Advice for Small Businesses

[SoloD]

We run a small business and we normally go to a trade show in Dublin in April. We spend around £5,000 on the stand, brochures, travel accommodation etc, and we would expect to take a lot of orders which support jobs back in the UK.

Now I have contacted the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), asking spefific questions such as "what documents will I need to take ou exhibition equipment and samples to Ireland and how can I reimport them tax free back to the UK.

I kid you not they sent me this link

www.gov.uk/world/brexit-ireland

I have contacted the British Embassy in Dublin who directed me to a generic page about Brexit

I have tried the ata Carnet unit (who deal with reimport licencing at a cost of £400 a pop) they stated they can not advise but the government website has the latest information.

Am I the only one utterly defeated by lack of help, advice or even any bloody information? This is beyond incompetent.

If you can arrange to have all your exhibition materials printed in Ireland, could you just pitch up with a suitcase of personal belongings? Or do you need to take samples?

And yes it's a totally ridiculous situation. There's a guy on twitter who does transport for exhibition materials and isn't quoting at the moment, because he doesn't know how much to quote, because who knows what the situation will be in three months' time?

Most useless government ever.

It's the whole customer built stand, materials etc which is the costly bit,

Samples are the main concern. Just totally shocked I can not find anyone who knows anything.

Our company builds exhibition stands and we have no idea what's happening! As it stands our workers cannot go overseas and build these stands if we leave with no deal, we are due to build a stand in the EU in April and we simply have no idea whether we can or not?

I am not at all shocked sadly, but angry on your behalf. Britain is ruled by utter incompetents.

@HerLadyShee if I find anything out I will let you know.

I have been told you can get a thing called an ata carnet which may help

Nothing is decided so they can't tell you anything.

I would do as another says which is get stuff printed there and then as far as possible hire kit and equipment for the stand.

It is not a wise move to take business stuff in personal luggage as such - no of reasons risk of damage, loss, customs issues etc

Do you have contacts you could ship to before hand for them to hold? Although that doesn't solve getting things back. Samples are usually allowed though on appropriate paperwork so I would plan to have a copy of the paperwork to hand when traveling so you can evidence what is going on.

I would be careful if you haven't already booked as you may find that bookings are way down just for this reason so it may not be as good a show as normal.

Choose workers with dual nationality would be one option - so british irish for e.g.

SoloD I think the most important question is: is it worth you spending 5K in April if by then it’s still likely that there might be no clarity in the tariffs that your goods will be charged when you sell, and therefore Irish/EU buyers will not place as many orders as previous years? The issue of the samples and stall can probably be solved as the other posters are suggesting, extra hassle and more hiccups to prepare for, but seeems doable. Strategically, you have to think about your sale pitch. Stronger euro means your £ prices are good even if there’s a tariff slapped on top? Do you ship them, and so how can you reassure the buyers that they’ll get them on time?

@SoloD you can use the ATA Carnet to ship your products both ways, it covers items imported temporarily, like exhibition samples but it's very lengthy, you might need specialist help from a shipping company to complete it.
How ridiculous that we're in the scenario with 30 something days to go!

Why don't you contact the exhibition organizers? You can't be the only ones wavering.

Or the Irish Dept of Business, Enterprise & Innovation? dbei.gov.ie/en/

We want to continue trading with the UK, so they'll be able to give you information. Even if they can't, they'll be able to point you in the right direction.

As already mentioned, you probably need an ATA carnet (depending on what arrangements are finally made over Brexit of course).

The first port of call for advice is your local Chamber of Commerce.