One of the most significant advantages of selling on Amazon international marketplaces is that you dramatically increase your marketing reach. You're not just selling to those near your physical stores. Instead, you can potentially sell your products to the whole world.
Amazon has stores across the globe. You can reach millions of customers across 21 different countries shopping in Amazon's four American and nine European stores alone. With over 310 million customers worldwide, it is the number one online eCommerce platform for all of your needs. Alongside this, Amazon has multiple stores in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. And each year, Amazon opens new marketplaces in different parts of the world. So, it can provide global reach for your products.
It may seem daunting to sell on these Amazon international marketplaces, particularly if you are a small or isolated business. However, it is a relatively straightforward process to list your products in Amazon's global stores, and we will lead you through the steps in this article.
How To Sell on Amazon International Marketplaces?
Amazon allows you to reach millions of customers across 21 different countries. You can leverage Amazon's extensive global infrastructure, which includes over 185 fulfillment centers worldwide (110 in the United States), to manage your sales efficiently. Most sellers operate as third-party vendors, selling directly to consumers rather than selling their products to Amazon itself.
1. Create Your Selling Accounts
To get started, you'll need to establish your presence in the relevant markets. Begin by setting up a Professional North America and Brazil unified selling account. This account grants you the ability to sell in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, providing a streamlined entry into these key markets.
If your expansion plans include Europe, Asia-Pacific, or the Middle East, you'll need to create additional regional accounts specific to those areas. Each region has unique registration requirements, including legal, tax, and banking details, so it's crucial to thoroughly understand these before proceeding to ensure compliance and a smooth setup.
2. Select Your Products
Selecting the right products to sell internationally requires careful consideration and market research. Begin by analyzing the demand for your products in the target marketplaces using tools like Amazon's Best Sellers lists, which can provide insights into trending items in different regions.
Additionally, consider the cultural and seasonal factors that may influence purchasing behavior in each market. For instance, certain products may be more popular during local holidays or may need adjustments to meet regional preferences.
Furthermore, exploring our Top Trending Products on Amazon for 2024 guide can offer valuable insights into what’s currently popular across various categories. The guide also includes free seller tools designed to help you identify trending and profitable products. To summarize, the top-selling product categories on Amazon typically include:
- Home & Kitchen
- Electronics
- Grocery & Gourmet Foods
- Cell Phones & Accessories
- Books
Adapting your product selection based on market research can significantly increase your chances of success in international markets.
3. Listing Your Products
When listing products in different countries, it’s important to present them in a way that resonates with local customers. This includes translating your product details into the local language, considering cultural nuances, and ensuring that descriptions are accurate and appealing.
Amazon offers the Build International Listings tool to facilitate this process, allowing you to list your products across multiple marketplaces efficiently. If you create a new product detail page, Amazon may automatically translate the content, but it’s often beneficial to use third-party translation services to ensure precision and cultural relevance.
Additionally, consider localizing your product images and marketing materials to align with the expectations of the regional audience. High-quality, localized listings can significantly improve your conversion rates.
4. Fulfillment Options
Deciding how to fulfill your orders is a critical component of your international selling strategy. Amazon provides two primary fulfillment options:
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): This option allows you to store your products in Amazon's global network of fulfillment centers. Amazon will handle shipping, returns, and customer service on your behalf, making it an attractive option for sellers who want to streamline their operations and focus on growth. FBA also provides the added benefit of making your products eligible for Amazon Prime, which can enhance visibility and appeal to Prime members, of which there are over 200 million users worldwide.
- Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM): With FBM, you maintain control over storage, shipping, and customer service. This option is suitable for sellers who prefer to manage their logistics or have specialized requirements that FBA may not cover. While FBM offers more control, it also requires more effort and resources to manage effectively.
5. Compliance and Regulations
Navigating compliance and regulatory requirements is essential when selling internationally. Each country has its own set of laws and standards regarding product safety, taxes, and import/export regulations. Before launching in a new market, thoroughly research the specific requirements for your products, including labeling, packaging, and safety certifications. Non-compliance can lead to fines, product recalls, or bans from selling in certain regions.
Additionally, you’ll need to understand and comply with tax obligations in each country. This may involve registering for a Value Added Tax (VAT) number, charging appropriate taxes, and submitting regular tax returns. Amazon provides resources and support to help sellers manage their tax responsibilities, but it’s advisable to consult with a tax professional to ensure full compliance.
6. Customer Support
Providing excellent customer support is crucial for maintaining a positive reputation and ensuring repeat business. When selling internationally, you are required to offer customer support in the local language of the marketplace. This includes handling inquiries, resolving issues, and processing returns.
If you opt for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon will handle customer service on your behalf, including returns and refunds, in the local language. However, if you choose Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM), you’ll need to manage customer support yourself or hire a third-party service provider to assist with this.
Ensuring timely and effective communication with customers in their preferred language can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, which are key to long-term success in international markets.
Benefits of Amazon International Selling
Expanding your business through Amazon International Selling offers a multitude of advantages that can significantly elevate your brand’s growth and profitability. By leveraging Amazon’s vast global marketplace, you can unlock new opportunities and streamline your operations in ways that are both efficient and scalable.
Wider Reach and Customer Base
Participating in Amazon International Selling opens the door to a massive customer base, with over 310 million active users worldwide. This expansive reach is not just about quantity; it’s about diversity. By tapping into various international markets, you can access distinct customer segments with different preferences and purchasing behaviors.
This diversity allows you to optimize your product offerings for different regions, resulting in higher conversion rates and increased profits. Moreover, reaching international markets can help you establish a more resilient business by reducing dependency on a single market, thereby mitigating risks associated with economic downturns or seasonal fluctuations in your home country.
Simplified Logistics
One of the most significant challenges of international selling is managing logistics, but Amazon simplifies this process with its comprehensive support system. Through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you can offload the complexities of storage, packing, shipping, and even customer service. Amazon’s global network of over 185 fulfillment centers ensures that your products are delivered efficiently and on time, regardless of the destination.
This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also allows you to focus on other critical aspects of your business, such as product development, marketing, and expansion strategies. Additionally, FBA provides the added benefit of making your products eligible for Amazon Prime, further increasing their visibility and appeal to a global audience.
Local Currency Payments
Navigating multiple currencies can be daunting, but Amazon simplifies this aspect by allowing you to collect payments in your customers’ local currencies. This feature enhances the purchasing experience for customers, as they can shop without worrying about exchange rates or additional fees.
For sellers, it reduces the complexities and potential costs associated with currency conversion. Amazon’s tools, like the Amazon Currency Converter, ensure that transactions are smooth and hassle-free, allowing you to focus on growing your business without getting bogged down by financial intricacies.
Source: Amazon
Multilingual Support
Effective communication is key to building trust and customer satisfaction in international markets. Amazon’s multilingual support services are designed to bridge language barriers, helping you connect with customers in their native language. This includes translating your product listings, which not only makes your products more accessible but also more appealing to local customers.
Additionally, Amazon’s customer service support in various languages ensures that any issues or inquiries are handled promptly and professionally, further enhancing your brand’s reputation and fostering customer loyalty.
Brand Building Opportunities
International selling on Amazon provides unparalleled opportunities to build and expand your brand’s global presence. As your products become available in multiple countries, you gain exposure to a broader audience, increasing brand recognition and credibility.
This global visibility can lead to a stronger brand reputation, not just on Amazon, but across various sales channels. A well-established international presence can also open doors to partnerships, collaborations, and new business ventures, further accelerating your brand’s growth and market influence.
Flexibility and Seasonal Sales
One of the strategic advantages of selling internationally is the ability to capitalize on different shopping seasons and consumer trends across the globe. While sales may slow down in your home market during off-peak periods, you can boost your revenue by focusing on regions where demand is high.
For example, if your home market is experiencing a post-holiday sales slump, you might find increased demand in countries celebrating local holidays or events. This flexibility allows you to diversify your sales strategy, making your revenue streams more stable and less susceptible to regional economic fluctuations.
Access to Advanced Tools
Amazon equips international sellers with a suite of advanced tools and resources designed to streamline and optimize the selling process. These tools include features for cross-listing products across multiple marketplaces, managing inventory in real-time, and automating key operations such as pricing, fulfillment, and customer communication.
By leveraging these tools, you can save significant time and effort, allowing you to scale your business more efficiently. Additionally, Amazon provides analytics and reporting tools that offer valuable insights into your sales performance, helping you make informed decisions and refine your strategies for continuous growth.
List of Amazon International Marketplaces
At the time of writing, Amazon has international stores in:
Amazon United States
- URL: amazon.com
- Language: English
Amazon Canada
- URL: amazon.ca
- Language: English, French
Amazon Mexico
- URL: amazon.com.mx
- Language: Spanish
Amazon United Kingdom
- URL: amazon.co.uk
- Language: English
Amazon Germany
- URL: amazon.de
- Language: German
Amazon France
- URL: amazon.fr
- Language: French
Amazon Italy
- URL: amazon.it
- Language: Italian
Amazon Spain
- URL: amazon.es
- Language: Spanish
Amazon Japan
- URL: amazon.co.jp
- Language: Japanese
Amazon Singapore
- URL: amazon.sg
- Language: English
Amazon United Arab Emirates
- URL: amazon.ae
- Language: English, Arabic
Amazon Brazil
- URL: amazon.com.br
- Language: Portuguese
Amazon Australia
- URL: amazon.com.au
- Language: English
Amazon India
- URL: amazon.in
- Language: English, Hindi
Amazon Netherlands
- URL: amazon.nl
- Language: Dutch
Amazon Saudi Arabia
- URL: amazon.sa
- Language: Arabic
Amazon Turkey
- URL: amazon.com.tr
- Language: Turkish
Amazon Sweden
- URL: amazon.se
- Language: Swedish
Amazon Poland
- URL: amazon.pl
- Language: Polish
Amazon Belgium
- URL: amazon.be
- Language: Dutch, French
Amazon Egypt
-
- URL: amazon.eg
- Language: Arabic
Wrapping Up
Selling on Amazon's international marketplaces offers an unparalleled opportunity to expand your business's global reach. By leveraging Amazon's extensive infrastructure, diverse customer base, and advanced tools, you can efficiently navigate the complexities of international commerce.
Whether you're a small business or an established brand, Amazon's platform allows you to connect with millions of customers worldwide, build a stronger global presence, and capitalize on new markets. Embracing this global strategy can lead to sustained growth, increased brand recognition, and a more resilient business in today’s competitive landscape.
Selling on Amazon international marketplaces allows you to dramatically increase your marketing reach and customer base. It enables you to sell products to millions of customers across 21 different countries, leveraging Amazon's extensive global infrastructure for fulfillment and customer service. This can lead to higher sales volumes and better returns on branding costs. With Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon stores your products in its fulfillment centers and handles shipping, customer service, and returns on your behalf. This can lead to faster delivery times and improved customer satisfaction. Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM), also known as Fulfillment by Seller (FBS), requires you to store, pack, and ship products directly to customers, giving you more control over the process but requiring more effort and resources. You need to create a seller account in each Amazon marketplace where you wish to sell. For unified markets like Amazon North America and Amazon Europe, one registration gives you access to multiple countries' stores. You'll need to provide relevant business information, complete tax forms specific to each marketplace, and ensure your listings comply with local regulations and language requirements. Amazon provides the Build International Listings (BIL) tool, which helps sellers create and update listings across multiple marketplaces. This tool assists with translating listings, synchronizing pricing, and managing offers based on your rules. Additionally, Amazon offers the Seller Central Language Switcher for managing operations in European and Japanese marketplaces in English. Key considerations include product demand, competition, profitability, and compliance with local regulations. It's important to research which products are popular and in demand in your target markets. You should also consider logistical factors, such as shipping costs and potential challenges with fragile or bulky items, and ensure that your products meet the standards and requirements of the countries where you plan to sell. As of the most recent update, Amazon operates in 21 international marketplaces across various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and South America. Each marketplace serves a specific region or country, offering localized services, languages, and product selections to cater to the needs of local customers. These marketplaces provide sellers with the opportunity to reach millions of customers worldwide, significantly expanding their potential market reach. The biggest Amazon marketplaces by sales volume and customer base are primarily located in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The Amazon US marketplace is the largest, serving millions of customers across the country and beyond. Amazon Germany and Amazon UK are the leading marketplaces in Europe, with a significant share of online retail in their respective regions. Additionally, Amazon Japan is a key player in Asia, boasting a large and growing customer base. These marketplaces are crucial for sellers aiming to maximize their reach and sales potential. An Amazon marketplace refers to a regional platform where sellers can list and sell their products to customers within a specific geographical area. Each marketplace operates under the Amazon umbrella but is tailored to the local market, including language, currency, and regulations. For example, Amazon.com serves the US, while Amazon.co.uk serves the UK market. Sellers can choose to list their products on one or multiple marketplaces depending on their business strategy and target audience, taking advantage of Amazon’s global reach while meeting local customer expectations. To help you successfully sell on Amazon and its International Marketplaces, consider some of the following resources:Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of selling on Amazon international marketplaces?
What is the difference between Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM)?
How do I register to sell on Amazon's international marketplaces?
What tools does Amazon offer to help manage international listings?
What are some key considerations when choosing products to sell internationally on Amazon?
How many marketplaces are there on Amazon?
What are the biggest Amazon marketplaces?
What is considered an Amazon marketplace?
Comparing Amazon Selling Tools
