How do you start e-export?
Can you sell directly to individual customers abroad? Yes; e-export is one of the most accessible routes abroad for small businesses. But if shipping, returns, customs and payment aren’t thought through, orders book losses. 💻
E-export is classic exporting in small, frequent shipments: every order is its own shipment.
Short answer: start e-export with one or two markets and a few products; set up the channel (international marketplace or your own site), shipping, returns and payment in advance. 🧭
Note: foreign trade regulations, procedures and support schemes change; get current information from your customs broker, your bank and the Ministry of Trade.
Four sales channels
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- International marketplaces
- Domestic platforms’ foreign channels
- Your own e-commerce site
- Social selling
Different routes. 🛒
International marketplaces
Ready traffic and trust; rules and commission are the platform’s. 🏪
Domestic platforms’ foreign channels
A step into new markets with a platform you know; see the archive’s marketplace expansion guide. 🌍
Your own e-commerce site
Brand and data are yours; traffic is earned. 🌐
Social selling
Through communities for niche products; scale limited. 📱
Before starting
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- Product choice
- Shipping solution
- Customs and taxes
- Payment and currency
Four preparations. 📋
Product choice
Light, unbreakable, low-return products; see the market choice guide. 📦
Shipping solution
International shipping options, time and cost. ✈️
Customs and taxes
Who pays taxes and fees in the buyer’s country? Tell customers upfront. 🛃
Payment and currency
Receiving international payments and a currency routine; see the currency risk guide. 💳
Customer experience
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- Local language and units
- Clear delivery time
- A clear returns policy
- Fast support
Four principles. ⭐
Local language and units
Product information in the market’s language, sizes in local units. 🔤
Clear delivery time
Estimated delivery time realistic and visible. 📅
A clear returns policy
How international returns work, who pays; in writing. ↩️
Fast support
Timely replies to customers in other time zones. 💬
Measuring
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- Net profit per order
- Delivery time
- Return rate
- Repeat purchases
Four indicators. 📊
Net profit per order
After shipping, commission, returns and currency; the real figure. 🧮
Delivery time
Did promised times hold? ⏱️
Return rate
By market and product; with its cost. ↩️
Repeat purchases
Are foreign customers coming back? 🔁
Four common mistakes
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- Opening to the whole world
- Not telling customers about duties
- Starting with heavy, fragile products
- Converting the domestic price
All four push e-export into loss. 🚧
Opening to the whole world
Every country’s shipping and tax rules differ; chaos follows. 🌪️
Not telling customers about duties
Surprise fees at the door bring returns and bad reviews. 🎁
Starting with heavy, fragile products
Shipping costs and damage eat profit. 📦
Converting the domestic price
International shipping and commission aren’t added; see the pricing guide. 🧮
What should I do today?
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- Step 1: five suitable products
- Step 2: one market, one channel
- Step 3: profit per order
- If you want help
Three steps, one hour. 🪜
Step 1: five suitable products
Light, sturdy, low-return; a list. 📦
Step 2: one market, one channel
A single market and channel for the first trial; decide. 🎯
Step 3: profit per order
Including shipping, commission, tax info and a returns margin; a table. 🧮
If you want help
Let us plan your e-export together: use the consult your expert form. For your current setup see the digital audit; the bigger picture sits on the foreign trade consultancy page. 🎯
Related reading from the archive: first 90 days of a store · marketplace and own site.
📝 Notes From the Field
A handmade goods seller started e-export by opening to the whole world, and because of differing shipping and tax rules many orders were returned. It narrowed to one market and one channel, added delivery times and possible tax information to product pages and built a profit-per-order table. Returns fell and regular sales formed in the chosen market.
📖 Short Glossary
E-export: selling to customers abroad through online channels. International marketplace: an online platform selling in many countries. Fees at the door: taxes and charges asked of the buyer on delivery. Profit per order: what’s left after all costs.
⚡ Quick Summary
E-export is an accessible route for small businesses. 💻 International marketplaces, domestic platforms’ foreign channels, your own site and social selling are four channels. Set up product choice, shipping, customs-tax information and payment in advance. Local language, realistic delivery times, a clear returns policy and fast support shape the experience. Net profit per order is the real measure.
🎯 Next Step
Let us plan your e-export: use the consult your expert form. The overall plan sits in the export roadmap; for your setup see the digital audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Obligations vary by sales volume and channel. Consult your accountant and current regulations on tax and declarations.
Light, unbreakable, low-return and distinctive products. Heavy and fragile ones struggle with shipping costs.
Write a clear returns policy; some sellers use refunds without return or local warehouse solutions for low-value items.