EA7 How To Sell Internationally On Amazon with Kevin Sanderson

What would you do to increase your Amazon sales by up to 30%? Open an additional account? Diversify your products? If you’re anything like e-commerce entrepreneur Kevin Sanderson, you’ll do what others won’t to achieve the results others can’t. So what’s something most won't do? Hop the pond (or simply cross the US-Canadian border) through international expansion.

Expanding internationally can increase your sales anywhere from 10-30%. In this episode of Amazon Seller School, Kevin demystifies international expansion so you can boost business without the head-scratching confusion.

Show Notes & Transcript: https://www.amazonseller.school/ea7-how-to-sell-internationally-on-amazon-with-kevin-sanderson/

Kevin’s Story

Like many of us, Scott Voelker’s The Amazing Seller podcast introduced Kevin to e-commerce. After investing a season’s worth of part-time income into his Amazon business, Kevin began working full-time for his own dream selling private label. Kevin and Todd connected through Brand Accelerator Live, an event that allows e-commerce professionals to share their secrets to success. Today, Kevin shares his secrets with you.

Cast A Wider Net

Kevin believes everything is a function of time; the faster you cast a wider net, the faster you’ll see results. Kevin has successfully increased his professional growth by multiplying his sales channels through international expansion. Despite fears of complex tax laws, Kevin feels most international regulations are easier to interpret than U.S. tax laws.

Canada

If you've never expanded internationally, Canada is a fantastic place to start. Their tax laws are simpler (and friendlier) than Europe’s and Canada is closer. In other words, shipping is cheaper. Not to mention, there's generally less competition. Kevin recommends hiring a CPA and registering for GST and HST, Canada's goods and services tax. If registered you'll recoup what you paid in GST through Amazon. Fill out your RC1 form here! While you lose Amazon's UPS discounts, Kevin has discount codes that always come through at checkout (EASY & FAST).

Europe

Looking to expand to Europe? Start in the U.K. The U.K. has a 20% VAT tax included in your selling price. However, if you're using a prep center, ask how they deal with VAT because when it comes to business-to-business deals, prep centers may in fact add VAT on top of the selling price.

Amazon also has an algorithm in the United States that determines where your products should be shipped for expedited delivery. The only way to replicate this in Europe is by clicking that you accept Pan-European. By accepting this agreement, you're responsible for products not only in the E.U. but in countries where products are stored (Poland, Czech Republic). Due to the money required to file and register in these additional countries, Kevin doesn't recommend accepting this agreement.

Margins 101

Generally speaking, you'll experience higher sales and smaller margins in Europe and lower sales with higher margins in Canada. It's also important to remember that your U.S. strategy won't translate internationally. You must figure out if your products will sell in Canada or Europe.

Summary

As Joe Valley recently mentioned on Kevin's podcast, expanding internationally does nothing but legitimize your business should you decide to sell. Not to mention, in an industry where suppliers constantly doubt the legitimacy of Amazon sellers, expanding internationally adds the equivalent of a verified check to your name.

Feeling overwhelmed? Kevin's created a checklist that breaks down everything you need to know about expanding internationally. After requesting the checklist, the thank-you page helps you schedule a free thirty-minute strategy session.

Outline Of This Episode

[0:00:18] Todd’s introduction to this episode

[0:02:33] Kevin’s story

[0:12:26] Why you should cast a wide net

[0:16:50] Why Canada is the best place to start internationally

[0:39:42] Navigating European expansion

[0:59:07] Understanding your margins internationally

[1:04:20] Additional resources from Kevin

[1:01:30] Todd's closing thoughts on the episode

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