Our articles covering the luxury designer product market and international import and export.

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Customs duties and taxes

Customs duties and taxes

Duties and taxes are imposed to protect national revenue and safeguard local industry. Almost all shipments crossing international borders are subject to duty and tax assessment, with customs officials basing this on information provided on the commercial invoice and other relevant documents.

When do you need to pay customs duties and taxes?

Payment to the authorities must be met before the shipments are released from customs. 

Australia

Things you buy over the Internet have the same duties applied as any other import.

For goods with a value of AUD 1000 or less, there are generally no duties, taxes or charges to pay at the border,

For goods with a value over AUD 1000, you will need to fill out an import declaration and pay duties, taxes and charges at the border.

GST is payable on most goods imported into Australia.The GST payable is 10% of the value of the taxable importation. Generally, GST is payable before the goods are released by Home Affairs. If you are an importer and are registered for GST, you may be able to defer the payment of GST by participating in the deferred GST scheme.

United States

Import duty and taxes are owed when importing goods into the United States, whether by a private individual or a commercial entity.

The valuation method is FOB, which means that the import duty and taxes payable are calculated exclusively on the value of the imported goods. Duty rates vary from 0 to 37.5 percent, with a typical duty rate about 5.63 percent.

Goods must be declared for entry into the U.S. within 15 days of arrival or prior to leaving a bonded warehouse or foreign trade zone. The importer of record declares the transaction value of the goods and country of origin, along with other information. The declarations must include an invoice and packing list (or equivalent) listing all goods.

CBP then assesses duty, which must be paid by the importer of record before goods can be released. Many importers participate in a voluntary self-assessment program with CBP.

Korea 

Korea has a flat 10 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on all imports and domestically manufactured goods. A special excise tax of 10-20 percent is also levied on the importation of certain luxury items and durable consumer goods.

Tariffs and taxes must be paid in Korean Won within 15 days after goods have cleared Customs. 

Asia

Generally, all goods entering Singapore are subject to a 7% GST on imported goods. This import fee is applicable for items which have a total value of SG$400 and above.

The taxable value is calculated based on its Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value and all other duties and tax charges.

In 2021, the Singapore government announced that low-value goods bought online will also be subjected to GST from 1 January 2023.

Importing through Salbini

On our site and in our quotes, prices don’t include GST and customs duties, being a tax that you don’t need to pay us.

In fact, we are exporters, not importers.

These import duties and taxes are paid by the buyer / importer upon arrival of the goods in their country.

The Salbini team offers the buyer all the assistance and information necessary to complete the procedures.

Salbini Experience: Vittoria Chiarilli from Australia

Our Australia manager Vittoria Chiarilli is an Interior Designer. She has a small studio called Marly Hemisphere which operates out of Melbourne Australia.

She has been in Milano for the Salone del Mobile and then we interviewed her in Pagani.

Childhood

She has always been artistic as a child.

“As a very young girl l would accompany my father to his work – he was a builder and l would find small objects on his building sites and make sculptures to take home and show my mum. I learned to sew at 14 and draft all my own patterns for clothes l made. I was happiest when l was creating and making things.”

Favourite design style

Some of her favourite design styles are: Neo Classic, Post Modern, Scandinavian, Midcentury Modern and Art Deco.

Functionality or appeal?

When asked if she prefers functionality or appeal she says she prefers to try to combine both.

“It means l can have something look beautiful but also importantly provide the client with an easy to use space that meets most of their needs”

What are a couple of questions you’d ask to discover your client’s requirements?

Some of the questions she usually asks a client are:

  • what are you trying to achieve in the space?
  • are we using some existing items/furniture you have
  • how do you live in the space
  • Are you looking for locally made furniture or are you wanting to consider furniture manufactured overseas
  • And then most importantly what is your budget”

These are important questions to ask a client to begin a good collaboration.

Keeping up with industry changes and with the latest Interior Design styles

Keeping up with industry changes is at times difficult in a fast changing world.

“I try where l can to go to trade shows such as Salone del Mobile which often provide a great source of inspiration… I keep myself up to date with the latest design styles by following interior designers and architects on instagram and the internet that interest me.” 

It’s also important working in collaboration with other designers.

Imagine your client asks you to design a room in a way that is visually pleasing but not practical. How would you react?

“If they are just wanting a room/space to look beautiful and it be never used then we don’t need to be practical, but if the space is an area that is used frequently it is my job to highlight to the client the disadvantages of being in a space that is not practical.”

It’s important to create spaces that are thoughtful, reflect the client’s personality and ultimately give the client great satisfaction to move within these spaces.

When a client rejects all your design concepts

The design process needs to be a collaboration between client and designer and in order to achieve this successfully there must be a level of trust from the client.

“When a client rejects all my design concepts it usually means they have perhaps not chosen the right designer for their project. Initial meetings with clients are crucial, they establish if we will be able to work together and if there is a potential to clash.”

Vittoria Chiarilli at the Auditorium Theater in Pagani

Why Salbini for the supply of European design products?

Using a company like Salbini means that clients are dealing directly with an agent out of Italy. One of the benefits is that a customer can buy different type of products all through one agent. 

Moreover, “Things are done more quickly if there is an issue or drama.” Another reason would be cost saving. It’s all advantageous.

With Salbini Experience we will open the doors of the best Italian companies to you.

Do you need to carry out projects with the best design products? Come to Italy!

Find out more

Salbini Experience: Scott Wilson from Australia

Scott Wilson is our commercial manager and agent in Australia.

He came in Italy in June 2022 for the Salone del Mobile and then he visited Pagani, where we had the opportunity to interview him.

“I love Italy and working with Italians… I like the beautiful people in the South”.

His role

He’s the commercial manager and agent in Australia.

“I have to face between our team in Pagani and our clients in Australia: mainly with commercial clients but also with private ones as well”.

“…dealing with the client, being the middle piece between the Australian clients and our team in Pagani… I love being part of the process”.

Interesting aspects of the job

Scott loves everything about his job but several things stand out most:

“…dealing with the client, being the middle piece between the Australian clients and our team in Pagani… I love being part of the process… I get to see beautiful pieces of furniture, beautiful joinery”.

What clients usually ask

Clients ask Scott lots of things: they ask about the prices but they are also curious about the process and how Salbini operates. They also want to now about Salbini.

“I tell them the history of Pagani and the history of the company”.

Relationship Pagani-Sydney

It’s amazing this relationship Pagani-Sydney.

“We get to expose Australians to this part of Italy… I feel very proud that I get to tell the story of Pagani and our business, which is a family”.

Scott Wilson and Filippo Salbini
Scott Wilson in Pagani

The future of the job

Scott is very positive about the future of Salbini.

“In 2 years we will have more staff, more commercial clients, we will grow even larger… I see exciting things for Salbini in Australia and in every other country as well”.

Euro hits parity with the US dollar

Euro-Dollar

The euro has suffered a swift and brutal slump this year, and now it has crossed a major threshold: for the first time in 20 years, the exchange rate between the euro and the US dollar has reached parity. The euro hasn’t been valued below $1 since July 15, 2002. It’s now below $1.01.

What does it mean?

It means the European and American currencies are worth the same amount.

The falling exchange rate has been blamed on rate rises, Europe’s energy dependence on Russia and growing fears of a recession, which typically drive investment in haven assets. Energy prices have driven euro-area inflation to a record 8.6% in June, making everything from groceries to utility bills more expensive.

Why dollar is king now

The dollar has climbed in value against global currencies by more than 10% since the beginning of the year.

It means that people need to put up fewer dollars in exchange for other currencies.

What does a strong U.S. dollar mean for imports, exports?

For decades, currency devaluation was a monetary policy tool to obtain competitive trade advantages. The idea is simple: if your currency is worth less, your products are cheaper, and it is much easier to put them on the market, which revitalizes exports and boosts the economy.

A strong dollar may help consumers buy more imported goods. 

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics said “if you’re an importer, the strength of the dollar is a good thing”. Zandi expects the dollar’s strength against the euro to last for a year or two.

“I don’t see the dollar significantly weakening any time soon,” he said.

Sources: El Paìs, AP News, Moody’s Analytics.

Salbini Experience: Chan Yoon from South Korea

Chan Yoon is our South Korea Manager and came to visit us in Italy in June 2022. 

Before going to Milan together for the Salone del Mobile 2022, Chan was our guest in Southern Italy. 

It was a pleasure meeting him and having the opportunity of interviewing him. He has been part of our family for more than 2 years.

The first contact and collaboration with us

Chan met us for the first time as a client and he was very satisfied with the service:

“It was not about money, but it was more about solving my problem to make my room the most beautiful place in the world.”

And that’s how he got confidence and decided to work with us.

His role 

“At the beginning, I was a one-man show. Now my business has gone to 5 people”.

He handles B2B projects, sometimes B2C as well, meeting the clients.

The interesting aspects of his job

There are two interesting aspects in Chan’s job: being able to provide great furniture to his customers; being able to provide new brands in South Korea and seeing excitement in the clients.


Chan Yoon is an interior designer, founder of Stretta Furniture and Stretta Studio in Seoul

Favorite brands

When asked what are his favorite brands, Chan told us that what he loves more about Italian furniture is that they make the best use of materials.

“The very first furniture that I came to import was Poltrona Frau. I really love their leather and its luxurious use”.

He also appreciates DV Home and Misuraemme.

The future of the market in South Korea 

“I think that our company could become number one in terms of luxury brands”.

The meeting with the Italian team

Chan had the opportunity to spend time with our Italian team to take care of the details of some projects under construction in South Korea and also to spend some relaxing moments on the Amalfi Coast, in Pompeii, Salerno and with the Salbini family.

Chan Yoon, JInho Shin and Francesco Ferrara in Amalfi
Chan Yoon, Carmela Salbini and Filippo Salbini in Corbara

Dinner and relaxation with the Salbini family

With Salbini Experience we will open the doors of the best Italian companies to you.

Do you need to carry out projects with the best design products? Come to Italy!

Find out more

Ocean freight

Ocean freight

More than 90 percent of the goods transported in the world are carried by ocean freight.  

Businesses that deal with international shipments are always faced with the dilemma of choosing between Ocean freight and Air freight. Although the two serve the same purpose, they are poles apart in multiple ways. Choosing to use one over the other boils down to a significant difference in cost and time. 

Why should you choose ocean transport? 

First of all, the ocean shipping industry offers the most competitive freight costs to shippers, especially over long distances.

Moreover, no matter the size of your shipments, sea freight companies can usually accommodate your needs. Smaller shipments can be grouped together with other cargo to fill a container, allowing for cost-sharing of the transportation services. Larger cargo can fill one or more containers.  

Full Container Load (FCL) or Less-than-Container Load (LCL)

A FCL shipment is used when a shipper bears the cost of the entire container and uses it exclusively for a single shipment, even if they do not have enough goods to fill it up. On the other hand, an LCL shipment means shippers share the containers with other shipments and only need to pay for the space used.

While FCL may be cheaper than LCL, the latter may be a better option for smaller shipments. It is widely considered to be the future of logistics as the rise in e-commerce has contributed to a growing trend of ad-hoc and lower-volume shipments.

Additionally, emerging markets have also shown a preference for smaller shipments. This has led to a steadily growing demand for LCL options.

Environmental impact

A very important factor that must be considered, given the global warming crisis is the carbon footprint of the company. The mode of transport that a business uses to move around its shipments is a determinant of the company’s consideration for the planet.

When compared to sea shipping, air and many other forms of transportation have much higher carbon footprints – a definite disadvantage for the environment. Ships, on the other hand, provide the most carbon-efficient mode of transportation and produce fewer grams of exhaust gas emissions for each ton of cargo transported than any other shipment method. 

Transit time

Transit time on an ocean shipment usually takes from 12 days up to 50 days depending on the origin and destination.  

For example, a shipment from Italy to Australia averages 45/50 days. Transit time on an air freight shipment to Australia takes 6/7 days. Make sure to consider that due to COVID, transit time has become longer. It’s better to understand there are challenges faced in all stages of the supply chain.

The actual transit time from Italy to Australia is 60/65 days via Ocean freight, 8/10 days via air freight.

How to import European products in Australia

Do you need to renovate your house, or create a new residential project with the best European luxury brands? Here’s how you can do it with our help!

Online shopping

On our Australian website, you can buy the goods you need, choosing among thousands of products from the best European brands.

At checkout, after entering the country and post code the site automatically calculates shipping fees.

Payment is simple and can be made with bank deposit to our Australian bank account, credit card or Paypal.

GST and customs duties are to be paid when goods arrive in Australia.

Delivery

After payment, you can choose between two delivery methods:

  • Ocean freight, that takes 8 to 9 weeks; 
  • For faster delivery select delivery by Air freight, which generally takes about 1/2 weeks.

You needn’t worry using a custom agent because our courier takes care of everything. 

All you have to do is pay GST and duties before delivery.

Tailor-made quotes

If you need to purchase lots of products in a single order, you can request a quote for your project.

Just contact us and our staff will offer you the best solution on the market, including transport costs and payment methods.

All in one order, tailor-made for you.

Safe shipping

Your purchases arrive safely and securely as they have been shipped in custom-built crates made by us for the journey. 

Our crates reduce the risk of damage to goods during transport.

Contacts and after-sales assistance

If you have any questions you can contact us by phone at our Australian telephone number (03 8658 0755), or send an email at info@salbini.com or use the 24/7 live chat service.

We are always available, before, during and after the delivery of the goods covered by a 2-years warranty.

Cover image: Freepik.com

Global logistics chain: the effects of the pandemic

How the Covid-19 pandemic affected the supply chain around the world.

The Covid-19 outbreak

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a crisis of the global supply chain: ships stuck at sea, warehouses overflowing, trucks without drivers.

Businesses across the economy struggled to hire workers and they have reacted to shortages by ordering earlier and extra that has placed more strain on the system.

When the pandemic struck in early 2020, people and businesses were quickly forced to restrict their activity, sending the global economy into a brief but damaging free fall. 
Under the model, called “just in time” manufacturing, companies stockpile as few raw materials and parts as possible, instead buying what they need as they need it.

The New York Times

China

With the closure of offices, stores and factories, companies laid off workers en masse. Moreover, there was a sudden need of surgical masks and other protective gear, made in China.

As Chinese factories ramped up to meet the new demand, cargo vessels delivered protective gear around the globe, even to regions that do relatively little trade with China, such as West Africa.

The New York Times

This led to a shortage of shipping containers in China.

United States

The spending in the United States was encouraged by government stimulus programs to resuscitate the economy.

As a result of the demand increase, a wave of factory goods swiftly overwhelmed U.S. ports. Swelling orders also outstripped the availability of shipping containers, and the cost of shipping a container from Shanghai to Los Angeles skyrocketed tenfold.

Online shopping

The many lockdowns in cities have changed the spending habits of entire countries overnight.

This has generated an increase in online sales.

Online shopping actually increased by at least 10 percentage points across most product categories, most notably: electronics, DIY, education, cosmetics, home goods, and pharmaceuticals.

The supply chain issue: what can we expect?

The supply chain has become a central political issue and it is likely to last for many more months — if not years. The emergence of new Covid variants during 2022 could accentuate some of the current pressures.

Despite some easing in recent months, international shipping costs are likely to remain high in 2022.

Sources: The New York Times, The Conversation, Ansa.

Salbini 2020-2021: We have quadrupled our sales, thanks to you too!

Over the past two years, our brand has grown despite the pandemic. An extraordinary result obtained also thanks to your trust.

A new identity appreciated on the global market

We are always here. We are always us.

After 12 successful years of the Fesal company, in 2018 we created the new Salbini brand, but it was not enough.
We understood that it was necessary to focus on the exclusive services that we are able to offer.
For this reason, in February 2020 we rebranded our brand by expanding the selection to the best European luxury brands.

We have gone from the “Italian Design Worldwide” e-commerce website to a “Design Worldwide” service company, with a new identity, a new corporate website – the one you are reading this article on 🙂 – and new communication systems.

We have created a new brand identity that reflects our corporate identity.
Today we faithfully transmit our values and you too have rewarded us, by entrusting us with a small order, or a large supply and we thank you.
The Salbini brand is increasingly synonymous with reliability. 
Customer reviews on Trustpilot testify to this.

People at the center

Our company is made up of people who are our real strength, and we are proud to call ourselves a “family”.
All our activities, from the simplest to the most demanding, are based on trust, sincerity and mutual respect.
Satisfied customers and the big brands that ask us to collaborate are the testimony of our professionalism on the market.
But our greatest joy is personal relationships. In fact, it often happens that business contacts become friendships, going beyond business. We know each other to provide products and we find ourselves becoming friends.

We are really happy to be there.

The Covid-19 pandemic and our corporate reorganization

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we live.
With millions of deaths worldwide and health systems collapsing, many companies have been brought to their knees by various lockdowns.

Thanks to new digital systems we have managed to speed up internal processes, even during lockdowns. A new corporate communication organization has allowed us to continue working remotely by constantly staying in contact with customers, partners and suppliers in total safety.
Our logistics have improved and is now even more efficient and more environmentally friendly.
The integration of new payment methods has allowed us to reduce transaction costs, making us even more competitive through personalized quotes for large supplies.
The expansion of the Italian and international staff has allowed us to take care of every detail, internal and external, improving the services offered.

The complete supply for residential, commercial and hospitality projects

Not just appliances.

We have been on the market for over sixteen years, and we have been for the most part through our old e-commerce site fesal.com, thanks to which many in the world have been able to appreciate our professionalism, especially for the supply of household appliances.

Maybe you too bought appliances the first time you trusted us 🙂

With the launch of the Salbini brand we went further, expanding and establishing ourselves more and more on the market also as resellers of the best European brands of furniture, lighting, bathroom and outdoor furniture, marble, natural stones and accessories.

For the first time in our history, in 2021 our furniture sales exceeded our sales of household appliances.
Today, the best of European design also passes through Salbini services, and we are very proud of it.

The creation of new partnerships with important companies in the industry

We have further expanded our wide range of brands by introducing new European manufacturers that we have carefully selected.
We have also established new transportation partnerships, making shipping safer, greener, faster and cheaper for our customers around the world.
The new partnerships with installation companies ensure a wide range of coverage for assembly and product warranties.

We have grown and our partners have grown with us.

Growth in all geographic areas

Australia continues to be our main market. 57% of our sales were shipped to Australian customers, mainly on the East coast, but there are also orders on the West coast.

We have also grown proportionally in other markets, carrying out small, medium and large orders for Asia, Europe, America and Africa.

We are Salbini, we are Design Worldwide.

How does the warranty on appliances imported from Europe to Australia work?

Warranty on appliances

Photo by Tekton on Unsplash

When buying appliances directly from Europe, as in the case of purchases made on Salbini, we need to clarify some points on the guarantee.

With the information below, you will no longer have any doubts about how warranty works on European appliances imported to Australia.

Responsibility of resellers and importers in Australia.

When importing European home appliances to Australia, the local importer does not honor the manufacturer’s warranty, as the items were purchased from overseas. So basically the customer has to send them back to Europe in case of problems.

Responsibility of Salbini.

At Salbini we are different from the others.

We have agreements in place with local service agents, such as Mobile Appliance Repair Center in Sydney and Fix-It All in Melbourne:

In the past, Fix-It All has also created an ad hoc document for us to share with new potential customers.

Therefore, when a customer buys household appliances at Salbini, in case of problems he turns directly to us and not to the manufacturer.

How we work at Salbini.

If one of our customers has problems with an appliances, our Customer Care Service opens an internal ticket. At the same time, we contact the service agents in Australia to report the problem and provide all the necessary information.

How our Australian partners intervene.

The service agents in Australia acquire all the necessary information and contact Salbini’s customer, arranging a meeting to solve the problem in a short time.