They Import New Zealand Clothing

They Import New Zealand Clothing FARM HOME Clothes 29-3-6 While visiting a friend in New Zealand, Dan Gunderson bought some durable wool work clothes. He liked them so much, and they were so durable, that when he returned home to Cremona, Alberta he started thinking about selling the clothing to supplement his farm income. Yet it took a literal bolt of lightning for the idea to become reality. Gunderson was struck by lightning while riding his horse and he couldn't do farm work for months. Needing additional income, he and wife Jennifer tested their idea on family and friends. "The biggest thing they liked about the clothing was that you didn't need to multi-layer because they hold the warmth and break the wind so effectively," Dan says. Because neither knew anything about importing, they took a business course. "At first, we were going to try and clear our own packages until we realized how many different codes, permits and duty rates there are," Jennifer says, adding that they hired a broker to takes care of permits each time a shipment arrives in Canada. "Since New Zealand is part of the Commonwealth countries, the duty we pay on products is anywhere from 10 to 20 percent," she says. "As we pay New Zealand dollars for the garments, that has to be converted to Canadian dollars." After a shipment arrives at customs, it takes about five working days to receive it. With a website and space at the Horse Store, a local store, they spend about four hours per day working on the business with the rest spent farming. They sell work jackets, wool sweaters, coats and shirts from companies such as Norsewear, Circle M Brand Workwear, Norstech, and Swanndri. Prices range from $159 (Can.) to $300 (Can). Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, JD's Kiwi Wear, Box 195 Cremona, Alberta, Canada T0M 0R0 (ph 403 637-2805; email: jdkiwiwear@hotmail.com; website: www.kiwiwear.com).

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