Ask the question. You'll get a straight answer.
This one isn't a company service — it's me, Jessy Roy. People have been calling for years to ask how to ship something, how to sell it, how to pack it, how to move the money, or what a document actually means. I answer. Sometimes we then do the job; sometimes I tell you who should.
The questions people actually ask
- How do I ship this — and which channel is actually right for it?
- How do I sell this abroad, and on which marketplace?
- How do I pack it so it survives the trip and the customs check?
- How do I transfer or receive the money for this deal?
- How do I find and vet a supplier or a factory?
- What does this Incoterm, this document or this clause actually mean?
- Is this quotation reasonable, and what is missing from it?
- Should we digitise this process, and where do we start?
Answers to the most common ones
How do I know which shipping channel is right for my goods?
It comes down to weight, value, urgency and paperwork. Under about 30 kg and urgent, an express courier usually wins. From roughly 50 kg upwards, a consolidated air or sea shipment through a forwarder is far cheaper per kilo. Very low value and no deadline, postal can still make sense. Tell me the weight, the dimensions, the value and the deadline and I'll tell you which of the three it is — and roughly what it should cost.
Is a quotation I received reasonable, and what is usually missing from it?
Most surprises are not in the freight rate — they're in what the quote leaves out: customs duty and VAT, clearance fees, local delivery, storage after free days, fuel and security surcharges, and insurance. A quote that only shows a price per kilo is incomplete. Send it over and I'll point out the lines that will appear later.
Can you help me find and vet a supplier or factory?
Yes — that's sourcing, and it's half the job. Vetting means checking the company actually exists and exports, comparing samples, agreeing specifications in writing, structuring payment so you're not fully exposed, and arranging inspection before the goods move. Skipping the last two is where most first-time importers lose money.
What do Incoterms like EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP actually change for me?
They decide who pays for each leg and, more importantly, where the risk passes to you. EXW means you own the goods from the supplier's door, including export formalities. FOB moves that to the loading port. CIF adds freight and insurance to destination but not import clearance. DDP means the seller delivers cleared to your door. Buying EXW when you have no agent at origin is the classic expensive mistake.
How do I move or receive money for a deal from Lebanon or Syria?
There is usually a legitimate route, but it depends on the counterparty's bank, the amount and the goods. What matters is that the payment trail matches the invoice and the shipment — mismatched names or values create customs and compliance problems later. I'll tell you which structures work today and which ones will get your funds held.
How much does the advice cost?
A question and a straight answer cost nothing — that has always been the habit. If it turns into a mandate, a sourcing project, a digitisation programme or an ongoing advisory relationship, we agree scope and fees in writing first. And if the job belongs to someone else, I'll name them, with no commission involved.
How it usually goes
Sometimes it's just advice
A call, a straight answer, and you go do it yourself. A lot of questions genuinely end there, and that's fine.
Sometimes we run the project
If it falls inside what we do best — purchasing, sourcing, air and sea shipments, export, selling and fulfilment — we take it end to end.
And sometimes I send you elsewhere
Full containers on lanes we don't run, certain cargo projects, specialised commodities: I'll name the company that does it properly. No commission, no strings.
Where the experience comes from
- 1985
Grew up inside the family logistics business, Cargomaster — the trade was learned at the desk, not in a classroom.
- 1999
Working in freight forwarding and international trade: customs, Incoterms, agents, air and sea operations.
- 2014
Founded iShip in Lebanon — buy-for-me, ship-for-me, export and marketplace selling, built on top of the freight experience.
- 2018
Launched Ish7anli for Syria, buying and shipping for a market that had almost no access to foreign cards or stores.
- Today
Based in Brittany, France, advising SMEs and family businesses on operations, digitisation, e-commerce and international logistics — alongside running the group.
The wider consulting practice
Beyond shipping I advise SMEs and family businesses on operations, digitisation, e-commerce, marketplaces and practical AI — mostly in France, in French, English and Arabic. That work lives on my own site.
Visit jessyroy.comAdvisory conversations are informal and free unless we agree otherwise in writing. Nothing here is legal, tax or customs-broker advice. Last reviewed 2026-08-03.