Melissa O’Malley, Director of Global Merchant & Cross Border Trade Initiatives, PayPal

Though they may not seem complementary at first, the fact that World Trade Month and National Small Business Week both take place in May is very appropriate. “It is a small word” has never been more relevant than it is today. By leveraging free online tools and research on global trends, savvy small business owners can find success selling online internationally.  

 

 

Several PayPal merchants have realized the benefits of this: Fashionphile, a U.S. retailer of pre-owned luxury handbags, saw their overall sales jump 20 percent after making the decision to sell overseas. Nearly 20 percent of Nationwide Surplus’ sales are international. A U.S. trader of computers, peripherals and surplus items, the company is especially dependent on international commerce ­– as the global market is far more accepting of older, more affordable technologies.

 

Following are best practices for making your international sales a success:

Learn the customs, duties, taxes and regulatory requirements of your targeted sales regions: Learning these variables inside and out will allow you to confidently position your products effectively and appropriately. Keep your shipping costs low: 47 percent of all online shoppers say that free shipping would make them more likely to purchase from another country. Stay on top of the product categories and brands that are hot overseas: Apparel and consumer electronics are the most popular categories, according to PayPal data from November 2014. Don’t go it alone -- leverage free resources and experts to help: Free tools like PayPal’s PassPort -- which helps small businesses learn about local customs, trends and shipping tips -- and guidance from the Small Business Administration can ensure that you’re up to speed on the latest global trade trends.

This month, there is also important trade legislation activity in the U.S. Congress that could benefit small businesses that export online.  Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate recently began debate on two bipartisan trade bills that would modernize the United States trade agenda and open up new opportunities for U.S. small businesses in the global marketplace.  The Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) includes language that directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to ensure the interests of small businesses are considered in any trade negotiation process. Secondly, the Customs Reauthorization bill streamlines the customs process and offers customs relief to small businesses selling internationally.  In addition, an amendment introduced by Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and adopted by the Finance Committee would instruct the USTR to use trade negotiations to encourage the United States’ trading partners to increase their de minimis thresholds.  This amendment would greatly ease the burdens faced by small businesses looking to trade internationally.

 

Our company supports these legislative efforts to modernize trade policy.  In fact, last month we launched a grassroots effort on eBay Main Street highlighting the need for legislative solutions on small business trade.  Within only a few weeks, the PayPal and eBay communities sent over 50,000 pro-trade emails and tweets to their Members of Congress. The emails sent to Capitol Hill urged Members of Congress to, “champion trade policies that ensure small businesses can grow and thrive through the global marketplace” and support the modernization of U.S. trade policy.  Members of Congress heard from the PayPal and eBay Communities and adopted these pro-small business provisions in both the TPA and the Customs Reauthorization.  This is a huge victory for small business traders!

 

For updates on the trade legislation moving through the U.S. House and Senate, please visit eBay Main Street.  To raise your voice in support of small business trade, please visit our Action Center. 

To learn more about how small businesses can be successful in selling internationally, join Dan Leberman, Vice President of PayPal’s North American Online Small & Medium Business, Crisloid (a PayPal merchant), and the U.S. Small Business Administration on Thursday, May 7, at 2:30 p.m. ET for a webinar about how online payments can drive small business growth.

 

Continue to follow the conversation during our #BizTipsChat Twitter Chat on May 20th from 12:00 – 1:00pm PT featuring the topic “Taking Your Business to the Next Level By Selling Abroad.” Throughout the month of May, @PayPal4Business will host Twitter Chats highlighting a new small business topic every Wednesday with the hashtag #BizTipsChat.

 

Original author: PayPal-Forward