You’ll first need to identify which countries and regions you’ll ship to, and which products you’ll ship.
Unsure which markets you should expand to first? Here are a few indicators that can help narrow it down.
Start small and close. of your shipments close to home—say, Mexico for a San Diego–based merchant—you can set realistic recipient expectations regarding delivery times and rates. Starting small and close also allows you to get a feel for what it takes to expand your shipments.
Track current demand.
Check out your shop’s traffic analytics and see which markets or countries are already visiting your online store. You can also gauge interest by direct consumer requests to sell to their market. Repeat visits or high traffic could show interest in your products or offerings.
Consider the languages of any market for expansion. Communication is essential when dealing with customers. If you’re fluent in a few languages, consider expanding into the countries that speak those languages first. If you only speak one language, find other countries or markets where that language is prominent.
Ensure there’s product-market fit for your target country. Are there markets around the world that you feel suit your business better than others? ecuador phone number list Some research may be required here. Checking into ecommerce penetration could be a good first step (explore that data here). Dig into the consumer trends and tastes of those markets. An item that’s a celebratory gift in the US may mean something different in South Korea, for example.
You’ll now need to consider what to ship. You may want to offer your entire product line. However, before you start delivering all over the world, think about these aspects of your products and your business.
Building on the points above,
are there items that would appeal to the international carrot salad market(s) you’re looking to ship to?
Lightweight and smaller items will be more cost effective to ship and easier to package.
The more durable the packaging, the better. Shipping fragile products that may be damaged in transit if not packaged properly may increase the chances of a less-than-satisfactory delivery. If you decide to ship them, invest in sturdy product packaging.
A person packing products into boxes for shipment
Get familiar with country rules and regulations
Once you have an idea of what regions offer the most immediate opportunities and which products you’ll be sending, it’s time to check into country-based rules and regulations.