Grow your business, and your reputation, abroad

For many small business owners, growth and reputation-building are critical markers of long-term success. Being able to offer your products to new shoppers in international markets is an incredible opportunity for growth. But expanding product offerings to international shoppers can feel daunting, and it’s hard to know where to start.

Small business owners looking to expand internationally might experience some hesitancy and confusion around the logistics of selling products and shipping to customers overseas and across borders. Offering a satisfying purchase and delivery experience is critical for repeat business, and it’s natural to want to provide that same efficiency to new international shoppers.

“Most of our customers are definitely repeat customers,” says Bradley (Mikey) Mills, who handles shipping and logistics for Troll and Toad, a longtime gaming business. “So with our international customers, the more and more that we can do for them to provide them a better experience, [the better]. We definitely want them to come back time and time again.” Mikey’s solution for Troll and Toad was to start using FedEx^® International Connect Plus (FICP) for help.

An international e-commerce gateway

FedEx has long been considered a strong provider for e-commerce transportation, and it’s easy to see the extended benefits of FICP right away. It offers a cross-border shipping solution for e-commerce businesses, with day-definite delivery that balances speed and cost. FICP is part of a suite of solutions designed to help business owners grow in international markets with ease, affordability, and speed:

Ease

Provide end-to-end tracking visibility with proactive tracking notifications through email, text, or both
Offer reliability with day-definite delivery estimates
Give customers pickup options and more delivery control with FedEx Delivery Manager^®

In addition to FICP, get access to other helpful solutions that can make the international shipping process smoother:

Get a designated non-FedEx customs broker for your business, available with FedEx International Broker Select^®
Transmit customs documents electronically, available with FedEx^® Electronic Trade Documents
Simplify your international returns process, available with FedEx^® Global Returns

Affordability

Get simple, transparent pricing with no residential surcharges

Speed

Connect with 95% of the world’s GDP and be able to ship products to people in 198+ countries and territories in as little as 2 days
Ship to Canada in 3 days
Get clearance-inclusive services that can help reduce delays

Note: This service is available for shipments that weigh less than 70 lbs. and do not contain hazardous materials.

Small business owners appreciate these benefits, as they can help remove common roadblocks and provide more opportunities for growth in international e-commerce. They’re also feeling grateful for the hands-on support they receive along the way. “The biggest help is that we have really good reps [account executives],” says Jennifer Tilney, owner and president of Platinum Skin Care, an online retailer that specializes in anti-aging and medical-grade skin care products. “I can always reach out to them and get my [questions] answered either immediately, or they can get back with me really quickly. With other carriers, I just don’t have that immediate turnaround.”

Jared Swan, who uses FICP to ship products for Chapel Library, a nonprofit, donation-funded ministry of Mount Zion Bible Church, agrees. “What exceeded our expectations with [FedEx International] Connect Plus is the service.”

The benefits of having the right shipping service

For small business owners, working with FICP can make all the difference. Who knew expanding into an international market could actually feel easy?

Jared from Chapel Library says, “It’s been smooth and effortless the whole time.” For Joel Strycharz, president of Premiere Book Group, it was all about the details. It was easy to integrate FICP with their e-commerce platform and pull in data for different shipping zones. “It’s such a game changer that it’s creating a much more efficient process for the customer, and that they can get [the product] within a week in different parts of the world.”

Growth where it counts

Small business owners who rely on FICP to expand their business can see quick results. “As we grow even more,” says Jared, “we're doing five times the volume as we were two years ago. That would probably be impossible without FICP.”

For Premiere Book Group, the satisfaction is apparent in both their reviews and the customers who return for another purchase. “In our TrustPilot Reviews and our Google reviews, we’re seeing very positive comments, and how fast [it is] from the time they click purchase to the time it shows up [at] the front door. If we’re satisfying customers, we’re getting return customers.”

Jennifer already has her sights fixed on what’s next for Platinum Skin Care. “FICP definitely fits into our growth plans because we’re always moving forward, we’re always growing, and we need dependable carriers to bring us into the future.”

Building a reputation for excellence

FICP doesn’t just provide growth for small businesses, it offers an opportunity to solidify a retailer’s global reputation rooted in a consistent and enjoyable shopping experience. “Being able to offer more reliable [shipping] methods to our customers has definitely made it easier for us to continue moving forward and do better and keep growing,” says Jennifer.

Premiere Book Group found that reliability translated to trust pretty quickly. “It’s making them able to trust us more with getting the product into their hands,” says Joel. “When you hit that order button, the shipment is a part of the experience—you know it’s gonna make or break the overall customer buying and journey experience.”

“When you hit that order button, the shipment is a part of the experience—you know it's gonna make or break the overall customer buying and journey experience.

Joel Strycharz

Thanks to the savviness of small business owners who want to take a customer-focused approach, along with FICP’s services and support, it’s easier than ever to provide an international shopping experience that really delivers.

Learn more about how FedEx International Connect Plus can help your business grow. Read more articles here.

Troll and Toad is a 25-year-old online gaming business that sells trading cards, collectible cards, and board games and provides a place for users to sell their old games.

Platinum Skin Care provides anti-aging and medical-grade skin care, acne treatment, peels, and body care products for their customers’ needs.

Chapel Library is a nonprofit ministry of Mount Zion Bible Church whose mission is to send Christ-centered materials from prior centuries worldwide.

Premiere Book Group is an independent bookselling business in operation since 2003 with solutions to market and sell book titles across a range of business channels.