Using FBA Export is an excellent strategy for sellers who want to expand their reach beyond domestic markets and tap into international customers. Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program provides sellers with a streamlined way to manage their global orders by using Amazon’s fulfillment centers worldwide, enabling fast shipping and reliable customer service.
Here’s how you can leverage FBA Export to reach international customers:
1. Understand What FBA Export Is
FBA Export is a service that allows Amazon sellers to offer their products to international customers through Amazon’s global network of fulfillment centers. When a customer outside your home country purchases your product, Amazon takes care of packing, shipping, and customer service, just like it does for domestic customers.
With FBA Export, your products are automatically eligible for sale in Amazon’s international marketplaces, even if you are not located in those countries.
2. Ensure Your Products Are Eligible for FBA Export
Not all products are eligible for FBA Export, so before you start selling internationally, it’s essential to check whether your product can be shipped overseas. You can check eligibility in Seller Central by visiting the Manage Inventory page, where you’ll see the export eligibility of each product.
Key considerations:
- Product Restrictions: Certain products are restricted from international shipping due to safety regulations, country-specific laws, or logistical concerns (e.g., perishable goods, hazardous materials).
- Selling in Other Marketplaces: FBA Export allows you to sell to customers in countries where you do not have a local Amazon marketplace (e.g., shipping from Amazon.com to international customers in Europe or Asia).
3. Set Up Your FBA Account for International Sales
Before you can use FBA Export, ensure that your account is set up to allow international shipping.
a. Enable FBA Export in Seller Central
- Log in to Seller Central and navigate to Settings.
- Under Fulfillment by Amazon, check that you have FBA Export enabled. This will automatically make your products available for international customers.
b. Enable International Selling
You’ll need to update your shipping settings to allow international orders. Amazon provides options to manage shipping regions and countries you want to reach. Once enabled, Amazon will automatically offer your products to international buyers.
4. Optimize Product Listings for International Sales
When selling internationally, it’s important to optimize your product listings to cater to a broader audience.
a. Localization
- Currency and Language: Ensure your product descriptions and titles are clear, as Amazon will automatically convert prices into the local currency of the buyer’s location.
- Shipping Time: Be clear on the estimated shipping times. International customers expect fast and transparent shipping details.
- Images and Description: Adjust your listings to ensure that product descriptions and images resonate with international customers. For example, consider if the product uses specific measurements, terminology, or units that differ across regions (inches vs. centimeters, weight in pounds vs. kilograms).
b. Offer Multi-Country Shipping
Consider adjusting your product offer to make it appealing to customers across various countries. For example:
- Free international shipping or discounted shipping for customers in specific countries.
- Import Duty and Taxes: Clarify how import duties and taxes are handled (usually by Amazon) to ensure there are no surprises for your international buyers.
5. Set Your Prices for International Markets
Amazon has several pricing tools to help you adjust your prices when selling internationally.
- International Price Adjustments: Amazon’s system allows you to set different prices for the same product depending on the country. This means you can adjust your pricing based on local demand, taxes, and import fees.
- FBA International Fees: Shipping internationally through FBA may incur higher fees due to shipping distances, import taxes, or fulfillment center costs. Make sure to account for these costs when setting prices to ensure profitability.
6. Shipping and Fulfillment Process
Once FBA Export is set up, the process of fulfilling international orders is streamlined.
- International Shipping: FBA Export allows you to sell to over 100 countries. Amazon will automatically determine the best fulfillment centers and shipping methods based on the location of the buyer.
- Global Shipping Coverage: FBA Export allows your inventory to be stored in Amazon’s fulfillment centers in the U.S., but Amazon will handle shipments to customers globally, meaning you don’t need to worry about specific fulfillment centers for each international location.
- Customer Returns: If a customer needs to return an international order, Amazon also handles the return process. However, it’s important to understand Amazon’s return policies for each country and ensure your product is eligible for international returns.
7. Monitor Your International Sales
Once your products are listed for international sale, you’ll want to keep an eye on your performance. Amazon provides comprehensive sales reports in Seller Central that can help you understand which markets are performing well.
a. Track International Orders
- Monitor orders coming from different countries through the Manage Orders section. Amazon provides detailed reports on where your sales are coming from, so you can adjust your strategies if necessary.
b. FBA International Reports
FBA Export provides detailed reports for international orders, such as shipping costs, duties, and taxes. Use these reports to fine-tune your pricing strategies and understand the true cost of international fulfillment.
8. Promote Your International Listings
While FBA Export takes care of most logistics, you still need to drive traffic to your listings. Promoting your international listings can help you reach more potential customers.
- Amazon Advertising: You can use Amazon Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands to run ads that target international customers, even if your products are not currently in the marketplace for a given country. Ads can be run in local languages and currencies.
- Deals and Promotions: Run international promotions or offer coupons to make your products more appealing to buyers in different countries. You can also create limited-time discounts for international buyers to increase your visibility.
9. Consider Expanding with Global Selling
While FBA Export enables you to reach international customers, it may be beneficial to consider expanding your reach to additional Amazon marketplaces using Amazon Global Selling. This program allows you to sell directly on Amazon’s international platforms (like Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc.) and ship directly to local fulfillment centers in those countries. By leveraging both FBA Export and Global Selling, you can scale your international operations.
10. Be Aware of Customs and Import Duties
While Amazon handles most of the logistics for you, there are still key factors to be aware of when shipping internationally, such as customs and import duties.
- Customs Fees: International buyers may be required to pay customs fees or taxes on the products they purchase from you. Amazon typically manages the process for FBA orders, but it’s important to be aware that this varies by country.
- Proper Documentation: Make sure your products have the appropriate documentation (HS code, import permits, etc.) to avoid customs delays.
Conclusion
Using FBA Export to reach international customers is a great way to scale your business beyond domestic borders. By ensuring your products are eligible, optimizing your listings for different countries, and using Amazon’s tools to handle the logistics, you can easily expand your reach to a global market. As you monitor your international sales and adjust strategies based on performance, you can ensure that your products not only reach international customers but also thrive in global marketplaces.