Canadian jewellery export, order by order

Overseas boutiques, gift shops, museum shops and small distributors that want Canadian-made products.

You buy at the maker's wholesale price and sell at a higher export wholesale price. The difference, after shipping, fees and currency costs, is your margin. Many buyers reorder if the first order goes well.

• Sales and email outreach
• Organising orders and shipping
• Building trusting relationships with makers and buyers
• Writing clear product descriptions

• Check import duties, labelling and any hallmarking or precious metal rules in each destination country before you ship
• Check Canadian rules on precious metal marking and on claims such as 'handmade' or 'Indigenous-made', and keep proof from your makers
• Check export reporting and customs paperwork with the Canada Border Services Agency or a customs broker
• Ask for payment up front or a deposit from new buyers to avoid non-payment and currency risk
• Insure goods in transit, and get commercial general liability insurance
• Check whether you need a Business Number and GST/HST account, and how exports are treated
• Check whether a home-based business licence applies in your municipality

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on samples, shipping, marketing and insurance. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many overseas buyers you win and their order sizes.

Check import duties, labelling and any hallmarking or precious metal rules in each destination country. Also check Canadian precious metal marking rules, claims such as 'handmade' or 'Indigenous-made', export paperwork with the Canada Border Services Agency, and whether you need a GST/HST account.

Ask for payment up front or a deposit from new buyers to avoid non-payment and currency risk. Insure goods in transit and get commercial general liability insurance. Also check whether a home-based business licence applies in your municipality.