Case Study 02
A guide for international spirit brands looking to enter the United States. What to expect, what you need, and how Stateside makes it happen.
statesideimports.com
A TWL Company
The Challenge
The American alcohol market is the most lucrative in the world and one of the most complicated to enter. The barrier is not demand. It is infrastructure.
Every label must be approved by the TTB before it can be sold. Every product needs a Certificate of Label Approval. Every importer must hold a federal basic permit. You cannot do this from overseas.
The U.S. is not one market. It is 50. Each state has its own registration requirements, tax structures, and distribution laws. Selling in Virginia is a different legal process than selling in California.
Your product needs to be physically in the United States, in a licensed bonded warehouse, before it can be distributed. You need an American partner on the ground.
This is exactly why pay-to-play operators exist. Companies like Stateside provide the permits, warehouse, and distribution infrastructure so that international brands can access the U.S. market without establishing their own American entity. The question is not whether you need a partner. It is which one.
The Journey
Here is the complete process for an international brand entering the United States through Stateside. We handle every step that requires a U.S. presence.
Phase 1
We learn about your brand, your product line, your target markets, and your goals. We assess label compliance, identify any regulatory red flags, and outline the timeline and cost to get you operational.
Phase 2
Stateside files all paperwork on your behalf while your product is still overseas. By the time your shipment lands, the legal framework is in place.
Phase 3
You arrange export from your country. Your product arrives at a U.S. port and is transferred to our bonded warehouse in Virginia. We handle customs clearance coordination, receiving inspection, and inventory setup. One facility, one point of contact.
Phase 4
Your brand is listed on our direct-to-retail platform. Licensed retailers across 10+ states can discover and order your product. We pick, pack, and ship from our warehouse. You receive order notifications and sales data in real time.
What You Bring
Here is what we need from you to get started. Everything else, from permits to pallet storage, is on our side.
Finished ProductBottled and ready to ship. Stateside does not provide bottling services, but we can advise on packaging requirements for the U.S. market.
Label ArtworkHigh-resolution files for each SKU. We will review them for TTB compliance and flag any required changes before filing.
Product SpecificationsABV, volume, age statement, cask type, distillery of origin, and any other details needed for regulatory filings and retail listings.
Export CapabilityYou or your bottler must be able to ship to a U.S. port. We coordinate the receiving side, but export logistics are on your end.
Target Market GoalsWhich states matter to you? How many SKUs are you launching with? What volume do you expect in the first year? This shapes our compliance and storage plan.
Brand StoryRetailers buy stories as much as they buy liquid. Help us understand what makes your brand worth carrying so we can position it effectively.
You do not need a U.S. entity, a U.S. bank account, or a U.S. address. Stateside acts as your American infrastructure. We hold the permits, we store the product, we fulfill the orders. You focus on making great spirits.