Ready to start selling online? Thinking about taking your e-commerce business international? Make life easier by using one of the many massive online marketplaces available – they’ve put in the hard yards already to become the household names that they are today, and drive the kind of customer traffic that will give you the chance to take your sales to the next level.
Here’s our list of the top 10 marketplaces for selling internationally, each with its own set of pros and cons so help you decide which will best help you achieve long-term growth.
1. Amazon
Over 40% of the total unit sales on Amazon are generated by third-party selection on the site, making it a great choice for those who wish to sell domestically and internationally. You can sell in more than 30 product categories, access 11 global marketplaces (with Australia coming soon), and use FBA and FBA Export to take care of shipping and customer service from 109 fulfilment centres.
2. eBay
Selling internationally on eBay, which gives buyers the chance to bid on items or purchase them at a fixed price, is easy. After you set up your seller account, you can increase visibility by purchasing an international listing upgrade, or you can visit any of eBay’s 26 international sites to post products directly to those marketplaces.
3. Rakuten
Rakuten serves millions of customers, and it also runs the biggest e-commerce website in Japan. Its global presence offers online merchants the opportunity to sell a range of products in more than 10 categories and on an international scale. Just be aware that there is a fee to maintain your seller account.
4. Etsy
Etsy is a great choice for creative online sellers who have custom items that they wish to sell, such as artwork and crafts. The platform boasts 30 million shoppers globally and nearly $3 billion in sales. You can even sign up to use Etsy Pattern, which will allow you to build and customise your own e-commerce website with a personalised domain.
5. Shopify
If you are searching for an e-commerce solution to set up an online shop of your own where you can sell products at home and abroad, Shopify can help. After creating your account, you will gain access to valuable and easy-to-use tools that will help you customise your store, organise your inventory, accept payments, and track your orders.
6. Zibbet
Zibbet is a great choice for those who wish to sell products in categories that include handmade items, fine art, vintage, home & living, jewelry, and photography. With a seller account, you can create your own storefront and join a community of more than 50,000 vintage collectors, crafters, and artists who are exposing their products to millions of consumers globally.
7. Fruugo
Fruugo is yet another popular online platform for sellers who want to go global. It offers millions of products from thousands of brands and hundreds of retailers. You can start selling in 32 countries and in 21 currencies and 17 languages, all while taking advantage of one global checkout system. After setting up your account, you will even gain access to translation tools, making it that much easier to reach out to an international audience.
8. Bonanza
Bonanza is often compared to eBay and Amazon, and has been recognised as one of the top sites to sell on in recent years. Categories are abundant, and they range from books and sporting goods, to fashion, home, beauty, and art, so you can choose to sell in one or more categories with ease. After signing up, you can even customise your webstore to stand out from the competition, and you have the option of setting international shipping options.
9. Newegg
Newegg is a tech-focused online retailer, but you can sign up with Newegg Global to sell in a wide variety of categories. The site boasts more than 30 million customers, and it is still growing. You can list products for sale in over 50 countries, and you can choose which international markets are best for your business. They can even handle taxes, customs, and duties on your behalf, as well as take care of international shipments for you.
10. Alibaba
Alibaba is the leading Asian online marketplace, and its goal is to connect suppliers with businesses of all sizes. Sellers can quickly set up an account to begin offering products to a global audience. And you can offer items in more than 40 different categories, such as apparel and electronics, while accessing buyers in over 190 countries. So if you want to dive into wholesale e-commerce, Alibaba be the ideal platform for you.
Choose your platform and start selling!
To successfully sell online on an international scale:
- Research the marketplace(s) that will be most helpful when it comes to selling your inventory to interested customers.
- Whenever possible, use fulfilment services to make shipping and customer service a breeze.
- Create an OFX Online Seller account to save up to 75%* on the costs of bringing your profits home.
For even more guidance on how to succeed in the international marketplace, check out our Guide to Doing Business Overseas.
*Average savings based on published rates of ANZ, Westpac, NAB and CBA on a single transfer of AUD$10,000 to USD between 21.2.17 and 2.3.17. Transaction costs excluded. Quoted savings are not indicative of future savings.
IMPORTANT: The contents of this blog do not constitute financial advice and are provided for general information purposes only without taking into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any particular person. UKForex Limited (trading as “OFX”) and its affiliates make no recommendation as to the merits of any financial strategy or product referred to in the blog. OFX makes no warranty, express or implied, concerning the suitability, completeness, quality or exactness of the information and models provided in this blog.