Amazon operates eleven (11) global marketplaces around the world (see map below). Selling internationally with Amazon provides retailers with established channels to market their products and grow their business. These marketplaces represent many of the world’s largest e-commerce opportunities. When retailers register to sell in one of these Amazon marketplaces, they gain immediate access to customers who know and trust the Amazon buying experience. Expanding sales to one or more Amazon marketplaces means retailers can benefit from the Amazon brand without shouldering the upfront costs of building business name recognition on its own in a new sales environment.
Selling internationally presents a unique set of logistics challenges for Amazon Sellers to consider. Depending on the country, products sold on Amazon can be subject to additional local taxes such as those for the product’s country of origin, or where the product is stored or sold. Sellers looking to break into European markets should pay special attention to the Value Added Tax (VAT). In Europe, the VAT is applied to most customer purchases. Many U.S. sellers overlook the fact that the VAT is already incorporated into prices on Amazon’s United Kingdom site which will negatively impact profit margins. Having an experienced global tax and trade compliance partner is a must.
If you’re sending your products overseas, a reputable third-party logistics (3PL) company (like Logistics Plus) can help you manage product transportation to a Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) center or they can even provide outsourced warehousing and fulfillment options (with fees that are generally lower than FBA and costs that are free of seasonal fluxuation). For retailers who plan to ship international orders from the U.S. as they’re placed – or to source products from overseas for import to the U.S. – a 3PL can help with the related customs documentation and shipping preparation processes. And since returns are a normal part of any Amazon Seller’s business, a 3PL can also help manage and recoup returned items.
To sell internationally, Amazon requires its sellers to provide customer support in a given marketplace’s local language. Tools like Google Translate work for individual words or short phrases, but they don’t appropriately translate key linguistic nuances needed to market products accurately and disclose important information. A poorly translated product listing could leave your foreign customers confused or even misled. Logistics Plus Linguistic Solutions can help ensure your messaging and disclosures don’t get lost in translation.
The bottom line is that selling internationally through Amazon is a great way to expand your customer base and grow your business. However, international marketplaces can be challenging and expensive without planning and within the right partner(s). Logistics Plus is an approved member of the Amazon Global Selling Solutions Provider Network. Our Amazon experts can help you with everything from importing and exporting, to warehousing and fulfillment – even returns management and linguistic translation services. Our goal is to make global selling as easy as possible for Amazon Sellers. We’re here to help!