Going global with My NZ Post Business
With online tools to manage sending, and competitive commercial rates, extending your business’s reach is no longer a world away.
Going global with My NZ Post Business
With online tools to manage sending, and competitive commercial rates, extending your business’s reach is no longer a world away.
Ready to take the leap overseas?
New Zealand is renowned for our bold and innovative forward-thinkers, and our businesses are associated across the globe with quality products, a clean and green natural environment, and trustworthy people.
With such a great reputation, it’s easier than you think to tap into international markets.
Online shopping continues to grow in Australia
More Aussies are buying from Kiwi retailers than ever before. For many businesses this is a great place to start expanding overseas, because of the shared language, common lifestyle, and easy shipping.
Local marketplaces mean smaller upfront risk
A big initial investment and the effort of building a website can be a hard pill to swallow when you're just starting out. These days most countries have online markets that work in the local language and currency, so you can assess demand for your product before fully jumping in.
Bigger appetites, wider reach
Taking the next step overseas could boost your eCommerce activity to new levels. Extending beyond our borders means a larger and more diverse audience, which means more opportunities for even the most niche products to thrive.
Overcome cultural barriers to promoting and selling your products
Pay attention to how local competitors sell to their customers. For example, buying direct from social media, blogs, and QR codes is commonplace in many markets.
Leverage word of mouth by rewarding overseas customers for sharing your site and social media, and introducing new customers. A small amount of research so you can take advantage of these channels will save you money in the long run.
You can apply the same thinking to payment methods. Consider the available offshore payment methods in the countries you want to expand into – using these will reduce cart abandonment. Shoppers feel more comfortable working in their own language and currency so you should offer these on your website if possible.
Determine the right business model
There are many options ranging from selling out of New Zealand, to setting up a local or regional office through to getting together with a local partner. You may even want to consider options like franchising or licensing. It's vital to assess your own resources and capabilities when deciding on a business model.
Exporting is the simplest option, and you can start small, then scale up as you gain more experience and success in the new market. Since the business environment can vary widely in different countries, it's important to stay flexible and adaptable.
There’s no one right answer so assess all the options against your potential risks and benefits.
Ready to try My NZ Post Business?
Ready to maximise your business potential?
Handle all your local and global shipments easily online, and pay securely with credit/debit cards at competitive rates with My NZ Post Business.
Ready to try My NZ Post Business?
Ready to maximise your business potential?
Handle all your local and global shipments easily online, and pay securely with credit/debit cards at competitive rates with My NZ Post Business.
Tips for building a positive customer experience
Delivery time and costs when shopping from New Zealand-based retailers will be a big part of an overseas shopper’s decision making - not to mention their experience! To make sure they enjoy shopping with you:
- Let customers know where you ship from
- Provide clarity around delivery costs and timeframes
- Make it easy for your customer to return a product, to compete with experiences offered by their local vendors
Choosing NZ Post as your shipping partner allows you to offer a range of shipping options, including tracking for ultimate customer visibility, and great returns options.
Ensure you have contingency plans in place to mitigate the impact and clear communication plans to manage customer expectations. Creating a strong positive customer experience can often happen when the right action is taken when something doesn’t go to plan.
Choose a delivery partner that also sees this as a priority for you and your customers - like NZ Post.
Be aware of major international regulations like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and incorporate these into your processes.
We have a range of tools available to make this process easy. To get started, check out our global customs requirements.
The right partner can be a pivotal part of your expansion into global markets. They can even help you compete with local retailers on delivery speeds.
NZ Post has access to a global network of specialists and can advise you on the best options for tracking, streamlining operations and creating the best customer experience.
It's your responsibility to ensure that your item is not prohibited or restricted in the country you are sending to. You can check with the customs and/or agricultural/quarantine authority of the country concerned, contact the local consulate or embassy representatives, or visit the overseas destination's customs/border agency website.
More resources
Online resources to help New Zealand businesses grow their reach around the globe
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise provides services and insights to help you find suitable global markets to expand into, with support to tailor your offering to local consumers.
New Zealand Story
If your product is New Zealand specific, look to leverage the positive attributes of brand New Zealand to attract customers. New Zealand Story can help.