Selling cross border is a great way to increase sales. In our retail company, Hello Baby, 50% of our sales are exported. Selling internationally is trickier for several reasons, but if you persevere, it can be a significant driver for your business

Supplier issues

Due to international distribution agreements, some suppliers will not allow you to sell internationally.  It is best to check before proceeding.

Product Compliance

Whilst most products can be sent internationally, some cause issues. Examples include:

• Aerosols (can’t go through airmail)
• Antibacterial products. 
• Medical devices

Marketplaces usually have a list of products they prohibit so read this before proceeding.

Translation and customer service

Google translate is free and surprisingly good for product translations and customer service. Platforms such as eBay and Amazon will translate products automatically.

Shipping

Most couriers (e.g. Royal Mail) offer international services. It is usually just a case of putting the right label on the right package and putting the product in a different bag.

Tax

This is tricky as your tax obligation will vary depending on where you are based and the destination country. I advise starting with countries such as the USA, which have high duty thresholds. 

Channels

When starting to sell internationally, we recommend the following channels:

eBay

eBay has over 100 million users worldwide and a presence in 22 countries. If you provide international shipping rates for your listings, they will be automatically listed internationally with translation and currencies converted.

Amazon

Amazon sites work in a similar way across the world. A product (as defined by a barcode) will have the same ASIN on every site. There are two ways to sell internationally on Amazon:

• Add international shipping to your domestic shipping templates
• List directly on international Amazon sites

Shopify Markets

Shopify Markets enable users to specify up to 50 countries as international markets. Each country can have a currency and product translations specified. Shop Pay accepts payment in multiple currencies.

Google Shopping Ads

Google shopping ads are probably the best paid source of traffic for your site. If you have enabled your site for international sales, ads can be used to advertise your products worldwide.