Mitigating An Abrupt Increase of 25% in Duty, Shipping, and Customs Broker Fees

Our healthcare company client had planned an annual group incentive travel program to Jamaica. Attendees would be high-achievers and their guests. This yearly trip was popular and known for its luxury gift of sporty sunglasses with a retail value of $200 per pair. Previously, attendees would arrive at the destination and select a pair of sunglasses of choice onsite. However, the duty charges and related fees increased by 25% post-pandemic.

Gavel International worked directly with the sunglasses manufacturer to create a workaround solution to mitigate the incremental costs associated with these unforeseen increases in duty charges, shipping, and customs broker fees. A co-branded mini-website was created. When attendees registered for the event, they were redirected to the mini-website, where they could select the sunglasses of choice and a pair for the guest attending with them. All sunglasses were then shipped to Gavel International’s corporate headquarters. Gavel International then customized each luxury package for attendees and guests and sent the sunglasses before the trip to Jamaica.

This thoughtful planning provided attendees and their guests with the luxury gift experience and kept the cost within the original budget. Furthermore, it established a new standard for travel and luxury gifts to the Caribbean, where duty and related expenses have significantly increased.

Gavel mitigated a rise in unexpected costs and adapted quickly while delivering an experience that attendees loved.