Marketplaces and DTC brands can accelerate growth and stand out from the competition by not just offering global shipping but also localizing their websites and the entire end-to-end shopping experience to help attract and retain new customers in other countries.

When a shopper visits an e-commerce website for a brand located in another country, they are more likely to stick around if the website displays in their local language and they see products offered in their local currency. E-tailers should plan their product offering carefully, selecting the right items for each market and carefully controlling product pricing to compete in local markets. With the global average for shopping cart abandonment at just over 70% in 2024, it’s equally important not to lose shoppers at the point of checkout. This can be even trickier to navigate when selling to shoppers in other countries. To best compete and retain international shoppers at checkout, offer their preferred payment methods and a DDP shipping solution that provides the convenience of paying for duties and taxes at checkout so there are no surprises at delivery.

Finally, don’t forget to review your returns policy and process to make sure it’s accommodating for consumers outside your country. Online shoppers can be reluctant to purchase from an international e-tailer if they don’t have the ability to return the item or if the global returns process offered is cumbersome.

It can be complex to truly make the shopping experience feel local from start to finish. Many top brands around the globe are working with trusted global e-commerce providers that can help with everything from customer acquisition in other countries, to localizing your website and checkout, to offering global shipping and returns solutions that make the experience as seamless for your international customer as shopping from their home country.