Why partner with Timbo?
Partnering with Timbo gives a flooring business Prime grade European solid oak parquet without the commitments of importing: no container minimum, stock already in Melbourne, a single consistent grade, and marketing support that an overseas mill won't provide. The trade-off is that a business with high, predictable volumes may get a lower unit price by importing direct. Here's how the two compare.
Import direct vs partner with Timbo
| Import direct from Europe | Partner with Timbo | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | Usually a container load or a high mill minimum | No container minimums; order project quantities |
| Unit price | Can be lowest at volume | Trade price, under typical retail |
| Cash tied up | Paid before shipping, sold over months | Pay per order, upfront unless credit is agreed in writing |
| Lead time | Production plus sea freight plus clearance | Stock in Melbourne; lead time confirmed on order |
| Seeing the product | Samples from the mill, which may not match the bulk run | Free samples of the product you order |
| Grade | As agreed with the mill; disputes are offshore | Prime grade; defects reported within 3 days to a Melbourne business |
| Compliance (AU) | You are the importer: due diligence under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act | You buy from stock already in Australia |
| Customs and biosecurity | Your broker and you, for every shipment | Stock is already in Australia (NZ partners: normal NZ import rules apply) |
| Storage | Your warehouse, for the whole container | Timbo's warehouse until you order |
| Marketing | You create everything | Product content, specifications, imagery, guides |
| Leads | None | Directory listing and referred website enquiries |
| Exclusivity | Depends on the mill | Non-exclusive |
1. No container minimums
Importing usually means buying far more than the job in front of you. That ties up cash in stock that has to be stored, insured and sold before it pays for itself. Timbo partners order by the box for each project from Melbourne stock, so the stock risk sits with Timbo, not with you. If a client changes from herringbone to chevron, you haven't got a container of the wrong pattern.
2. Local stock, local accountability
Timbo's warehouse is at Altona North, Melbourne. Melbourne partners can pick up by appointment, and freight is quoted per order everywhere else in Australia and to New Zealand. If something arrives damaged, you deal with a Melbourne business under clear written terms: defects within 3 days, damage claims within 30 days. A dispute with an overseas mill over a container is a much harder conversation.
3. Compliance paperwork
Australian businesses that import regulated timber products must have a due-diligence system under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012, reformed by 2024 amendments with rules in force from 3 March 2025 (DAFF). In Europe, the EUDR applies to EU timber operators from 30 December 2026 (Council of the EU). When you buy from stock already in Australia, you aren't the importer for that purchase. Ask Timbo which documents (for example certification or a Declaration of Performance) are available for the product you're buying, and see our illegal logging compliance guide and EUDR guide.
4. Prime grade consistency
Timbo's herringbone and chevron are Prime grade, the clean, even appearance grade most clients mean when they ask for "European oak herringbone". Selling one grade means the sample in your showroom matches the floor you quote and deliver. Australian standard AS 2796 grades local hardwoods, not European oak (ATFA), so a named European grade and a physical sample are what protect you. See oak flooring grades.
5. Marketing you don't have to build
An overseas mill sends a price list. Timbo partners get product descriptions, specifications, imagery and guides, a listing in the partner directory, and homeowner enquiries referred from the website. Details are on marketing support.
When importing direct is the better choice
To be fair to the alternative: if you sell large, predictable volumes of one product, have warehouse space, can carry the stock financially and already run a compliance system, importing direct can make sense. Many businesses do both, because the Timbo partnership is non-exclusive: import your volume lines and use Timbo for Prime grade solid oak parquet in the quantities each job needs.
Compare wholesale options in more detail on wholesale timber flooring in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to import oak flooring direct from Europe?
Per m², often yes, if you buy a full container and sell it through at a steady rate. Once you add the cash tied up in stock, the lead time, compliance work, storage and the risk of a grade you didn't expect, the difference narrows. For most showrooms and installers it disappears.
What's the minimum order with Timbo?
There are no container minimums. You order project quantities by the box from Melbourne stock.
Who is responsible for import compliance if I buy from Timbo?
If you buy stock that's already in Australia, you aren't importing it. Ask Timbo for the product documentation available for your records. New Zealand partners import from Melbourne, so NZ import rules apply; your customs broker will advise.
Can I still import some products myself and buy others from Timbo?
Yes. The Timbo partnership is non-exclusive, so you can run your own imports, other suppliers and Timbo side by side.
What happens if a delivery isn't right?
Report defects within 3 days of receipt, with photos and your order details. Damage claims must be made within 30 days. Orders are otherwise final.