Importing to the USA Made Easy: Your Stress-Free Guide

Navigating the complexities of importing and exporting is our expertise. We handle the details, so you don’t have to.

Bringing goods to the USA from overseas shouldn’t feel like navigating a storm of paperwork. While there are details to consider, the key takeaway? We make it simple. Forget the complex steps – with our experience, we deliver your order to the US seamlessly. Think of us as your import concierge: hassle-free delivery, straight to you.

In this blog, we’ll cover:

• Navigating US import changes
• The general import process & regulations
• Shipping & logistics for your goods
• Understanding US duties & taxes
• How we manage your import to the USA
• Our Duty Paid delivery explained
• A quick look at US customs procedures & import duties
• What this means for your order (spoiler: it’s easy!)
• FAQs

Navigating US Import Changes

US import regulations and tariffs can change. Historically, there have been periods of increased tariffs on goods from various countries, impacting trade relationships. It’s always important to be aware that the import landscape can be dynamic. You can keep updated with the detail by visiting our detailed guide to importing to the US.

The General Import Process & Regulations For Umbrellas

Importing any goods, like umbrellas, requires following US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules. This includes correct labelling (e.g., country of origin) and standard documents like a commercial invoice and packing list. Duties apply based on the item’s HS code. As long as goods meet US safety standards, they are generally admissible. Customs clearance times vary by shipping method. Using a customs broker (like us!) simplifies this process.

Shipping & Logistics for Your Goods

We offer various shipping methods:

• Sea freight: Best for large, less time-sensitive orders.
• Air freight: Faster for smaller or urgent shipments.
• Courier: Quickest for samples.

Packaging needs to be sturdy and clearly labelled. We can also arrange shipping insurance. Our “Duty Paid” service includes door-to-door delivery. Warehousing and fulfilment in the US are also available if needed.

Understanding US Duties & Taxes

The Harmonized System (HS) code determines the duty rate for your goods (e.g., umbrellas under 6601). Duties are a percentage of the declared value. You’ll also likely encounter the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) and potentially the Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF). Our “Duty Paid” quotes cover these.

How We Manage Your Import to the USA

To get started, we’ll need details about the type and quantity of goods, their value, the supplier details, and your US delivery address. Knowing the HS code beforehand is helpful. We can then provide a “Duty Paid” quote.

Duty Paid Delivery Process

With our Duty Paid (DDP) service, we handle everything to get your order to your US location. This includes export clearance from the origin country, shipping, US customs clearance, and payment of all US import duties and taxes. Your main job? Receiving the delivery.

Customs Procedures & USA Import Duties

Customs procedures are the formal steps for importing goods, involving documentation, classification (HS codes), valuation, payment of duties, and potential examination by CBP. USA import duties are the tariffs charged on imported goods, varying by the item’s HTSUS code and origin. Our “Duty Paid” service takes care of these complexities for you.

What This Means For Your Order

Simple. You place your order, we handle the manufacturing (if applicable) and delivery, managing all the necessary paperwork and payments. You simply receive your goods without the administrative burden.

Why Partner with the UK’s Leading Umbrella Experts?

Since 2010, The Umbrella Workshop has been the trusted choice for global brands seeking premium, made-to-order umbrellas. We’re not just suppliers; we’re specialists, backing our quality with a 2-year guarantee across our entire range. From detailed customization on orders as small as 100 units to large-scale production with tight deadlines, we deliver exceptional quality and flexibility. Plus, you can be confident in our commitment to ethical and sustainable manufacturing, with rigorously audited factories. Ready to make an informed decision?

Explore our Ultimate Guide to Custom Made Umbrellas. Learn more about our Environmental Sustainable Umbrella Manufacture. We’re also the best for premium branded merchandise.

Colour Accent UK Walker Umbrella

This unique colour accent umbrella offers a distinctive finish to the classic walker umbrella model. The brightly coloured ribs, along with the matching umbrella pole and handle, draw attention to the meticulous details that set you apart in a crowd. With your logo printed on the panels, you can choose to match the coloured ribs for a cohesive look or create a striking contrast, depending on the effect you wish to achieve. This premium walker umbrella features a curved handle and an automatic open mechanism for ease of use. It is constructed with storm-proof technology, ensuring frame flexibility that can withstand harsh weather conditions without failing. The umbrella is available in 10 different colour rib and pole options, allowing for further customisation. The canopy is made in the UK, ensuring high-quality craftsmanship. Additionally, the umbrella includes a metal finish on the automatic open button, adding a touch of elegance to its overall appearance. With a 2-year quality guarantee, this well-crafted umbrella is not only a reliable and practical accessory but also a stylish one for any occasion.

Benefits

• Interesting colour detail that sets apart from other umbrella models
• 2 year guarantee for quality
• Robust umbrella frame
• Curved handle can be customised with logo recess

Reasons to choose the Umbrella Workshop as your chosen supplier for customised corporate umbrellas

The Umbrella Workshop are the UK’s leading umbrella specialist suppliers and manufacturers of made to order custom corporate umbrellas. Established in 2010, we are trusted by global brands and offer a 2 year guarantee on all of our umbrella models.

Offering detailed customisation options and exceptional premium quality from only 100 units, we also work at scale and supply large quantities within tight timeframes. Our factories are carefully and regularly audited for social and environmental standards that are monitored and rigorously reviewed.

Find out more about our Environmental Sustainable Umbrella Manufacture.

Other umbrellas you may be interested in could be the Brightly Coloured Circle Umbrella we manufactured for our client’s fresh brand guidelines. Customised Corporate Square Wood Walker Umbrella is the same square canopy on a different frame, or the City Walker frame or the larger version which is the Custom Square Golf Umbrella. Check out some of the other corporate umbrellas we’ve made for clients.

Corporate gifting and premium quality branded merchandise

Compliment your customised corporate umbrella with a portfolio of branded merchandise from Wurlin for corporate gifting and employee engagement.

Made to order recycled golf umbrellas from experienced umbrella manufacturer

Recycled golf umbrella, printed proudly in the UK. Presented on a high-grade recycled umbrella canopy, the 9 panels of the eco-friendly umbrella are manufactured from 10 plastic water bottles. A premium quality eco golf umbrella with durable fibreglass pole and reliable ribs, guarantees a robust umbrella and protection from the elements.

Eco-friendly golf umbrella model that we manufacture and then print in the UK within a short lead time. The recycled umbrella panels can be printed with your logo on each panel.

Premium quality recycled golf umbrella includes a large branding estate and the same exquisite quality to be expected from all our golf umbrella range.

Benefits of the Golf Sports Umbrella:

• Eco-friendly umbrella credentials
• Printed in the UK
• Large canopy for branding or promotion
• A vast range of customisation options
• 2-year warranty for quality
• Fibreglass ribs for strength and shape, with storm proof tested construction

UK printed golf umbrellas 

• UK printed golf umbrellas, manufactured in the UK and delivered within a short lead time.


• Our golf umbrellas are the largest model of umbrella that we manufacture and the most popular manual golf umbrella features robust fibreglass ribs as standard for added strength.


• This premium storm-proof model is durable as well as practical, boasting top quality fittings and large branding potential. 


• Our UK printed golf umbrellas offer a manual opening and include robust fibreglass ribs which ensure our golf umbrellas are superb quality and will not let you down if you are giving them out as gifts, because they are durable and practical golf umbrellas. This Golf Sports Umbrella UK is manual, sturdy and reliable. 


• This UK printed golf umbrella model is one that we keep in stock and that can be overprinted within a short lead-time in our UK facility and comes with 32 stock colour panels to choose from. Simple designs within the print area of the umbrella panel such as a logo print can be added.


• If you have a longer lead-time then a customised golf umbrella can be printed all over the internal and external canopy and can include a woven label.

Benefits of UK printed golf umbrellas

• 32 stock colour panels to choose from
• 2 year warranty for quality on all models
• Fibreglass ribs for strength and shape

Specification of Golf Sports Umbrella UK

Download Spec Sheet

Download Handle Options

• Premium polyester pongee canopy
• Open diameter 130cm, length 97cm fibreglass shaft, 75cm fibreglass ribs
• Variety of handle styles and pole colours to customise your umbrella

Print options for UK printed golf umbrella

• Internal print
• All over print 
• Logo print
• Pantone matched canopy

Other customisation options

• Handle, pole, ferrule and tip are all the same colour and can be interchanged with ten colours to choose from
• Nine different handle options in various wood or rubber

Lead time 

• 2-3 weeks 

Trusted By Global Brands To Make Bespoke Umbrellas

The Umbrella Workshop has been manufacturing quality umbrellas for promotional advertising, as client gifts or for retail for nearly two decades.

We are passionate about umbrellas and only use high quality products to create durable and visually stunning promotional item.

Our umbrellas can be fully customised from tip to handle and we offer a huge variety of umbrella styles to suit your brand values.

Friendly, Experienced Team Based in the UK

Our friendly team of dedicated project managers work from our studio, located near Frome, Somerset in the UK, where we manage and collaborate with global organisations.  There is no idea our team can’t help bring to life!  And don’t worry, if you’re unsure about what you are looking for, we can guide you, supply samples and visuals to help you with the decision making. The Umbrella Workshop is the most trusted, pioneering umbrella companies manufacturing fully customisable umbrellas. We work with global brands with repeat business – which speaks for itself.

Made To Order Umbrellas from UK Umbrella Manufacturer

With today’s printing and manufacturing technology you’ll be amazed at the print quality we can provide to help your brand stand out from the crowd.

• We can Pantone match the canopy, frame and components.
• We can print on any area of the inner and/or outer space of the canopy using photography or artwork.
• We offer lots of lovely finishing touches such as embroidered labels, engraving on the handle, personalised tie wraps and sleeves.
• Fully customised handles and packaging.

Global Distribution, Fulfilment & Storage Facilities

The Umbrella Workshop is based in the UK, and because of this we also love to manufacture our umbrellas in the UK with our primary manufacturing facility is in the UK. We can offer a fast turnaround with global distribution as well as storage facilities. We have an expert logistics team who manage delivery to clients across the globe with door to door service with duty and taxes included. Our expertise doesn’t stop at umbrellas, we are equally passionate about creating beautifully crafted bags and other accessories and apparel at the Bag Workshop and Wurlin.  When it comes to crafted merchandise we really are the experts in producing high-quality, high-end promotional and retail products. We’d love to chat so why not call or email us to discuss how we can help with your project

Premium umbrellas and beautiful detail on bespoke umbrellas

How we make custom promotional umbrellas is unique to your brand, umbrellas are made to order. We use and combine a number of different print processes: dye sublimation, silk screen, 4 colour process print, transfer print, embroidery and good old fashioned sewing and tailoring, all to create breath taking promotional umbrellas. We are passionate about our umbrellas and only use high quality products to create both a durable and visually stunning promotional item.

We have our own in-house designer who can work with you to create a truly bespoke product. As many of our umbrellas are custom and made from scratch, we are able to colour match frames as well to create a truly unique umbrella for you. We can also go one step further with other customisation options such as engraving the handle, printing the tie wraps and sleeve plus many other bespoke finishing details.

We are dedicated to sustainable manufacturing practices across all areas of our business and this continues to be a key strategic focus, which includes reducing carbon footprint, increasing renewable energy use and producing most goods using sustainable materials.

You can read more information about our Corporate Social Responsibility.

How we manufacture customised made to order umbrellas

Ever wondered how an umbrella is made? There are several processes. Watch this short video to find out.

How we screen print our custom branded umbrellas

If your having a logo placed on your umbrella panels, then it’ll probably be screen printed. See this short video to show you how it’s done.

Making the screens for our umbrellas

Each screen printed umbrella has to have a screen made especially for that design. See this video to show you how we make our screens.

Pantone printing of our made to order umbrellas

We can pantone colour match all parts of an umbrella. Watch this short video to see how we Pantone match the umbrella canopy.

Umbrella Client: Purbeck Ice-Cream

Purbeck Ice cream produces award-winning ice cream and sorbet, made on the farm by a dedicated team from the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. They manufacture just under 1 million litres of ice cream annually, selling to retailers, caterers, wholesalers and restaurants across the UK.

Product: Expanding Canopy Umbrella

Umbrella Project Features

Purbeck Ice Cream selected the expanding canopy umbrella to leverage the sleek, slimline features of a walking umbrella while also enjoying the benefits of an extended canopy. This design choice not only provides a larger branding estate but also offers extra coverage for the user, making it both practical and visually appealing.

The skyline umbrella includes an expanding canopy presents a fantastic opportunity for showcasing unique designs on larger panels. Purbeck Ice Cream’s distinctive design features a charming countryside skyline, complete with silhouettes of trees, rolling hills, and tractors set against a warm yellow sky. This picturesque scene spans most of the umbrella’s panels, creating a visually striking and memorable impression.

The skyline umbrella’s panels are vented, which enhances its durability and wind resistance. Each panel is meticulously printed before being sewn onto robust fibreglass ribs, ensuring a sturdy and long-lasting structure. The entire production process undergoes rigorous quality checks to guarantee that the artwork is consistently matched at every stage, maintaining the high standards of Purbeck Ice Cream’s branding.

Purbeck Ice Cream selected the expanding canopy umbrella to leverage the sleek, slimline features of a walking umbrella while also enjoying the benefits of an extended canopy. This design choice not only provides a larger branding estate but also offers extra coverage for the user, making it both practical and visually appealing.

The expanding canopy on this skyline umbrella presents a fantastic opportunity for showcasing unique designs on larger panels. Purbeck Ice Cream’s distinctive design features a charming countryside skyline, complete with silhouettes of trees, rolling hills, and tractors set against a warm yellow sky. This picturesque scene spans most of the umbrella’s panels, creating a visually striking and memorable impression.

The umbrella’s panels are vented, which enhances its durability and wind resistance. Each panel is meticulously printed before being sewn onto robust fibreglass ribs, ensuring a sturdy and long-lasting structure. The entire production process undergoes rigorous quality checks to guarantee that the artwork is consistently matched at every stage, maintaining the high standards of Purbeck Ice Cream’s branding.

Umbrella personalisation options

To further personalise this City Walker umbrella, other options include handle ring engraving and digital print on both the inside and outside of the umbrella panels.

Each umbrella model includes customisation options to suit your budget or lead time. It maybe you need an umbrella quickly and therefore we’ll offer you a UK printed umbrella which we can turn around within 2-3 weeks. Customisation options are limited to a logo print on a UK manufactured umbrella, but if you have a slightly longer lead time then we can create a more bespoke umbrella, as with this purple umbrella for Air Studios.

More premium bespoke umbrella customisation options include engraved handle rings, and umbrella carry cases. Both are great ways to include subtle branding. Personalised umbrella carry cases work well. For example, customising umbrella carry cases with a company logo. By doing this, the brand presence is evident, even when the umbrella is closed and being transported.
Another way to reinforce branding, is with printed and woven labels for umbrellas. These are great way to reinforce the presence of the brand logo for subtle branding, or message.

Along with customised branded umbrellas, we also manufacture bespoke bags. Find out more about our bags and complete your branded portfolio of merchandise with branded metalwork, drinkware and much more.

What We Can Do For You

Wurlin-The Umbrella Workshop are specialists in manufacturing bespoke umbrellas. We have facility to print umbrellas in the UK with a quick turnaround for delivery. Progressive and flexible, we work with creative agencies and brand owners to diligently explore concepts and develop custom branded solutions. Experienced in sourcing products with a global supplier reach, we are trusted partners to clients for innovative manufacture, structured project coordination and international distribution. Complete your branded portfolio of merchandise with branded bags, branded metalwork, branded drinkware and more. Other solutions we can help you with include fulfilment and pick and pack service.

Umbrella Personalisation Options

To further personalise the City Walker umbrella, we offer a range of customisation options. These include handle ring engraving and digital printing on both the inside and outside of the umbrella panels. Each umbrella model can be tailored to suit your budget and lead time requirements.

If you need an umbrella quickly, we can provide a UK-printed umbrella with a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks. Customisation options for these umbrellas are limited to logo prints on UK-manufactured umbrellas. However, if you have a slightly longer lead time, we can create a more bespoke umbrella.

For a more premium touch, we offer additional customisation options such as engraved handle rings and personalised umbrella carry cases. These subtle branding elements enhance the overall aesthetic and functionality of the skyline umbrella. For example, customising umbrella carry cases with a company logo ensures brand visibility even when the umbrella is closed and being transported.

Another effective way to reinforce branding is through printed and woven labels on the umbrellas. These labels provide a subtle yet impactful way to showcase the brand logo or message.

Additional Customisation Options

In addition to customised branded umbrellas and skyline umbrellas, we also manufacture bespoke bags. Completing your branded portfolio with items such as branded metalwork, drinkware, and more can significantly enhance your brand’s presence.

What We Can Do For You

At Wurlin-The Umbrella Workshop, we specialise in manufacturing bespoke umbrellas. Our UK-based facility allows us to print umbrellas with a quick turnaround for delivery. We are progressive and flexible, working closely with creative agencies and brand owners to explore concepts and develop custom branded solutions. With extensive experience in sourcing products globally, we are trusted partners for innovative manufacturing, structured project coordination, and international distribution.

Complete your branded portfolio with our range of products, including branded bags, metalwork, drinkware, and more. We also offer fulfilment and pick-and-pack services to meet all your branding needs.

Umbrella Client: YALE UNIVERSITY

Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Founded in 1701, Yale is the third oldest institution of higher education in the United States.

The university umbrella will be given to major donors to Yale library and to employees as long service awards for 10+ years on the job. The umbrellas will be exclusive premiums. The artwork on the inside of the umbrella matches the artwork on the rug that appears in the prestigious Yale university library.

Product: City Walker Umbrella

Umbrella Project Features

The contemporary and sophisticated City Walker Umbrella was chosen to hold this artwork taken from this esteemed library’s rug that is a feature of the room. This artwork was digitally printed on the inside of the university umbrella on each panel then carefully constructed and sewn up on the umbrella fibreglass ribs.

The external panels of this walking umbrella are Pantone matched to Yale University’s blue with the subtle logo printed on two opposite panels.

The polished finish to his model of umbrella boasts a curved silicon handle and gun metal finish handle ring. The umbrella panels are Pantone matched with logo artwork

Each umbrella manufactured is rigorously checked for quality to ensure artwork is aligned, the inside artwork print is sewn meticulously consistent for the whole order and at each stage of production, the process is overseen and corrected if required.

Personalisation options for a university walking umbrella

Other options that Yale University could have opted for on their umbrella include a woven label on the inside of the umbrella. These can be any shape and size and can be sewn into the seam on the inside or outside of an umbrella as an additional branding opportunity or message.

The gun-metal coloured handle ring could have been engraved with a message to commemorate an anniversary or celebration.

Umbrella model options from The Umbrella Workshop

The Umbrella Workshop offer three models of umbrella. The Golf Umbrella, Walking Umbrella and Folding Umbrella.

Each umbrella model includes customisation options to suit your budget or lead time. It you need an umbrella quickly we’ll offer you a UK printed umbrella which we can turn around within 2-3 weeks. Customisation options are limited to a logo print on a UK manufactured umbrella, but if you have a slightly longer lead time then we can create a more bespoke umbrella, such as this umbrella manufactured for Yale University.

More premium bespoke umbrella customisation options include engraved handle rings, and umbrella carry cases. Both are great ways to include subtle branding. Personalised umbrella carry cases work well. For example, customising umbrella carry cases with a company logo. By doing this, the brand presence is evident, even when the umbrella is closed and being transported.

Along with customised branded umbrellas, we also manufacture bespoke bags. Find out more about our bags and complete your branded portfolio of merchandise with branded metalwork, drinkware and much more.

What We Can Do For You

Wurlin-The Umbrella Workshop are specialists in manufacturing bespoke umbrellas. We have facility to print umbrellas in the UK with a quick turnaround for delivery. Progressive and flexible, we work with creative agencies and brand owners to diligently explore concepts and develop custom branded solutions. Experienced in sourcing products with a global supplier reach, we are trusted partners to clients for innovative manufacture, structured project coordination and international distribution. Complete your branded portfolio of merchandise with branded bags, branded metalwork, branded drinkware and more. Other solutions we can help you with include fulfilment and pick and pack service.

This bespoke umbrella, designed for Purbeck Ice Cream, features an expanding canopy with ventilation to handle stronger winds. The sturdy, expanding ribs provide a canopy width similar to our Golf umbrellas, while the design conveniently folds down to the length of a standard walker umbrella. This model is customised with Purbeck Ice Cream’s own logo in a two-colour print on one of the panels, using Pantone colour matching. Additionally, their artwork, depicting a skyline silhouette, is wrapped around all eight panels of the outer canopy.

All over print on an umbrella means each of the 8 panels of the umbrella are printed. They can be printed to the edge of the panel with an artwork that makes the top view of the umbrella appear to be one continuous piece of print, when actually each panel is printed individually prior to construction and then the Purbeck Ice Cream Umbrella is carefully sewn up by hand to ensure the print on each panel is aligned. The all over print on an umbrella ensures maximum impact for a stunning design, photo or logo.

Our range of umbrellas include three core models: golf umbrellas, walking umbrellas and folding umbrellas. Purbeck Ice Cream umbrella is a walking umbrella with a black silicon handle. Each model includes variants to suit your budget or lead time. It maybe you need an umbrella quickly and therefore we’ll offer you a UK manufactured umbrella which we can turn around within 2-3 weeks. Customisation options are limited to a logo print on a UK manufactured umbrella, but if you have a slightly longer lead time then we can print inside and outside of the umbrella. You can add a branded woven label to your customised umbrella or you can engrave a handle ring to a walking umbrella or a branded logo disk to a golf umbrella handle.

We are specialists in branded promotional merchandise. Printed umbrellas, custom-made bags and other branded merchandise that is sensibly sourced and never single-use plastic. If you would like to find out more about how we can help your business with sustainable branded merchandise, then find out more from us by visiting Wurlin or call us +44 (0)1225 667979. We work with global clients and ship internationally.

All Over Print Umbrella For Air Studio

Umbrella Client: Air Studios

AIR Studios are home to exceptional recording and mixing studios created by Sir George Martin, and to a community of world-class studio talent.

Product: City Walker Pro Umbrella

Umbrella Project Features

Customisation on umbrella includes Pantone matched umbrella panels and matched at seams artwork for continuous artwork over all 8 umbrella panels. Stylish City Walker Pro umbrella selected for its polished finish with silicon handle and gun metal finish handle ring. The umbrella panels are Pantone matched with logo artwork that includes intricate lines that were printed over all 8 panels of the umbrella and matched on the panels to ensure consistency across the open panels. This requires that the umbrella panels are printed first and then matched by hand as they are sewn to the frame ribs. This goes through a rigorous quality to check to ensure the artwork is matched consistently at each stage of the production.

Testimony

“These umbrellas are so popular here at AIR. They are stylish, sturdy and sleek. The team at Wurlin-Umbrella Workshop are all so friendly and helpful. Thank you from us all!”

Umbrella personalisation options

To further personalise this City Walker Pro umbrella, other options include handle ring engraving and digital print on both the inside and outside of the umbrella panels.

Each umbrella model includes customisation options to suit your budget or lead time. It maybe you need an umbrella quickly and therefore we’ll offer you a UK printed umbrella which we can turn around within 2-3 weeks. Customisation options are limited to a logo print on a UK manufactured umbrella, but if you have a slightly longer lead time then we can create a more bespoke umbrella, as with this purple umbrella for Air Studios.

More premium bespoke umbrella customisation options include engraved handle rings, and umbrella carry cases. Both are great ways to include subtle branding. Personalised umbrella carry cases work well. For example, customising umbrella carry cases with a company logo. By doing this, the brand presence is evident, even when the umbrella is closed and being transported.
Another way to reinforce branding, is with printed and woven labels for umbrellas. These are great way to reinforce the presence of the brand logo for subtle branding, or message.

Along with customised branded umbrellas, we also manufacture bespoke bags. Find out more about our bags and complete your branded portfolio of merchandise with branded metalwork, drinkware and much more.

What We Can Do For You

Wurlin-The Umbrella Workshop are specialists in manufacturing bespoke umbrellas. We have facility to print umbrellas in the UK with a quick turnaround for delivery. Progressive and flexible, we work with creative agencies and brand owners to diligently explore concepts and develop custom branded solutions. Experienced in sourcing products with a global supplier reach, we are trusted partners to clients for innovative manufacture, structured project coordination and international distribution. Complete your branded portfolio of merchandise with branded bags, branded metalwork, branded drinkware and more. Other solutions we can help you with include fulfilment and pick and pack service.