Have you ever ventured around the shops and found that nothing really jumped out at you. It would be amazing to have the luxury of customising everything you buy with your signature style. Apart from pulling out a sewing kit and contemplating a dressmaking or millinery course, BundleBox has discovered a few USA websites which allow you to add your own design touch.

Here we have stylish and in trend products you can cast your own creative eye over and have a hand in putting them together. We think they are amazing treats for yourself but also fantastic gifts for friends or loved ones.

At Converse you can customise many of their popular shoe designs with a choice of colours, prints and materials. From $60 this is a creative opportunity too good to miss. Plus with the BundleBox Buy For Me service, we can purchase on your behalf and deliver direct to your USA BundleBox address.

Customise your own pair of Converse from $60

With summer coming up the all important sunglasses will be a permanent feature with us on the beach. Fashionista’s favourite Oakleys are renowned for classic styles that withstand the test of time. The Jupiter range is the epitome of laid back cool $130 and with Oakleys customising service you can be original and choose your own colour of lens and frame.

Make your own Oakleys Jupiter Sunglasses $130

Jeweller Aurora Lopez Mejia, is an Artist who uses jewellery as her medium. Having created something of a cult following in the USA the designer’s work has Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Angelina Jolie as fans. Its clear that the designer creates something out of the ordinary in her beautifully curated NYC studio Taverna. Each piece of jewellery is hand-stamped and follows the traditions of ancient Talismans.

Aurora Lopez Mejia Jewellery from $195

You can add your own unique words to your jewelry or choose from Aurora’s poignant list of words sourced from old dictionaries. Each piece of jewellery is meant to provoke, empower and inspire. Prices start from $195 for hand-crafted silver pendants.

Happy Bundling,

The BundleBox Team.

Here it is people !

It’s official, BundleTech are now the proud holders of, what we understand to be, the first legally binding tariff ruling (BTI) confirming the EU classification of the Apple iPad. What’s more, we’ve successfully secured the more favorable code, and are delighted to announce that the iPad may therefore be imported duty free into the EU (don’t forget, Import VAT is due at the standard rate applicable in the country of import – sadly there’s nothing we can do to influence that !).

Legally binding tariff ruling on iPad

With all the deliberation and sleepless nights, it’s been a challenging few weeks, however we are very pleased with the outcome, and our thanks go out to the Customs Tariff Classification team in Southend for processing our ruling application with such expedience.

Indeed, Friday 12th March marks the first day that the WiFi version of Apple’s “magical and revolutionary product” is available to pre-order from their on-line store in readiness for the 3rd April launch, so it’s particularly pleasing to have beaten the clock and have everything in place. Our categories database has been updated with the iPad tax rates – we’re ready….bring it on !

More exciting information will follow shortly, so stay tuned.

Happy Bundling

Sean

Have you ever found something amazing to buy on a USA website and hot-surfed it to the site checkout to discover that you could not purchase it.

Up to 25% of USA websites do not ship outside of the USA or you cannot buy without a US credit card. It is true of some fashion, electrical, gadget, home ware sites and more.

At Bundlebox we do not want you to leave that gorgeous must have hand bag sitting forlornly at the checkout- we want to help you bring that chic little number home! Our newly updated Buy For Me service ensures that you can have exactly what you want!

No USA Credit Card? No worries- BundleBox can buy for you!

Previously the service involved emailing us and receiving a breakdown of how much it would cost to buy your item and deliver to your USA BundleBox address. However our updated online form now lets you enter  all of the relevant information including any discount codes and calculate the costs quicker.

As certain USA websites will either include sales tax on items or not. If your purchase is sales tax free, BundleBox will refund the difference to your account immediately following the sale.

We have scouted some of the most popular USA websites who do not ship out of the USA or who require USA credit cards and discovered the below must have items that our no longer out of your reach!

Ralph Lauren Classic-Fit Solid Regent Shirt $79.50

The classic, original style of Ralph Lauren is effortlessly apparent in this classic white Regent Shirt. Perfect for day to evening wear.

Lucky Brand Jeans Ramblin Rose handbag $179 at Macys.com

Lucky Brand’s Ramblin’ Rose bag is the perfect Spring/Summer accessory. Available from Macys.com, this stylish arm candy can be purchased using BundleBox’s Buy For Me service.

Customise your own pair of Converse Coolidge $75

Ever wanted to create your very own style of sneakers- well now you can at Converse. Using the legendary Coolidge design as your template, you can customise your shoes with a choice of colours to make your own unique design complete with your name.

Old Navy Boys Patchwork Shorts $19.50

With summer around the corner these boys shorts from Old Navy are perfect for outdoor escapades and beach trips!

Happy Bundling,

The BundleBox Team.

We see many fun, stylish, interesting and amusing products being purchased online in the USA by our Bundleers. There is always an interesting talking point to be had or new website to investigate.

Sky Mall online

Enjoying something of a cult following is legendary retailer Sky Mall. We happened upon a Sky Mall catalogue at BundleBox Head Quarters and its contents have been a constant source of amusement. The Sky Mall website is online extension of the catalogue with new products arriving weekly.

From the worlds largest map of the world, the canine genealogy kit, the 40 second electric toothbrush to the digital video and sound recording ‘Spy Pen’- we are already making our lists of what to buy.

Check out our ‘Only in America’ must haves below! Remember with BundleBox you can have these delivered to your home direct from the USA.

Worlds Largest write on World Map $149.95

Practical, educational and HUGE! This is one picture that nobody will miss in your home. The Worlds Largest write on World Map ensures there is no excuses for bad Geography!

Canine Genealogy Kit $59.95

Sadly, the super cute puppy does not come free! The Canine Genealogy Kit is a must have for doggy lovers and another wacky invention from our friends at Sky Mall.

40 Second Electric Toothbrush $99.95

In a rush? Well the 40 Second Electric Toothbrush is a priority. Apparently the worlds fastest toothbrush reducing cleaning time by 68%.

Spy Pen $149.99

Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a James Bond? With Sky Malls Spy Pen you will certainly feel like you are. Equipped with a 4GB of memory this nifty little gadget records video and sound. Perfect for meetings, memos and much more. If your worried about keeping your cover, dont worry as the pen writes aswell.

Happy Bundling

The BundleBox Team.

It is always interesting to see what Bundleers are buying from the USA. If you have not already, you should check out BundleBox’s recent shipments section of the website. Here you can feel inspired and intrigued by everything from amazing fashion buys, chic and stylish home ware pieces, children’s toys, electrical gadgets and much more.

See what our Bundleers are shipping from the USA

A lot of Bundleers are fond of top USA websites such as Target, J Crew and Victoria’s Secret. This is great but we love to see something different on the shipment list. This week the Black Phoenix Alchemy Perfume Lab came to our attention.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Ltd Edition Scents from $17.50

Utilizing more than 15 experience of years of hand blending potions, theraputic oils and perfumery into tailor made products, this company has a bewitching website with traditional stories and poems accompanying each of their ranges. The companies love of  integrating mythology, archetypes, folklore, poetry, and visual artwork with scent makes the shopping experience a magical one.

Interestingly, the Lab created a range of scents inspired by the renowned novel ‘Good Omens’ by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman with both authors offering the project their blessing.

Good Omens Perfume Blends from $25

Proceeds of this range went to the support of the Comic Book Legal Defence Fund and the Orangutans UK Foundation. The Black Phoenix Alchemy lab has created such a momentum and online following that a 5ml bottle of limited edition scent sold for $800 on eBay in 2007.

The blends include the essence of magical sounding ingredients such as: milky blossoms, soft cream touch, the last buds of winter, crystalline, hazy traditional Lunar oils, springtime greenery, dark musk, spikenard, bergamot, lemon rind, vervain with costus, benzoin, gray amber, cardamom, and white narcissus.

Hand crafted Perfume Oils from Black Phoenix Alchemy

At BundleBox we love to step away from the norm and discover websites that are full of charm and allure.

Visiting the website for the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is like stepping into an old characterful library and blowing the dust off an ancient book of spells. As you weave your way around the website and learn about the different blends and stories you discover which ones are right for you.

We thank Bundleers for highlighting these interesting websites and hope to see even more weird, fun and wonderful USA websites soon.

Happy Bundling.

The BundleBox Team.

We’ve continued to work hard behind the scenes to ascertain the duty rate on the iPad and we’re edging ever closer to a definitive (and hopefully favourable) outcome. In our previous post, we reported that there are potentially two tariff classifications in focus; the one we want is duty free; the one we don’t want attracts 3.7% duty.

Our ‘tech’ specialist contact at Customs has returned to work and following numerous telephone calls and email exchanges, it appears he may have come to the same conclusion as me regarding the correct tariff classification for the iPad – good man !

As things stand, we only have his ‘non legally binding’ verbal opinion and, since we pride ourselves on the accuracy of tax information we provide to our customers, that isn’t good enough for us here at Bundle Tech. Consequently, we’ve chosen to opt for the belt and braces approach – no one’s going to be caught with their ‘trousers down’ under our watch!

In circumstances where the classification of a product is contentious, or subjective, we take steps to ensure legal certainty and this can only be achieved by way of a written application to Customs for a tariff classification ruling; or to give it its’ official name, Binding Tariff Information (BTI). This document confirms the Customs tariff classification of a product and is legally binding across all 27 EU member states for a period of 6 years.

The application provides an opportunity to present an argument in favour of the classification we believe to be correct; clearly, we aim to secure the duty free classification if at all possible, and we believe we’ve put together a case that can achieve this.

Customs at Southend have confirmed receipt of our application and, from what we can gather, it could well be the first ruling application for the iPad to be lodged in the EU. It’s all exciting stuff and we’re now waiting with baited breath for the final (and official) outcome. While the Customs charter allows them up to 45 days to respond to the application, we would typically expect the ruling to be issued within 2 to 3 weeks.

So, regrettably we have to report a further delay before we can finally shout from the roof tops. However, we should certainly be ready for the US launch date, and it may well be worth the wait !

Hope to have news soon, watch this space.

Happy Bundling

Sean

As Head Bundleer I hear about many amazing USA websites. It is a good thing as I can pass on in our Blog and weekly Newsletter. At BundleBox, as far as we are concerned, you can never have too much of a good thing so when Design Within Reach came to our attention, we were sold!

This meticulously stylish and super sleek website is home to a world of modern designs for storage, lighting, bathroom, outdoor, living and dining ideas. The company has a number of stores across the USA, but unfortunately does not reach to the UK and Europe, until now! With BundleBox you can buy online and have your items delivered direct to your door.

On a further inspection of the Design Within Reach website, BundleBox can highly recommend the Design Notes and DWR Blog, informative and interesting sources of design tips and news from website.

Of course everyone has their own spin on home decor so it is worth having a good browse to find your favourite pieces from DWR. In an attempt to fuel your inspiration, we have listed a few of our own below.

One thing every happy home needs is a functioning storage system and luckily right now at DWR, there is a storage sale.

We love the L shaped Parallel Bookends ($63.75). They are perfect for an orderly reading corner and tick all the boxes for looking good!

Parallel BookEnds $65.75

Your bedroom should be a haven of peace, relaxation and retreat from the outside world. The Nest Air Organic duvets even sound dreamy! Described as ‘relaxed sophisticated modern bedding’ each air organic duvet is created using organic cotton and simple jacquard weaving techniques.

Nest Air Organic Duvet Cover from $350

The NY Rocking chair ($500) designed by Takeshi Nii in 1958 was inspired by the classic style of a directors chair. His vision for the lounger was that it would be ‘a chair for one to sit and relax in after a nice meal’. We all know the feeling when someone claims the comfy chair at home and the NY Rocking Chair is certainly one to draw battle lines over. Created with a folding frame and durable canvas, this design is permanently on display at MOMA.

NY Rocking Chair $500

Happy Bundling,

The BundleBox Team.

Spring and Summer could not be more evident in shops and online. Everywhere we look there seems to be stacks of cute floral dresses, candy coloured cardigans and dainty sandals. It is a stark contrast to the windy and wet weather we are battling with at the moment and with more forecast, it is not likely we will be dusting off the sun hats just yet!

That is not to say we cannot up the ante on the style front come rain or shine. The Mac has been a timeless wardrobe staple of the savvy fashionista for years. It is practical, stylish and the ultimate cover-up for that tempermental weather period from end of winter into Spring.

BundleBox has scoured the trendiest USA websites in search of the Mac top three. Get inspired and have yours shipped today!

This coat from Jones New York is a signature of style and is versatile to be worn over work clothes and also with jeans and dresses. A wardrobe favourite forever.

Pemberley Belted Trench Coat now $133.99

Tommy Hilfiger epitomises classic USA style and this contemporary short coat is practical yet fashionable.

Classic Tommy Hilfiger Short Trench Coat $198

Kenneth Cole’s metallic trench coat is a updated version of the classic trench style. This is perfect for work and can double over as a even wear coat. Teamed with boots as shown is one of the ways to accessorise with this great wardrobe must have.

Kenneth Cole Metallic Trench Coat $179.98

Happy Bundling,

The BundleBox Team.

It has amusingly been heralded by some commentators as the most eagerly awaited tablet since Moses disappeared up Mount Sinai. Following months of intense speculation, Apple’s Steve Jobs finally unveiled their latest creation, the iPad, at an event in San Francisco a fortnight ago, describing it as a ‘third category’ device somewhere between a smart phone and a laptop.

Boasting a 9.7” LED backlit IPS display and ‘remarkably precise’ multi touch screen, this new generation gizmo weighs just over half a kilo and is an incredible 1.25 cm’s thick – it has the appearance of an oversized iPhone, but it promises to be something of a revelation.

The Wi Fi version will be available for shipping in the U.S. late march, whilst the 3G model is expected to be released sometime in April. With prices ranging from US$ 499 for the WiFi model with 16Gb of flash memory to US$ 829 for 64Gb of storage and ability to connect via a 3G mobile signal on any network, they’re likely to sell like hot cakes.

It has been mooted that international price information won’t be available until either June or July, so, if like me, you want one as soon as they become available in the US, you’re going to want to know how much import tax you’ll have to pay, right ?

My aim this week was to nail down where the iPad is classified within the Customs tariff so I could reveal how much duty it would attract, and add it to our product categories section in readiness for the release date. Alas, no luck as yet, in fact it has proved to be a rather frustrating experience.

Unfortunately, the Customs Tariff was written back in the 1950’s, in the days when an inside toilet was considered the height of luxury, and little has been done to bring it into the 21st Century. If only it had been written by Nostradamus, I mused this week, he would have had the foresight to include products at the cutting edge of technology.

We have some great contacts within the Customs tariff classification section in Southend, but when technologically innovative items come onto the market, there’s always plenty of head scratching in that corner of Essex. All this has been compounded by the fact that their ‘tech’ specialist is currently on holiday, so there’ll be a short delay before we can announce the duty rate that will apply.

The one thing I can confirm at this stage is that UK import VAT will apply at 17.5%. In the meantime, after much deliberation, I’ve narrowed it down to two possible classifications for the iPad, and all hinges on whether the it can be considered ‘freely programmable’; if we can tick this box and convince the doting father at Customs, everyone’s a winner (except perhaps Her Majesty); classification will fall to the heading for laptop computers – duty free.

If all else fails, the worst case scenario is a duty rate of a mere 3.7% – hardly a show stopper for one of the most talked about devices on the net.

Watch this space, will get back to you with the final rate next week

Happy Bundling

We all love to spruce up the place we call home every once in a while. Your home says so much about who you are and what you love. The kitchen, bedroom and lounge are the places we should feel most at home. It is only fitting that we surround ourselves with beautiful things that we cherish, as well as those things that conjure memories from  memorable vacations, people and times in our lives.

Crate and Barrel came under the Bundlebox radar when a savvy Bundleer ordered something from their website. From that moment we have been hooked on their original take on traditional, contemporary and super stylish ideas for the home. We LOVE a story and Crate and Barrel do not disappoint!

During the 1960s a young couple, Carole and Gordon Segal had just returned from Honeymooning in Europe. Feeling inspired by the cultured items for the home they had discovered they also felt a sense of frustration that there was nowhere to find a variety of contemporary affordable things for the home.

Their passion to make these things available to others influenced them to open their own shop. After hiring one employee and leasing an abandoned elevator factory in Chicago’s Wells Street, Crate and Barrel was born.

Crate and Barrel Chicago Exterior 1962

The couple travelled extensively throughout Europe buying from ceramicists, glassblowers and small French factories who used traditional craftsmanship techniques to create  copper pots and simple bistro dinner sets.

Having gone all out on their Europe spending spree, Carole and Gordon had run out of money for display and shelving in their store. With another creative twist they stacked the wooden crates around the store and used them as a simple form of shelving. The couple say that  ‘Out of necessity came the unique Crate and Barrel style and name’. Overcome with the excitement of opening on a cold December day in 1962, they realised that they had overlooked one important thing, a cash  register.

Based on recent purchases, Bundlebox has listed three must haves from this interesting company whose ethos and concept is as exciting today as it was in 1962.

Marimekko Taupe Bed cover from $29 -$119

Classical Symmetry Blue Print $69

Silver Spin Bar Stools from $99

Happy Bundling,

The BundleBox Team.