Brexit is confusing. There are no two ways about it. Even now, nearly three years on, Brexit is still causing issues when it comes to deliveries. However, you’re in the best possible hands with us.
We’ve tried to limit the disruptions that may occur with your order, and are keeping up to date with any Brexit-related issues that may affect your delivery. We’ve outlined a few frequently asked questions below about Brexit so that you can make the best-informed decision when it comes to your order.
What is Brexit?
Brexit is the term used to describe Britain’s exit from the European Union. The term was first coined by former lawyer Peter Wildling in 2012. The word is a collaboration of ‘Britain’ and ‘Exit’, and the UK left the European Union on the 31st of January 2020. There are many pros and cons to leaving the European Union, with some of them listed in this useful article if you want to find out more.
How does Brexit affect my order?
There are a few ways Brexit may affect your order. From delivery to sourcing, Brexit has added a few extra steps to our quoting process.
Border disruptions
The biggest change we’ve faced since Brexit is border disruptions. This is mainly caused by having orders delivered from the UK to Europe. "This is the biggest imposition of red tape that businesses have had to deal with in 50 years," according to William Bain from the British Retail Consortium. With most orders, delays will be minimal, and you might not even notice them. However, sometimes they can be major.
Unfortunately, customs delays are out of our control. However, our team will do everything they can to minimise them. We’ll stay in active communication with couriers, and ensure all paperwork is filed correctly. We’ll keep you informed of any delays so that you’re always in the loop.
Extended lead times
Due to the extra border regulations, the lead times on certain products may be extended. This is mainly for products being shipped into the UK. We’ll ensure you’re fully aware of any extra days needed for delivery in order to meet your event date. However, sometimes we are unable to predict delays prior to ordering.
Extra charges
Sometimes, there may be some extra charges to your order for import duty and tax. Please speak to your merchandise consultant if you have any questions or concerns about this charge. We need to comply with different trade deals with each individual country, meaning some goods may be harder to deliver than others, and more expensive. We’ll always endeavor to inform you of any extra charges up front, and will try and minimise these as much as possible.
How has Fluid adapted to Brexit?
Fluid’s aim has always been to give exceptional service, and we’ve taken as many steps as possible to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible when it comes to Brexit.
In our Fluid group, we have Fluid Branding Ireland - a company registered in IE. This means that we can invoice from this company, and any sales made in the EU can be invoiced from another EU country. This will minimise any extra costs.
Fluid Branding is also registered for VAT in the Netherlands, and we have a legal entity in Malta, meaning we can limit customs delays in delivering within the EU.
You can read more about how Fluid has adapted to Brexit here.
What does the future of Brexit and promo look like?
Thanks to Brexit, the promotional merchandise industry has had to adapt, and fast. However, things are looking better than ever, and the future of promo in a post-Brexit world looks bright.
Communication
Communication is key when it comes to Brexit. By keeping communication channels open, we’ll be ready to tackle any issues that may come our way.
British-made
Since Brexit, there’s been more of a focus on British-made goods, so as not to deal with border delays. Other benefits include faster turnaround times, flexibility, and a reduced environmental impact.
Delivery locations
Having a clear understanding of where orders need to be delivered to, in relation to factories, is a must since Brexit. Working with suppliers in the same country that delivery is needed to limit any border delays or extra costs.
Thanks to our offices in The Netherlands and Malta, we’re able to offer that level of flexibility to minimise import costs.
I want to know more about Brexit
To find out more about Brexit, check out the UK government's Brexit guidance, which will break down any further information you may need when considering your order.
Also, if you have any questions or queries regarding your order and Brexit, don’t hesitate to ask our team. We’ll be happy to investigate so you can make the best-informed decision when it comes to your order.