As the world becomes more interconnected, expanding your business globally is no longer a mission to achieve, but a very realistic goal.
Shopify, one of the leading e-commerce platforms, provides entrepreneurs with the tools to launch and scale their online stores internationally. However, one of the more complex aspects of international e-commerce is shipping. Managing international shipping on Shopify can be tricky, but with the right strategy, it’s possible to streamline the process and reach customers all over the world without causing disruption or confusion.
This guide will walk you through the essential elements of international shipping on Shopify, covering everything from setting up international shipping rates to dealing with customs and taxes.
Why international shipping matters
Before diving into the logistics, it's important to understand why international shipping is a critical component of a successful global business, especially for ecommerce brands wanting to launch at a global scale. Expanding your reach to international customers offers numerous benefits:
- Larger market: By opening your store to international buyers, you significantly increase your potential customer base
- Revenue growth: International sales can provide a substantial increase in revenue, especially if you're targeting countries with high demand for your products
- Brand Recognition: Selling globally helps raise brand awareness and credibility, positioning your business as a global player
However, international shipping can also present challenges that need to be carefully managed to ensure a smooth customer experience and ensure that you are not creating a negative experience for your customers.
Setting up international shipping rates on Shopify
One of the first steps in setting up international shipping on Shopify is defining your shipping strategy. This includes determining how you will charge for shipping and which regions you'll serve.
Step 1: Add international shipping zones
Shopify allows you to create shipping zones for specific countries or regions. You can add shipping zones through your Shopify admin panel. Here's how to do it:
- Go to settings in your Shopify admin
- Click on Shipping and delivery
- Under Shipping zones, click manage rates
- Select create shipping zone, then choose the countries or regions where you'd like to ship
You can target specific countries or continents, or you can set up a global shipping zone. It's important to research the demand in different countries and weigh the cost of shipping to those locations against potential sales.
Step 2: Determine shipping rates
Once you've set up shipping zones, you'll need to choose how to charge for shipping. Shopify offers several options:
- Flat Rate Shipping: Charge a fixed amount regardless of the order size or destination. This is simple, but it may not be ideal for large or heavy products
- Weight-Based Shipping: Charges are calculated based on the weight of the product. This is useful if you sell products of varying sizes
- Carrier-Calculated Rates: Shopify can automatically calculate shipping fees based on the rates from major carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL. This ensures your customers are charged accurately based on the destination and the size/weight of their order
Step 3: Choose shipping methods and partners
Shopify integrates with several shipping partners, including major carriers and third-party logistics providers. Selecting the right shipping partner for international orders is crucial, as it impacts delivery times, costs, and reliability. Common international carriers available on Shopify include:
- UPS: Offers international shipping with reliable tracking, but it may be expensive for small businesses
- FedEx: Known for fast delivery and excellent customer service
- DHL: Specialises in global shipping and is often the go-to option for international e-commerce
- Canada Post: A good choice for Canadian businesses expanding globally
Be sure to compare rates and delivery times between these carriers to ensure you're providing the best value to your international customers.
Step 4: Prepare products for international shipping
Before shipping internationally, it is essential that all products are correctly set up in Shopify. This information is used by carriers and customs authorities, so inaccuracies can lead to delays or incorrect charges.
Make sure each product includes accurate weight and dimensions, a clear product description, and the correct country of origin. For certain products, adding HS codes can help speed up customs clearance and reduce the risk of issues at the border.
Step 5: Decide how duties and taxes are handled
International orders often incur import duties and local taxes, depending on the destination country. You will need to decide whether these costs are paid by the customer on delivery or collected at checkout.
Collecting duties and taxes upfront can improve the customer experience, as it avoids unexpected charges, but it requires careful pricing. Shopify Markets and third-party apps can help calculate these costs automatically based on the customer’s location.
Step 6: Test and optimise the international checkout experience
Once everything is set up, it is important to test the customer journey from different countries. This helps ensure shipping rates, delivery times, currencies, and tax information appear correctly at checkout.
Ongoing monitoring is also important. Review delivery performance, customer feedback, and carrier reliability regularly, and adjust your shipping strategy as your international sales grow.
Dealing with customs and duties
When shipping internationally, customs and duties are unavoidable. These fees are imposed by the destination country’s government on imported goods. While Shopify itself doesn’t manage customs and duties, there are several ways to address these costs and ensure your customers aren't hit with unexpected fees.
Customs Declarations
Every time you ship an order internationally, you’ll need to complete a customs declaration form. This form includes information about the contents of the package, its value, and its purpose (e.g., commercial sale or gift). Shopify helps automate this process, but you will need to provide accurate product descriptions and values to avoid delays or fines.
Avoiding delays and delivery issues
One of the biggest risks with international shipping is delays, which can quickly lead to poor reviews and increased support queries. Most issues come from incorrect paperwork, unclear product descriptions, or unexpected customs checks.
To reduce the chances of delays, make sure product descriptions are accurate and consistent across your store and shipping documents. Use clear HS codes where possible, keep declared values realistic, and always provide tracking on international orders. Choosing carriers with strong customs handling can also make a noticeable difference, particularly when shipping outside the EU.
Setting clear delivery expectations on product pages and at checkout helps manage customer confidence, even when delays are outside of your control.
International ecommerce agency with expertise in digital marketing
Your ecommerce journey starts and ends with Imaginaire. From designing your new site to implementing lasting, effective digital marketing strategies, we have an in-house team of SEO experts who will ensure your products, content and copy are fully optimised and getting in front of your customers. We also specialise in a range of luxury sectors, ensuring that your marketing and websites align with your audience’s needs and brand identity. These industries include fashion, jewellery, beauty and more.
Get access to our limited UX playbook for luxury ecommerce or visit our luxury ecommerce service page to find out how we can help to elevate your brand
With over 10 years of experience, we will ensure that your e-commerce store is home to all the right keywords, metadata, technical SEO and more, whether you’re selling jewellery or home appliances.
To speak to one of our SEO team members, get in touch here or fill out a quote form to get started!
