What a break this is after lackluster sales earlier in Bangkok and at the FIPP2009.
As expected, the best movers were the larger, high-quality aquamarines, alexandrites, and tourmalines, in particular the indescribably beautiful mint green tourmalines from the Pirineo mines.
Among the sellers from Teófilo Otoni with stands in Hong Kong are: Oswaldo Tavares, Marcelo Gemas, Mamão, Duarte & Bastos, and Emerson Tavares. (Remember that Teófilo Otoni is a very small town, and the well known sellers may be recognized by only their first names.)
Stands in Hong Kong can cost US$8,000. Add to that the cost of flying and hotel rooms, and if these dealers are sending happy news, then they must really be pleased!
What I wouldn't give for one of these beauties from Pirineo!
Posts
Hi there Tenney Naumer.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Marcos. I'm from Pojuca, Bahia-Br.
First, let me thank you for all the information you've put on your blog. It's well organized and kinda funny.
Well, as a brazilian man I like to hear "gringos'" view bout our people. I loved the way you described that cutter's behavior from Vitória da Conquista giving all sorts of excuses(very typical of brazilians!).
I've been planning to start my own gem biz online and try to sell faceted/calibrated gems to buyers from other countries, though I've never worked in this area before. So that I'm just waiting for a course offered by Senai here to try to get some advices and help.
When I was reading your texts, I could see how difficult dealing with gems is and how many variables are involved, but I'm sure that with hard work I'll succeed.
Keep doing the good work!!
Dear Marcos,
ReplyDeleteThank you for you comments!
Well, if the law has not changed since 2006, then you must try to set up a normal business, not a micro-empresa, because the business activity code for selling semi-precious stones is not permitted to be a micro-empresa, infelizmente!
Remember, for a normal business, you will need to have an accountant in order to issue monthly statements. This is obligatory. I suppose if you have very little business sales, then you will pay the accountant only one minimum wage per month.
This is the first thing you have to do. I am not sure which comes next -- having the state tax I.D. number issued and the notas fiscais printed, or if you have to try to go to the Receita Federal to see about getting the license to export. You might also need to set up a business checking account at Banco do Brasil.
You know that all of this will not be so easy, but at least we are not in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
In Bahia, you can get your state tax I.D. number in a single day.
In Rio de Janeiro, the average waiting time in 180 days!!!
Good luck! is all I can say to you because I know how difficult it is.
Where is Pojuca? Is it on the coast at the mouth of the Rio Pojuca? Is it north of Salvador? Did you have a flood there in June?
You might want to think about doing a gemology course online. I am studying with the International School of Gemology. I thought I knew a lot about gemstones, but I am learning much more than I thought that I would. Your English is certainly good enough.
You should check out the website of the school.
http://www.schoolofgemology.com/
Also, and this is very important: that school insists on honesty in business matters. I appreciate this very much. My apelido on MercadoLivre is ALAISELENA. I used to sell a lot of stones back in 2005-2006. However, the competition from sellers of garbage stones is enormous.
I wish you all the best. Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.
Abraços,
Tenney
Hello Tenney. Here it's Marcos again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the tips you've given me. All of them will be useful for sure.
Well, about Pojuca: It's a small city(25,000 inh), located in the "recôncavo" area, around 75 Km from Salvador. And yes, unfortunately Rio Pojuca flooded some parts here, bringing loss to some.
Now bout the gems. As you sugessted, I'm thinking of setting a small Co up, as required by local law, or even work as an artisan. You probably know that if one gets the artisan's licence, he'll be able to sell his products paying almost no taxes. Here at this site there are lots of info step by step on how to:
www.aprendendoaexportar.gov.br/gemasejoias/index.html
Now I'll try to sum up as much as possible some characteristcs of the biz I'm planning. It's gonna be a group work. My brother is a systems analyst, so he's gonna be responsible for drawing a decent website to sell the gems. A brother-in-law of mine is from Iraquara, Chapada Diamantina region and is a guide there. He brought some stones to me, so he's gonna be the link to the miners. I myself will be responsable for cutting stones and also dealing with customers online.
As it will be a small one and I intend to sell good quality (not those high speed, chinese-like garbage), then I think we have good chances.
As for buyers, the idea is to contact them through the internet, offering the products directly to jewelers, and establish good relationships.
Thanks for your help! Hugs.
Hi Marcos,
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the best in your new endeavours.
Just remember that if you want an export license, I think this is something you have to get at the Receita Federal.
I suppose a nota avulsa will be sufficient in single cases, but I am not sure about that.
Or maybe first you have to get one from the Receita Estadual, then a special document from the Receita Federal. Anyway, it is a lot of paperwork, and não vale pena unless you have a large sale.
If you want a license to export for your business, I do not think the business can be that of an artesan.
The problem with selling outside of Brazil is that if you want to insure a package at the post office, you must declare its contents, and for that you need to include the nota fiscal.
I wish things were simpler.
If you need a nota fiscal for this kind of thing in Teófilo Otoni, you go to a regular business, and they will issue the nota fiscal. You pay the business for the imposta de renda and a service fee.
All best wishes!
Tenney
Hey Marcos! How are your plans proceeding? Is everything going well?
ReplyDeleteI am interested in knowing what types of stones are coming from Chapada (it is a huge area, I know).
This is just for my information -- you know, that database in my head.
Please get in touch with me by my e-mail:
gringagems@gmail.com
Abraços,
Tenney