Shipping, delivery and logistic concept. Earth and cardboard boxes on laptop keyboard. Online technology. 3d

5 Tips to Consider for a Successful Cross-Border E-commerce Strategy

by with No Comment Cross-Border

As cross-border e-commerce sales continue to grow, more online brands are open to expanding into new markets. As we know, this is not easy and requires a lot of research, planning and preparation. We can also agree that international expansion is not for every company, but it can offer excellent opportunities to increase sales, brand awareness and customer reach.   

If a brand is confident that international expansion is the right thing for them, we share five tips to consider to start and continue to grow and scale its business internationally. 

1- Previous research: Know where your demand is and get to know your target market 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When a company wants to expand internationally, it is essential to understand where the demand for the products is and consider the markets that have the potential to continue to grow. For example, you can find more information on our blog “Top Countries for US Fashion Brands to Expand Internationally” to find out where US fashion brands can grow their international footprint.   

It is also essential to find the specific target market, then to research as much as possible about it, from language, age, taste, and use of social media to cultural customs, so that the company can effectively communicate the brand proposition and products. This way, it will have a higher chance to penetrate the market and eventually continue to grow successfully. 

2- Use data in your favor to make informed decisions  

Successful brands that continue to be competitive and grow have a system to collect data from their website and social media. For example, buying behavior, opinions, reviews, etc. These brands use this data to make informed decisions about what aspects should be improved and should invest in growing, whether in marketing campaigns, new product launches, inventory, etc. 

When looking at consumer data, the main questions are: Where do the opportunities for the brand to grow to lay? And what areas of the business need to be improved? 

3- Create a seamless user experience

For an e-commerce business to continue to grow, brands should prepare their website’s technical and design features. It is crucial to constantly test the website and listen to users’ opinions to make improvements that can lead to positive results. These improvements can be made in the shopping cart, product pages, or loading time. You can find more tips on our blog, “Top 5 Actions You Need to Take to Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment.” 

Regardless of what it is, the aim should be to make the shopping experience as seamless as possible to achieve high conversions. Ultimately, what consumers see and experience influences conversion.  

4- Prepare your logistics process before expanding  

Logistics is as essential as any other aspect of the business. One of the most important because without it, an e-commerce brand can’t deliver products sold to its customers. Logistics is also part of the shopping customer experience, so if the brand is not ready to offer the best possible experience for them, they will look elsewhere.   

Finding the right cross-border shipping solution can be tricky, but once you do, it can play a significant role in your international growth journey. Offering the best possible shipping experience means being cost-effective and convenient to customers. BorderGuru is a reliable Shopify app that, as part of Hermes, a global logistics champion based in Germany, can offer competitive shipping rates and calculate tax and duties for 200 countries at checkout so your customers do not receive surprise fees at delivery.  

If you work with a 3PL company, BorderGuru also covers your cross-border needs. Find out more about how our solution can be strategic for your brand in our blog “A 3PL Guide: Third-Party Logistics Companies Advantages and Disadvantages.” 

5- Have in place metrics to measure performance  

As already mentioned, data can benefit companies and lead to sustainable long-term growth. Therefore, having a process to measure business performance is a way to collect insightful data to decide whether something is working or needs changes and to find new opportunities. In addition to sales numbers, brands can also measure their social media pages, such as the number of followers, likes, comments, reach and clicks to visit their website.   

 

Brands looking to grow internationally turn to Borderguru as a one-stop solution that can help their business ease international complexities and offer their customers the best shipping experience. We handle everything from product mapping, tax and duty calculation, filing, and more.   

Are you ready to grow internationally? Start now by contacting us.   

 

Asia pacific christmas

Top Holidays 2022 in Asia Pacific for e-commerce brands to succeed

by with No Comment Cross-Border

What is better than getting to know your customers in the Asia-Pacific region and successfully thriving on these holidays in these markets? Stay here and learn more about Australia, Japan, and Korea’s most important shopping days of this holiday season. From Halloween to Christmas to New Year, and between unique holidays, mark your calendars and prepare to market your products appropriately to increase your sales potentially!  

Don’t forget to read further tips on our previous blog, “6 Tips to Prepare Your E-commerce Store for Holiday Season,” to help you stand up these holidays.  

 

 

Holidays in Australia, Japan and South Korea 

October  

31st Halloween: This holiday has become popular due to the influence of Americans and Europeans and has gained popularity among younger generations. Costume parties, themed bakery items and products are standard on this day. As for online brands, it is crucial to offer special deals to increase profits and gain brand recognition.   

November  

25th Black Friday & 28th Cyber Monday: These are annual sales that online brands cannot miss. They have become more prevalent in recent years, and intelligent shoppers from these countries mark their calendars and show up to find the best deals on products they love. As they actively look and buy, it is a fantastic time to run campaigns with great deals that draw attention to your shop, raise awareness and potentially increase sales. 

 

Apart from the holidays listed above, here are the holidays unique to each country, Australia, Japan and South Korea. You can discover briefly how they celebrate them, so you can decide how best to market your brand and products to any of these markets.  

 

 

Australia  

 

Australia is in the southern atmosphere, meaning the seasons differ from the United States. September to November is spring, and December to February is summer. Remember this when you consider the products you will offer to the Australian market.    

November 

1st Melbourne Cup: This is a day celebrated mainly in Melbourne and the Victoria area. But it has spread across other cities. There is a big horse racing event; people love to buy related products, such as hats, accessories, and clothing. This can be a good opportunity for online brands that sell Western-style fashion and offer special discounts to connect and resonate with their Australian audience.   

8th Click Frenzy – the Main Event: This day is like Cyber Monday, but it only happens in Australia. Many shoppers are waiting on this day to find good deals and discounts. People often sign up for online shops participating in this holiday to find the products they love at a meager price. US brands seeking to gain popularity in this market should not miss this opportunity.   

11th Singles Day: This popular Chinese anti-Valentine Day celebration has become popular among Australians. People celebrate it by buying presents for friends, family and themselves. It is vital for US brands that want to appeal to consumers to partake in it by offering discounts and branded packaging with the message of Singles Day and self-love.   

December 

22nd – 24th Pre-Christmas sales: These days are used to prepare people for Christmas and get more involved in the festivities. Due to the busy logistics schedule, it may be late for online brands to get orders on time for Christmas, but that does not mean they can’t take advantage of these days. For example, offer special deals for after-Christmas delivery and continue to raise brand awareness through Christmas-related marketing campaigns.   

25th Christmas Day: Let’s not forget that summer is on Christmas, so this day is to celebrate with family and loved ones with presents, decorations, barbecues, and outdoor activities. Turkey is famous; some families have lunch and dinner outdoors and travel to the beach or countryside.   

26th Boxing Day sales: This is another popular day for online and offline retailers to profit from, as it is a busy shopping time when consumers expect special deals. Cash on the opportunity by participating in it. 

31st New Year’s Eve: More than a shopping day is a day to celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. In the big cities of Australia, there are significant events with fireworks and performances. Since summer, many people go on boats, visit the beach, and organize outdoor activities to celebrate.   

January 

1st New Year’s Day: This is a day for people to rest and prepare for what’s coming ahead in the new year. It is an excellent time for brands to convey positive and motivating messages and present their products as a tool for their customers to achieve their goals and aspirations in the new year.   

26th Australia Day is a national holiday celebrated like the Fourth of July. Family and friends gather to celebrate being an Aussie. Some people have barbecues, go to the beach, play cricket in the backyard, and be outdoors, as it is still summer. For brands, this is the time to create brand awareness with a message of congratulations and to have some special offers and bundles.   

 

Japan  

 

November 

23rd Labor Thanksgiving Day: This day is a special one to celebrate workers in all sectors. It is common for children to make cards and small gifts to thank community workers, such as firefighters, doctors, nurses, and police. People often talk about their achievements and objectives. This can be a beneficial day to raise brand awareness by participating in congratulatory marketing campaigns.   

December 

24th Christmas Eve: The Japanese take this day as a second Valentine’s Day. They believe this day is more about celebrating love and happiness, as is shown in American films. Therefore, this day is for couples to spend it together and exchange presents. It is also common in the workplace to give gifts to colleagues. As for families with children, there is a family dinner where KFC chicken has become popular, and children receive gifts from Santa. Brands should be prepared accordingly to profit from this day and communicate the Christmas message localized to market beliefs.   

25th Christmas Day: Most people go to work. Christmas decorations exist in major cities and themed parks, such as Disney, Tokyo, Universal, or Hello Kitty. Some people have dinner together as a family.   

31st New Year’s Eve: The Japanese use this day to clean up their homes as a ritual to start a clean new year, including cleaning their minds and past worries. It is common to have traditional foods surrounded by family and after watching popular Japanese shows at dinner. As far as shops are concerned, they tend to do the same by selling seasonal stock in surprise gift bags, which are very popular. As an online shop, you can hop on this trend.   

 January 

1st New Year’s Day: This day is full of traditions; for example, watching the first sunset, children receive envelopes with money, traditional food, and visit the temple. The New Year is essential for the Japanese, as is the celebration of new beginnings.   

 

 

South Korea 

 

October 

3rd National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol): This is a national public holiday celebrating the creation of the first Korean State, the result of Korea. Many people gather at the Yeouido Han River Park in Seoul to watch large fireworks displays. There are also other fireworks displays across the country. As a foreign brand, it is crucial to participate in this day to connect with your Korean customers through appropriate communication campaigns to stay current with the important Korean holidays.   

December 

24th & 25th Christmas: Christmas Eve and Day are dates in Korea to celebrate with family, friends and lovers. It is not a holiday where people tend to travel to their hometowns but celebrate with happiness and love wherever they live. Some couples take these days to celebrate love, just like Valentine’s Day. Other families eat traditional Korean food, such as bulgogi (marinated beef) and bokkeumbap (fried rice). Although it is not yet a huge deal to exchange gifts, as in other Western countries, it is increasing in Korea. Now, money is the most popular item. As a foreign e-commerce brand, you need to understand the desires and favorite products of your Korean customers to capitalize on this holiday so that you can plan marketing communications and deals accordingly. As an idea, you could start with deals for a couple of gifting.   

31st New Year’s Eve: This is the night Koreans welcome the New Year, following the Gregorian calendar, as Western countries do. From around 11: 00 to 1: 00 a.m., a significant event takes place in Boshingak, Seoul. This event is broadcast on national television and consists of ringing the bell 33 times at midnight. There are fireworks at the Lotte World Tower, Seoul’s tallest building. In addition, people tend to watch the first sunset on Achasan Mountain in Seoul.   

It is indeed a day of celebrations. It is time for brands selling to Korean consumers to catch their attention with related marketing communications campaigns and product bundles to promote the New Year.   

January 

1st New Year’s Day: The government granted a three-day holiday. It starts on January 1st until January 3rd and is celebrated more casually with immediate family or friends. Some families send New Year greeting cards to loved ones. There are also traditional food, gifts, and resolutions. And every Korean, regardless of his birth date, turns one year on this day. Nowadays, it is more of a symbolic collective birthday. There are many ways to celebrate this day. As an e-commerce brand, understanding its meaning can help you connect better with your audience and create brand awareness and potential sales.   

21st – 23rd Seollal (Lunar New Year): Korea has its own Lunar New Year celebration. It lasts three days, the day before the 21st, the 22nd of New Year, and the following day. This is a time to spend with family, and many people visit their hometown. It is also time to pay respect to family members and ancestors. The main day on the 22nd is about giving gifts, wearing the traditional colorful costume called Hanbok, eating traditional food such as Tteokguk (rice cake soup), and playing classic games with the family.  

As a foreign e-commerce brand, it is a holiday to be aware of and take it to connect your brand and products with your Korean consumers and build your sales and market penetration. 

 

Are you ready to make these holidays a success? While you focus on how to best market your products to your customers in the Asia-Pacific region, we can help you get your products to your customers on time and without obstacles. Make the shipping process a pleasant experience for you and your customers. 

As Borderguru, powered by Hermes Logistics, we can offer you our cross-border solution to provide your customers with low shipping rates and customer clearance orders.  

Please do not wait for any more; contact us now!  

Uk holidays main

UK Top Shopping Holidays 2022: Get Ready for the Busiest Time of the Year

by with No Comment Cross-Border

It is time to get your Shopify store ready for the Holiday Season! Find the most popular UK holidays in 2022 to mark your business calendar. Do not miss the opportunity to succeed in the UK market during these holidays potentially.   

Find further tips to prepare your e-commerce brand for this busy shopping time. Check out our blog “6 Tips to Prepare Your E-commerce Store for Holiday Season.”   

Halloween – October 31st 

This is a holiday celebrated similarly to in the US. There are costume parties, trick-or-treat, and pumpkin carving. In parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, there are other traditions, such as parades or children dressed in old clothes and walking around the neighborhood (called guising), showing talent, such as singing or reciting a poem to get a treat. In recent years, brands have become famous for special deals and discounts, so it is an excellent opportunity for US online shops to appeal to the UK audience and increase sales.   

 Black Friday – November  25th  

This is one of the US’s most trafficked days of the year, and from 2013 web traffic on this holiday became noticeable in the UK. It has become an important shopping day in this country, as consumers are more aware of it and wait for bargain hunting in online and offline stores. This is beneficial for US brands, as they already have deals for the US market that can be mimicked for the UK.   

Cyber Monday  – November 28th 

Cyber Monday became popular in the UK in 2009 and is now part of the holiday season for many online shops selling to the UK market. It is a popular time to get discounts and bundles from many online brands. 

 

Free Delivery Day – December 7th 

This day is essential for e-commerce brands, as it is the last day for consumers to buy and guarantee they get them on time before Christmas. It was first introduced in the UK in 2012 and is an excellent opportunity for online brands to advertise free shipping on special offers, attracting the attention of the UK market to their brand and having a higher chance of increasing sales.   

Super Saturday – December 24th  

This is a day when most British do their last shopping before Christmas. It’s a hectic day for offline shops, but don’t get discouraged. As an online shop, you can also profit from this day. For example, you create brand awareness campaigns related to Christmas, special deals on your website for people who want gifts for themselves, or an after-Christmas advantage. Either way, do not miss the opportunity to stay connected to your customers.   

On this day, it is also a tradition for children to hang up their stockings and sleep at night to receive presents from Santa in the morning.     

Christmas – December 25th    

This day is to spend with family and loved ones. It is a day to have traditional food at dinner, like roast turkey with potatoes and parsnips, as dessert, Christmas pudding. Also, kids open up their presents from Santa, and adults exchange gifts. Streets are filled with decorations, and the current King Charles III delivers a speech on national TV. After that, TV is filled with Christmas movies and British soaps.  

Boxing Day – December 26th  

This day, British people use it to spend it with family and friends and go shopping. They expect special discounts as the winter sales start. This is the perfect time for them to redeem gift vouchers received during Christmas and find deals on items they could not get before or during Christmas. 

New Year’s Eve – December 31st  

This is a day to celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. The British celebrate it with their loved ones by attending parties, in restaurants, bars, on the street, or the massive famous fireworks and parade event in London. After Christmas, online shops should be ready to promote the New Year with campaigns on how their products contribute to goals, aspirations and new beginnings.       

 

New Year’s Day – January 1st  

For British people, this is a day to relax, visit relatives or friends, wish them a happy New Year, and prepare for the year ahead. To profit from this holiday, online brands must know their target market goals and desires to promote their products accordingly so that their customers feel connected to them, which creates the need to buy. 

 

Are you ready to take on this holiday season? Apart from marketing measures, your shop must be fully prepared to ship orders accurately and on time to your UK customers. We are here to help you achieve that. Contact us now!  

BorderGuru, powered by Hermes Logistics, can offer you our cross-border solution to help you successfully reach your customers in the UK and worldwide. You will provide them with an excellent checkout and shipping experience, with tax and duty calculations and low shipping costs at checkout.      

mexican holidays

Prepare Your E-commerce Store for Mexico’s Top Shopping 2022 Holidays

by with No Comment Cross-Border

It’s that time of the year! Mark your calendar with the most important e-commerce holidays to increase your sales and customer base in Mexico.   

Due to its proximity to the US, it is a major trade partner, and consumers like to buy products from the US, which now is easier than ever with the growth of cross-border e-commerce.   

So, stay and prepare for the busiest shopping time of the year! … You can also check out our blog “6 Tips to Prepare Your E-commerce Store for Holiday Season,” to be fully prepared to succeed in these holidays.   

 

October  

31st Halloween: This is celebrated the same as in the USA. There are Halloween parties and trick or treat. Not many national brands have deals during this holiday unless they sell Halloween costumes or decorations, but consumers are aware of US brands shipping to Mexico that do so. Be prepared to offer Halloween-themed bundles and discounts.   

November  

2nd Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead): This day is mainly celebrated with family, and they make an altar for loved ones who have passed away, and some also visit their loved ones’ graves. For foreign brands, if they want to support this holiday, they can post content about it, for example “Feliz dia de los Muertos to all our Mexican customers.”  

18th to 21st Buen fin (Good Weekend): A weekend full of discounts from offline and online stores. This happens every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving (USA). Mexican shoppers expect good deals and discounts from local and international brands that ship to Mexico. You should be ready to have deals and market them through social media ads and Google, as they tend to browse the Internet to find out who has offers during this time.   

28th Cyber Monday: This holiday is the same as in the US. It is only for online shops, and Mexican consumers are aware of it and expect to find discounts from brands over the Internet.   

December 

24th Christmas Eve: In Mexico, this is the day when families gather for the big dinner and have the presents ready for Christmas Day. Some families exchange gifts on this day (like secret Santa). Take this into account for your marketing advertising and communication. 

25th Christmas Day: This day is when everything is close, children open their gifts, and people enjoy being with family.  

31st New Year`s Eve: This is celebrated with family or friends, like in the US. People get ready to ring the bells for the New Year. Some people make twelve wishes while eating twelve green grapes for the New Year. After Christmas, your shop should be ready to promote the New Year with campaigns on how your products contribute to goals, aspirations and new beginnings.   

January:  

1st New Year’s Day: A day to relax. Most people just stay at home or visit relatives to wish a happy New Year.   

6th Dia de los Reyes Magos (Wisemen’s Day): This day is celebrated by children leaving a letter or shoe to receive gifts, and then families have a special bread called “Rosca de Reyes.” For this holiday, the presents are for children, so they are the main focus for brands. However, for brands with a different target market, they can promote special discounts referring to “Dia de Reyes”, as currently Mexican consumers are used to this sales time.   

Rebajas de Invierno (January sales) 7th : January sales begin immediately after Dia de Reyes. Here is the time for brands to push sales by promoting winter items and new products that look towards starting a great new year.   

 

As the holidays approach, make sure you are ready in all areas of your business, from marketing, customer service to shipping, especially when it comes to international shipping, due to high customer expectations and logistical time constraints.   

As Borderguru, powered by Hermes Logistics, we can offer you our cross-border solution that can help you reach your customers in Mexico and around the world successfully. You will be able to provide them with an excellent checkout and shipping experience, with tax and duty calculations and low shipping costs at checkout.   

Make it easy for you and your customers to buy from your e-commerce brand these holidays! Contact us now.   

holiday bes option for Canada

Canada Holidays 2022 – Get your Shopify store ready for cross-border

by with No Comment Cross-BorderFashion

With Holidays around the corner, your e-commerce strategy needs to be ready. In our previous blog, “6 Tips to Prepare Your E-commerce Store for Holiday Season,” you will find additional tips to be 100% prepared for it. This time, we share with you the Special Holidays you need to mark on your calendar for your business to boost sales in Canada, and how to gain additional customers potentially.

Thanksgiving 10th 

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October, so this year lands on the 10th. Like the American Thanksgiving, this holiday is to spend time with their families. As an e-commerce brand, it is essential to be ready for this memorable holiday, as the weeks before are the busiest shopping days. Take advantage of this by marketing and promoting your products to be grateful to family and friends. 

Halloween 31st   

Similarly, as the celebration in the US, it is a day when children dress up in Halloween costumes and trick or treat around their neighborhood. Others have costume parties and pumpkin carving. People expect some deals on this holiday, mainly if you sell Halloween-related products. If you want to capitalize on this holiday, be prepared with discounts and bundle deals Halloween-themed, and you can also promote by doing content over social media.  

 

 

Black Friday 25th  

This holiday comes from the US every year on the last Friday of November, on November 25th, and has become popular in Canada. Shoppers in this country love the extreme price cuts that US brands are famous for during this time. As a US brand selling to Canada, be ready operational and promotional-wise to fulfill the incredible demand during this holiday.  

Sofa Sunday 27th  

This year’s Sofa Sunday is celebrated on November 27th. It has become a holiday due to the growing use of tablet devices. The idea is that after Thanksgiving (USA) and Black Friday, shoppers recover on Buy Nothing Day (Saturday) and then be ready on Sunday to go online and scroll websites to find online bargains. US brands that ship to Canada should be prepared to use it to grow sales and get new customers.  

Cyber Monday 28th  

This day is the first Monday after Thanksgiving (USA). This day is now used to promote online shopping, and is when people redeem gift vouchers and coupons and look for special discounts and pricing. As November has three special dates that promote shopping and special deals, it is essential not to miss out on any and research each audience to market what is needed according to the target audience.  

 

Green Monday 12th  

This holiday is important for online stores, as it is the second biggest selling time before Christmas after Cyber Monday. eBay created it in 2007 after it realized that from the second Monday of December, there are only ten days for orders to arrive on time for Christmas. Be prepared, as many are waiting for this day (last minute) to purchase the best deals for Christmas gifts.   

Super Saturday 24th  

This day can be seen as more profitable for offline stores, because Christmas is the next day. That does not mean online stores cannot play around with the concept and make good sales. Since customers are unlikely to receive gifts on time for Christmas Day, online brands can focus on people who have not received a gift for themselves and create a campaign with special discounts to promote self-confidence.   

Christmas 25th  

This day is for enjoying with family and give gifting. Most people do not pay attention to anything else, as it’s a special day to celebrate with your loved ones and spend quality time with them. This is not a shopping day, so relax and enjoy. 

Boxing Day 26 – 31 

Boxing day is on the 26th, but it has become a week of special discounts. Many businesses selling to Canadian shoppers offer special discounts and prices. This is the start of winter sales, and it is no longer about buying Christmas gifts, but buying for upcoming year occasions. Also, for things consumers could not buy before or during Christmas and waited for these deals.   

New Year’s Day 1st  

This holiday is for celebrating the New Year with your loved ones, whether with family or friends. After this day, you can promote the New Year for the next two weeks with marketing campaigns such as “New Year wardrobe,” “Gym clothes for your new goals,” and suitcases such as “New Year, new adventures.” It’s about aspirations and goals. Start the year with solid sales by knowing what your target market is interested in, and creating the need and want for them to have your products.  

 

Are you ready to take on the Canadian market? As important as marketing, offering an excellent international shipping experience is also essential; this is your lucky day! We are BorderGuru, a cross-border solution that can help convert your existing traffic into actual customers. We will make it easy for you to ship your products to Canada, so that you only focus on branding and selling your product. 

  

Contact us now! And start to boost your sales this holiday season!   

 

 

Sustainable online selling and shipping - ecommerce

Sustainable eCommerce – Become a Sustainable E-commerce Brand

by with No Comment Cross-Border

Recently, we have heard the word sustainability many times across all sectors. But what is it, and how small-medium e-commerce brands can positively contribute to sustainability? 

Let’s begin by defining “sustainability.” According to the United Nations, Sustainability is fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations, ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental care and social well-being.   

In business terms, the meaning is to look at the products and services produced and consider their impact on the environment and society. 

In this post, we will explain the main pillars and practices to become a sustainable e-commerce brand and how you can positively impact your business, customer acquisition and customer retention.   

Consumers are now aware of the product’s impact on the environment. As e-commerce sales have increased, as seen in our previous blog, “Cross-Border eCommerce – The key to international growth,” the impact on the environment has become an essential topic for consumers.

In summary, this is the perfect time for small-medium e-commerce brands to start implementing sustainable practices that positively impact the environment while satisfying shoppers.   

What are the three pillars of sustainability? 

Environment: Focuses on biodiversity conservation without hurting economic and social progress, for example, safeguarding energy, reducing waste, reusing paper, and using sustainable transport. 

Economy: This refers to the ability of a company to manage its resources and responsibly generate profits in the long term. For example, create and promote awareness among consumers regarding responsible consumption.   

Society refers to ensuring proper working conditions and fair wages rather than just caring about volume and spending. It is about caring for employees and those in the supply chain and giving back to communities in need.  

Taking these pillars into account, here are four best practices you can implement to become a sustainable e-commerce brand.  

  • Supply chain  

It is essential to know where the raw materials for producing your products come from and how workers are treated. This is the first step to see if you need to make changes and how you can improve to contribute to sustainability.   

For example, if you are a fashion brand, you would check whether the fabrics used are recycled, if the cotton is organic, and about the travel time and energy used to produce. By auditing your supply chain, you can find out what you need to do or change to be more sustainable. 

  • Packaging  

As an e-commerce brand, the packaging is essential to deliver your products in good condition. Sometimes it is almost impossible not to use specific packaging to protect your products as much as possible. Still, there are alternatives that you can use to reduce the impact on the environment and be cost-effective without hurting quality.   

Some ideas:  

    • Use just enough packaging to protect the product, avoid oversized packaging 
    • Use packaging made of recycled materials   
    • Recycle old boxes, paper bags, or paper sheets by shedding them to use as a protective material for packaging 
    • Go paperless with invoices. 
    • Promote and raise awareness of the recycling of packaging materials by finding a new use or giving them back to you or recycling companies. 
  • Shipping  

Here are some ideas on how your company can implement sustainability in shipping your products. 

    • When possible, ship in bulk.   
    • Ask your customers to ensure their chosen address is the right one, and offer delivery alternatives to avoid additional trips and save resources. 
    • Use a cross-border solution such as BorderGuru, part of Hermes, a global logistics champion based in Germany, committed to reducing CO2 emissions and taking sustainability measures such as using electric vans, cargo bikes and renewable energy. 
    • Save money, time and transport resources by offering your customers the opportunity to pay taxes and duties at checkout and have customs-clear orders so their package is delivered to their chosen address without additional costs or trips. You can offer this with BorderGuru’s Shopify cross-border shipping app.   
  • Returns  

Returns for online shops are inevitable because there are various reasons a customer wants to return an item. But here’s what you can do to reduce returns: 

    • Provide clear information about your products, such as exact size information, high-quality photos and photos of different sizes, to avoid customers choosing the wrong size and reduce the likelihood of disappointment when they receive something different from what they expected. 
    • Implement policies to avoid customers ordering the same product in different sizes to reduce the probability of returning unwanted items. 
    • You could offer customers small discounts if they waive their return option. 

Once you have decided what to implement to contribute to sustainability, it is time to communicate this clearly and honestly with your customers. So, here are some tips to help you achieve this.   

  • The homepage  

In this section of your website, make sure that you share the sustainability practices of your brand with your customers in a friendly and exciting way for your target market, especially if you have certifications that increase the credibility of your brand’s sustainability statements and decisions.   

  • Product page   

Here you should share in detail information about your products’ source and production process and show their sustainable part. For example, if you are a clothing brand and use organic cotton, you should share it here.   

  • Checkout   

Be transparent about reducing carbon emissions from customer purchases, for example, by using a carrier like BorderGuru Hermes, which is committed to reducing its environmental impact. Another idea is to add a planet badge to your online store to show your commitment to shipping carbon neutrality to your customers.   

  • About Us page   

It would be best if you highlighted all your brand’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact. For example, if you have a donation or buyback program or program to encourage your customers to recycle non-used products. All this information is a great way to show how much you care about the environment and prioritize the life cycle of your products.   

 

This is the right time for your brand to become more sustainable and sell across borders! Take your US e-commerce brand to the next level and start selling to up to 200 countries using BorderGruru’s cross-border solution. Many potential customers from different countries are waiting for your brand to be available in their countries. Do not miss this opportunity and take advantage of this growing global demand!   

Contact us now and start selling internationally without complexities!
Australia_BorderGuru

Australia: Cross-border selling opportunity for US brands

by with No Comment Cross-BorderFashion

Australia is an important trade partner for the United States. Of the total imports, China is the most significant (29%), followed by the US (11%) and Japan (6.3%). The same applies to cross-border online sales, as shown in the following graph. The US is second with a share of 28%, putting it ahead of the UK and behind China. 

In 2021, it remained similar in terms of the top countries where Australians bought the most online, China with 30.1%, the USA with 22.5% and New Zealand with 4.7%. This means that the US continues to be a strong player in cross-border e-commerce in Australia, allowing US brands to enter the Australian market successfully.  

For this reason, we are discussing different market & economy overviews, digital overviews, e-commerce outlook, and how BorderGuru can help your brand expand into a country full of opportunities for your fashion Shopify store to increase international sales.  

Population & economy overview 

Australia has a population of 26.14 million. The most populous cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. The median age is 37.5 years, and the largest age group in percentage is people between 25 and 54 years (41.15%), as can be seen in the image below: 

 

The official language is English, and the currency is the Australian dollar. The exchange rate is approx. 1 USD = 1.38 AUD.   

Regarding the economy, Australia ranks 13th among the largest economies in the world. With a GDP per capita of $51,885 and a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of $ 1.31 trillion. Australia’s economy has become stronger after the pandemic, and GDP is expected to grow by 6.6%  by the end of 2022. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted that Australia would move up one place to be the 12th largest economy in 2023. 

Digital Overview 

Australia is a very digital market like Canada, as our previous blog, “Canada: Cross-Border Selling Opportunity for US Brands,” shows. Australia has many Internet users. As seen in the image below, 90% of the population, just under 5% of Canada, has access to the Internet. It is also essential to be aware of the percentage of mobile Internet users, as it accounts for more than 50% of the population. Your website must provide a mobile-optimized experience, and the content must be suitable for mobile phones to further capitalize on this market.   

Regarding social media, there were 21.45 million users in January 2022, representing 82.7 percent of the total population; this is many users who can become potential customers for your brand. The following image shows the number of users per social network. With this information and knowing your specific target market, you can get an idea of where it is best to promote your brand to attract Australian consumers and increase your sales.   

According to Statista, in 2021, the most popular online activities of adult Internet users in Australia were e-mail 98%, web browsing 96%, banking 92%, watching videos 90%, access to news 85% and online shopping 85%. This means that shopping is one of the top online activities as e-commerce sales continue to grow. As we will see next, “E-commerce Outlook.” 

E-commerce outlook 

As e-commerce sales are on the rise worldwide, Australia is in the same boat as online sales increased by 15% in 2021. The same year, Australia’s online sales totaled 31 billion US dollars, placing it ahead of Russia and Canada.   

According to Australia Post’s E-commerce Industry Report, online purchase frequency increased by 112% in 2021, from 1.6 million in 2019 to 3.4 million. Over 80% of Australian households made online purchases in the same year.   

In 2021, the top 5 categories purchased through e-commerce (local and foreign brands) were fashion products (72%), groceries (54%), takeaways (54%), beauty (45%) and electronics (43%).   

Not only are Australians buying more online vs offline, but they also buy more from foreign brands. In 2021, cross-border purchases increased more than domestic purchases, 5.32%, compared to 4.07%. And the top categories of cross-border e-commerce were: 

 

                                                

As seen at the beginning of this blog, the US is a strong player in cross-border e-commerce in Australia, after China is one of the countries where Australians buy the most products. This shows that more US brands in the trendy categories will successfully enter this market. 

Here are the top reasons Australians continue to buy online after the pandemic. This information comes from the Interactive Advertising Bureau Australia (IAB). 

  • Convenience – 76% 
  • Free delivery – 50% 
  • Lower prices – 45% 
  • Discounts – 37% 
  • More product options 33% 
  • Fast shipping – 26% 
  • Finding certain products/ brands – 25% 
  • Products only sold online – 25% 
  • Safety (avoid public places) – 20% 
  • Free returns – 13% 
  • Find new brands – 11% 
  • Reviews from other customers – 10% 

It is essential to be aware of these reasons, so you can provide the products and experience that the Australian market wants and expects from online stores. 

How can your brand expand to Australia without hurdles?  

BorderGuru can help your Shopify store to achieve a smooth and successful expansion into Australia by providing you with a full cross-border service, from legal compliance and competitive shipping costs to customs-clear orders. Process all international orders like any other domestic sale without investment or changes in your daily operations. Offer your customers the best online shopping and shipping experience. With BorderGuru, your customers will never have to deal with additional fees at delivery time. 

 Are you ready for the next step of your international expansion? Contact us now and start your global journey with us.   

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6 Tips to Prepare Your E-commerce Store for Holiday Season

by with No Comment Cross-BorderFashion

It’s that time of the year! Can you believe it? Time to prepare for the Holiday Season.

As an e-commerce brand, preparing for one of the best sales times of the year is essential. The holiday season begins with Halloween, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas and the New Year. However, don’t forget other important holidays from other countries, such as Boxing Day or Wisemen Day, and after Christmas sales, such as January sales.

Since many dates are now considered essential holidays for online shops, it can be overwhelming, so brands need to start planning now. Avoid panicking and instead become shoppers’ go-to for gifts.

Consider these six tips for a successful holiday season. Trust us; they will help you stay calm and competitive, and even turn new and current customers into loyal ones.

1- Don’t undervalue the power of sales on other holidays around the world

As important as it is to consider US holidays, which are also celebrated in other countries, such as Christmas and New Year. Other holidays could be regarded as necessary, depending on where your customers are.

For example, suppose your customers are in Mexico or Spain. In that case, it is important to consider Wisemen Day (Dia de Reyes), as it is a memorable holiday where children receive surprise gifts (similar to Santa’s gifts), which your business can capitalize on. Similarly, if your customers are in the UK, Boxing Day is a date to mark as special to increase your revenue.

So don’t forget to research to maximize sales during the holiday season!

2- Prepare for incoming traffic

As the holiday season approaches, consumers start looking for gifts, which translates into increased sales and inventory needs. So, to keep your customers happy, consider the following:

  • Check inventory:

Consider your most sold and popular products and plan to have a higher number of items in stock than you usually do. Collaborate with your marketing and demand planning team to have as much information as possible to help you forecast and make informed decisions rather than guessing.

  • E-commerce fulfillment: 

As sales increase, so does the fulfillment of orders. This means you should be prepared to have sufficient resources, personnel and packaging materials to complete all sales. Remember, it’s essential to keep customers happy. Try to avoid mistakes by planning as much as possible.

Also, do not forget about the after-sale experience. Since many products are bought as gifts, prepared for exchanges and returns in January, the customer experience is the key to re-purchases. Better to be prepared than to lose customers.

  • Website reliability: 

It is common for people to buy at the last minute, and systems can become saturated. To avoid an unpleasant experience for your customers, test your site and ensure your site’s infrastructure is ready for high demand. Remember that page load speed matters for revenue, avoiding cart abandonment.

3- Enhance Customer Experience

This is one of the most important aspects to consider, as it can turn into a purchase or unfinished transaction. From the moment your home page is displayed on the customer’s device, it is the first impression they get from your brand. Make sure your homepage shows what your customers are looking for. This means your bestsellers, discounts, search bar and menu so they can easily navigate through your site. If your site is complex to navigate, you risk users will not find what they need and will look elsewhere.

4- Ensure maximum transparency in the shipping experience

For online brands, the shipping experience is essential, and during the holidays, you can encounter problems that affect the ability to deliver orders on time, which can upset customers. Since delays cannot be avoided this season, you should be ready to communicate this clearly to customers.

Customers also appreciate tracking their orders and getting notifications to be informed. They take this aspect as an excellent customer service experience. As BorderGuru, we can help you provide an excellent shipping experience, as we offer whole track and trace transparency and competitive shipping prices.

You can also try to avoid additional delays with our service, as we calculate all taxes and duties in real-time at checkout and provide your customers with customs-cleared orders. So, you and your customers do not have to worry about extra delays and fees.

5- Optimize your online shop’s marketing

At this time of the year, the more you can advertise your products, the better, as consumers actively seek items to gift and wear at holiday parties. Ultimately, if you do not showcase your products, people will never know about them.

Some of the things you can do to optimize your marketing efforts are:

  • Find out where your target market spends the most online
  • Take the time to prepare the design and copy of your ads
  • Use your social media pages to post organic content
  • Collaborate with influencers who resonate with your target audience

6- Special offers

Special offers are a must during the holiday season, so please do not forget to consider this. As these are special days for many, consumers will appreciate the nice touches on this. This can differentiate you from competitors.

To optimize the results of these special offers, you can create a feeling of urgency by offering them for a limited period, and you can change them as you see fit.

Some ideas for special offers are:

  • Discounted prices
  • Buy one, get one free or at a discounted price
  • Purchase a certain amount, and you get a free gift
  • Gift-themed stickers adding your brand name
  • Include a personalized message depending on the holiday (Halloween, Christmas)
  • Free branded goodies as a thank you

This year’s holiday season is expected to be particularly special for businesses and consumers, as they want to celebrate as closely as before the pandemic. This is the time for your online shop to shine, despite the logistical challenges associated with a busy sales season.

Remember to plan this properly, so that you can achieve positive results. Also, to stay in customers’ minds, so they come back to you and even recommend your brand to others.

BorderGuru can help you successfully reach all your customers around the world. Offer your customers an easy and convenient shipping experience with our cross-border solution. We calculate all taxes and duties in real time and handle them for you. We provide your customers with customs-cleared orders and competitive shipping prices. This gives them less worrying and more time to enjoy their holidays with their special people.

Let us help you succeed in this holiday season! Contact us now and be fully ready to bring happiness to your customers.

world-crossborder-ecommerce

Top Countries for US Fashion Brands to Expand Internationally

by with No Comment Cross-Border

Our previous blog, “Cross-Border eCommerce – The Key to International Growth,” mentions that e-commerce is continuously growing. According to Statista, online sales in 2021 were $4.9 trillion and are expected to rise to $7.3 trillion.   

The cross-border e-commerce market value in 2019 was about $579 billion and is expected to reach $2.25 trillion by 2026. Cross-border e-commerce involves buying and selling products in online stores across international borders.   

The following map shows the countries with the most significant percentage of shoppers buying from international online stores.

As we can see in the image, these are some countries where US fashion brands can expand internationally. Taking this premise into account, the five most important countries with the highest percentage of cross-border shoppers are; Brazil at 86%, Australia at 85%, Canada at 83%, France at 79% and Germany at 74%.    

In 2020, the countries that purchased the most from US brands through e-commerce were: Canada at 51%, Mexico at 50%, South Korea at 47% and India at 28%.   

The main reasons for consumers to purchase through cross-border e-commerce are:   

  • Lower prices  
  • Brands not available in their home countries 
  • Unique and more expansive product options 

Where does Fashion stand in the e-commerce market?   

The global Fashion C-commerce Market was valued at nearly 700 billion US dollars in 2021. In 2022, it is expected to be one of the three most important categories of global e-commerce sales, with a revenue forecast of $1 trillion. This category has grown continuously and become more popular in online sales. Global fashion e-commerce is expected to reach more than $1.2 trillion by 2025.   

The International Post Corporation’s online survey, conducted in 2021 in 40 countries with 33,179 participants, found that the top categories in cross-border e-commerce were clothing, footwear and apparel, with 34% of respondents.   

As can be seen, fashion products have a high demand worldwide, leaving plenty of room for brands interested in fulfilling the needs and wishes of consumers in other countries to do so successfully.    

Which countries have a higher potential for US fashion brands to expand?  

At this point, you might ask yourself what the best countries for your US fashion brand are to expand and increase your international sales. Here you will find a list of the countries with the highest online fashion sales.   

Looking at the graph below at the revenue of fashion retail e-commerce by country, we can get an idea of the top 10 countries where the fashion category in e-commerce has a higher penetration and thus higher revenue.

1. China  

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 70%  
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $2.78 trillion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: $312.2 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 65% 

 2. The UK 

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 95% 
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $1.69 billion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: $60.56 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 66% 

 3. Japan  

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 90% 
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $144 billion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: $54.39 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 36% 

4. Germany  

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 90% 
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $101.5 billion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: $38.47 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 74% 

5. South Korea  

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 97% 
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $120.56 billion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: 37.18 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 41% 

6. France 

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 85%
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $80 billion
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: 32.96 billion
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 79% 

7. India 

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 43% 
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $67.5 billion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: 19.69 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 56% 

8. Italy  

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 70% 
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $26 billion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: $19.43 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 67% 

9. Canada  

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 97% 
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $44 billion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: $16.53 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 83% 

10. Australia 

  • Internet penetration in 2020: 90% 
  • E-commerce sales in 2021: $31 billion 
  • Fashion e-commerce sales forecast 2022: $11.12 billion 
  • Percentage of cross-border shoppers: 83% 

These countries could be an excellent choice for US fashion brands to expand their international footprint. As shown, they not only have the highest percentage of consumers willing to buy from foreign brands through e-commerce but also the highest fashion e-commerce sales. These offer US brands high opportunities to penetrate the international market successfully.   

What do you need to consider before expanding into a new country?  

Marketing elements  

  • Identify your ideal international customer: Your brand needs to create a target persona that means your ideal international customer. In this way, you can find the most effective way to present and sell your products and have a higher chance of success in the market or markets you want to expand. 
  • Connect with influencers: This marketing tactic has become popular in recent years, allowing brands to become more natural and build trust. It is also a way to connect deeper with consumers. Finding influencers with followers like your ideal customer could give you a higher chance of starting on the right foot and attracting their attention. 
  • Engage with your Audience: Research popular social media networks within your target audience and try different engagement activities to find out what gives you positive results—for example, answering messages on time, giveaways and polls. This will help you to increase brand awareness, trust and sales. 
  • Retarget visitors: It is a good marketing practice to have campaigns to retarget visitors who have left products on the shopping cart or have products on their favorite list. For example, show ads or send e-mails with discounts on the products they were interested in. Retargeting helps increase turnover and generate a great return on investment (ROI).   

 Logistics and payment  

  • Payment options: Be aware of your target market’s most common payment options. For example, paying with Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or bank transfer is very common in Europe. Therefore, it is a matter of finding out what your visitors use for online payments and offering them.   
  • Customer service: Customer satisfaction is the key to happiness, loyalty and returning customers. Barriers to language, culture and time zones can be challenging to provide an excellent buying experience. However, allocating staff to support clients in other countries helps businesses avoid misunderstandings and be more efficient.   

 Delivery experience: 

  • Shipping cost: One of the concerns of shoppers buying from international brands is the high shipping costs. So, what you can do as a brand is finding the most cost-effective solution to offer your customers. This will help your customers continue their checkout and improve their shopping and shipping experience. With BorderGuru, you can offer the most competitive shipping costs and a smooth checkout experience.   
  •  Delivery time: This is also a concern and the best thing to do is to be transparent with your customers about delivery times and situations where deliveries can be delayed. Next, you need a solution that provides your customers with reliable shipping updates until they receive their package. BorderGuru offers end-to-end track and trace that allows your customers to feel safe, as they will know every shipment stage until it gets delivered. 
  • Return policy: Research and understand the return rate and legislation of the country or countries the business is selling to. Make sure to have a straightforward process and policies to handle returns and communicate them to customers. 
  • Customs, Taxes and duties: It is vital for companies to have information on customs, taxes, and duties and check how they will be handled and communicated to customers. For example, it might be easier and more transparent for customers to see a price with tax and pay duties upfront along with shipping. This way, customers do not have to worry about further costs once their package arrives, as it will be customs cleared.   

If your brand is ready to take the next step towards international expansion, consider us your global partner. BorderGuru will provide full support by offering you and your customers the best shipping experience, from competitive shipping costs to calculating taxes and duties at checkout to custom-made orders so that your customers do not have to worry about surprises at delivery.   

With BorderGuru, you have the opportunity to ship to up to 200 countries without any hurdles.  

Contact us now and discover the endless possibilities the international market offers! 

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Why Are HS Codes So Important for Cross-Border Trade?

by with No Comment Cross-Border

International shipping can be an excellent opportunity for brands to increase their sales. As cross-border e-commerce continues to grow worldwide, it becomes easier to reach customers worldwide. Your online store must be ready to meet the demand you have.

So, what about all the requirements and documents you need to import your products into other countries? Preparing your products for shipping across borders can seem daunting and overwhelming. If you already offer international shipping, you must have come across the term “HS code” and how important it is to be compliant to avoid penalties and delays in delivering your products to your customers. If you don’t know about it… don’t worry, after reading this blog, you will learn and understand it.    

HS codes are a fundamental part of international shipping. These codes classify your products and make it easier to fill out any needed international documents. It is important to be aware of the requirements to comply with customs and tax authorities to find a solution that can save you from problems that can cost you money and dissatisfied customers.   

For this reason, we will explain what HS codes are, how customs use them, their relevance to your Shopify store, and how we can help your business remove all the complexity of international growth. 

What is an HS Code?  

Harmonized System (HS) code is a standardized numerical method to classify goods being traded internationally. They are commonly used across the world by customs authorities to identify products when assessing duties and taxes, and to record imported products.  

Each HS code is composed of six digits. The first two digits are chapters, the following two digit headings, and the last two sub-headings. There are 21 sections, 99 chapters, 1,244 headings, and 5,224 sub-headings.   

Summary: key features of HS codes:  

  • Six-digit code to classify the goods 
  • Defined rules that classify the goods 
  • Act as a uniform standard for the classification of goods worldwide 
  • Covers 98% of goods in international trade and over 5000 commodities

How do Customs use HS Codes?  

Imagine everyday countries receive a large amount of goods from other parts of the world, and categories vary, as well as name, appearance and size of each product. So, it would take a long time for customs authorities to identify each product manually. Therefore, HS codes are used to identify imported goods more accurately and faster and charge the right amount of taxes and duties.   

It is vital for merchants to classify the imported goods and include this information correctly in the documents presented to customs. If not done correctly, you run the risk of customs opening your parcels and checking the content inside. If the HS codes declared do not match the product, your business might encounter the following issues:   

  • Considered non-compliant   
  • Extra charges to be paid   
  • Fines and charges as penalties   
  • Product rejections   
  • Delivery delays  
  • Unsatisfied customers  
  • Lower profit margins in case of paying a higher amount of tax or customer returns    

For these reasons and more, you need a partner and solution to help you with compliance. BorderGuru helps you avoid these risks by accurately mapping and automatically classifying all your products and assigning an HS code. We will be the importer of record and handle customs on your behalf. Once your products are shipped, we will ensure that they navigate customs safely and are seamlessly delivered to your end customers.   

 Why are HS Codes relevant for your Shopify Store, and how can BorderGuru help your business comply with customs?  

As already explained, HS codes are required to ship any product internationally. This can be complex for brands, as not only do products have to be accurately classified to be assigned an HS code, but also the information must be included in most international export documentation, like commercial invoices or certificates of origin.   

Failure to correctly assign HS codes or include all necessary information in customs documents can lead to delays, additional significant costs, and unsatisfied customers.   

It is important to consider all import requirements to offer international shipping in your Shopify store. Without HS codes and export documents, you will not be able to comply with customs, or deliver parcels to your international customers.   

BorderGuru can handle everything for you to correctly comply with all requirements, so that your business doesn’t encounter any issue when its parcels go through customs, and they can be easily dispatched and delivered to your customers around the world.    

We can also calculate and guarantee all landed costs at checkout to give you and your customers the best possible shipping experience.   

 

Click here to learn more about how BorderGuru can manage the entire process, from start to finish, to expand your business globally without complexities.