Garson & Shaw: Exporting sustainability with support from the UGA SBDC

Garson & Shaw exports quality used clothing to more than 50 countries across Latin America, Europe and Asia. With a focus on reuse and reducing landfill waste, the company ships approximately 800 full container loads — each weighing 44,000 pounds — every month.

“Used clothing is a commodity that three quarters of the world’s population uses as their primary source of clothing,” said Vance Murphy, Garson & Shaw’s director of logistics. “We focus on reuse. Of course, our partners also upcycle and downcycle, but the predominant volume we ship has a main purpose for reuse.”

Murphy, who has been with the company since 2009 and established its logistics department in 2011, oversees freight operations, export declarations, and compliance. As the company expanded, navigating complex international trade regulations became increasingly critical.

“We’ve always been exporting and doing it successfully,” Murphy said. “But our procedures and goals have changed over time. We had to look at our relationship with compliance from a different perspective.”

That shift led to a deeper collaboration with Laurent Kahl, an international business consultant at the UGA SBDC.

“My interaction with them has been finding distributors through our partners and helping with compliance,” said Kahl.

Over the past three years, Kahl has developed a deep understanding of Garson & Shaw’s industry and evolving needs.

Kahl provided Garson & Shaw with market intelligence for emerging regions, including guidance on import duties, restrictions and customs requirements. He introduced Murphy to the UGA SBDC’s U.S. Export Assistance Center partners, such as the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the U.S. Commercial Service, whose foreign offices offer “boots on the ground” insights.

“Connecting and networking is so important, especially for small businesses,” Murphy said. “We wear a lot of hats and may not be experts in everything. Having someone like Laurent to bounce ideas off is invaluable.”

The UGA SBDC also supported Garson & Shaw with Electronic Export Information (EEI) filings, offering updated guidelines and contacts at U.S. Customs specific to the used clothing industry. For the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, Kahl provided comprehensive guidance, training resources and educational links to help the company strengthen its supply chain security. He also assisted with import procedures, helping Garson & Shaw experiment with a new domestic revenue stream.

“As far as compliance, we have a fairly consistent schedule to recheck, even for markets we ship to regularly like Guatemala,” Murphy said. “Laurent helped move those topics forward and reassured us we were following industry standards.”

Thanks to the UGA SBDC’s support, Garson & Shaw remains compliant with U.S. export regulations and manages its EEI filings. The company has also successfully imported four to five containers, adding a new dimension to its business.

“Laurent and the UGA SBDC have helped me continue to grow my knowledge and expertise required to manage the different facets of my job,” Murphy said. “Our relationship has grown side-by-side with our evolution, not just as a company, but in all the things we’re doing now. This fast-paced world is always changing and having someone like Laurent who’s open-minded and well-connected makes a big difference.”

Murphy’s advice to other small businesses?

“There is help out there,” he said. “As a small business, you have a lot of weight on your shoulders. Allowing someone to help you is huge. I want other small businesses, whether they’re exporting or not, to connect with people like Laurent and the UGA SBDC. The comfort of knowing someone is there to help you ask the right questions is invaluable.”