The fact is that stepping into international markets represents the biggest move a company can make. There are many benefits of making such a move since you will have a chance to target much more people, and it can be easier to increase the number of loyal customers. While the competition can be an issue, creating the right strategy and proper marketing plan will help you improve your status.
On the other side, keep in mind that moving from a limited market in your country and trying to spread to international markets is not something that you can achieve overnight. You might need a different approach, new strategy, and there are even different regulations active on various markets. Therefore, it is crucial for you to follow those rules so you can avoid legal issues. If you are not sure how to achieve that, the best solution is to hire a lawyer experienced in this area, like CustomsESQ.
It is crucial to determine the potential legal issues you might have and prevent them on time so you can invest more time and funds in other sectors that will lead to improved promotion and sales. Here are the most important things to understand about possible legal problems and how to prevent them.
1. Export Requirements
One of the first thing that you will have to check is related to relations between your country and those where you are planning to sell your products. This is especially related to additional fees and other expenses related to import and expert relations between two countries. For example, if you live in a country that is part of the EU, you can easily expert your good to all other members, which is one of the main advantages of being a member of that union in the first place.
There are several countries that also have free trade with the EU as well, such as the UK, Norway, and Switzerland. On the other side, there are some other countries in Europe that are not part of this system, and you must check the fees if you are planning to expert there as well. The same is for other continents.
2. Payment Processing
When it comes to payment processing, having an online store is a much easier solution since you can implement different options so you can comply with requirements in all countries where your store is active. The payments are done in advance, and you can send a delivery after the payment is complete. However, the process where you are sending the goods as a delivery to some other store or a buyer form another state, and where the buyer wants to get the goods first and then sign the paper and pay is more complicated.
Be sure to provide a clearer delivery time. That will prevent issues with potential paybacks, and it can also help you to develop a better connection with your customers. When you are shipping to another country, be sure to consider that the delivery time can be much longer than a commercial travel to that place.
3. Regulations of Products and Services
There are many differences seen in various countries when it comes to regulations related to products, especially when it comes to allowed substances, materials used in production, type of package that you can use, and more. This might lead to various mistakes. For example, the US are known for banning many products that are legal in Europe other parts of the world.
The reason they did that is due to increased safety of users. In that matter, if you are planning to expert some goods there, be sure to check the legal requirements so you can follow the rules related to packaging and avoid sending things that are not in the legal range of their laws.
There are Other Challenges as Well
Besides the potential problems that you might have with some specific rules, you also have to keep in mind how customers from other countries will react to some products and packages. The biggest challenge is to become present on some international market. If you are targeting a specific state, be sure to translate the labels, and never include products that might be banned in those countries.
There are also differences related to culture, habits, religion, and more. In that matter, even the symbols and colors you are using on packages and labels can make a difference. For example, if you are selling food and beverages, it would be a huge mistake to offer pork and alcohol in some Muslim country. The same is for various symbols and outlines that people from other cultures might find offensive.
There is also a potential financial problem where you might find it more difficult to create the right price. For example, not checking the exchange rate of some currency and losing money on conversion that way. The best example of paying good attention is when you are selling in US dollars, and not setting details when people want to use Canadian, Australian, and other similar currencies. They can make people face problems when they get surprised with a higher price than they expected due to different currency.
Last Words
Be sure to check the political and economic situation in some countries as well. That will help you to create the proper strategy or even decide to avoid that country. For example, there is an ongoing crisis in Ukraine, and the whole world is now divided when it comes to support to them and Russia. Therefore, maybe the best solution is to avoid both of these markets.
The importance of learning more about legal regulations is that you can prevent serious problems that could lead to legal issues and additional expenses. Also, it will help you determine the best approach where you can secure the right promotional strategy and a way to increase your sales and revenue over time. In that matter, learn more about laws of each country where you are planning to become active.
