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If you own an African fashion or beauty business and you are looking to scale to an international audience ( Esp. the US) this is a good time. But it's also tricky as the behavior is different across markets.
A few steps to help you get things in order.
A few steps to help you get things in order.
Know your market: Even if you are currently getting orders and requests from other countries, you should start with targeting 1 or 2.
Research your audience in that country and how competition is marketing to them. Also research regulations around business, VAT, Shipping etc
Research your audience in that country and how competition is marketing to them. Also research regulations around business, VAT, Shipping etc
Your website: Build a good e-commerce website, or set your website up for e-commerce success.
I.e your load time should be less than 5 seconds, show prices in relevant currencies to people based on their location, include detailed FAQ's, have Social Proof....
I.e your load time should be less than 5 seconds, show prices in relevant currencies to people based on their location, include detailed FAQ's, have Social Proof....
& describe your products in detail. The less friction for the customer, the better.
Payment: There are local payment infrastructure that "support" international payments & you can explore in the beginning but you will eventually need more reliable options like stripe, Shopify payments & PayPal.
To get this you will need a foreign business account. Don't rush into this tho, do your research and consult with a professional.
Pricing: Do not use the same pricing metric for your local business, there are many factors to consider such as shipping, payment processor fees, VAT, and marketing.
Marketing over there ain't cheap! Lol
Marketing over there ain't cheap! Lol
Shipping: This remains a problem for small businesses who ship abroad. 3PL shipping companies are useful if your products aren't heavy.
Also consider partnering with friends & family if you have any that will be interested in the job.
Also consider partnering with friends & family if you have any that will be interested in the job.
P.S If you need a 3rd party for your US orders, my partner is looking for more business.
