The series "Online Sales and Deliveries in Bulgaria and Abroad" is a joint initiative of Darik Radio and euShipments.com. Each month, selected experts participate in a live discussion on the morning show "Darik Cafe," hosted by Duzev and Raichev. They share their experiences on significant topics related to online commerce in the country and abroad, as well as various eCommerce aspects.
Stenik on Darik Radio's National Broadcast
On March 7, 2023, at the invitation of EUShipments, Dimitar Dimitrov from Stenik participated in the second episode of the segment dedicated to electronic commerce in Bulgaria and abroad.
Together with Svetlozar Dimitrov, co-founder and manager of euShipments.com, Dimitar discussed the topic "Sales and deliveries in Romania and other markets in the region".
EUShipments is a Bulgarian company that offers a complete cycle of professional fulfillment and courier services for online retailers. Currently, euShipments operates in a network of 27 European countries, utilizing a portfolio of services from over 40+ established courier companies and 12 fulfillment centers. This allows them to reduce delivery times and lower service costs for online stores in Central Europe.
Key moments
Dimitar and Svetlozar shared their wealth of experience specifically for the Darik radio listeners. The discussion covered several significant aspects.
The question: What are the reasons for Romania being an attractive destination for Bulgarian online retailers' expansion? was commented on by Dimitar. According to him, there are several specific factors:
-
Geographical location - a close neighboring country.
-
The population of the country.
-
Internet penetration.
-
A high percentage of active online users.
-
A higher average value of purchases made by Romanian online consumers compared to Bulgarian consumers.
Svetlozar Dimitrov added that Romania is a preferred logistics choice for deliveries, even for online retailers not positioned in Northern Bulgaria, close to the border. A Bulgarian retailer who sells and delivers to our northern neighbor is competitive with local retailers regarding:
- Short delivery times within 24 to 48 hours from the e-retailer's address to the entire Romania;
- Courier service prices that are close to the standard ones offered by logistics companies within Bulgaria.
Dimitar added that in the past, the delivery cost had been a hindrance rather than a competitive advantage for smaller online merchants with limited business volumes. He emphasized that specialized companies like euShipments have made services and delivery prices more accessible to online retailers at present.
Svetlozar Dimitrov highlighted Greece and Hungary as other attractive markets for successful and developed Bulgarian merchants who are scaling their businesses after properly aligning their processes in the Bulgarian market.
Dimitar emphasized that for online merchants in certain specific sectors, Greece makes the most sense as a market due to several reasons:
-
Geographical proximity;
-
The average value of purchases on an annual basis is twice as high as that in Romania;
-
Internal competition is more diverse, as Greece has more complex processes regarding starting an online business.
-
Greek online consumers are the most frequent buyers from foreign online stores;
-
Transit time is not a hindrance, as the Greek population on the islands mainly shops online and is accustomed to longer delivery times.
Another country discussed during the segment was Croatia. Svetlozar Dimitrov commented that Croatia is an interesting online market statistically because consumers there have positive attitudes towards international online retailers, as the local ones are not as well developed. Statistics show that after joining the Eurozone, Croatia became a highly desired destination for numerous foreign eCommerce businesses.
Dimitar shared his expertise regarding the proper approach to growing an online business and developing an online store abroad, including the intricacies, challenges, and everything else related to sales success. He highlighted the following points to consider:
-
Technology that allows successful selling in multiple markets. A multilingual and multicurrency eCommerce platform that integrates with local payment methods for different markets;
-
Localization - understanding and comprehending the consumer attitudes of the local market. The need for a native speaker who can translate the product portfolio effectively, especially for products with specific documentation.
Stenik's advice to online merchants operating in foreign markets is to ensure they have at least one native speaker to validate the texts on their online store.
D. Dimitrov
- Marketing - businesses whose products sell successfully on social media through a good marketing strategy for foreign customers are privileged.;
-
Call Center Service - customer service on the local language guarantees superior customer experience, builds trust, and is a crucial part of the mix for the success of an online merchant in foreign markets.
- Logistics - one of the most concerning aspects concerning sales abroad.
Those interested can listen to the entire discussion on Darik Radio's broadcast in the attached video.
Listen to the entire conversation within the segment.
At Stenik, we possess undeniable eCommerce experience in creating online stores that sell internationally. Over the years, we have assisted numerous serious merchants in successfully expanding beyond the borders of Bulgaria.
Regarding logistics services, thanks to companies like euShipments, the process is highly facilitated and optimized to support local online merchants who choose to sell in foreign markets.
Are you interested in selling beyond the borders of Bulgaria?
At Stenik, we are available to meet and discuss your expansion strategy abroad and offer the most appropriate individual technological solutions for your online store. Don't hesitate to contact us right away!
