If you are serious about building a brand, you should register
your trademark. A registered trademark is usually a
combination of your company name and logo.
The main advantage of having a registered trademark is that
a can then use your brand without your permission. It
also allows you to put the & symbol next to your logo. And, in
the future, you may even be able to sell or license your brand
You need to register your trademark within the category with
which it’s most closely associated. If you envisage entering
associated markets, it’s worth including them too. Although.
the more categories the greater the cost.
The registration process takes about fours months, assuming
that no one objects. Registered trademarks then last 10 years,
but the renewal process is little more than a formality.
To register your trademark, click on this link:
https://www.gov.uk/how-to-register-a-trade-mark
Note: Registering your trademark in the UK only protects your
brand in the UK.
Top tip: It’s worth checking already-registered trademarks
before you decide on your final brand. After all, you don’t want
a third party to use their trademark registration to try to
prevent you selling and marketing your products further down
the line.
Importing goods from outside the EU
Al importers need an EORI number to clear customs. EORI
stands for Economic Operator Registration and Identification.
When you’re applying for your VAT number you can apply for your EORI at the same time. (If already have a VAT number
(VRN), your EORI number will be GB + Your VRN + 000 (i.e GB012345678000).)
Remember, these will remain in place post Brexit vote. The
United Kingdom invoked Article 50 on 29th March 2017 -this
means that the UK will quit the EU by 29th March 2019 at the
latest. However, the current system will, most likely, remain in
place until early 2019 (and, in reality, probably for many more years to come).
The bigger problems caused by Brexit are the collapse in the
value of the pound and uncertainty. Before the referendum. £1
bought you approximately $1.50. As of July 2017, £1 buys you
$1.28. As almost all imports from lower-wage countries are
priced in dollars, this has hurt many FBAers. As for
uncertainty, maybe that’s an opportunity? As Warren Buffett
once said, “[be] Fearful when others are greedy and greedy
when others are fearful.”
For importers who choose not to be VAT registered, you can
still get an EORI number: www.gov.uk/guidance/eori–
supporting-guidance
If you need to register for VAT, Google “registering for VAT” or
go to:
https://online.hmrc.gov.uk/registration/newbusiness/busine
Ss-allowed
You also need to ascertain your product’s Commodity Code.
Commodity Codes are used to establish your import duty.
According to the World Trade Organisation, non-farm imports
to the EU attract an average tariff of 4%. However, the rate can
range widely depending on what you’re importing. So, do your
research before placing your order.
All Commodity Codes are listed here: www.gov.uk/trade–
tariff/a-z-index/a?country=&day=2&month=9&year=2015
If you’re still unsure, ask the manufacturer and they should be
able to provide you with the correct code.
A-Z of Amazon 