Before the birth of the internet, many small retailers had no way of expanding their business beyond their borders. Fast forward to today, the eCommerce industry has changed. There is no doubt that a lot of planning is required before entering an international market. When it is done right, this can be very lucrative for any business.
Shipping is an important part of many businesses and it can also represent a major expense in your business, depending on your shipping strategy. It is is one of those unpopular but crucial things that every eCommerce company has to deal with. Regardless of how much you are spending on shipping, the amount you charge customers can also affect your margin.
If you plan on setting up an eCommerce store, here are some of the most important points to consider:
Perform A Thorough Research
Before any investment is made, it is important that you carry out deeper research and one of the first questions you must ask is if there are any local competitions? What is the price? What is the cost of doing business in that county?
Check Customs and Shipping Regulations
Is your product considered legal to sell and use in the country that you are considering? Just because certain products are sold here does not mean that they will be accepted in another country. Prior knowledge of such laws can help you avoid any delay in customs, or paying fines for violating restrictions.
Preferred Payment Methods
Consumers do not have access to the same credit card merchant and in many countries, people still use cash for most transactions.
Packing Your Products
This is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the risk of extra costs or delays. You can find many packaging supplies to help you do this smoothly. Boxes are the most common way to send parcels because they are readily available, customizable and are strong for their weight.
Calculate shipping costs
The shipping price of any product has to take into account the following:-
- Package size and weight. Shipping carriers calculate the shipping charges based on the size and weight of your product.
- Destination. The shipping cost will be higher if you offer international shipping in your store.
- Methods of Shipping. It is important to find out how you want your products to reach your customers. Some buyers prefer to pay for expedited shipping and this cost is based on where the buyer is located.
Shipping carriers will offer you shipping rates based on the points above, which you can later use as a base when setting up shipping prices on your store. In order to save you the stress and time to search for the shipping companies with the best rate, you can now just visit https://www.shiply.com/us/international-shipping and request for personalized quotes from its list of rated shipping companies. Just fill up a simple form on its website with the required information and you will receive quotes sent to you via email. Then you can start reviewing the quotes and choose the shipping company that best fits your requirements.