The Lhomet family created in 1957 “Touraine Cadeau Jouet” which became “Groupe Partner Jouet” in 1991. Then, in 2003, the company was bought by its executives and became WDK Groupe Partner in 2012. This change illustrates the orientation of the company. business towards the more global field of family leisure and fashion, as well as the desire to create and develop its own brands. It is also about reflecting the group's values: listening, responsiveness and service with the sole aim of satisfying customers, suppliers and all partners so as to always earn their trust.

With its 250 employees and 80 salespeople, the company achieved a turnover of 48 million euros in 2015.

WDK Groupe Partner is a wholesale distributor of toys, in France and abroad. Customers in Europe are food supermarkets, specialty supermarkets and retail stores. Overall, the export department deals with more than 70 customers in 32 different countries as well as in the overseas departments.

The toys distributed are own-brand products from large groups such as Mattel, Hasbro, Lego, Playmobil and Play-Doh. WDK Groupe Partner also offers products from its WonderKids brand.

WDK Groupe Partner pays particular attention to the quality of its products. Its main suppliers are in China, imports are via the WDK Asia purchasing office in Shenzhen. This office facilitates the selection of suppliers, the processing of customs documents, adaptation to standards and compliance with the regulations in force.

PART 1 - SETTING UP IMPORT OPERATIONS

The company's suppliers are primarily located in China for the manufacture of private label products. To optimize its sourcing, WDK Groupe Partner relies on its purchasing office in Shenzhen: WDK Asia. The main activity is oriented towards finding suppliers who offer quality products at attractive prices. These suppliers must be able to ensure the CE marking of the products. The purchasing office also conducts business intelligence in order to detect flagship products and sourcing to find products on the best terms. The office manager requests samples, visits suppliers and trade shows, places orders and sets up pre-shipment inspections.

The purchasing office is the privileged interlocutor between WDK Groupe Partner and its Chinese partners (suppliers, banks, government). Ms. Morand, responsible for imports and quality, travels three to four times a year in China to meet new suppliers.

WDK Groupe Partner operates in a very competitive and demanding industry. Indeed, the toy, intended for children, must present an irreproachable quality to be placed on the European market and comply with the toy directive 2009/48 / EC. It is about offering products without risk to the health of the user.

Madame Morand implements a flawless quality policy:

- systematic tests for all products according to the standards in force at certified laboratories such as Bureau Veritas, LNE, Intertek;

- visual inspection of samples, evaluation by salaried inspectors paid by WDK Groupe Partner of products in process and inspection before shipment;

- a test before boarding is also set up for toys intended for children under 36 months to ensure the strength of all parts, stickers, compliance with chemical standards (heavy metals) and REACH according to the type of toy.

The tests carried out by certified laboratories are recognized by the French authorities (Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations and Customs). The quality budget of WDK Groupe Partner is estimated at more than 500,000 euros per year.

• Sourcing analysis via WDK Asia and purchasing quality policy 

1.1 Identify, taking into account the context and your personal reflection, the challenges of the implementation of the purchasing quality policy of WDK Groupe Partner.

1.2 Evaluate the interest for WDK Groupe Partner to organize its sourcing through its WDK Asia purchasing office.

• Evaluation of supplier offers 

WDK Groupe Partner has for many years initiated a business relationship with its Chinese supplier, Playfun. The latter has always been committed to a quality approach. The specifications put in place are very precise. WDK Groupe Partner is used with this supplier to purchase products in CIP Antwerp. It generally takes 90 days of production including laboratory tests as well as inspections and 30 days of maritime transport.

Upcoming order is for plastic tank trucks for children aged 3 years and older.

WDK Asia decides to put the usual supplier in competition. Following a prospecting mission, the purchasing office found a supplier that might be of interest to WDK Groupe Partner: Asia Toys.

You will use the following rate for your calculations: 1 EUR = 1.13 USD

1.3 Compare the two suppliers and choose the most relevant to carry out this supply.

• Customs clearance 

A new order has been placed with our supplier Playfun.

Imported goods are transported and then cleared through customs as soon as they arrive in Tarifigny, in the French premises of WDK Groupe Partner.

1.4 Present the currently requested customs clearance procedure (s).

1.5 Evaluate on a forecast basis the amount that will be disbursed for the customs clearance of the goods with the selected supplier.

WDK Groupe Partner is considering its choices in terms of customs clearance.

The company imports fourteen million toys annually, mainly in February / March and June / July, for resale in France and abroad. The majority of turnover is generated in French-speaking Africa and in Europe.

1.6 Advise Ms. Morand on a customs procedure more suited to the situation of the company, explaining the advantages provided.