International online trade on marketplaces
For online retailers, it is becoming increasingly worthwhile to focus on lucrative sales markets abroad in addition to the German market. These offer numerous advantages - provided that the know-how of the e-commerce software is right... with brickfox Multichannel E-Commerce, online retailers serve not only the large international marketplaces of Amazon, eBay & Co, but also highly frequented country-specific platforms such as the Swiss Ricardoshops, neckermann.at or Cdiscount - the "N°1 du e-commerce en France".
Cross-border e-commerce is more than just "the new trend" in online retail. It is a must for online retailers who want to remain competitive in the long term to actively engage with the topic. In times of secure payment methods, ever more extensive logistics and automated sales management via multi-channel e-commerce tools such as brickfox, international sales markets are within reach... and hold enormous potential.
Anyone who starts internationally now can take full advantage of the growth that forecasts say will continue until 2020. But the right course must be set for this. brickfox Multichannel E-Commerce creates an optimal basis for exploring trade on foreign online marketplaces and expanding it step by step. The entry-level version of the E-Commerce Middleware masters the challenges that international online trade with different languages and currencies brings with it. This means that even smaller retailers and start-ups can test trade abroad. The possibilities that brickfox offers are diverse and - with the right strategy - worthwhile.
Step 1: Selling in German-speaking countries
A simple and sensible starting strategy is expansion into German-speaking countries abroad. Here, the language barrier is eliminated, allowing retailers to get started immediately using brickfox as middleware. While Austria can be served three times over via amazon.at , rakuten.at , and neckermann.at , ricardoshops.ch reaches a Swiss audience with strong purchasing power. Hurdles in trade with non-EU countries – such as dealing with different currencies or cross-border logistics – can be easily overcome with brickfox & ricardoshops. Thanks to intelligent trading structures, the costs are similar to selling within Germany. From duty-free delivery to returns processing without a dedicated Swiss warehouse, the challenges of trading with Switzerland are already profitably solved with brickfox & ricardoshops.
Step 2: Expand into English-speaking countries
The British are at the forefront of the lucrative European e-commerce markets. The islanders not only have a huge passion for online shopping, but also provide an excellent starting point for expansion into the English-speaking world. The English language makes Great Britain a central hub in international trade, and German online retailers can capitalize on this. Once the language barrier is overcome with English translations, numerous English-speaking countries can be served. With brickfox as an e-commerce middleware, online retailers can reach not only Great Britain – amazon.co.uk – but also the 280 million customers worldwide of amazon.com and amazon.ca.
Alongside Amazon, eBay is a platform that shouldn't be underestimated in international trade. Brickfox allows you to serve not only Canada and Australia (eBay.ca and ebay.com.au, respectively), but also any country beyond the English-speaking world. Thanks to an intelligent Brickfox feature, online retailers with a German eBay account can sell on any eBay platform worldwide . Cross-border trade is supported by Brickfox's in-depth expertise in handling product identification, tax rates, and currencies. Whether it's assigning unique SKUs, applying percentage-based currency adjustments, or setting individual prices per product and country – Brickfox makes a lot possible for international sales.
Step 3: Act across Europe – France, Spain & Italy
Even retailers who want to stick with the Euro but have a French, Spanish, or Italian-speaking background can expand with brickfox. The e-commerce middleware has Amazon and eBay interfaces for numerous European countries . However, special attention is paid to France. In addition to the French Amazon and eBay, brickfox also allows access to the highly frequented platform Cdiscount.com, "No. 1 e-commerce in France ." And that's worthwhile! France is – after Great Britain and Germany – the number 3 e-commerce market in Europe… and even the leader in terms of growth. France is considered a key player in e-commerce, especially for German online retailers. The French love German products and enjoy shopping online. Half of all French people regularly shop online and, at 10%, return items remarkably little compared to other European countries. And there are many French people. In addition to France's approximately 66 million inhabitants, there are the 5 million people in the French-speaking regions of Belgium and Switzerland, which, as immediate neighbors, fall within the catchment area of French marketplaces. This represents a considerable shopping potential that no online retailer should miss!