Do you need a U.S. address for shipping packages to?

From time to time, I am asked if we have a U.S. address to ship packages to. These questions come from family, friends, customers, etc. So, I thought I would do a post about this question.

The answer is "Yes" - especially for people located in B.C. We have a warehouse in Blaine, Washington that is very convenient to have packages sent to.

This is especially helpful if your are buying from a U.S. supplier who doesn't ship to Canada. And, many times, the supplier will ship within the U.S. / domestically for free.

To use this warehouse as a convenient receiving depot, simply follow these instructions - http://www.aacb.com/contact/usa_warehouse.asp

You can either drive down and pick up the packages yourself or have us pick them up, clear them through Customs and deliver them to your door.

February 2008 Economic Digest - Importing and Exportin

February 2008 Edition

SOFTWARE

 
Sales of software for the retail industry in the U.S. could hit US$10.4-billion by 2011, growing at an average rate of 7 per cent from sales last year of $7.3-billion. The market remains primed for growth as retailers seek to replace aging merchandising infrastructures, transform store shopping experiences for consumers and efficiently respond to changing demand and trends.

POCKETS

Increasingly, it is getting harder for men to buy shirts with pockets. Tailors say such a luxury ruins the lines of a shirt and as a result, they are selling fewer of them. One major retailer reports that 90 per cent of shirts sold 10 years ago had pockets, compared with 25 per cent last year.

TIPS

Magellan's, which sells a wide range of products for travellers has compiled a list that shows the going tipping rates for porters, valets, taxi drivers and restaurant staff in countries around the world. But in some countries, less is expected. In Morocco, the rule of thumb after a meal is to leave loose change for the restaurant staff. And there are countries like New Zealand and Japan whose service workers do not expect tips.

SATISFACTION

In past years, retailers have attempted to level the playing field in a competitive environment through better management of the supply chain. But many of today's customers are demanding quality, convenience and personalized service over price and retailers are responding. Researchers say that 61 per cent of 160 global retail executives and managers surveyed say they are focused on providing a high quality customer service strategy.

WINE

Last year was a record year for Australian wine exports which were up nine per cent over the previous 12-month period both in volume and value. In the 12 months to October 2007, Australia exported US$2.6-billion worth of wine, of which $880-million went to the U.K. Britain was the biggest market followed by the U.S., Canada, Germany and New Zealand. Ireland and the Netherlands were equal fifth biggest consumers.

SOUND

Canada's sound recording and music publishing industry turned a relatively healthy profit in 2005 despite the worldwide decline in record sales and increased competition from other forms of entertainment. In total the industry, which includes record production, music publishing and recording studios, reported operating revenues of C$942-million. Record production, by far the largest segment, accounted for almost 80 per cent of revenues and the other two segments roughly 10 per cent each.

TEA

A revolution is brewing in the U.K which could spell the end of the paper teabag. Supermarkets have begun stocking teabags made from nylon mesh, rather than the traditional perforated tissue paper. Although the nylon bags are four times more expensive than the paper versions, they are proving popular with consumers. This comes after research revealed that Britons consume some of the worst quality tea in the world.

HIGH FASHION

Retailers and brands are increasingly relying on the Internet to market $3,000 skirts and $5,000 suits to consumers who think nothing of spending that much on clothing. Luxury apparel sales online will approach US$1-billion this year. E-commerce is expected to grow by 21 per cent compared with last year and growth in luxury apparel sales is expected to exceed that.

PAY

Though a small minority in corporate boardrooms in the U.S., women directors typically earn more than men. Last year, female directors in corporate America earned median compensation of US$120,000 compared with $$104,375 for male board members. At the same time, women in corporate boardrooms are outnumbered eight to one.

SIZE

The US$800-million Independence of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship and would have dwarfed the Titanic. It has 18 decks, nearly 2,000 cabins, three swimming pools, surf simulator, ice-skating rink, wedding chapel, theatre, casino, a nine-hole golf course and 11 restaurants and bars. It will not be the largest for long as another cruise liner, 45 per cent bigger than the Independence, is already under construction.

ACCESS

About one third (an estimated 8.2 million) of adult Canadians accessed government information and services in 2005, making the Internet an important channel for government. A study found that men accounted for just over one half (53 per cent) of Government On-Line (GOL) users. Higher levels of personal income and education were also important factors. The most common reasons reported for connecting online with governments were searching for information (72%), accessing material on programs or services (60%) and downloading forms (50%).

JAPAN

Hitachi has already stopped making PCs for individual consumers but will still make some for corporate customers. Consumers in Japan are shunning PCs as millions download music directly to cell phones and many more use their handsets for online shopping and to play games. Digital cameras connect directly to printers and high-definition TVs for viewing photos, bypassing PCs all together. More than 50 per cent of Japanese send e-mail and browse the Internet from their cell phones.

DESSERT

New research shows that virtually everyone enjoys dessert from time to time. In a recent survey, the vast majority, 85 per cent, said that they eat dessert once a month or more. No respondents said that they "never" eat desserts. More than half of consumers, 57 per cent, reported eating desserts "very frequently" or "often" (at least once a week). Traditional desserts such as chocolate-chip cookies, a dish of vanilla ice cream or a slice of apple pie are still the most popular desserts.

SPAM

The U.S. relays more spam to the world's inbox than any other country. Despite the CAN-SPAM Act, nearly 30 per cent of all unsolicited e-mails between July and September of 2007 were sent via computers in the U.S. The next biggest spamming countries were, South Korea, China, Russia and Brazil.

GREEN

An innovative project is being tried out in South Africa. Four pairs of solar-powered traffic lights have been installed in one suburb. If the pilot is successful, many more such lights could be installed across South Africa within the next few years. The lights are powered by a 3.6m2 solar panel tilted at a 30 degree angle to ensure maximum efficiency in capturing the sun's rays. To prevent vandalism, the panel is located at the top of an 18-foot pole while the batteries are located in a thief-proof concrete casing.

ENERGY

Energy drinks are benefiting from burgeoning sales in the noncarbonated category. Sales are expected to grow at a yearly rate of 12 per cent in the U.S., exceeding sales of US$9-billion by 2011. Since 2002, when total sales were just $1.2-billion, the market for energy drinks has soared almost 440 per cent overall to an estimated $6.6-billion in 2007.

GROWTH

Concerned about high fuel costs and the impact of a slowing economy, several big U.S. airlines are putting the brakes on domestic growth for 2008. So far, airlines say the economic worries haven't slowed business travel. Planes are flying fuller than ever but airlines also have been curbing domestic growth in favour of more lucrative overseas expansion, where they face less competition and have more room to keep fares strong.

PHONES

After 129 years, AT&T Inc. plans to leave the pay phone business as more people use wireless handsets to make calls. The first pay phone, installed in 1878, had an attendant who took callers' money. The first coin-operated phone was installed in a bank in Hartford, Conn. in 1879. At their peak in 1998, there were 2.6 million pay phones in the U.S.

MARKETS

India and China are the twin titans of the developing world. With a combined population of 2.4 billion, they have more than a third of the world's population, and 15 per cent of world trade. That share of trade is expected to rise to 40 per cent within a generation. By then, China is forecast to be the world's biggest economy by purchasing power and India the third largest. China has been better at putting in place the infrastructure needed for development, a spider's web of new superhighways, rail and air links and port facilities, while India's rail, road and port systems are a mess. However, India's vibrant private sector has fostered an number of world-class companies.

TECHNOLOGY

A self-tuning guitar said to be the first that uses robot technology, has been launched. The US$2,500 Gibson Robot is able to tune itself using six presets which musicians can switch to by pushing a button as they play. It works by a device in the bridge monitoring the pitch of the strings and also retunes itself automatically within seconds after string changes.

BALLOONS

Helium is the talk of the party-balloon industry nowadays. The second-most plentiful element in the universe is suddenly in short supply on the planet because demand has taken off in industry and in scientific research. Some party wholesalers are no longer selling balloons any more because they cannot get helium.

MISSING

The missing section of a 17th century cabinet worth over C$2-million has been found outside the toilets of a pizza restaurant in Yorkshire, England. It had been feared that the stand, used to hold the intricate piece of furniture featuring scenes of Rome, had been lost for ever.

ASSETS

Canada's national wealth in fixed assets, as measured by the total value of all its non-residential buildings, engineering structures and machinery and equipment, increased by 22 per cent between 1997 and 2007. This was largely the result of strong investment by the nation's mining and oil and gas extraction industries. By the end of 2007, the net value of buildings, structures and equipment used to produce goods and services was C$1.6-trillion.

RESORTS

Europe is to get its own version of Las Vegas in a desert region of eastern Spain. Developers plan to build 32 hotel-casinos, two theme parks, a race course and stadium over the next decade. The project also calls for residential areas, an equestrian centre and a golf course. Developers expect that the complex will receive 25 million visitors per year when it is completed. Millions are being spent in the nearby city of Zaragoza to upgrade rail and air connections and expand its small airport to accommodate the visitors. After France. Spain is the most visited country in Europe.

CHEERS

To prepare for the Olympics, authorities in Beijing have launched a campaign to teach residents how to cheer in a disciplined and orderly way. Instructors are touring factories, community centres and even old people's homes to teach tens of thousands of people civilized sportsmanship which will include the polite noise of rhythmic clapping and drumming from 20 pre-approved chants.

Thank you for reading the A & A Economic News Digest. For more information visit our website www.aacb.com or contact A & A Contract Customs Brokers Ltd. at strehler@aacb.com.

Past issues of the A&A Economic News Digest can be found at http://www.aacb.com/publications/ed/index.asp