What's the difference between service importers and full-service importers for US market entry, and which should we use?

Service importers like **Park Street** and **MHW** hold your stock but require you to find and negotiate with all distributors yourself—you bear the inventory risk and must have boots-on-the-ground sales capability to drive demand. Full-service importers handle distributor relationships and sales push for you, but cost significantly more.

**Key considerations:**

- **Park Street** and **MHW** are service importers; members report little meaningful difference between them, though some express a slight preference for **Park Street**. One member flagged "not great things" about MHW but without specifics. - With service importers, **you own the stock** and must negotiate directly with distributors in each state—this is a major operational and financial barrier. - Distributors will demand proof of how you'll drive sales (your own team on the ground); they won't build the business for you. - This approach requires "serious cash" for US-based sales staff and inventory. - **Helmsman** (contact: Nate Whitehouse) is mentioned as a potential alternative discussion partner for US strategy. - Consider exploring **CBMA (Craft Beverage Modernization Act) tax benefits**, which can help offset costs in year one of import operations.