Business headquartered in the EU but want to ship products from other local regions

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment
1

My Shopify store is located in the EU (Netherlands) but the products I am shipping will be shipped from Australia where we have a local “store”.

In the future, we would like to have multiple shipping hubs in our largest market regions. Australia for Australia, New Zealand and Asia, the Netherlands for the EU and Scandinavia and the USA for North America and Mexico for instance.

I tried to install the Sendle app which is a Shopify shipping app (partner?) but because my Shopify business address (headquarters) is in the EU it will not allow it. I do have a local business partner in Australia. (Australian office)
My question is, how do I set up shipping hubs in countries when my Shopify business headquarters is registered in the EU. I am registered in the Netherlands for payment and tax purposes and because it is central to other large markets.
I thank you in advance for any help you can extend me.

2

Hi Jim,

There are a few ways to set up shipping hubs in countries when your Shopify business headquarters is registered in the EU. One way is to use a third-party fulfillment service. These services will store your inventory in warehouses around the world and ship your orders to customers from the closest warehouse. Some popular third-party fulfillment services include:

  • Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
  • Shipwire
  • ShipBob
  • Red Stag Fulfillment

Another way to set up shipping hubs in countries is to work with a local freight forwarder. Freight forwarders will help you arrange shipping for your products from your warehouse in the Netherlands to your shipping hubs in other countries.

If you want to use the Sendle app, you can set up a second Shopify store in Australia with your Australian business partner as the owner. This will allow you to use the Sendle app for shipping orders from your Australian warehouse.

Once you have set up your second Shopify store, you can install the Sendle app and start shipping orders from your Australian warehouse.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Best,
Flo

3

Hi Flo,

Hmmm.

Please be patient with me here as this international business is new to me.

Option 1 is copy Shopify store pay two monthly subscriptions but be able to
use local shipping couriers like Sendle.

Option 2 would be change store address and Shopify payments to Australia
until phase 2 then move store and Shopify payments back to EU and find
fulfillment centers in local hubs.

There is no way to use local stores in other regions? Using our own human
resources in local regions would just be preferable until we have scaled to
a level where fulfillment centers would make sense. As a new business
servicing a small niche it will take time to reach substancial volumes.

We can use Sendle without changing address but that requires filling out
each shipment address manually while the beauty of Shopify is the way the
apps integrate and automate much of the business backend.

Would you say this is a Sendle weak point or a Shopify weak point? Changing
the business address is not really the issue it that Shopify payment are
directly link to the address. Are there third party payment companies that
would be more flexible? I understand there are sales tax issues so it’s
more complex it just seems a bit strange that Shopify shipping limits my
options of shipping locally due to business location.

Thank you so much for your quick answer and great solutions. I appreciate
them!

Regards,
Jim

4

@JimBowes , Hope you are doing well.

To set up shipping hubs in different countries while your Shopify business headquarters is registered in the EU (specifically, the Netherlands), you can follow these steps:

  • Shipping Zones: In your Shopify admin, go to “Settings” and select “Shipping and delivery.” Create shipping zones for each target region where you want to establish a shipping hub. For example, create zones for Australia, New Zealand, Asia, EU/Scandinavia, North America, and Mexico.

  • Shipping Rates: Within each shipping zone, configure the appropriate shipping rates based on the destination and weight of the products. Set up flat rates, calculated rates, or use third-party carrier rates to accurately calculate shipping costs.

  • Local Carriers: Identify local carriers or shipping partners in each region where you plan to have a shipping hub. Work with these carriers to integrate their services into your Shopify store. You can either use carrier-calculated shipping or negotiate specific rates with them.

  • Inventory Management: Coordinate inventory across your different shipping hubs. Use inventory management features in Shopify or consider using an inventory management app to track stock levels in each location and prevent overselling.

  • Tax Settings: Adjust your tax settings to comply with the tax regulations of each region. Consult with tax professionals or use tax automation apps to handle tax calculations accurately for each shipping destination.

  • Communication: Clearly communicate the shipping options, estimated delivery times, and any potential customs duties or import taxes to your customers during the checkout process. Provide transparent information to manage customer expectations.

  • Apps and Integrations: Explore Shopify apps and integrations that can support multi-location inventory management, facilitate shipping from different hubs, and provide localized shipping options.

It’s essential to consult with legal and tax advisors to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations in each region where you plan to establish a shipping hub. Additionally, reach out to Shopify Support or engage with the Shopify community for specific guidance related to your shipping hub setup.

By following these steps, you can effectively set up shipping hubs in different countries and expand your reach to target markets.

2 Likes
5

Thanks so much for your valuable advice. Deeply appreciated

jim

1 Like