The Importer's Notebook
Practical guides on duty, freight, VAT and unit economics — no fluff.
Profitability
48 articles
How to Set Profitable Prices for Imported Products on Amazon UK
How to price imported products on Amazon UK profitably. The pricing formula covering landed cost, FBA fees, PPC, returns, and target margin with a worked example.
FBA vs FBM: Which Fulfilment Method Gives Importers Better Margins?
FBA vs FBM: which gives importers better margins? Compare fulfilment costs, Buy Box impact, and storage fees with worked examples for three product types.
How to Calculate Profit Margins on Imported Goods Before You Buy
Learn how to calculate profit margin on imports before buying — with worked examples, minimum thresholds by channel, and margin formulas.
Break-Even Analysis for Importing: How Many Units Must You Sell?
Use break-even analysis for importing to calculate how many units you must sell to recover costs — with fixed vs variable cost breakdowns and MOQ scenarios.
How Exchange Rates Affect Import Costs: Currency Hedging for Small Importers
Learn how exchange rates affect import costs and discover currency hedging for small importers — forward contracts, FX brokers, and margin protection tips.
Cost Allocation Methods: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Products
When a single shipment contains multiple products, how you allocate shared costs dramatically affects per-unit profitability. Compare the five main methods.
Building a Sustainable Import Business: Long-Term Profitability Strategies
Beyond individual product margins, building a lasting import business requires strategic thinking about suppliers, cash flow, diversification, and brand building.
How Exchange Rate Swings Can Wipe Out Your Import Profits
A 5% currency move on a product with 20% margins means you just lost a quarter of your profit. Here's how exchange rate risk works and how to manage it.
Private Label vs Wholesale: Which Import Strategy Is More Profitable?
Compare the two main import business models — private label and wholesale — to understand which offers better margins, scalability, and risk profiles.
12 Ways to Cut Your Import Costs Without Cutting Corners
Reducing import costs doesn't mean accepting lower quality. These 12 proven strategies help importers save money at every stage of the supply chain.
How to Use Exchange Rate Trends to Time Your Purchases
Strategic currency timing can save UK importers thousands per year. Learn practical techniques for monitoring and acting on exchange rate movements.
Amazon FBA Fee Breakdown: What Every Importer Should Budget For
Amazon FBA involves more fees than most sellers realise. Here's every fee explained with examples so you can budget accurately before your first shipment.
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