To help demystify the difficulties associated with expanding operations, eCommerce experts from Systemise Fulfilment in the EU and USA have helped UK businesses to take the leap to expand globally. To show you, if you’re considering going global, that these opportunities aren’t out of reach for anyone. What to consider before expanding into the EU? Ales Kylar, Manager of Systemise Fulfilment in the Czech Republic shared: “A huge benefit to choosing to expand into the EU is there is much less competition in comparison to say the UK or US markets. A common misconception is that UK companies may struggle with language barriers, however, all EU countries do business in English so this is not a problem. “There are, however, many factors to consider before expanding into Europe. I often see people make the mistake of thinking expanding into the EU will be easy, not fully preparing which ultimately leads to many businesses failing to expand successfully and reverting back to UK-only operations. “I would only recommend companies that have already successfully and sustainably grown their business and ideally, have a team also committed to the expansion mission to make the move into the EU. As businesses need to take time to figure everything out and be dedicated to building systems specifically for the EU market - which can be vastly different from what they may be used to in the UK - and it’s companies that do this that I see outperform their UK sales. “I’d also recommend seeking advice from others already in the EU market, to gain an insider view of what to expect and prepare for. For example, I work with many UK companies on a one-to-one basis to calculate all the costs associated with expanding, identify relevant wholesalers, and answer all questions related to operating in Europe. “My top tips to anyone making the move into the EU eCommerce space is first, decide how many countries in the EU you want to expand to, for example, you could opt for PAN-EU which includes Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic - this although a great option, is expensive due to needing to register for VAT in each country. An alternative approach is to choose just one country, for example, Germany which is a popular option as they are the biggest Amazon market after the USA - which is a good way to grow in Europe at minimal cost and build effective processes before expanding into multiple EU countries. “I also always recommend allocating plenty of time to sourcing and contracting new suppliers, choosing an EU accountant to file your VAT A huge benefit to starting an eCommerce business is the endless growth possibilities that are available to take your business from a small one-person operation in the UK to a full-scale business operating internationally. returns and speaking to them about how EU tax law works and what you need to do each month to remain compliant. Starting with Amazon wholesale as soon as possible, and hiring a virtual assistant to help you stay on top of things. What to consider before expanding into the USA? Jake Diego, Manager of Systemise Fulfilment in the USA shares his expertise in operating in the US eCommerce market: “Amazon USA is the largest eCommerce customer base in the world - so expanding into this market can be hugely beneficial for UK businesses and allow you to bring new products to the US and vice versa. “The US eCommerce market is more developed than the UK and therefore more complex which can mean there are more barriers to entry - but this shouldn’t scare anyone away. “To expand your eCommerce business into the US, you will simply need to apply to sell products and provide the required documentation. So, keeping clear records and all the appropriate documentation, monitoring your account health page regularly and Ales Kylar, Manager of Systemise Fulfilment in the Czech Republic shared: “A huge benefit to choosing to expand into the EU is there is much less competition in comparison to say the UK or US markets. A common misconception is that UK companies may struggle with language barriers, however, all EU countries do business in English so this is not a problem.” E-Commerce experts share their tips on how to expand your operations overseas
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