What does a wholesale import company do?
An import company sits between factories outside the EU and the shops that sell to consumers. It chooses the products and factories, buys in container volumes, arranges sea or rail freight, handles customs clearance and import duties at the EU border, and stores the goods in a European warehouse. A retailer then buys from that stock in small quantities – per carton instead of per container.
Many importers are also wholesalers, and some own brands. Aleesar Group imports through partners in China, Dubai, Turkey and Egypt, holds stock in its own warehouse in the Netherlands and sells its own brands LEUMX®, KHMRAH® and REFMONT® next to other household goods.
Can a shop in another EU country buy from a Dutch importer?
Yes. The EU is a single market and a customs union, so goods that have been imported into one member state move to the others without a new customs declaration and without import duties. A shop in Germany or Belgium buying from a Dutch importer receives an ordinary invoice and an ordinary delivery – no customs broker and no duty calculation on its side.
VAT works differently from a domestic purchase. For business-to-business supplies between EU countries, the supplier usually invoices without VAT when the buyer has a valid VAT number, and the buyer declares the VAT in its own country under the reverse-charge rule. Check the details with your accountant; this is a general explanation, not tax advice.
- No customs declaration and no import duties between EU countries.
- A valid VAT number is needed – suppliers check it before they invoice.
- Intra-EU B2B invoices are usually issued with reverse charge.
- Delivery by tracked parcel, or on pallets for larger orders.
Importer or direct import: what changes for your shop?
If you import directly from a factory outside the EU, the import work becomes yours: the customs declaration, the duties for each tariff code, import VAT at the border, freight and the product rules. EU product safety rules expect consumer products from outside the EU to have a responsible business in the EU, with a name and contact details that buyers and authorities can trace.
Buying from an EU import company leaves most of that work with the importer, and you buy only the cartons you can sell. Direct import can pay off when you sell large volumes of a few items; our guide on importing from China or buying from a European wholesaler compares both routes, and Aleesar Solutions supports the direct route too, from factory search to customs clearance in Rotterdam or Antwerp.
What should you check before choosing an import company?
A good importer-wholesaler makes cross-border buying predictable. Before you open an account, check these points:
- Stock inside the EU, so delivery does not depend on a container still at sea.
- Clear delivery times and costs to your country, and pallet delivery for volume.
- Small order units – per carton, without a high minimum order value.
- Product pages with photos and packing details: units per carton and carton data.
- A real company you can contact, with a showroom or warehouse you can visit.
- Own brands or ranges you will not find in every shop nearby.
How does buying from Aleesar Group work?
Aleesar Group sells only to businesses: retailers, wholesalers, distributors, online shops and hospitality. You register as a partner with your company details and VAT number; a person reviews every application and answers within one business day. After approval you log in, see the wholesale prices and order online from the wholesale catalogue – kitchenware, drinkware, tableware, home decor, home textiles, home appliances and furniture. The steps are under how ordering works.
You order per carton, from a single carton up to a full container, and orders reach every EU country within 48 hours from the warehouse in the Netherlands. A current example of an imported own-brand range is the LEUMX Black Marble collection – casseroles, deep pots and sets with a black marble-look finish and an induction base, exclusive to Aleesar in the EU.
