l
How greed and the global pandemic is creating new cracks in the foundation of
imports and exports.
Steve Jobs once said, “Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your
thinking clean to make it simple.” The reason that large import and export deals are so complex
is that each party has numerous details to manage. And the bigger the deal, typically the more
complex it is.
Now add a global pandemic to an already complex industry, and it’s easy to understand why the
global supply chain’s foundation is being put to the test like never before. As someone with two
decades of international deals under my belt, I have seen big wins and losses. More so now
than ever I see firsthand where the cracks are coming from. I have outlined three fractures to
watch, as they are real problems that impact real deals, with real money at stake.
1. Disloyalty and greed makes the market drop
Ideally, in imports and exports, sellers make their profits, brokers make their fees, and buyers
make their money on the resale. It’s a system that has worked for centuries. The problem starts
when one side takes the profits from the other. When this happens, it’s usually fueled by greed
and as a result, the system starts to fail and trust falters.
When sellers, buyers, and brokers lose trust in each other, it weakens more than their
relationships. Over the last year, in a world impacted by a global pandemic, I have seen buyers
circumventing their brokers. I have heard clearly that sellers are not being 100% loyal to their
brokers. And I’ve heard of some top brokers who have started working directly with buyers.
When the proper buyer-seller-broker protocol gets sidestepped, it sabotages the core of what it
means to trade fairly. It may happen with a deal here or there, but it sets up a negative feedback
loop that ends up hurting all parties. This lack of loyalty can quickly become a major problem for
imports and exports if the status quo does not change.
We have to assume that sellers will always ask for the highest price they can get. The minute a
seller works directly with the buyers, they might find it tempting to bypass the broker cost,
leaving more room for negotiations. If that happens, then it could impact future deals. It could
cause other sellers brought by other brokers to not be able to sell with the margins they need.
Brokers will not be able to go back to their buyers if those same buyers start working directly
with sellers. And the seller might again lower the cost, creating more market drop.
So what do you do? You build trust over time, and always make sure to follow proper protocol
when it comes to brokers, intermediaries, sellers, and buyers. You follow the system that works.
If you become known as someone who will sidestep others on your way to earning a
commission, then people won’t want to continue doing business with you.
2: The devil is in the details
Problems occur when there is a lack of proper management. When inexperienced brokers
decide that they will enter the import and export markets, they are likely to not know all the
details. They might know people with products and those who are looking for deal flow, but they
fail to realize that just because someone says they are a buyer, does not mean they have the
funds to do so. I have seen people present sellers who are not sellers. Examples of this and
other problems are common in the many PPE deals during the pandemic that blew up and
never closed.
Rookie brokers might get blinded from the possibility of fast cash, which results in them not
paying enough attention to the details that matter. I have even seen a newbie broker think that
they can cut costs by trying to jump an intermediary only to find out that this single act is what
blew up the whole deal. I don’t need to remind anyone that 100% of a dead deal is zero
commissions for everyone.
3. Know your role and stay in your lane
To help you understand who plays what role in a transaction, here is a breakdown of what
sellers, brokers, and buyers should know.
Seller – As a seller, you negotiate prices and close deals with the factories. You must ensure the
contract gets to closing, and ensure the money is routed to the right places. Following this, you
are responsible for the logistics of moving the inventory from the warehouse to the port in the
country of origin. Then you deal with the SGS, an international inspection agency, only to then
move the goods to another port. And after the goods are on the water and en route to the U.S.,
you still need to clear customs. Once cleared, the goods arrive at the warehouse where you
account for hundreds of thousands of units. Finally, once you pay the warehouse fees and
button-up the final logistics, your job is done.
Brokers – As the broker, you are responsible for putting the product in the market, saving the
seller time to build the connections needed to close million and billion-dollar deals. You are less
concerned with logistics, and more involved in networking and relationships. Brokers make sure
that products are delivered on time, and that the communication of product details is clear to the
end buyer. Brokers must make sure the details of the deal don’t get lost in the broker chain.
Super brokers set up manageable expectations before, during, and after the deal closes. As the
broker, you also use your people skills to handle all complaints and venting about products and
timelines for deals, which is why you love quality products.
Buyers – As the buyer, you source the products you need, scope good deals, manage logistics,
and produce the funds for the goods. You focus on overcoming problems, managing
expectations, and working on your next buying budget. For you, each new relationship is
another opportunity to get one step closer to your next deal. You have to make sure they have
the funds available if they want to participate in a deal. When it comes to wire transfer time, if
the funds are not available right away, you will lose the deal. Smart buyers, who represent
government agencies and hospitals, for example, need to understand that in today’s
marketplace, they should avoid spot buys. Spot buys call for full payment upfront, usually no
samples, and there is always a rush to close the deal. I advise buyers to seek a product line that
they can buy consistently and not as a one-off purchase. This allows for agencies to get
samples, ensure the products are the right ones, and to create smaller shipments, which will
help buyers manage their cash flow.
The more you know about all the roles, the more you can maintain responsibility for the details
that are relevant to you. The key to learning is to work with people who have the depth of
experience in their lane.
3. Immature markets have growing pains
A new industry like PPE is growing due to a global demand to fight COVID-19, and as a result, it
is constantly growing. These products are in such demand that goods are traveling by water,
ground, and air.
With the rapid expansion of so many people trying to get involved in the PPE space, the more
chances there have been for unscrupulous players and scammers to try to take advantage of
others. Unfortunately, I know about others who have been scammed because they didn’t fully
understand how trading works. I will continue to mature, and so will the industry. The thing to
remember about growth is that it also comes with growing pains. So buyer, broker, and seller
beware.
In conclusion
Everyone on the supply chain has a role to play. When everyone stays in their lane and fulfills
their roles, follows the rules, and guides their behavior with integrity, then imports and exports
will continue to be a major driver of a healthy global economic system.
If the system starts to crack, and people start to bypass the known procedures, then
consequences will arise. If profits are not shared, then people will be cut from deals and it will
trickle down the supply chain, causing more strife. If there is no trust between parties, then how
can we trust that deals will close? The key is to respect each other and work with integrity while
building relationships and earning trust. Own your mistakes. Know your responsibilities in a deal
and fulfill them. Though I see fractures in the foundation of the global supply chain, I also know
that together we can fix it and make it better than ever.
If you get caught in a deal going sideways or need advice on how to navigate the stressful world
of imports and exports, connect with me on LinkedIn, and I’ll see if I can help.