Guten Tag! Welcome to the third part of our series about the benefits of exporting to the UK. (In case you missed them, we've already covered the USA and the Middle East.)

Followers of global news might have sensed that things aren't going so well in the UK – and no, we're not talking about Harry and Meghan. The pound is down, energy bills are up and economists are predicting a rocky road ahead.

But it isn't all doom and gloom. First of all, the weakened pound means a favourable exchange rate for overseas businesses. Some goods and services are cheaper than ever – and practically there for the taking.

Secondly, exports from Germany to the UK are on the up for the first time since the Brexit referendum.

We're not trying to pretend that all is rosy. And we're certainly not going to read the tea leaves and tell you that this increase is just the beginning. But we're confident that exporting to the UK from Germany is a viable option. And we're confident we can help you with order fulfilment on the other end.

Even so, there are complications. Before you start boxing up your goods and calling couriers, you need to sort out paperwork.

What paperwork do I need to do?

Remember "The Place That Sends You Mad" from The Twelve Tasks of Asterix?

Asterix and Obelix must complete a "simple administrative formality" to proceed to the next task – but end up running from room to room filling out endless forms.

Shipping to the UK isn't that bad, but it can feel like it sometimes.

First off, you need to get an EORI number. Pronounced to rhyme with "story", this is a registration and identification number used by customs and other authorities to track shipments coming into and out of the EU. You can do this through the Federal Customs Service.

Once you've submitted all the required information regarding your export to customs, they will send you an export document containing an MRN (movement reference number).

This is a unique number that identifies your shipment. Without it, your export can't be processed either in Germany or the UK.

You don't need to pay VAT when exporting to the UK, but you do need to prove to the Tax Authority that the goods left the EU. To do this, you need a "Confirmation of Exit" from the Customs Authority.

Other considerations

In 2022, Germany was the UK's second biggest trading partner – so exporting your goods to us is far from exploring virgin territory or sending a probe to Venus.

Even so, if we're a new trading partner for your company, there are a few things to bear in mind to maximise your chances of a good ROI.

First, there's the issue of language – not English as a whole, but industry-specific vocabulary. You need to make sure that you're using British English and not its American equivalent. This is especially important when writing product descriptions and copy for your packaging.

This is all part of "localising" your operations – making sure that your goods are fit to be sold in a different country. A big consideration here is what's known as regulatory divergence – the path now being taken by the UK away from European bureaucracy. You need to make sure that your goods meet all UK regulations or you won't get very far.

Related to this is the question of consumer behaviour. Sure, in the words of the movie cliché, "we're not so different, you and I". Nevertheless, some products are more popular than others. Checking that your goods are targeted appropriately is mission-critical.

Part of this is about market research. There are reams of data and analysis online – and if that's not enough, you can always splash out on your own. Find out about consumer demand, standard retail prices, delivery expectations, who the competition is and the costs of haulage and storage. Knowing all these things will put you in a better position to start exporting.

Taking on a new market is always a risk – but equipping yourself with market research increases your chances of success even before you've started on the paperwork.

Facts and figures

According to the UK Department for International Trade:

• Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Germany was £122.5 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2022.
• In this period, total UK imports from Germany totalled £72.4 billion.
• In this period, Germany was the UK's second-largest trading partner. It accounted for 8.4% of UK trade.

So no matter what you've heard about the UK economy, now is a fine time to be sending your goods here.

How can we help?

Here at Stowsafe Fulfilment, we have a 24,500-square-foot warehouse in the southwest of England. Our job is to make yours easier – and we do this by taking care of picking, packing and dispatching while you focus on building your brand.

We boast a cutting-edge warehouse management system. This lets you stay on top of your inventory and sales with automated notifications – and furnishes you with boatloads of data to help you make decisions.

These resources are available whether you're in Schleswig-Holstein, Baden-Württemberg or anywhere in between.

You sort out the journey from Germany to the UK, and we'll manage the last mile for you. Our knowledge of local couriers means you'll get the best deal on delivery – and our warehouse can take as many or as few of your products as you need.

Scalable, flexible and with great transport links to urban centres, Stowsafe can help you to get your goods in British shops and on British doorsteps.

Looking for a 3PL partner? Then take a look at our online fulfilment services and get in touch – we'd love to hear from you.