To overcome the complexities of international selling exacerbated by Brexit and economic shifts, merchants must strategically approach cross-border e-commerce. This episode emphasizes thorough market research for compliance and demand, prudent marketplace selection beyond just Amazon, and optimizing logistics with 3PLs to tap into the massive EU consumer base effectively.
Key takeaways
Conduct in-depth market research to ensure product compliance and validate demand before entering new international markets, focusing on local regulations and consumer preferences.
Don't solely rely on Amazon for international expansion; research and leverage dominant local marketplaces like Bol.com in the Netherlands, Cdiscount in France, or Allegro in Poland for better market penetration.
Utilize Third-Party Logistics (3PLs) in the EU to streamline fulfillment and bypass lengthy Amazon EU FBA shipping processes, enabling faster order delivery and improved customer satisfaction.
Prioritize expanding into international sites of platforms you already successfully use, but be prepared to diversify to country-specific leading marketplaces to maximize reach.
Actively reassess your international strategy due to reduced competition from other retailers exiting the EU market, recognizing the significant opportunity for growth with 500 million potential consumers.
In this week's episode of the eCommerce Odyssey Podcast, Trevor talked to Andy Hooper from Global eCommerce Experts about all things Cross Border Trade.
The Cross border Opportunity is as big as ever
Brexit and the general economic condition have made international trade more difficult. However, merchants should not give up on international sales! The opportunity is still massive.
· 500 million consumers in the EU
· Many retailers have pulled out of the EU
· EU and UK regulations are still very similar
Basic steps to selling internationally
Recommended steps for starting your international sales:
1. Research your market. Research if your product can be sold from a compliance point of view and if there is likely to be any demand
2. Compliance. Make sure your business and product are compliant with local rules and make any necessary changes.
3. Marketplace strategy. Choose the right route to market for your products
Logistics
The logistics solution you use is determined by the size of your business. Bear the following in mind:
· Shipping pallet into Amazon EU FBA is time-consuming
· Sending items into a 3PL in the EU and then sending parcels into FBA s quicker and enables orders to be fulfilled directly
Best channels for expanding internationally
When expanding internationally, first look at where you are already successfully selling. If you are on Amazon already expanding into their international sites is a great place to start. That said, Amazon is not the biggest platform in many countries. For example:
· Bol.com is the biggest marketplace in the Netherlands
· Cdiscount is a big player in France
· Allegro is the biggest online retailer in Poland
Start with what you know and then look for other opportunities.
Top ten tips for selling internationally
1.
What does this episode say about amazon & marketplaces?
Conduct in-depth market research to ensure product compliance and validate demand before entering new international markets, focusing on local regulations and consumer preferences.
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
Don't solely rely on Amazon for international expansion; research and leverage dominant local marketplaces like Bol.com in the Netherlands, Cdiscount in France, or Allegro in Poland for better market penetration.
What does this episode say about dtc strategy?
Utilize Third-Party Logistics (3PLs) in the EU to streamline fulfillment and bypass lengthy Amazon EU FBA shipping processes, enabling faster order delivery and improved customer satisfaction.
What does this episode say about amazon & marketplaces?
Prioritize expanding into international sites of platforms you already successfully use, but be prepared to diversify to country-specific leading marketplaces to maximize reach.
What does this episode say about amazon & marketplaces?
Actively reassess your international strategy due to reduced competition from other retailers exiting the EU market, recognizing the significant opportunity for growth with 500 million potential consumers.
