade you broker, usually around 5% of the value of the transaction. The logistical aspect of trades is also negotiated to suit the deal - for example your sole responsibility could be simply to book buyers and not worry about shipping the goods. Naturally as a sales agent you must first build up a solid level of trust with your supplier.
Distributor: Working as a distributor is one step up from a sales agent. Here you become even more interlinked with the supplier. Not only do you once again source buyers but now also all or some of the logistical considerations will be your responsibility - shipping, insurance, customs etc. Here you are also paid on a commission basis or there is also the option of purchasing the supplier's product with your own capital and selling the stock when buyers are signed. Here the pinnacle is securing an exclusive distribution agreement with a supplier which grants you the right to be the only distributor of their product in a set country for a certain period of time - all dependent on certain conditions being met.
Now let's talk about how to get involved in the business. Here I'll use my own personal experience which some may disagree with but has worked for me. The following points are general and can apply to any of the three strands I highlighted above.
Learn Learn Learn - For the vast majority of us international trade is a Rubik's cube. How to ship goods in containers from halfway across the world is complex and that's why you have to learn what's going on before even thinking about signing your first trade.
* Take an import export course. Make sure it is accredited in some way for example by a trade association or university. Although it may be pricey trust me it will be worth it. Buying books that explain import export are only so good, at the end of the day the entire sector uses new language and terms you've most likely never heard. Having someone from the inside explain it to you in plain English will make a significant difference to your understanding. Adequate course material handouts are a bonus. Make sure the course covers insurance, Incoterms, documentary letters of credit, customs clearance and import documentation as minimum.
* That being said, consider buying a book as a reference - something you can flick back to for help or even inspiration. Read reviews on Amazon to make sure you're buying the correct one - some books are very country specific so beware. Carl Nelson provides good overall guidelines with a focus on the North America.
* If you have the opportunity (although unlikely) take an unpaid internship at one of the bigger and more reputable freight forwarding companies, this will help you gain massive insight in a very little amount of time... provided you get the right position.
Sprouting the business - After you have built up your basic understanding of how the market and international trade works it's time to start thinking about how to make a business out of this and here you could consider which of the strands mentioned above appeals to you. Personally being an import merchant always appealed to me and it is also the easiest to start with - although also the riskiest and requires capital to get going.
* Think of how you'll gain recognition and attract customers. Having a website presence is in today's market essential so think about how you'd like to accomplish that. Hiring a web designer can be costly but the results are usually professional (although make sure you own the intellectual property rights to the website and its design - do not let the developer bully you into letting him take ownership of rights - if they insist find someone else... trust me, if your business grows to a multi $mn enterprise that web designer is going to get very rich at your expense)
* Else you can attempt to make your own site. This is hard work and requires a publishing program - I personally taught myself through Dreamweaver CS4. If you do it yourself in the worst case at least you've learnt web design and can out it on your CV/resume - and updating your site is free and at your convenience not that of the web designer.
* Find an office and register your company (here we assume we are in the UK). You can register your company in minutes using an online company creator and the fee is usually around GBP 40. Think of a good name for your company - I chose mine to avoid limiting the company to one sector going forward although you may wish to do exactly that. An office is a big expense so I recommend avoiding that to start with. Either use your home address or a virtual office - these cost around GBP 30/month and give your business a professional address and forward your mail to you.
* Once registered as a company get yourself a business bank account. HSBC is excellent for trade due to their massive international presence. Business accounts with them are free although additional charges arise when you need to draft trade documents. Consider also keeping multi currency accounts to make payment to manufacturers easier - i.e. a US dollar account will allow you to pay a client in the USA quicker and with less hassle. Also consider buying business insurance to cover you should anything go wrong down the line.
* A brand logo, business cards, phone, computer (with internet and fax) are all pretty essential necessities for your business but are self explanatory.
Finding products - So you now have a registered company, a business bank account and an office (could be your bedroom). Now comes your next hurdle, finding what to import. If you're lucky enough to already know then excellent otherwise the following points may help:
* Get yourself known at foreign embassies. Here you will find trade commerce departments who's job is to help promote trade between their home country and yours.. and you as an importer are what they need. Find out from them what foreign supplier are looking to partner up and sell their products in your country. Naturally start with small players and items you understand and believe will be able to sell. If nothing comes up make sure the embassy knows your company exists and that you're on their system should something come up in the future. Not to mention the staff here are very knowledgeable in trade so will be able to help one you secure a transaction.
* Export journals. These are usually produced by a country's trade and commerce department and list many manufacturers and the products they are looking to export. Have a browse as to what they have and then contact any supplier that takes your fancy.
* Internet trade directories. We recommend staying away from these unless you're really desperate. It's often hard to verify the supplier and the entire process is unprofessional. very few serious exporters list on web directories.
* Trade fairs. If the fair is in your local vicinity then these are great places to meet new suppliers and get a feel for where you could find your niche. Trade fairs are usually industry specific so search for what you might want to import and you'll find a fair to match. Travelling abroad to a fair is usually too pricey to start off with. A good strategy is to contact the fair organiser and ask for an attendee list from which you can just visit the websites.
* Travel and friends. How many times have you been abroad or a friend bought you a gift that you thought wow, we don't have that back home it'd sell great. Well... you have a company and you know how to trade, what's stopping you now?
So hopefully you now have an import company and found a product to import... now it gets harder.
Import Merchant: In essence you are a freelancer. You find a product overseas you believe will sell in your domestic market. You buy directly from the manufacturer and import into your market. After organising freight and customs clearance with a freight forwarder (or if you feel brave by yourself) you ship the goods to your warehouse - which could be your bedroom. From here you may decide to repackage the goods to meet official local standards and/or regulations. Then comes the final and hardest part... you have to sell what you've bought. Your buyers could come from retailers, whole sellers, individual customers, catalogue companies etc... anyone is a potential buyer. The risk here is that you buy the product and therefore if you can' sell it you're stuck with it.
Sales Agent: Here you work with your supplier to source buyers within your market. Your capital outlay is minimum as you do not actually buy the product instead you receive a commission for every trade you broker, usually around 5% of the value of the transaction. The logistical aspect of trades is also negotiated to suit the deal - for example your sole responsibility could be simply to book buyers and not worry about shipping the goods. Naturally as a sales agent you must first build up a solid level of trust with your supplier.
Distributor: Working as a distributor is one step up from a sales agent. Here you become even more interlinked with the supplier. Not only do you once again source buyers but now also all or some of the logistical considerations will be your responsibility - shipping, insurance, customs etc. Here you are also paid on a commission basis or there is also the option of purchasing the supplier's product with your own capital and selling the stock when buyers are signed. Here the pinnacle is securing an exclusive distribution agreement with a supplier which grants you the right to be the only distributor of their product in a set country for a certain period of time - all dependent on certain conditions being met.
Now let's talk about how to get involved in the business. Here I'll use my own personal experience which some may disagree with but has worked for me. The following points are general and can apply to any of the three strands I highlighted above.
Learn Learn Learn - For the vast majority of us international trade is a Rubik's cube. How to ship goods in containers from halfway across the world is complex and that's why you have to learn what's going on before even thinking about signing your first trade.
* Take an import export course. Make sure it is accredited in some way for example by a trade association or university. Although it may be pricey trust me it will be worth it. Buying books that explain import export are only so good, at the end of the day the entire sector uses new language and terms you've most likely never heard. Having someone from the inside explain it to you in plain English will make a significant difference to your understanding. Adequate course material handouts are a bonus. Make sure the course covers insurance, Incoterms, documentary letters of credit, customs clearance and import documentation as minimum.
* That being said, consider buying a book as a reference - something you can flick back to for help or even inspiration. Read reviews on Amazon to make sure you're buying the correct one - some books are very country specific so beware. Carl Nelson provides good overall guidelines with a focus on the North America.
* If you have the opportunity (although unlikely) take an unpaid internship at one of the bigger and more reputable freight forwarding companies, this will help you gain massive insight in a very little amount of time... provided you get the right position.
Sprouting the business - After you have built up your basic understanding of how the market and international trade works it's time to start thinking about how to make a business out of this and here you could consider which of the strands mentioned above appeals to you. Personally being an import merchant always appealed to me and it is also the easiest to start with - although also the riskiest and requires capital to get going.
* Think of how you'll gain recognition and attract customers. Having a website presence is in today's market essential so think about how you'd like to accomplish that. Hiring a web designer can be costly but the results are usually professional (although make sure you own the intellectual property rights to the website and its design - do not let the developer bully you into letting him take ownership of rights - if they insist find someone else... trust me, if your business grows to a multi $mn enterprise that web designer is going to get very rich at your expense)
* Else you can attempt to make your own site. This is hard work and requires a publishing program - I personally taught myself through Dreamweaver CS4. If you do it yourself in the worst case at least you've learnt web design and can out it on your CV/resume - and updating your site is free and at your convenience not that of the web designer.
* Find an office and register your company (here we assume we are in the UK). You can register your company in minutes using an online company creator and the fee is usually around GBP 40. Think of a good name for your company - I chose mine to avoid limiting the company to one sector going forward although you may wish to do exactly that. An office is a big expense so I recommend avoiding that to start with. Either use your home address or a virtual office - these cost around GBP 30/month and give your business a professional address and forward your mail to you.
* Once registered as a company get yourself a business bank account. HSBC is excellent for trade due to their massive international presence. Business accounts with them are free although additional charges arise when you need to draft trade documents. Consider also keeping multi currency accounts to make payment to manufacturers easier - i.e. a US dollar account will allow you to pay a client in the USA quicker and with less hassle. Also consider buying business insurance to cover you should anything go wrong down the line.
* A brand logo, business cards, phone, computer (with internet and fax) are all pretty essential necessities for your business but are self explanatory.
Finding products - So you now have a registered company, a business bank account and an office (could be your bedroom). Now comes your next hurdle, finding what to import. If you're lucky enough to already know then excellent otherwise the following points may help:
* Get yourself known at foreign embassies. Here you will find trade commerce departments who's job is to help promote trade between their home country and yours.. and you as an importer are what they need. Find out from them what foreign supplier are looking to partner up and sell their products in your country. Naturally start with small players and items you understand and believe will be able to sell. If nothing comes up make sure the embassy knows your company exists and that you're on their system should something come up in the future. Not to mention the staff here are very knowledgeable in trade so will be able to help one you secure a transaction.
* Export journals. These are usually produced by a country's trade and commerce department and list many manufacturers and the products they are looking to export. Have a browse as to what they have and then contact any supplier that takes your fancy.
* Internet trade directories. We recommend staying away from these unless you're really desperate. It's often hard to verify the supplier and the entire process is unprofessional. very few serious exporters list on web directories.
* Trade fairs. If the fair is in your local vicinity then these are great places to meet new suppliers and get a feel for where you could find your niche. Trade fairs are usually industry specific so search for what you might want to import and you'll find a fair to match. Travelling abroad to a fair is usually too pricey to start off with. A good strategy is to contact the fair organiser and ask for an attendee list from which you can just visit the websites.
* Travel and friends. How many times have you been abroad or a friend bought you a gift that you thought wow, we don't have that back home it'd sell great. Well... you have a company and you know how to trade, what's stopping you now?
So hopefully you now have an import company and found a product to import... now it gets harder.
How I Became A Successful (Part-Time) Import/Export Agent
Several years ago, when I was invited to sit on the board of Wade World Trade, an educational institution established in 1946 to help entrepreneurs become import/export agents, I thought I would try it out for myself. I have to say that although I am not a natural entrepreneur (I hate anything which smacks of 'selling') I have never regretted the decision.
My first challenge was to find something to import or export. After much thought I decided I had to pick an area I was interested in anyway so I chose food. Since 'artisan' food producers are not very commercial it was a good decision. They find it easy to sell their products locally but tend to be hopeless at marketing overseas. I soon negotiated agency agreements with half a dozen companies for a range of related products - jams, chutneys, oaten biscuits, relishes, tea, hot chocolate and chocolate. All were manufactured (or at least packaged) in the UK and none had ever been exported.
The next step was finding possible buyers. My approach was to send an email containing photographs of the products I had on offer to - literally - thousands of buyers in Europe, the USA and Commonwealth countries. In the email I offered a 'sample' pack for the cost of postage. I also sent out about 2,000 mail shots. All together I must have spent close to £1,500. But I received requests for 70 sample packs and from this I obtained 15 regular customers. With three months I had made back by £1,500. Within a year I was generating a very nice income. It probably absorbs about 8 or 10 hours a week of my time BUT the beauty of it is that I can work at it largely when it suits me - in the evenings and weekends.
My first challenge was to find something to import or export. After much thought I decided I had to pick an area I was interested in anyway so I chose food. Since 'artisan' food producers are not very commercial it was a good decision. They find it easy to sell their products locally but tend to be hopeless at marketing overseas. I soon negotiated agency agreements with half a dozen companies for a range of related products - jams, chutneys, oaten biscuits, relishes, tea, hot chocolate and chocolate. All were manufactured (or at least packaged) in the UK and none had ever been exported.
The next step was finding possible buyers. My approach was to send an email containing photographs of the products I had on offer to - literally - thousands of buyers in Europe, the USA and Commonwealth countries. In the email I offered a 'sample' pack for the cost of postage. I also sent out about 2,000 mail shots. All together I must have spent close to £1,500. But I received requests for 70 sample packs and from this I obtained 15 regular customers. With three months I had made back by £1,500. Within a year I was generating a very nice income. It probably absorbs about 8 or 10 hours a week of my time BUT the beauty of it is that I can work at it largely when it suits me - in the evenings and weekends.
Microsoft CRM: Data Conversion - Import from Act!
Best Software Act! is very popular CRM for small and mid-size organization. This system attracts business owner by its low price, plus system is very easy to use. However if your business is growing you should reach the moment to implement more advanced CRM solution. Natural question is - how do we convert the data from Act! to new CRM solution and the mapping of your objects for conversion. You would probably like to avoid operator data entry with potential numerous errors and mistypes. Assuming that you are IT specialist, we'll give you technical side of Act to MS CRM data migration:
o First you need to download Act! SDK from Best Software website
o Install Act! SDK on the computer, where you plan to do programming
o We'll use asynchronous data export/import model, this means that we'll design the system, containing two parts: export into XML and this XML file import into the CRM
o Lets code Act! data export application, we'll use C# to address Act Framework classes, we'll need these libraries:
using Act.Framework;
using Act.Framework.Activities;
using Act.Framework.Companies;
using Act.Framework.ComponentModel;
using Act.Framework.Contacts;
using Act.Framework.Database;
using Act.Framework.Groups;
using Act.Framework.Histories;
using Act.Framework.Lookups;
using Act.Framework.MutableEntities;
using Act.Framework.Notes;
using Act.Framework.Opportunities;
using Act.Framework.Users;
using Act.Shared.Collections;
o To connect to Act! database:
ActFramework framework = new ActFramework();
framework.LogOn("Act Username", "password", "SERVER", "Database");
o Now we need Act field names to map them with the fields in the MS CRM:
private void ShowContactsFieldsDescriptions(ActFramework framework) {
ContactFieldDescriptor[] cFields = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptors();
ContactFieldDescriptor cField;
for(int x = 0; x ";
ContactFieldDescriptor cField;
Object oValue;
// First Name
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.FIRSTNAME");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
// Last Name
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.LASTNAME");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
else
strContactXml += "" + "N/A" + "";
// Salutation
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.SALUTATION");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
// Job Title
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.JOBTITLE");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + Regex.Replace(oValue.ToString(), "\r\n", "
") + "]]";
o This is only portion of the data, that could be transferred into CRM, the whole list of fields is too long for small article, but your could design the whole list of desired fields. Please, pay special attention to replace
HTML tag - this is required for text data transfer into CRM
o Next is import application creation. We will not describe here connection to MS CRM details - please read Microsoft CRM SDK if you need this examples. We'll concentrate on the nature of the import.
The XML export file should look like this:
[CDATA[John]][CDATA[Smith]][CDATA[John]][CDATA[1234 W. Big River]][CDATA[Chicago]][CDATA[IL]][CDATA[123456]][CDATA[Toy Corporation]]{4F1849C3-9184-48B5-BB09-078ED7AB2DAD}
o Reading, parsing and MS CRM object creation look is relatively simple:
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.BizUser bizUser = new Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.BizUser();
ICredentials credentials = new NetworkCredential(crmUsername, crmPassword, crmDomain);
bizUser.Url = crmDir + "BizUser.srf";
bizUser.Credentials = credentials;
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CUserAuth userAuth = bizUser.WhoAmI();
// CRMContact proxy object
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CRMContact contact = new Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CRMContact ();
contact.Credentials = credentials;
contact.Url = crmDir + "CRMContact.srf";
CorrectXML("Contacts.xml", userAuth.UserId);
StreamReader reader = File.OpenText("Contacts.xml");
string input = null;
while ((input = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
{
string strContactId = contact.Create(userAuth, input);
Console.WriteLine("Contact {0} is created", strContactId);
log.Debug("Contact " + strContactId + " is created");
}
o Just consider in more details CorrectXML function - it places OwnerId into XML contact tree:
private void CorrectXML(string fileName, string userId) {
File.Move(fileName, fileName + ".old");
StreamReader reader = File.OpenText(fileName + ".old");
FileInfo t = new FileInfo(fileName);
StreamWriter writer = t.CreateText();
string input = null;
while ((input = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
{
input = Regex.Replace(input, "{_REPLACE_ME_}", userId);
writer.WriteLine(input);
}
reader.Close();
writer.Close();
File.Delete(fileName + ".old");
}
o Finally, we are launching export, import, opening MS CRM and looking at the contact list, transferred from Act!
o First you need to download Act! SDK from Best Software website
o Install Act! SDK on the computer, where you plan to do programming
o We'll use asynchronous data export/import model, this means that we'll design the system, containing two parts: export into XML and this XML file import into the CRM
o Lets code Act! data export application, we'll use C# to address Act Framework classes, we'll need these libraries:
using Act.Framework;
using Act.Framework.Activities;
using Act.Framework.Companies;
using Act.Framework.ComponentModel;
using Act.Framework.Contacts;
using Act.Framework.Database;
using Act.Framework.Groups;
using Act.Framework.Histories;
using Act.Framework.Lookups;
using Act.Framework.MutableEntities;
using Act.Framework.Notes;
using Act.Framework.Opportunities;
using Act.Framework.Users;
using Act.Shared.Collections;
o To connect to Act! database:
ActFramework framework = new ActFramework();
framework.LogOn("Act Username", "password", "SERVER", "Database");
o Now we need Act field names to map them with the fields in the MS CRM:
private void ShowContactsFieldsDescriptions(ActFramework framework) {
ContactFieldDescriptor[] cFields = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptors();
ContactFieldDescriptor cField;
for(int x = 0; x ";
ContactFieldDescriptor cField;
Object oValue;
// First Name
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.FIRSTNAME");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
// Last Name
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.LASTNAME");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
else
strContactXml += "" + "N/A" + "";
// Salutation
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.SALUTATION");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
// Job Title
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.JOBTITLE");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + Regex.Replace(oValue.ToString(), "\r\n", "
") + "]]";
o This is only portion of the data, that could be transferred into CRM, the whole list of fields is too long for small article, but your could design the whole list of desired fields. Please, pay special attention to replace
HTML tag - this is required for text data transfer into CRM
o Next is import application creation. We will not describe here connection to MS CRM details - please read Microsoft CRM SDK if you need this examples. We'll concentrate on the nature of the import.
The XML export file should look like this:
[CDATA[John]][CDATA[Smith]][CDATA[John]][CDATA[1234 W. Big River]][CDATA[Chicago]][CDATA[IL]][CDATA[123456]][CDATA[Toy Corporation]]{4F1849C3-9184-48B5-BB09-078ED7AB2DAD}
o Reading, parsing and MS CRM object creation look is relatively simple:
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.BizUser bizUser = new Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.BizUser();
ICredentials credentials = new NetworkCredential(crmUsername, crmPassword, crmDomain);
bizUser.Url = crmDir + "BizUser.srf";
bizUser.Credentials = credentials;
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CUserAuth userAuth = bizUser.WhoAmI();
// CRMContact proxy object
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CRMContact contact = new Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CRMContact ();
contact.Credentials = credentials;
contact.Url = crmDir + "CRMContact.srf";
CorrectXML("Contacts.xml", userAuth.UserId);
StreamReader reader = File.OpenText("Contacts.xml");
string input = null;
while ((input = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
{
string strContactId = contact.Create(userAuth, input);
Console.WriteLine("Contact {0} is created", strContactId);
log.Debug("Contact " + strContactId + " is created");
}
o Just consider in more details CorrectXML function - it places OwnerId into XML contact tree:
private void CorrectXML(string fileName, string userId) {
File.Move(fileName, fileName + ".old");
StreamReader reader = File.OpenText(fileName + ".old");
FileInfo t = new FileInfo(fileName);
StreamWriter writer = t.CreateText();
string input = null;
while ((input = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
{
input = Regex.Replace(input, "{_REPLACE_ME_}", userId);
writer.WriteLine(input);
}
reader.Close();
writer.Close();
File.Delete(fileName + ".old");
}
o Finally, we are launching export, import, opening MS CRM and looking at the contact list, transferred from Act!
How to Start a Successful Import Business Using the Internet
The Internet has opened up a whole new era of business
opportunities. Falling trade barriers combining with easy access
to trade information thanks to the Internet have created dramatic
possibilities and sparked the growth of global online trade in
virtually every area.
Many companies are taking advantage of electronic media quite
aggressively by making new contacts, tapping into new markets
and reducing costs with the help of online technologies.
Whether you are starting a new import business or planning to
expand your existing business, you too can use the Internet as
your primary channel for getting information, sourcing products
or services, finding suppliers and doing your marketing.
Before the Internet era, finding a viable product for importing
was not an easy job! Trade shows and traveling to foreign lands
were the two best options available for getting hands on
information on a product and its supplier. Today, required
information on any conceivable product from virtually any market
is available at your finger tips.
Finding a product
If you know what you are planning to import, a substantial work
is already done! Otherwise, your first step is to choose a
feasible product or service to import. Whether you are planning
to import a general merchandize or an industry-specific product,
do your homework right.
opportunities. Falling trade barriers combining with easy access
to trade information thanks to the Internet have created dramatic
possibilities and sparked the growth of global online trade in
virtually every area.
Many companies are taking advantage of electronic media quite
aggressively by making new contacts, tapping into new markets
and reducing costs with the help of online technologies.
Whether you are starting a new import business or planning to
expand your existing business, you too can use the Internet as
your primary channel for getting information, sourcing products
or services, finding suppliers and doing your marketing.
Before the Internet era, finding a viable product for importing
was not an easy job! Trade shows and traveling to foreign lands
were the two best options available for getting hands on
information on a product and its supplier. Today, required
information on any conceivable product from virtually any market
is available at your finger tips.
Finding a product
If you know what you are planning to import, a substantial work
is already done! Otherwise, your first step is to choose a
feasible product or service to import. Whether you are planning
to import a general merchandize or an industry-specific product,
do your homework right.
How to Get Started in Import Export Business
So how can one get involved in import export business?
One: You can start an import export business using your own money
Most people think of getting involved buying product overseas with their own money, on their own account. This is the most logical and preferred way for most. Buy a product, pay for it, take title to the goods, import your purchases into the country you want to sell them in, sell them, and do it all over again.
Two: Import export agent - putting buyers and sellers together
If you are familiar with a particular country, especially if you have been there numerous times and may already know what is manufactured there and where to find suppliers of those products, you can offer your knowledge to others. If for example you have been to Thailand many times, may had lived there before, and know the Thai product, you can approach a retail store buyer in the United States, in the city where you live or elsewhere, and offer to be his buyer, especially if he carries products from Thailand. In this case the US-based retailer may hire you to place an order on a product he sells from Thailand. You will order the product in Thailand, put the shipment together, pay for the product not with your money but with his money, and ship the good to his store in the United States, with his store's name as the consignee on the shipping documents. For your services the US-base retailer-importer will pay you agreed upon commission. The amount of the commission is negotiable, not a fixed percentage. The amount may depend on the amount of your time you'll put into putting the shipment together, your overhead associated with the export side of the process, expenses you will incur at the country of origin, needing to travel back and forth to the manufacturer's factory or dealing with the export shipping company. The retailer will be the importer, he will pay not only for the goods but for the cost of preparation of the export documents, packing and actual international freight from country of origin, Thailand, to destination, wherever may be his store or warehouse. Your commission may be a percentage of the total invoice value or a negotiated amount between the two of you. Under this scenario you are using other people's money but your expertise. You can get started tomorrow. Obviously if you have never been to Thailand you may not want to offer your services as import export agent of Thai products.
There are two basic variants of this involvement. One described above where your commission is paid by the importer on whose behalf you have worked. Similarly, however, while you are in Thailand, a Thai manufacturer may offer you a sample of his product to introduce to prospective buyers in the United States. In this case you may return from your last trip to Thailand as Manufacturer's Representative - perhaps not with an exclusive contract to represent his products in the United States but with the understanding that should you find buyer for his product who may want to place an order, he, the Thai-based manufacturer will pay you an agreed upon commission on the shipment.
From these two examples it is clear that you can work with other people's money, not just your own, putting buyers and sellers together where commissions may be paid to you by either or both of the parties, the buyer as well as the seller and the method constitutes the easiest way to get started in import export business.
Three: Import Export Sourcing Agent
You can work as an independent import export sourcing contractor, an involvement in import export business that is very much in the same category as described above, but with more responsibilities in the entire import export process. Say for example a clothing store in the United States will hire you to find a manufacturer in Bali, Indonesia that could manufacture garments based on their product design specifications. Armed with drawings of product given to you by the retailer you'd source more than one prospective manufacturer in Bali to prepare samples of product to be eventually ordered by the retailer in quantity. Each manufacturer would prepare the sample as well as a quote sheet showing quantity discounts and delivery time. The retailer would select one of the suppliers you had sourced based on product quality, price and delivery time, and then ask you to award the contract to that supplier. You would then have to oversee production, quality control, preparation of documents and pay for the goods with the retailer's money, not you with yours, who would become the actual importer and consignee on the shipping documents. As above, you would get paid by the retailer-importer on commission basis, plus expenses as well as possibly be kept on a retainer to be available next time.
Four: Export Shipment Broker
Last is an example that is based once again on using other people's money to put buyers and sellers together. In this example a manufacturer in Thailand is offering a container load of a product, for example toys. The shipment is ready to be shipped, and must be bought as is, whatever the qualities of each item style inside. The shipment may be assorted, and it may contain some attractive products but also some less marginal ones, perhaps even seconds, or discontinued products. The manufacturer-exporter is looking for a buyer. You are an agent that knows who may be interested, who are the buyers for these type of products. It could be a store in Miami, Florida or in Berlin, Germany, or in any other country that you know buyers in for this type of product. You provide samples from the seller-exporter to the buyer-importer. If the buyer agrees to buy the container at the agreed upon price, you may handle the whole sale transaction on what could be a back-to-back letter of credit using your bank in Denver, or wherever you are located. The buyer in Berlin pays you by a L/C in the amount of $40,000 and once the funds clear your bank, your bank cuts an L/C in the amount of $30,000 to the seller's bank in Thailand and you pocket the difference less bank expenses. The container goes from Thailand to Berlin, Germany, not via the United States - you never take title to the goods. You only connect the seller with the buyer and broker the deal. Needless to say the export shipment can be brokered by countless number of other brokers who will come across the export offer by the manufacture-exporter located in Thailand.
One: You can start an import export business using your own money
Most people think of getting involved buying product overseas with their own money, on their own account. This is the most logical and preferred way for most. Buy a product, pay for it, take title to the goods, import your purchases into the country you want to sell them in, sell them, and do it all over again.
Two: Import export agent - putting buyers and sellers together
If you are familiar with a particular country, especially if you have been there numerous times and may already know what is manufactured there and where to find suppliers of those products, you can offer your knowledge to others. If for example you have been to Thailand many times, may had lived there before, and know the Thai product, you can approach a retail store buyer in the United States, in the city where you live or elsewhere, and offer to be his buyer, especially if he carries products from Thailand. In this case the US-based retailer may hire you to place an order on a product he sells from Thailand. You will order the product in Thailand, put the shipment together, pay for the product not with your money but with his money, and ship the good to his store in the United States, with his store's name as the consignee on the shipping documents. For your services the US-base retailer-importer will pay you agreed upon commission. The amount of the commission is negotiable, not a fixed percentage. The amount may depend on the amount of your time you'll put into putting the shipment together, your overhead associated with the export side of the process, expenses you will incur at the country of origin, needing to travel back and forth to the manufacturer's factory or dealing with the export shipping company. The retailer will be the importer, he will pay not only for the goods but for the cost of preparation of the export documents, packing and actual international freight from country of origin, Thailand, to destination, wherever may be his store or warehouse. Your commission may be a percentage of the total invoice value or a negotiated amount between the two of you. Under this scenario you are using other people's money but your expertise. You can get started tomorrow. Obviously if you have never been to Thailand you may not want to offer your services as import export agent of Thai products.
There are two basic variants of this involvement. One described above where your commission is paid by the importer on whose behalf you have worked. Similarly, however, while you are in Thailand, a Thai manufacturer may offer you a sample of his product to introduce to prospective buyers in the United States. In this case you may return from your last trip to Thailand as Manufacturer's Representative - perhaps not with an exclusive contract to represent his products in the United States but with the understanding that should you find buyer for his product who may want to place an order, he, the Thai-based manufacturer will pay you an agreed upon commission on the shipment.
From these two examples it is clear that you can work with other people's money, not just your own, putting buyers and sellers together where commissions may be paid to you by either or both of the parties, the buyer as well as the seller and the method constitutes the easiest way to get started in import export business.
Three: Import Export Sourcing Agent
You can work as an independent import export sourcing contractor, an involvement in import export business that is very much in the same category as described above, but with more responsibilities in the entire import export process. Say for example a clothing store in the United States will hire you to find a manufacturer in Bali, Indonesia that could manufacture garments based on their product design specifications. Armed with drawings of product given to you by the retailer you'd source more than one prospective manufacturer in Bali to prepare samples of product to be eventually ordered by the retailer in quantity. Each manufacturer would prepare the sample as well as a quote sheet showing quantity discounts and delivery time. The retailer would select one of the suppliers you had sourced based on product quality, price and delivery time, and then ask you to award the contract to that supplier. You would then have to oversee production, quality control, preparation of documents and pay for the goods with the retailer's money, not you with yours, who would become the actual importer and consignee on the shipping documents. As above, you would get paid by the retailer-importer on commission basis, plus expenses as well as possibly be kept on a retainer to be available next time.
Four: Export Shipment Broker
Last is an example that is based once again on using other people's money to put buyers and sellers together. In this example a manufacturer in Thailand is offering a container load of a product, for example toys. The shipment is ready to be shipped, and must be bought as is, whatever the qualities of each item style inside. The shipment may be assorted, and it may contain some attractive products but also some less marginal ones, perhaps even seconds, or discontinued products. The manufacturer-exporter is looking for a buyer. You are an agent that knows who may be interested, who are the buyers for these type of products. It could be a store in Miami, Florida or in Berlin, Germany, or in any other country that you know buyers in for this type of product. You provide samples from the seller-exporter to the buyer-importer. If the buyer agrees to buy the container at the agreed upon price, you may handle the whole sale transaction on what could be a back-to-back letter of credit using your bank in Denver, or wherever you are located. The buyer in Berlin pays you by a L/C in the amount of $40,000 and once the funds clear your bank, your bank cuts an L/C in the amount of $30,000 to the seller's bank in Thailand and you pocket the difference less bank expenses. The container goes from Thailand to Berlin, Germany, not via the United States - you never take title to the goods. You only connect the seller with the buyer and broker the deal. Needless to say the export shipment can be brokered by countless number of other brokers who will come across the export offer by the manufacture-exporter located in Thailand.
The China Import Market - The Impact of the Global Recession
The global trade slowdown has affected international freight forwarding from China as the scale of the China import market contracts. As world demand for China imports falls away, especially in the very important markets of the United States and Europe, container volumes in China have fallen at double digit rates. As a result of the changing international freight market, expansion plans have been shelved as the freight transport industry reviews it operations and investment planning.
For example, plans previously in place for developing the port at China's Ningbo-Zhousan port have been put on hold. It had been intended to build nine new container terminals as part of the port's ambition to compete with Shanghai. Central to the freight services expansion plan was the development of the Jintang Dapokou Container Terminal, with a 1.8km quay and five container berths, which would redefine freight services in the area.
However, these plans are now on ice as China's export dependent economy reels from the impact of the slowdown in global demand for China imports. The main ports in China, which is the world's third largest economy, have all seen substantial declines, with international freight volumes at Shanghai down 15% year on year in the first quarter of 2009. This followed six consecutive months of steep declines as the economic slump takes its toll. Guangzhou port suffered the worst decline, with nearly 25% year on year decline in the first quarter of 2009. This was followed by Shenzhen at 21%.
Against this pattern of declining volumes for shipping companies, however, it is worth noting that there has been a booming demand in domestic trade in China, especially with the freight transport of cargo from the south of China to the north. For example, freight forwarding to Dalian in the north has increased 50% year on year and other ports in the north of China are also showing single digit growth due to the strong domestic demand. However, this is still a small proportion of the total freight forwarding market and does not begin to compensate for the worldwide decline in demand for China imports.
Dr Fu Yuning, Chairman of China Merchants Holdings International, which has investments in nearly all China ports and whose terminals handle around 34% of all China's container traffic, has said that 2009 will turn out to be 'the most difficult year in a generation' for shipping companies and the freight services industry in China. As well as the downturn in freight forwarding trade, China's port operators are having to deal with operational difficulties created by the problem of empty containers piling up and this impacts negatively on operational efficiency.
It should be kept in mind however that despite the downturn, China is still seeing economic growth of around 8% this year, which is still a very rosy picture and one that bodes well for the future, as once the global economy resumes normal activity, China will be bound to continue to grow still further. Dr Fu anticipates that the worst of the slump will be over by 2010, so long as the US market for China imports begins to pick up as a result of a recovering US economy.
Not all investment plans are being postponed therefore, as many in the freight transport industry still have their eye fixed firmly on future opportunity. For example, 2009 has seen the start of building works for Huizhou's first container terminal. Located in eastern Guangdong, roughly 75 kilometres from Shenzhen, this new container terminal will have a total berth length of 800m and a yard area of 60 hectares.It will help transform Huizhou from a container feeder port and a terminal handling bulk and non-containerised cargo into one of South China's leading container ports at the forefront of the China freight forwarders industry.
So despite the current gloom in the China import market and the difficulties currently faced by many a shipping company and freight company in the short term, there is still a mood of underlying optimism about the medium and long term prospects as the demand for China import returns.
For example, plans previously in place for developing the port at China's Ningbo-Zhousan port have been put on hold. It had been intended to build nine new container terminals as part of the port's ambition to compete with Shanghai. Central to the freight services expansion plan was the development of the Jintang Dapokou Container Terminal, with a 1.8km quay and five container berths, which would redefine freight services in the area.
However, these plans are now on ice as China's export dependent economy reels from the impact of the slowdown in global demand for China imports. The main ports in China, which is the world's third largest economy, have all seen substantial declines, with international freight volumes at Shanghai down 15% year on year in the first quarter of 2009. This followed six consecutive months of steep declines as the economic slump takes its toll. Guangzhou port suffered the worst decline, with nearly 25% year on year decline in the first quarter of 2009. This was followed by Shenzhen at 21%.
Against this pattern of declining volumes for shipping companies, however, it is worth noting that there has been a booming demand in domestic trade in China, especially with the freight transport of cargo from the south of China to the north. For example, freight forwarding to Dalian in the north has increased 50% year on year and other ports in the north of China are also showing single digit growth due to the strong domestic demand. However, this is still a small proportion of the total freight forwarding market and does not begin to compensate for the worldwide decline in demand for China imports.
Dr Fu Yuning, Chairman of China Merchants Holdings International, which has investments in nearly all China ports and whose terminals handle around 34% of all China's container traffic, has said that 2009 will turn out to be 'the most difficult year in a generation' for shipping companies and the freight services industry in China. As well as the downturn in freight forwarding trade, China's port operators are having to deal with operational difficulties created by the problem of empty containers piling up and this impacts negatively on operational efficiency.
It should be kept in mind however that despite the downturn, China is still seeing economic growth of around 8% this year, which is still a very rosy picture and one that bodes well for the future, as once the global economy resumes normal activity, China will be bound to continue to grow still further. Dr Fu anticipates that the worst of the slump will be over by 2010, so long as the US market for China imports begins to pick up as a result of a recovering US economy.
Not all investment plans are being postponed therefore, as many in the freight transport industry still have their eye fixed firmly on future opportunity. For example, 2009 has seen the start of building works for Huizhou's first container terminal. Located in eastern Guangdong, roughly 75 kilometres from Shenzhen, this new container terminal will have a total berth length of 800m and a yard area of 60 hectares.It will help transform Huizhou from a container feeder port and a terminal handling bulk and non-containerised cargo into one of South China's leading container ports at the forefront of the China freight forwarders industry.
So despite the current gloom in the China import market and the difficulties currently faced by many a shipping company and freight company in the short term, there is still a mood of underlying optimism about the medium and long term prospects as the demand for China import returns.
Import From China - British Or Chinese Tyres?
n Britain, when buying a tyre for your car, you would expect it to be easy to buy British. However, with so much manufacturing moving out of the UK, how many tyre brands are actually still British-made and, more importantly, how easy are they to come by?
If you are buying standard radials for your car, then you might be surprised to find that while tyres are still manufactured in Britain, not many are easily found at your average tyre retailer. Nearly all the tyres available are imported. When I recently went in to buy a new tyre, I asked the retailer how many of their tyres were British. They named one British manufacturer and two or three famous European branded makers that had manufacturing facilities around Britain, but they could not say, one hundred percent, whether any of their stock came from these factories. As part of my research I was given the opportunity of examining their stock with one of the assistants. We could not find a British tyre in their stock, "not without spending hours searching", they said.
With many drivers insisting that their new tyres be of the same batch and date stamp (and hence same country of origin), the chances are that, if you want British tyres, you are going to have to do a lot of ringing around - to both retailers and wholesalers - to see if they are actually stocked. The retailer told me that they place orders for tyres by size and brand, but not by country of origin and, therefore, take whatever is sent.
With a vast majority of tyres being imported from Europe, China and the Far East, it is not a simple case of finding a brand you are happy with - British or otherwise - but ones from the same country of manufacture. During the search for the elusive British tyre in the retailer's stock room, we found famous brands engineered to the same specification and tread pattern, but with individuals from the same 'set' originating from differing countries - China being one of them, Spain the other - and having different batch codes and dates of manufacture. It is understandable that global tyre manufacturers may spread their production among their worldwide facilities, but why does it seem so difficult to find a British tyre in among the pack? Manufacturing around the world within a region, one would have thought, would be to serve that locale - not to ship across the world back to the UK.
If, as I am told, tyres are made in Britain, what markets do they serve; heavy-haulage, agriculture, or vintage vehicles, to name a few? In my research for this article I have yet to find an answer. It seems that buying British tyres for your car is not a viable option unless you have a specialist vehicle or a deep pocket and insider knowledge of where to go and whom to see.
If you are buying standard radials for your car, then you might be surprised to find that while tyres are still manufactured in Britain, not many are easily found at your average tyre retailer. Nearly all the tyres available are imported. When I recently went in to buy a new tyre, I asked the retailer how many of their tyres were British. They named one British manufacturer and two or three famous European branded makers that had manufacturing facilities around Britain, but they could not say, one hundred percent, whether any of their stock came from these factories. As part of my research I was given the opportunity of examining their stock with one of the assistants. We could not find a British tyre in their stock, "not without spending hours searching", they said.
With many drivers insisting that their new tyres be of the same batch and date stamp (and hence same country of origin), the chances are that, if you want British tyres, you are going to have to do a lot of ringing around - to both retailers and wholesalers - to see if they are actually stocked. The retailer told me that they place orders for tyres by size and brand, but not by country of origin and, therefore, take whatever is sent.
With a vast majority of tyres being imported from Europe, China and the Far East, it is not a simple case of finding a brand you are happy with - British or otherwise - but ones from the same country of manufacture. During the search for the elusive British tyre in the retailer's stock room, we found famous brands engineered to the same specification and tread pattern, but with individuals from the same 'set' originating from differing countries - China being one of them, Spain the other - and having different batch codes and dates of manufacture. It is understandable that global tyre manufacturers may spread their production among their worldwide facilities, but why does it seem so difficult to find a British tyre in among the pack? Manufacturing around the world within a region, one would have thought, would be to serve that locale - not to ship across the world back to the UK.
If, as I am told, tyres are made in Britain, what markets do they serve; heavy-haulage, agriculture, or vintage vehicles, to name a few? In my research for this article I have yet to find an answer. It seems that buying British tyres for your car is not a viable option unless you have a specialist vehicle or a deep pocket and insider knowledge of where to go and whom to see.
What Products Should I Import?
In mid 70s I took a trip to Taiwan. It was about the time I was getting started in import export business, with only a handful of small import shipments behind me from India. The trip was inspired by the fact that at the time Taiwan was the country where significant amount of the imported goods in the United States were coming from, namely in the area of consumer goods. In short, Taiwan was a country of export manufacturers, overseas suppliers and back then Taiwan saw practically no tourists. When I checked in at the hotel I registered as an importer. Next morning at 7 AM the phone rings, "Sir, this is reception - you have people waiting for you."
"Nobody knows I am here?" I objected, knowing well I didn't announce myself to anyone before coming. How, who? I wondered. It was because I checked in as an "Importer."
Those that waited for me in the lobby, all representatives of different export companies, claimed they were notified by - they made up some name of some company I never heard of. Basically they wouldn't say or I gave up trying to find out and as they were teeming in samples I did not press who, how and let them show me what they had: they were offering me samples to quotation sheets with all the details - unit costs, quantity discounts, delivery times etc. They presented products from plastic hosing to impulse item gadgets, key chains to short wave radios built into baseball caps, but also tennis strings, outdoor furniture, and whatever else I could think of they could get for me within an hour. I was overwhelmed.
In a week's time in Taipei I had met, run into or they run into me scores of export company representatives, all offering great deals on products I could buy from them and import into the US. All pricing looked from very good to excellent, product quality seemed good, and I was feeling good about taking the trip. I was inspired to start importing almost all of what I had been offered, and was ready to start as soon as I would get home.
But it was not long after I got back to US that I realized that it took lot of research to find out who distributed plastic hosing or tennis strings, to learn what was top quality vs. marginal quality, what were the current wholesale prices, quantities that the product was coming into US on annual basis already, or who were the main players in the retail sector that sold the product to the public. In short, the more I started to look into the variety of products I was offered to import, the more I realized it was not as clear cut to make the decision to import or not to import. There was competition and many of the products I was offered were not suddenly looking as good as I thought at first; may be if I ordered in the largest quantities I could compete but I did not have the budget to start big. Above that, I realized that to sell plastic hosing I better learn more about plastic hosing, who used it, where was the biggest demand, seasonal fluctuations and similar issues. In other words it dawned on me very quickly I best stick to a product I understood, I enjoyed handling and I already had some direct experience with. Thus I recommend if you wish to start importing toy around with products you might have already been involved with in your career or your hobby; do that first. Then dig within the framework of those products and related product lines and dig deep. Above all try to analyze your buyer, those who you will be selling to - no one has ever failed in business by over-analyzing his customer!
"Nobody knows I am here?" I objected, knowing well I didn't announce myself to anyone before coming. How, who? I wondered. It was because I checked in as an "Importer."
Those that waited for me in the lobby, all representatives of different export companies, claimed they were notified by - they made up some name of some company I never heard of. Basically they wouldn't say or I gave up trying to find out and as they were teeming in samples I did not press who, how and let them show me what they had: they were offering me samples to quotation sheets with all the details - unit costs, quantity discounts, delivery times etc. They presented products from plastic hosing to impulse item gadgets, key chains to short wave radios built into baseball caps, but also tennis strings, outdoor furniture, and whatever else I could think of they could get for me within an hour. I was overwhelmed.
In a week's time in Taipei I had met, run into or they run into me scores of export company representatives, all offering great deals on products I could buy from them and import into the US. All pricing looked from very good to excellent, product quality seemed good, and I was feeling good about taking the trip. I was inspired to start importing almost all of what I had been offered, and was ready to start as soon as I would get home.
But it was not long after I got back to US that I realized that it took lot of research to find out who distributed plastic hosing or tennis strings, to learn what was top quality vs. marginal quality, what were the current wholesale prices, quantities that the product was coming into US on annual basis already, or who were the main players in the retail sector that sold the product to the public. In short, the more I started to look into the variety of products I was offered to import, the more I realized it was not as clear cut to make the decision to import or not to import. There was competition and many of the products I was offered were not suddenly looking as good as I thought at first; may be if I ordered in the largest quantities I could compete but I did not have the budget to start big. Above that, I realized that to sell plastic hosing I better learn more about plastic hosing, who used it, where was the biggest demand, seasonal fluctuations and similar issues. In other words it dawned on me very quickly I best stick to a product I understood, I enjoyed handling and I already had some direct experience with. Thus I recommend if you wish to start importing toy around with products you might have already been involved with in your career or your hobby; do that first. Then dig within the framework of those products and related product lines and dig deep. Above all try to analyze your buyer, those who you will be selling to - no one has ever failed in business by over-analyzing his customer!
The Prehistoric Worldwide Import of the Great Lakes
This is the Table of Contents for my book on the Old Copper Culture surrounding the pure orichalcum or copper of Lake Superior.
CHAPTER ONE: From 'Hell' and Back.
- The Canadian Encyclopedia says: "The ancestors of the Iroquois can be traced backwards in New York State by archaeological evidence to at least 500 BC. And possibly as far back as 4,000 BC. The distinctive Iroquois culture of the historic period seems to have developed by about 1000 AD." In order to take the Iroquois back to 4000 BC one has to find the Megwi and Adena before them were once people who lived in Poverty Point where Eurasiatic technology existed and tall people thrived in the Keltic mound building tradition.
CHAPTER TWO: Manitou's Mounds and Mississippi Mud.
- Professor Jesse Jennings wrote what the Smithsonian called 'authoritative' and in its third edition says: "...are all the high cultures of the New World resultant from a diffusion of ideas, customs, artifacts, and religious-social practices of the OLD WORLD?"
- He also says: "Even more unusual at the two sites was the microflint work. The industry involved the striking of long, prismatic flakes from egg-shaped flint nodules or cores in a manner reminiscent of Eurasiatic Mesolithic industries."
CHAPTER THREE: Guardians of the Iberian Gateway (ST. Lawrence, Hudson).
- J. V. Wright is one of Canada's top academics and he wrote A History of the Native People's of Canada, Volume I, (10,000 - 1,000 B.C.) and he says: "Historically documented native beliefs in Canada appear to have been quite similar to those of the pre-Christian Celtic, Germanic, and Scandinavian peoples as well as other parts of the world..."
- He also brings us: "The Allumette-1 and Morrison's Island-6 sites, in addition to other activities, they functioned as manufacturing centres of copper tools."
CHAPTER FOUR: The Great Wall of China Extends to Ohio's 'Giants'.
- Elizabeth Wayland Barber's The Mummies of Ǘrümchi says: "Linguistically these twins show features lumping them most closely with the 'westernmost' Indo-European languages: Celtic and Italic.... But they are not particularly similar to their nearest geographical neighbors..."
- Also, she states: "What Professor Mair {University of Pennsylvania} recognized there stunned him. The mummies appeared to be neither Chinese nor Mongoloid in facial type; they looked, in fact, distinctively Caucasian..."
CHAPTER FIVE: Peru Shakes Hands With Poverty Point.
- "The rise and fall of Celtic sea power has been strangely neglected... Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, most of Book III of Caesar's De Bello Gallico is devoted to the greatest naval battle he was ever called upon to mount.... No less than 220 ships, all larger than and superior in construction to those of the opposing Roman navy under Admiral Brutus." These words from Professor Barraclough Fell set the truth of ancient worldwide travel and trade in motion.
- He is the champion of many and the outcast of his Harvard 'cronies' and other academics. There is no part of this planet were we will not show the Kelts or 'keltoi'.
- The artifacts found near the mound builder's main sites that came to me after doing this book include a Dream Dancer's Mask of metal which weighs two and a half pounds.
CHAPTER SIX: Memphremagog:
- The Catholic Encyclopedia says: "Finally, Josephus and others identify Magog with Scythia, but in antiquity this name was used to designate vaguely any northern population." Scythia is central to the birthplace of the Kelts as genetic research shows in 35-30,000 year ago time. 'Phre' is 'fire' from the 'sun' of Druidic or Heliopolitan sun worship which is the original root of Phremasonry according to Thomas Paine.
- The most telling evidence of European involvement in North America before Christ might be the 'extinct' or should I say 'immortal' North American horse that I think was like a Shetland Pony because there were no horses or artifacts thereof for the previous 5000 years. Here is an archaeologist of note by the name of Quimby, whose report goes most un-noted: "1954 The Old Copper Assemblage and Extinct Animals. American Antiquity 20: 169-170. Quimby analyses an occurrence of deeply buried copper artifacts and associated animal bones near Fort Williams in southwest Ontario. The discovery, made in 1913 and 1916, was recorded in a geological report. Quimby reasons that the site may date to the Altithermal, approximately 3500-2000 B.C., and that the bones are those of the bison and the extinct native horse."
CHAPTER SEVEN: Copper Making Secrets and Speculations About Crystalline or Stone Age Knowledge.
- I can show the reason for red ochre on Mungo Man's skeleton (and many other cultures around the world) is possibly connected to the alchemical (shamanic) use of cinnabar. This was adequate payment for the Beothuk who were in the northern Hudson Bay route for copper when the earth had not yet rebounded much from the glaciers retreat before moving with their Keltic family to L'anse Amour around the 6th Millennium B.C.
- Here is something spiritual about the 'immortal' element of mercury to consider. "Cinnabar will become mercury, and passing through a series of other sublimations, it is again turned into cinnabar, and thus it enables man to enjoy eternal life." This is from J. Bronowski's book and TV documentary produced by the BBC called The Ascent of Man.
CHAPTER EIGHT: Pre-Columbian and Post-Christian Americans from Europe.
- In Tucson we have on-going digs of irrigation canals and a civilization from 2000 BC but in the 1920s another more recent 'find' was made. It was by the top people in the science and handled in the appropriate manner but met a cover up to equal what happened at Manitoulin Island. Here is a little about this story from Ancient American. "Translation of the combined Latin text told a surprising story: 'In Memoriam Romani Actius: In memory of Romans Actius and Theodore, Consuls of great cities. We are carried forward on the sea (to) Calalus, {The site of present day Ocala in Florida, the name was taken from the Latin name of Porto Cale, Portugal. These Jews now meet the Toltecs and a man from the city of Rhodes - which was a key enduring fortification of the Keltic Phoenicians past the time of Posidonius who thought highly of them.} an unknown land (and) a people ruling wildly (Indians?). Toltezus (and) Silvanus are won over, Theodorus brings his forces from the city, Rhoda. And more than 700 are captured. No gold. They are (or shall be) banished from the city.
- {The metal tablets decipherment continues.}Theodorus, a man of the greatest valor, rules during 14 years. Iacobus rules during (after Theodorus) six years. God helping it (?) is not to be feared. In the name of Israel, Iacobus born again (in) the city.... Benjamin was king of the people. He came from Seine to Rome, the bravest of the Gauls..." The Benjaminites are central players in the intrigues of New World Order that are throughout history.
CHAPTER NINE: Debunkers and the Flat Earth Fiction.
- The web brings me the words of Theosophist scholars who add an important observation about the propaganda Rome used to gain ever greater control of this world. Rome as an Empire expanded whenever the people of Rome were dispossessed of booty from the evil wrought by their leaders. "Jewish scholars had already proved the similarity between the Laws of Moses and the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle and Pythagoras. Christians claimed that Jesus was a unique character, while the entire pagan world knew that the legends surrounding Jesus' life were identical with those of pagan gods. Students of comparative religion recognized their similarity to the traditions of great spiritual Teachers who had preceded Jesus."
CHAPTER TEN: Manitoulin Island and Mooring Stones.
- "The site's discoverer (Lee) was hounded from his Civil Service position into prolonged unemployment; publication outlets were cut off, the evidence was misrepresented by several prominent authors among the Brahmins; the tons of artifacts vanished into storage bins of the National Museum of Canada; for refusing to fire the discoverer the Director of the National Museum (Dr. Jacques Rousseau), who had proposed having a monograph on the site published, was himself fired and driven into exile; official positions of prestige and power were exercised in an effort to gain control over just six Sheguiandah specimens that had not gone under cover; and the site itself has been turned into a tourist resort." It has actually been built upon by a tourist campsite, just as the Kennewick Man site was covered over and pylons and trees sunk upon it the day before a congressional Bill was to take effect to protect it.
- Professor Emeritus James Scherz of the University of Wisconsin says: "More likely than not, they were but one of numerous peoples from around the world who were attracted to the copper riches found in the Upper Great Lakes Region of ancient America."
CHAPTER ONE: From 'Hell' and Back.
- The Canadian Encyclopedia says: "The ancestors of the Iroquois can be traced backwards in New York State by archaeological evidence to at least 500 BC. And possibly as far back as 4,000 BC. The distinctive Iroquois culture of the historic period seems to have developed by about 1000 AD." In order to take the Iroquois back to 4000 BC one has to find the Megwi and Adena before them were once people who lived in Poverty Point where Eurasiatic technology existed and tall people thrived in the Keltic mound building tradition.
CHAPTER TWO: Manitou's Mounds and Mississippi Mud.
- Professor Jesse Jennings wrote what the Smithsonian called 'authoritative' and in its third edition says: "...are all the high cultures of the New World resultant from a diffusion of ideas, customs, artifacts, and religious-social practices of the OLD WORLD?"
- He also says: "Even more unusual at the two sites was the microflint work. The industry involved the striking of long, prismatic flakes from egg-shaped flint nodules or cores in a manner reminiscent of Eurasiatic Mesolithic industries."
CHAPTER THREE: Guardians of the Iberian Gateway (ST. Lawrence, Hudson).
- J. V. Wright is one of Canada's top academics and he wrote A History of the Native People's of Canada, Volume I, (10,000 - 1,000 B.C.) and he says: "Historically documented native beliefs in Canada appear to have been quite similar to those of the pre-Christian Celtic, Germanic, and Scandinavian peoples as well as other parts of the world..."
- He also brings us: "The Allumette-1 and Morrison's Island-6 sites, in addition to other activities, they functioned as manufacturing centres of copper tools."
CHAPTER FOUR: The Great Wall of China Extends to Ohio's 'Giants'.
- Elizabeth Wayland Barber's The Mummies of Ǘrümchi says: "Linguistically these twins show features lumping them most closely with the 'westernmost' Indo-European languages: Celtic and Italic.... But they are not particularly similar to their nearest geographical neighbors..."
- Also, she states: "What Professor Mair {University of Pennsylvania} recognized there stunned him. The mummies appeared to be neither Chinese nor Mongoloid in facial type; they looked, in fact, distinctively Caucasian..."
CHAPTER FIVE: Peru Shakes Hands With Poverty Point.
- "The rise and fall of Celtic sea power has been strangely neglected... Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, most of Book III of Caesar's De Bello Gallico is devoted to the greatest naval battle he was ever called upon to mount.... No less than 220 ships, all larger than and superior in construction to those of the opposing Roman navy under Admiral Brutus." These words from Professor Barraclough Fell set the truth of ancient worldwide travel and trade in motion.
- He is the champion of many and the outcast of his Harvard 'cronies' and other academics. There is no part of this planet were we will not show the Kelts or 'keltoi'.
- The artifacts found near the mound builder's main sites that came to me after doing this book include a Dream Dancer's Mask of metal which weighs two and a half pounds.
CHAPTER SIX: Memphremagog:
- The Catholic Encyclopedia says: "Finally, Josephus and others identify Magog with Scythia, but in antiquity this name was used to designate vaguely any northern population." Scythia is central to the birthplace of the Kelts as genetic research shows in 35-30,000 year ago time. 'Phre' is 'fire' from the 'sun' of Druidic or Heliopolitan sun worship which is the original root of Phremasonry according to Thomas Paine.
- The most telling evidence of European involvement in North America before Christ might be the 'extinct' or should I say 'immortal' North American horse that I think was like a Shetland Pony because there were no horses or artifacts thereof for the previous 5000 years. Here is an archaeologist of note by the name of Quimby, whose report goes most un-noted: "1954 The Old Copper Assemblage and Extinct Animals. American Antiquity 20: 169-170. Quimby analyses an occurrence of deeply buried copper artifacts and associated animal bones near Fort Williams in southwest Ontario. The discovery, made in 1913 and 1916, was recorded in a geological report. Quimby reasons that the site may date to the Altithermal, approximately 3500-2000 B.C., and that the bones are those of the bison and the extinct native horse."
CHAPTER SEVEN: Copper Making Secrets and Speculations About Crystalline or Stone Age Knowledge.
- I can show the reason for red ochre on Mungo Man's skeleton (and many other cultures around the world) is possibly connected to the alchemical (shamanic) use of cinnabar. This was adequate payment for the Beothuk who were in the northern Hudson Bay route for copper when the earth had not yet rebounded much from the glaciers retreat before moving with their Keltic family to L'anse Amour around the 6th Millennium B.C.
- Here is something spiritual about the 'immortal' element of mercury to consider. "Cinnabar will become mercury, and passing through a series of other sublimations, it is again turned into cinnabar, and thus it enables man to enjoy eternal life." This is from J. Bronowski's book and TV documentary produced by the BBC called The Ascent of Man.
CHAPTER EIGHT: Pre-Columbian and Post-Christian Americans from Europe.
- In Tucson we have on-going digs of irrigation canals and a civilization from 2000 BC but in the 1920s another more recent 'find' was made. It was by the top people in the science and handled in the appropriate manner but met a cover up to equal what happened at Manitoulin Island. Here is a little about this story from Ancient American. "Translation of the combined Latin text told a surprising story: 'In Memoriam Romani Actius: In memory of Romans Actius and Theodore, Consuls of great cities. We are carried forward on the sea (to) Calalus, {The site of present day Ocala in Florida, the name was taken from the Latin name of Porto Cale, Portugal. These Jews now meet the Toltecs and a man from the city of Rhodes - which was a key enduring fortification of the Keltic Phoenicians past the time of Posidonius who thought highly of them.} an unknown land (and) a people ruling wildly (Indians?). Toltezus (and) Silvanus are won over, Theodorus brings his forces from the city, Rhoda. And more than 700 are captured. No gold. They are (or shall be) banished from the city.
- {The metal tablets decipherment continues.}Theodorus, a man of the greatest valor, rules during 14 years. Iacobus rules during (after Theodorus) six years. God helping it (?) is not to be feared. In the name of Israel, Iacobus born again (in) the city.... Benjamin was king of the people. He came from Seine to Rome, the bravest of the Gauls..." The Benjaminites are central players in the intrigues of New World Order that are throughout history.
CHAPTER NINE: Debunkers and the Flat Earth Fiction.
- The web brings me the words of Theosophist scholars who add an important observation about the propaganda Rome used to gain ever greater control of this world. Rome as an Empire expanded whenever the people of Rome were dispossessed of booty from the evil wrought by their leaders. "Jewish scholars had already proved the similarity between the Laws of Moses and the philosophies of Plato, Aristotle and Pythagoras. Christians claimed that Jesus was a unique character, while the entire pagan world knew that the legends surrounding Jesus' life were identical with those of pagan gods. Students of comparative religion recognized their similarity to the traditions of great spiritual Teachers who had preceded Jesus."
CHAPTER TEN: Manitoulin Island and Mooring Stones.
- "The site's discoverer (Lee) was hounded from his Civil Service position into prolonged unemployment; publication outlets were cut off, the evidence was misrepresented by several prominent authors among the Brahmins; the tons of artifacts vanished into storage bins of the National Museum of Canada; for refusing to fire the discoverer the Director of the National Museum (Dr. Jacques Rousseau), who had proposed having a monograph on the site published, was himself fired and driven into exile; official positions of prestige and power were exercised in an effort to gain control over just six Sheguiandah specimens that had not gone under cover; and the site itself has been turned into a tourist resort." It has actually been built upon by a tourist campsite, just as the Kennewick Man site was covered over and pylons and trees sunk upon it the day before a congressional Bill was to take effect to protect it.
- Professor Emeritus James Scherz of the University of Wisconsin says: "More likely than not, they were but one of numerous peoples from around the world who were attracted to the copper riches found in the Upper Great Lakes Region of ancient America."
Why Import Car Insurance is More Expensive
These days, there are a lot of people that are not too sure whether they should get an imported vehicle due to the fact that it complicates insurance; usually by making it more expensive in price. Many people that are familiar with imported automobiles know that it is more expensive to insure them. Since the insurance is more costly, you may not want to get one unless you know that you can handle the insurance price. There are many things that are going to affect the price that you pay for import auto insurance. Insurance companies will be glad to discuss why it is more expensive to insure an imported vehicle if you ask them for an explanation.
What affects the price that you will pay for insurance? Well, the make and model of your imported car will certainly play a role in determining the overall price that you pay to insure it. If you get a very expensive vehicle imported into the United States from Europe, you may even be turned down for insurance coverage by certain companies for insurance coverage because they may not know how to analyze its risk and value. The reason that not all insurers want to work with people driving imported vehicles is because imported vehicle parts are usually more expensive to replace than the average vehicle.
When dealing with insurance for an imported vehicle, it is important to keep in mind that if anything happens to the parts of the vehicle (e.g. if they are damaged or stolen), insurers will be responsible for replacing them. Since the replacement parts will likely need to be imported from other countries, they will end up being more expensive. Insurance companies are looking to minimize costs and to avoid spending a lot of money on replacing car parts. So if you have an imported vehicle, insurers are going to charge you a higher rate because they know that if your car is damaged, they will need to pay for it to be fixed.
Additionally, most insurers have concerns about the safety of imported cars. Since most are built for driving in other countries, importing them into the United States is going to raise questions about how durable they will be if they are involved in a crash. Most importantly, auto insurers will want to know how well imported vehicles will protect the driver from injuries in an accident. Most cars that are made in the United States have to undergo crash-safety ratings; imports are not subject to crash-safety ratings and are viewed as being more risky to drive. Since there are so many insurance concerns associated with imported cars, you may want to think twice about driving one.
What affects the price that you will pay for insurance? Well, the make and model of your imported car will certainly play a role in determining the overall price that you pay to insure it. If you get a very expensive vehicle imported into the United States from Europe, you may even be turned down for insurance coverage by certain companies for insurance coverage because they may not know how to analyze its risk and value. The reason that not all insurers want to work with people driving imported vehicles is because imported vehicle parts are usually more expensive to replace than the average vehicle.
When dealing with insurance for an imported vehicle, it is important to keep in mind that if anything happens to the parts of the vehicle (e.g. if they are damaged or stolen), insurers will be responsible for replacing them. Since the replacement parts will likely need to be imported from other countries, they will end up being more expensive. Insurance companies are looking to minimize costs and to avoid spending a lot of money on replacing car parts. So if you have an imported vehicle, insurers are going to charge you a higher rate because they know that if your car is damaged, they will need to pay for it to be fixed.
Additionally, most insurers have concerns about the safety of imported cars. Since most are built for driving in other countries, importing them into the United States is going to raise questions about how durable they will be if they are involved in a crash. Most importantly, auto insurers will want to know how well imported vehicles will protect the driver from injuries in an accident. Most cars that are made in the United States have to undergo crash-safety ratings; imports are not subject to crash-safety ratings and are viewed as being more risky to drive. Since there are so many insurance concerns associated with imported cars, you may want to think twice about driving one.
History of Coffee: Part II - Spread of Coffee to Europe
It was not until 1615, that Europe was formally introduced to coffee. Venetian traders, who had strong trade links with the Levant (historical term referring to a large area of the Middle East incorporating the countries of: Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria), started to import coffee into Italy. Once in Europe, the consumption of coffee soon spread. However, the introduction of coffee into Europe was not without its controversy. According to many accounts, a group of Christian clerics tried to have coffee banned before it had become widely available. They came to Pope Clement VIII (1535-1605), claiming that coffee was for Satan's followers, and that Christians who drank it might lose their souls to the Devil. But before Pope Clement would ban coffee he insisted on tasting it. After drinking his first cup, the Pope was so impressed with the flavour, that he reasoned that such a drink could not possibly be the work of Satan and instead declared that coffee should be baptized to make it a true Christian drink.
The first person recorded in history to brew coffee in England was an international student named Nathaniel Conopios from Crete, who was studying at Balliol College, Oxford. This simple act, which happened in May 1637, was recorded by both; scholar John Evelyn and historian Anthony Wood. Although, shortly afterwards Conopios was expelled from college, his influence had a lasting effect on Oxford, as it was in Oxford that the first English coffeehouse was opened in 1650 by Jacob, a Lebanese Jew. Even though Jacob moved to London a few years later to repeat his success, he had begun a trend that saw many more coffeehouses open in Oxford during that decade.
The most significant of these coffeehouses, was the one open by Arthur Tillyard in 1655. Tillyard's coffeehouse became a meeting point for a group who were known as the Oxford Coffee Club. This group was made up of Oxford's leading scientists, including Sir Robert Boyle, and their students, who would meet to discuss their theories and research and share ideas. It is from the Oxford Coffee Club which the world famous Royal Society, one of the leading scientific societies in the world, evolved from.
The first coffeehouse in London was opened in 1652 by an Armenian man named Pasqua Rosée. Originally brought to London as a servant by the merchant Daniel Edwards, Rosée served coffee each morning to Edwards' house guests. Curiosity about the new drink soon spread through Edwards' friends, and the number of visitors to Edwards' house steadily grew over time. There was so much excitement created by Rosée's brew that Edwards eventually decided to financially back Rosée in opening a coffeehouse at St Michael's Alley in Cornhill. As with Oxford, the idea soon took off, and by 1715 there were as many as 2,000 coffeehouses around London.
One of the world's largest insurance companies, Lloyds of London, started as a coffeehouse on Tower Street in 1688. Opened by Edward Lloyd, it primarily served seafarers and merchants. Lloyd would circulate amongst his customers creating a list of what ships were carrying, their schedules, and their insurance needs. This list drew underwriters to his coffeehouse to sell insurance to those who needed it and merchants so they could keep track of the ships.
It is thought that the custom of tipping originated in English coffeehouses. There would often be a small box hung near the counter in establishments with the words "To Insure Promptness" (TIP) inscribed on them. Customers would drop a coin in the box to encourage swift service.
The early growth of coffeehouses was largely due to support by doctors, promoting coffee for its supposed healing abilities. Before the introduction of coffeehouses, there was a widespread problem with public drunkenness as beer was consumed with almost every meal. But with public knowledge of the health benefits of coffee, and with coffee being significantly cheaper then beer, coffeehouses began to replace the tavern as the meeting place of choice. Needless to say, tavern owners were not going to let their profits dwindle without a fight, and many of the most aggressive attacks against coffee came from them. They claimed that coffee was an Arabic drink not suitable for well-mannered Christian men, unlike beer which had been brewed by Monks' for centuries.
Tavern owners were not the only group to attack coffee. Women upset that their man would spent more time at the coffeehouse then at home with them, soon started to protest. In 1674, the 'Women's Petition against Coffee' was published. In this document women protested that coffee reduced the male sperm count and would lead to a decline in the population: "coffee makes a man as barren as the dessert out of which this unlucky berry has been imported; that since its coming the offspring of our mighty forefathers are on the way to disappear as if they were monkeys and swine." It was understandable that women were aggrieved, as at the time they were banned from setting foot in a coffeehouse. However, this did not stop the 'Men's Answer to the Women's Petition against Coffee' being published later that year. The document defended coffee claiming that women should be thankful for coffee, as it was in fact an aphrodisiac.
The first person recorded in history to brew coffee in England was an international student named Nathaniel Conopios from Crete, who was studying at Balliol College, Oxford. This simple act, which happened in May 1637, was recorded by both; scholar John Evelyn and historian Anthony Wood. Although, shortly afterwards Conopios was expelled from college, his influence had a lasting effect on Oxford, as it was in Oxford that the first English coffeehouse was opened in 1650 by Jacob, a Lebanese Jew. Even though Jacob moved to London a few years later to repeat his success, he had begun a trend that saw many more coffeehouses open in Oxford during that decade.
The most significant of these coffeehouses, was the one open by Arthur Tillyard in 1655. Tillyard's coffeehouse became a meeting point for a group who were known as the Oxford Coffee Club. This group was made up of Oxford's leading scientists, including Sir Robert Boyle, and their students, who would meet to discuss their theories and research and share ideas. It is from the Oxford Coffee Club which the world famous Royal Society, one of the leading scientific societies in the world, evolved from.
The first coffeehouse in London was opened in 1652 by an Armenian man named Pasqua Rosée. Originally brought to London as a servant by the merchant Daniel Edwards, Rosée served coffee each morning to Edwards' house guests. Curiosity about the new drink soon spread through Edwards' friends, and the number of visitors to Edwards' house steadily grew over time. There was so much excitement created by Rosée's brew that Edwards eventually decided to financially back Rosée in opening a coffeehouse at St Michael's Alley in Cornhill. As with Oxford, the idea soon took off, and by 1715 there were as many as 2,000 coffeehouses around London.
One of the world's largest insurance companies, Lloyds of London, started as a coffeehouse on Tower Street in 1688. Opened by Edward Lloyd, it primarily served seafarers and merchants. Lloyd would circulate amongst his customers creating a list of what ships were carrying, their schedules, and their insurance needs. This list drew underwriters to his coffeehouse to sell insurance to those who needed it and merchants so they could keep track of the ships.
It is thought that the custom of tipping originated in English coffeehouses. There would often be a small box hung near the counter in establishments with the words "To Insure Promptness" (TIP) inscribed on them. Customers would drop a coin in the box to encourage swift service.
The early growth of coffeehouses was largely due to support by doctors, promoting coffee for its supposed healing abilities. Before the introduction of coffeehouses, there was a widespread problem with public drunkenness as beer was consumed with almost every meal. But with public knowledge of the health benefits of coffee, and with coffee being significantly cheaper then beer, coffeehouses began to replace the tavern as the meeting place of choice. Needless to say, tavern owners were not going to let their profits dwindle without a fight, and many of the most aggressive attacks against coffee came from them. They claimed that coffee was an Arabic drink not suitable for well-mannered Christian men, unlike beer which had been brewed by Monks' for centuries.
Tavern owners were not the only group to attack coffee. Women upset that their man would spent more time at the coffeehouse then at home with them, soon started to protest. In 1674, the 'Women's Petition against Coffee' was published. In this document women protested that coffee reduced the male sperm count and would lead to a decline in the population: "coffee makes a man as barren as the dessert out of which this unlucky berry has been imported; that since its coming the offspring of our mighty forefathers are on the way to disappear as if they were monkeys and swine." It was understandable that women were aggrieved, as at the time they were banned from setting foot in a coffeehouse. However, this did not stop the 'Men's Answer to the Women's Petition against Coffee' being published later that year. The document defended coffee claiming that women should be thankful for coffee, as it was in fact an aphrodisiac.
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