update on an old matter

[grasswire]

Some time ago I wrote a thread asking if anyone was familiar with import regulations, because I had ideas about a particular item.

Well, the first chance to try this project will come this fall. The item is a beautiful hand-crafted beech twig broom (with leaves still attached because it's so fresh) made by gypsies in Romania. It's a seasonal item, and one must get from the gypsies as they travel the countryside. A family member traveling will bring home ten of them bundled together and boxed, as luggage. She brought one home for me last year. It survived the long trip well -- train ride from the rural villages, to Bucharest to Frankfurt to PNW. Actually, there will be a layover in Prague this year, too. The broom has hung on my kitchen wall as an object of art for a year.

This is just a trial, so we haven't done anything yet about regs or whatever. We believe the potential profit margin to be excellent. We will have a photo of the gypsy maker of each broom.

Here's my question. What do you think would ensure in potential buyer's minds that these are really and truly Romanian gypsy made brooms? What kind of "certificate of authenticity" would be convincing?

[yy4me]

1. Customs will ask you if you are bringing into the country any

foodstuffs, plants or the like. I'd find out if these twig brooms fall under the category of plants. I'm not sure of the regulations. Maybe these are no longer considered plants. There is plenty of info on line explaining what is allowed through customs.

If you can get them through, can you have the gypsy who made the broom create a hang tag with a personal few words to the buyer? It is no guarantee but I doubt there is any way to prove except to have the maker sign the photo to go with the broom. They sound delightful.

[grasswire]

3. we already brought one over with no problem

People in Eastern Europe can't fathom why anyone would want to bother with one of these items, which they see only as crude utilitarian tools. And of course, gypsies are an underclass.

I doubt very much that any of the gypsy women are able to write. This is a very rural, primitive culture in Transylvania. But your idea was logical!

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Friends of mine who go to Europe always ship home items

So no customs on their luggage contents

[grasswire]

4. shipping from parts of Romania is very iffy

Many items get stolen or ransacked. Unfortunately.

[Vinca]

5. Is there a way to put a photo of the broom and its maker on the label?

And maybe a little story of how you found them, brought them to this country, yada, yada. If that's too expensive, just your story of how you were given one as a gift and loved it and went in search of them. It sounds like a great idea.

[sandnsea]

6. You could use initials

Like they did/do on the backs of various ceramics. You could have a card with the photo on the front, then you could have the story on the inside of where the broom came from and the maker, and a line for the initials. Each person you buy them from could take a half hour or so and just initial the cards. That ought to be enough for authentification unless you're planning on selling them for over a hundred dollars or something. Sounds very cool. Can't wait to see them.