If you have a software product, a service that can be delivered from abroad or a physical product that people don’t mind waiting for, you can do business internationally directly from your own country.
As counts for any country: you first have to define the target group that you want to sell to. If these are businesses, then you can reach out directly through emails and targeted advertisements, e.g. on LinkedIn. If this arouses interest and gives a sufficient response rate, then you may have found an easy way to get the market’s attention.
If your target group is more diffuse, or is a consumer group, then you have to rely more on advertising such as on Facebook or Instagram.
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.
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.
Customers who see prices and can pay in their local currency are three times more likely to deal with you. So it makes sense to offer this option.
Credit card payments typically work best up to an amount equivalent to 500 USD or EUR. If the invoicing amount is higher, there often is a different internal procedure required.
The UK e-commerce market is one of the largest and most advanced in Europe, with significant growth projected in the coming years. Here are key details about the UK e-commerce landscape:
Market Share: Over 30% of UK e-commerce market
Monthly Visitors: More than 400 million
Amazon dominates the UK e-commerce scene with a vast product selection across various categories. Its 2023/24 UK sales reached £26.4 billion, with a projected five-year compound annual growth of 9.2%.
Monthly Visitors: Nearly 200 million
eBay is ranked as the UK’s second leading online store in 2024, offering a wide range of new and used products through auction and fixed-price formats.
Annual Sales: £10 billion (2023/24)
Sainsbury’s, bolstered by its acquisition of Argos, has invested heavily in online and delivery services, becoming a major competitor in the e-commerce space.
Market Position: Third place in online sales among UK retailers
Tesco, along with Sainsbury’s and Asda, forms part of the top four UK online retailers, collectively generating just under £20 billion in online sales.
Focus: Fashion and cosmetic retail
While specific data is not provided, ASOS is mentioned as one of the e-commerce market leaders in the UK, specializing in fashion and beauty products.
The UK e-commerce market is projected to reach $220.22 billion in 2024, with a customer base of over 65 million online shoppers. The average spending per shopper is $4,679, and 69% of consumers use smartphones for online purchases. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.76% from 2024 to 2029, potentially reaching $750.80 billion by 2029.
First of all you may have to pay import duties or settle VAT. There are certain thresholds for both of these charges, e.g. while importing in the EU you don’t have to pay import duties on any shipment worth less than € 150.
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.
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.