It is probably pretty understandable why small- to medium-sized ecommerce companies can be a little reluctant to get started in international shipping. For one thing, the smallest companies do not normally ship internationally, and for another, the inherent costs – as well as all the legal tax and legal restrictions – can make international shipping seem like an unnecessary investment.
However, while this may be true in the case of some very small ecommerce companies, the opportunity to go global actually comes along a lot sooner than many believe.
Preferred Shipping, experts in international export services, recommend however that smaller companies certainly do what they can to keep costs down. Indeed, another reason that international shipping is often avoided by smaller companies is that they don’t realize how inexpensive it can be with planning and seeking out the best international shipping for small businesses.
Indeed, the reason it can seem so expensive and forbidding is that companies have a skewed idea about the price (because it can also be expensive if you don’t plan for keeping the costs down).
Therefore, the best advice for smaller companies looking to ship internationally is: a) it is certainly possible and profitable, b) it should be invested in when your company is ready for growth, and c) it is nevertheless very wise to put some effort into keeping the costs down. Below, we’ll go over some ways of achieving point C.
Grasping Growth
Another thing to remember is that it might not just be practical to start shipping internationally, it could also be your only means of avoiding stagnation. Every ecommerce venture has its market niche, and sometimes that niche can be, well, pretty niche.
This is great for securing a loyal customer base but bad if there simply aren’t that many people interested. This latter problem can be solved if you ship internationally, as there’s no point putting geographical restriction on what it is already a small niche.
Put another way, international shipping is how you grasp growth. One of the major problems for small ecommerce companies isn’t that they fail economically, but that they stagnate. Far too many small ecommerce companies fail to grasp the chance for growth when it comes along.
International shipping can start very affordably and be scaled from there. Add to the equation the massively increased customer base and it’s clear to see how investing in international shipping can be a very effective way of growing a company. You should certainly at least consider it.
Tips for Cutting Costs on International Shipping
So, with all of that said, what can be done to make international shipping as affordable as possible? Here follows some useful tips:
Negotiate Shipping Rates
Retail postage rates can be extortionate and out of the reach of many smaller businesses. Accordingly, negotiating with carriers can be particularly useful for cutting the price. Nevertheless, you should be able to commit to working with them regularly and give them a good idea of what you will be shipping, to where, and how.
Optimize Packaging
In practice, this means getting rid of excess air, reducing the weight by limiting the amount of packaging materials used, and ensuring the dimensions of the box are as small as possible. You should not sacrifice cargo security, but it’s wise to make your savings here.
Go Bulk
You do this in two ways. You should order your supplies in bulk (cheaper), and you should also try to ship your products as part of consolidated bulk loads.
By employing these cost-cutting measures, you might be surprised just how affordable international shipping is. An entire world of customers awaits.
