Protecting Your Brand While Exporting Overstock

The growth of the online marketplace has created many new opportunities for both individuals and companies to sell all kinds of merchandise. Import and export businesses now have low-cost, direct access to customers around the world through their own websites and other online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba.

When exporting store returns and/or overstock merchandise, you already have an advantage over other online merchants selling similar products because of the reduced cost of items. But for a local or national company, it can be quite challenging to expand your operations to include exporting. Issues such as poor packaging, delayed shipments, damaged products on arrival, and so on, can affect your brand reputation.

How to Protect Your Brand While Exporting Overstock:

1. Identify Your Market: Before you can start exporting your overstock, you first need to find the individuals or companies that are interested in your liquidation merchandise. They should be willing to receive, market, and sell those products. Advertise in popular and reputable, country-specific trade publications and expand your search using internet trade portals. Perform due diligence to eliminate scammers.
2. Assess the Demand: Just because your product sales are successful in Canada, doesn’t necessarily mean that sales will succeed in overseas markets. Identify your chosen country’s demand for your product and assess competitive products in that market. Consider any cultural differences that may affect branding, packaging, and labeling.
3. Take Advantage of Professionals: When transporting your merchandise overseas, you can send small packages via DHL or FedEx, or use the services of a freight forwarder (local) or customs broker (in the country of export). A freight forwarder can assist with various details, including moving your surplus stock, advising on costs, preparing export documentation, arranging transportation, and ensuring compliance with foreign customs regulations.

Exporting your overstock is a great way to maximize returns. If done right, you can grow your brand overseas and capture a segment of the market for yourself.

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