Big Opportunities for Small Businesses
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey now have the opportunity to deliver their products all over the world. Selling online, especially to a large market like the UK, i.e. What is e-export It has become easier than ever to put the answer to the question into practice. So where can an SME start to find out how to sell products abroad? With the right strategies, global platforms like Amazon and Etsy are enabling SMEs to reach millions of customers in the UK. In this blog post, you will learn what you need to know about e-exports to the UK, Amazon UK and Open an Etsy shop processes, curious concepts such as what private label means and the advantages of establishing a company in the UK.
The UK is one of the most developed countries for online shopping and Amazon UK offers great opportunities for SMEs with its large customer base and strong logistics infrastructure. Amazon UK has more than 500 million monthly visitors, which means enormous visibility potential for your products.
On the other hand, for SMEs that stand out with their handcrafted and design products, Etsy serves as a showcase to the world. In short, by taking the right steps, Amazon UK and Opening a store on Etsy e-exporting to the UK can open a new growth chapter for your SME.
What is e-export and why is it important?
What is e-export? Briefly defined, e-export is when a company sells its products or services to customers abroad via the internet. The difference from traditional exports is that transactions are carried out through digital platforms and mostly take place in small shipments (micro-exports).
Thanks to the internet, customers from all over the world can order from your online store. For SMEs, this means the opportunity to sell globally 24/7 without opening a physical store.
The importance of e-export is increasing day by day because you can take your customer base, which is limited in the local market, to an international dimension. Reaching a market with high purchasing power and established e-commerce habits, especially in the UK, offers the potential to increase your profit margins. Moreover, there are also advantages such as e-export incentives and VAT exemptions offered by the government. In short, e-export is the most effective answer SMEs have found to the question of how to sell products abroad in the digital world.
Expand to the UK with Amazon: FBA and Private Label Strategies
Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce platform, is also the leader in the UK market. Before you start selling to the UK via Amazon, you need to understand some basic concepts. The most important of these is what Amazon FBA is, how it works and how to use the private label model.
What is Amazon FBA and how to do it? Let's explain briefly: Amazon FBA ("Fulfillment by Amazon") is a logistics and warehousing service offered by Amazon for sellers. In its simplest form, Amazon FBA can be defined as an Amazon logistics service; it is a system that allows sellers to store their products in Amazon's warehouses, and when the order arrives, Amazon packs and ships it to customers.
In other words, you send the products in bulk to Amazon's warehouse in the UK, and Amazon handles all the processes such as storage, packaging, shipping and even returns on your behalf thanks to the Amazon logistics network.
This model makes it possible to sell to large masses even with a small team. To summarize for those who say what is Amazon FBA and how to do it: You open an Amazon Seller account and register as a professional or individual seller, list your products and activate the FBA program by sending your stocks to the warehouse according to Amazon's instructions. Afterwards, your products are automatically delivered to customers in the UK as soon as they are ordered.
So what is private label and why is it important on Amazon? Private label is a model of selling a product from a manufacturer under your own brand. There are many entrepreneurs on Amazon wondering what amazon private label is. In this model, for example, you can sell a product produced in Turkey by labeling your own brand on Amazon UK.
The advantage of the Amazon private label model is that you control the price and brand. When you create your own brand and enter the market with a quality product, you can gain loyal customers in the long run and stand out from the competition. Of course, when private labeling, you should pay special attention to product quality, competitive pricing and a good marketing strategy. In summary, Amazon's private label strategy gives SMEs the chance to become a global brand with private label products, while Amazon FBA reduces the operational burden thanks to logistics support.
Another attractive aspect of selling on the Amazon UK marketplace is the possibility to expand to the rest of Europe. Thanks to Amazon's integrated Europe-wide system, with a single Amazon UK seller account, you can list your products in multiple countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain and more. This makes it easy to enter the Amazon Europe marketplace in one go.
One of the things to be aware of when selling to Europe through Amazon UK is VAT obligations - once you exceed a certain annual turnover you may need to register for VAT in the UK (VAT number) (by 2025 the threshold is around £85,000). However, as a start-up, Amazon also offers systems that simplify the automatic collection and transmission of VAT from you on the platform.
Finally, be open to continuous learning to succeed on Amazon. You can improve yourself by taking Amazon training from Export Partners' experienced e-commerce experts. The better you understand how Amazon works (e.g. product listing optimization, advertising tools, customer communication), the more professional you will look and succeed in the UK market.
Opening a Store in the Global Market with Etsy
If you sell handcrafted goods, design objects or boutique products, Etsy is the platform for you. Opening an Etsy shop is a simple process that you can do in a few simple steps and connects you with global buyers. To open a shop on Etsy, simply create an account on etsy.com and follow the steps to open a shop in the "Sell on Etsy" section. The platform will ask you for basic information such as store name, product lists, payment and shipping settings step by step. "There is no obligation to establish a UK company in the first stage toopen an Etsy store.
As an individual seller from Turkey, you can send your products to customers abroad. However, if you want to keep stock in the UK or use a warehouse similar to Amazon FBA, then company formation and tax registration(VAT) in the UK becomes mandatory. In addition, when your sales volume increases, you will need to progress to business status in order to declare your income in accordance with the UK tax legislation. For this reason, you can start selling individually at the beginning, and when your business volume grows, you can formalize the processes by establishing a company in the UK."
So what should be considered in the process of opening an etsy store? First, make sure you've finalized all the settings for your shop. Etsy offers international shipping tools to ship your products worldwide - you can set custom shipping rates for different countries by entering the weight and dimensions of the products. Write a descriptive and authentic "About" text when opening a shop to introduce your brand to your customers. Use high-quality photos in product listings and include English-language descriptions to reassure UK customers (Etsy also offers translation into different languages
Another tip for opening an Etsy shop is to keep your pricing and shipping policies competitive. When a customer from the UK enters your shop, the balance of affordable price + reasonable shipping fee is important for them to choose your product among similar products. Also, since customer satisfaction and reviews are very effective on Etsy, try to accumulate positive reviews by responding quickly and providing a reliable shopping experience.
Remember, although Etsy is a global marketplace, it is a well-known platform especially in the US and Amazon Europe markets. The use of Etsy in the UK is also widespread; British customers shop on Etsy in many categories from handmade jewelry to vintage products. You can get a share of this demand by opening an Etsy store and gain international loyal customers with your niche products.
To be successful on Etsy, pay attention to the rules and trends of the platform, keep your store active, use the promo tools Etsy offers, and if necessary, get amazon training/Etsy training from experts will help you grow.
Is it Necessary to Establish a Company in the UK? What are the Advantages?
One of the frequently asked questions when starting e-export is the issue of company formation in England. Advantages of setting up a company in England but it is not a must for every business. You can use your existing company in Turkey to start selling on Amazon or Etsy, or you can start as an individual. So what are the advantages of setting up a company in the UK and when should you consider it? Here are some important points:
- Easy and Fast Setup: UK company setup can be completed online in a few days and 100% foreign partnership is allowed. In other words, you can set up your "Limited" company in a short time by completing the whole process online without going to England.
- International Reputation and Trust: Having a company registration in the UK can boost your company's reputation internationally. Especially when you appear as a local business on platforms like Amazon UK, you can gain credibility in the eyes of customers.
- Banking and Payment Facilities: When you set up in the UK, it may be easier to open a local bank account and manage the process of receiving payments. Receiving payments directly into your UK bank account on Amazon's UK platform can reduce transaction costs. It may also be beneficial to work with UK banks to access loans or investment opportunities as you grow your business in the future.
- Market Access and Logistics Advantage: Geographically, the UK is like a bridge between Europe and America. When your company is based in the UK, you can offer fast delivery options in terms of logistics thanks to the proximity to Europe. For example, it is possible to store your products in the UK and deliver them to customers in Europe in a short time (even though there are customs processes with the EU after Brexit, the UK is still an important commercial center).
- Legal and Tax Advantages: The UK legal system is transparent and predictable. As long as you follow the rules, you can run your business easily. Although corporate tax rates change periodically, there may be tax incentives or VAT exemptions in certain sectors. Also, company incorporation costs and annual operating costs (e.g. accounting) may be lower than in Turkey.
Of course UK company formation may not be necessary for everyone. If your sales volume is small or you only sell on platforms such as Etsy for hobby purposes, you can e-export without incurring this expense. However, if you are aiming for serious growth in the UK market, establishing a company there in the long term will bring you both the advantages we have mentioned and help you fully comply with the legal legislation in the UK.
For example, if you have high sales, VAT registration in the UK will become mandatory; this may be easier to manage with a local company. In conclusion, setting up a company in the UK is a strategic decision: It is not essential for a short-term trial period, but it is an important step towards becoming a global brand.
Start Today, Go Global
As a result, thanks to platforms like Amazon and Etsy, it is more accessible than ever for SMEs to start e-exporting to the UK. While Amazon UK has a strong infrastructure, a huge customer pool and logistics solutions like FBA, Etsy has a loyal audience interested in handcrafted and unique products. With the steps and tips in this guide, you can take your business to the international arena.
Remember, success in e-export does not come overnight, but it is possible with the right steps. Trust your products, research the market and constantly improve your strategy. If necessary, increase your knowledge by taking amazon training or e-export consultancy. Even if you start small, over time you can gain brand awareness in the UK market and even become a sought-after name in your product category.
Taking the e-export adventure for your SME may seem like a difficult step at first glance, but it is actually a great opportunity. Now you know the answer to the question of how to sell products abroad. Now it's time to take action! Choose the right platform (be it Amazon, Etsy or both), make your plan and start your e-export journey to the UK. We wish you success in the global market!
Take your SME into the future by starting your e-export journey in the UK today - new customers from around the world are waiting for you.
