Vietnam Market Entry Guide: An Introduction

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Being an emerging market with a rapidly growing middle-class, investors and exporters compare Vietnam to China 15-20 years ago.

Even if Vietnam receives the attention to becoming a manufacturing hub, the domestic market shows an increased appetite for foreign products.

Entering the market can seem like a complex task for foreigners with little or no experience in Vietnam. Yet with some hand-holding and thought through planning you can avoid common pitfalls and plan for future sales.

In this article, I explain the basics you need to know when entering the Vietnamese eCommerce market as a foreigner.

Topics covered:

  • Market Entry Strategy
  • Vietnam Market Entry Obstacles
  • Market Entry Research
  • Incorporation

Market Entry Strategy

Entering a new market requires a robust strategy, including considerations to the different levels of involvement. For example, some companies are at an early stage and want to increase brand awareness through online or offline campaigns. Continue reading Vietnam Market Entry Guide: An Introduction

Top 5 eCommerce Websites in Asia: A Complete Guide

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Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Cross-border E-Commerce is set to grow immensely in Asia in the coming decade.

At the same time as China has become the world’s biggest E-Commerce market, neighboring countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines grow at impressive rates.

With increased disposable incomes, mobile usage, and internet penetration, Asia will continue to be the most interesting eCommerce market in the world.

With that said, navigating new eCommerce markets can be a daunting task due to the many eCommerce websites available. In this article, I’ve listed the most popular and interesting eCommerce marketplaces in Asia.

1. Tmall Global (China)

China’s E-Commerce market is not only the biggest but one of the most developed in the World.

With a population of 1.4 billion and a surging middle class, it’s become three times bigger than the US E-Commerce market.

Here, Tmall Global (天猫国际) is undoubtedly one of the most popular cross-border E-Commerce websites.

Continue reading Top 5 eCommerce Websites in Asia: A Complete Guide

Shipping Products with Lazada Global Shipping (LGS): A Complete Guide

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Lazada is one of the fastest-growing eCommerce marketplaces worldwide as it serves the booming Southeast Asian market.

Selling cross-border into six markets can be a challenging task, especially as customers demand shorter delivery lead times and increased customer service.

Luckily, Lazada has launched Lazada Global Shipping (LGS) which helps you facilitating orders, last-mile deliveries, and returns. The service is easy to use and integrated with the Lazada platform.

In this article, we review LGS in greater detail, covering the most important topics asked by sellers.

Topics covered:

  • What is Lazada Global Shipping (LGS)?
  • What is Kobron?
  • What are the benefits of using LGS?
  • Can I use other fulfillment companies and LGS at the same time?
  • How much does it cost to use LGS?
  • How can I manage orders with LGS?
  • How can I track orders with LGS?
  • What local couriers are available when selling on Lazada?
  • How do I manage returns?
  • What are the limitations of using LGS?

What is Lazada Global Shipping (LGS)?

Lazada Global Shipping (LGS) is Lazada’s in-house shipping solution that is solely dedicated to cross-border sellers.

You’re probably familiar with the term cross-border sales by now, but let’s have a quick recap. Practically speaking, you ship your products from overseas (e.g. the US or Europe) to Lazada’s fulfillment center in Hong Kong. Continue reading Shipping Products with Lazada Global Shipping (LGS): A Complete Guide

Product Restrictions when Selling Cross-Border on Lazada

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Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Selling cross-border on Lazada gives you access to as many as 6 nations, all located in ASEAN. Starting on Lazada is also comparably easy and won’t set you back more than a few hundred dollars.

But, not only does Lazada has requirements due to internal policies. As a matter of fact, ASEAN countries are not equally developed, have different customs processes, import regulations, religions, and cultures.

In this article, I explain about product restrictions when selling cross-border on on Lazada.

A comment before we start: Keep in mind that regulations change frequently and you should contact Lazada, or sign up to become a seller, for up-to-date information.

Topics covered:

  • General prohibited items in all ventures
  • Country-specific prohibited items
  • Counterfeit/replica goods
  • Second-hand/used goods
  • FAQ

Continue reading Product Restrictions when Selling Cross-Border on Lazada

Managing Customer Returns & Failed Deliveries on Lazada

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Many international exporters reside outside of Asia and want to sell cross-border on Lazada.

A common question is therefore how you can deal with customer returns and failed deliveries. Who will take care of the parcels and is it even possible to get them back, while you are on the side of the globe?

Luckily, you don’t need to be physically present at all. The process can be managed with the help of Lazada’s logistics services and with a separate 3PL company.

In this article, I go into greater detail and explain the information you need to know about how to manage failed deliveries and customer returns on Lazada.

Topics covered:

  • Acceptable reasons for customer returns on Lazada
  • The process for customer returns and failed deliveries
  • How to manage returns and failed deliveries for cross-border sales
  • Lazada’s re-routing process for failed deliveries

Acceptable reasons for customer returns on Lazada

Lazada’s return policies are pretty much the same for all ASEAN countries. Customers can return products in all countries, except for Vietnam, based on the following reasons: Continue reading Managing Customer Returns & Failed Deliveries on Lazada

Lazada Seller Center: The Ultimate Guide for Cross-Border Sellers

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Setting up a store and start selling on Lazada is fairly easy. You won’t need more than a copy of your ID and a business certificate, then you’re ready to go. Worth mentioning is that the setup fees are considerably lower to eCommerce websites in China, for example.

When selling on Lazada, you are responsible to manage your products in Lazada’s so-called “Seller Center”. This can be a bit tricky, at least for beginners.

Before you start selling on Lazada, it’s important that you understand how to manage your Seller Center to avoid mistakes that can result in de-listed products, increased returns, and bad customer ratings.

In this article, I explain what Lazada’s Seller Center is and how you can manage everything from product uploads, product pricing, customer returns, and more.

Topics covered:

  • What is Lazada Seller Center?
  • What information can I find in Seller Center?
  • How can I upload products to Lazada Seller Center?
  • How can I manage orders in Lazada Seller Center?
  • How can I change product prices in Seller Center?
  • Managing Product Returns in Seller Center

What is Lazada Seller Center?

In short, Seller Center is a dashboard integrated in Lazada’s platform where you can upload new products, manage product pricing, orders, deliveries, and customer returns. Continue reading Lazada Seller Center: The Ultimate Guide for Cross-Border Sellers

Lazada Payment Methods: What Sellers Must Know

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Lazada has managed to penetrate Southeast Asia’s promising eCommerce market and is the biggest marketplace. One of the reasons is the wide range of payment solutions offered.

Local and international sellers alike have no issues getting paid on the platform, no matter if you’re a local or cross-border seller.

In this article, I explain the payment methods that are used in all ASEAN countries, what benefits these have, how you can connect with Lazada’s payment providers, and more.

Payment options explained:

  • Option A: Cash On Delivery (COD)
  • Option B: Credit Card / Local ATM Card
  • Option C: Lazada E-Wallet
  • Other Country-Specific Payment Options
  • FAQ

1. Cash On Delivery (COD)

The option for buyers to use cash on delivery has opened Southeast Asian eCommerce markets completely. Now, you have access to millions of new buyers that wouldn’t otherwise be able to take advantage of Lazada’s services. Continue reading Lazada Payment Methods: What Sellers Must Know

Lazada vs Tmall Global: A Complete Guide for Cross-Border Sellers

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eCommerce will grow by far the most in Asia in the coming decades where China will lead the way, backed by ASEAN. Numerous foreign companies are aware of this and want a piece of these lucrative markets.

Before you go into detailed planning, it’s important that you understand the requirements, costs, and opportunities for each country or region. eCommerce platforms often have different requirements and focus on different product types.

Not to forget, the costs to set up and run a store on websites can vary greatly depending on how hard the market is to access and the competition.

Today, you’ll learn about the differences between the biggest E-Commerce website in ASEAN, Lazada, and one of the biggest cross-border websites in China, Tmall Global.

Topics covered in this article:

  • What is Lazada?
  • What is Tmall Global?
  • What are the benefits of selling on Lazada?
  • What are the benefits of selling on Tmall Global?

What is Lazada?

Rocket Internet, a German incubator, founded Lazada in Singapore in 2012 and it has grown fast since.

Back then, Southeast Asia lacked online marketplaces like Amazon and Tmall that can be found in China and in the West. Thus, Rocket Internet saw a great opportunity.

Continue reading Lazada vs Tmall Global: A Complete Guide for Cross-Border Sellers

Top Selling Products on Lazada: The Ultimate Guide

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Lazada offers millions of products to sellers all over ASEAN. Once you go to the websites, you’re blasted with promotions and flash sales opportunities.

I know, they want you to get into that shopping mode we’ve all experienced in big malls, for example.

Selling on Lazada can be lucrative if you sell the right products, offer good quality, and deliver on time. Thus, many people wonder what the most popular products are on Lazada and how the trend will look like in the coming years.

In this article, I explain which products that are top sellers on Lazada in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia.

1. Best-selling products on Lazada Malaysia

Malaysia has really embraced E-Commerce and where Lazada is the most popular marketplace at the moment. The trend is similar as in China where mum & baby products, electronics, clothes & accessories, and groceries are in high demand.

Continue reading Top Selling Products on Lazada: The Ultimate Guide

Fees & Commissions when Selling on Lazada: The Definitive Guide

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Opening a store on Lazada can be a great choice for companies that look to expand into Asian markets. China has become competitive over the years and it’s far more expensive to start selling there.

One of the benefits of selling cross-border on Lazada is that you instantly reach six countries in ASEAN, with a total population in the hundreds of millions. The second benefit is the low upfront and running costs that come with it.

Selling on Lazada is perfect if you just want to try-out the Southeast Asian market as the setup and running fees are low. That’s not the case for China.

In this article, you’ll learn about the following when selling cross-border on Lazada:

  • Upfront fees
  • Payment service fees
  • Commissions
  • Shipping fees

Continue reading Fees & Commissions when Selling on Lazada: The Definitive Guide