How to start selling your product in
Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand?

NEW!
“Sell Now” Solution in South East Asia

4 Countries, 8 Stores,
1 Solution

Southeast Asia – How to start cross-border e-commerce FAQ

Do I need to have inventory in each country?
No. Cross-border e-commerce allows you to use one inventory to easily sell to multiple markets.

Where should I store my inventory?
Lazada and Shopee both have parcel collection locations in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu and Seoul. Having inventory in one of these cities is preferred.

How to I get my sales proceeds?
The funds are directly deposited in your company’s local payment account after Lazada and Shopee deducted their fees.

Why should I sell on these marketplaces?
Marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee have large captive customer bases and a familiar check-out process. Many consumers also trust marketplaces’ consumer protection policies. It is an easier way to get traffic and drive sales.

How will my brand be presented?
On marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee, brands can open Branded Flagship Stores. Each flagship store can have its own branding and look and feel. Only the brand’s own products will be sold within the flagship store.

How to be successful to sell in Southeast Asia?
It starts with good products at reasonable pricing, but effective marketing, quality customer service, active participation in marketplace events, well-planed inventory strategy and strategic traffic acquisition are all important factors. Seller would usually engage an Enabler (e.g. Maersk E-Partner) to handle these complexities.

How much do I need to spend on marketing?
It is totally up to the seller. As a reference, it is not uncommon to spend anywhere from 15% to 35% of first year sales on marketing.

What are the other costs I need to pay?
Sellers usually would engage an Enabler to help them with the complexity of operating the store. Sellers may need a warehouse in one of the 4 cities mentioned above (Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Yiwu and Seoul) to store, pick and pack goods. Sellers will also need to pay the marketplace for sales commission, last-mile cross-border shipping, and cross-border e-commerce tax of the destination.

How do I start this with Maersk E-Partner?
Send us an email at epartner@lns.maersk.com and we will reach out immediately to give you more details.

To make selling to Southeast Asia market even easier for up-and-coming brands, Maersk E-Partner provides a single solution that covers Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, with both Lazada and Shopee stores in each country.

We handle the day-to-day store operation, product page management, traffic generation, marketplace campaign participation, and real-time customer service for sellers and brands.  Brands can focus on their products and have a quick win in new markets.

E-Partner Service Scope