Domestic or bonded: choosing the right warehousing in Miami

Two kinds of shelf

The distinction is simple and the consequences are large.

Domestic warehousing holds goods that have cleared customs and paid duty. From here they can go to retailers, marketplaces, direct customers, anywhere in the country, immediately.

Bonded warehousing holds imported goods under customs supervision. Duty is not paid on entry. It is paid when goods are released into U.S. commerce, and it is never paid on goods that leave again for Latin America or the Caribbean.

When you need which

• Selling only in the U.S., fast replenishment: domestic.
• Serving the U.S. and Latin America from one stock: bonded for the shared inventory, domestic for the released portion.
• Uncertain tariffs or an unproven channel: bonded, so cash is not tied up in duty on goods that may not sell.

Value-added work

Labelling, repackaging, kitting and compliance preparation can be done in either, including while goods are still in bond.

One hub

The reason we operate both in Miami is that the interesting brands rarely serve one market. One warehouse, two markets: that is the model, and it only works if the two kinds of shelf are next to each other.

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BIZ & STYLE · Editorial

Perspectives from the BIZ & STYLE team on internationalization, U.S. market entry, digital growth, commerce, Miami and the luxury economy.