Find clients and sell your products in Greece

Finding clients abroad is always a challenge, and business development in Greece is not different. You need the right contacts and once you reach the decision maker, you need the right sales pitch.

A lot of companies that want to enter the market in Greece do this with their general sales pitch. However, if you don't know the local regulations, pricing levels and your competition's product, sales meetings may be difficult to conclude successfully.

How to sell your product or service in Greece?

With an estimated population of around 10.7 million people as of 2023, Greece presents a diverse cultural landscape influenced by its ancient heritage and modern European trends.

The country’s economy, with an absolute GDP per capita of approximately $20,000 USD as of 2023, is characterized by its service sector, which dominates the economy, contributing significantly to its GDP. Tourism is a major economic driver, with millions of visitors drawn annually to Greece’s historic sites, sunny islands, and vibrant culture. Additionally, shipping plays a pivotal role in the Greek economy, with the nation boasting one of the largest merchant fleets in the world.

Agriculture also contributes to the economy, with products like olive oil, wine, and various fruits forming significant exports. The industrial sector, though smaller, focuses on food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, and metal products.

The capital city, Athens, is the largest and most influential, known for landmarks like the Acropolis and Parthenon. Other main cities include Thessaloniki, a cultural and educational hub; Patras, known for its port and carnival; Heraklion, a gateway to Crete’s ancient ruins; and Piraeus, the primary maritime hub of the country.

VAlidate the HS-codes you use for shipping

Almost every country or trade block in the world has its own detailing on the international HS-code list. With our report you strongly reduce the risk on misclassifications, delays and higher custom duties than expected.

Tell us what you want to ship and where to and we ask you all relevant questions to get to the most likely code.

Translate your website and check your SEO

Even if your business is really international, it may be wise to set up local website translations and check whether your text aligns with the culture.

This also counts for Greece and its inhabitants. People prefer reading in their own language and also search most of the time in their own language. Therefore you need to include the relevant keywords in your texts, and these may not be a direct translation.

With regards to content, my personal experience is that if you have a successful blog topic in one language, it is likely to do well also in other languages. Don’t reinvent the wheel, just make a proper translation.

Shipping your products

If you sell physical products, you need them to get delivered into Greece. Depending on the country you are in, this may be a challenge.

First of all you may have to pay import duties or settle VAT. This can be complex if you don’t have your own legal entity in the country.

There may also be non-financial bariers, like certifications or approvals to be obtained. Especially for food, cosmetics or medicine this may be the case. Check this in advance, even before you invest in your marketing.