International opportunities Success abroad
Selling internationally offers opportunities, but also brings obligations. Each country has its own rules, customer expectations and preferences. In this article, you can read about what to look out for when selling abroad and how Valued Shops supports you in doing so.
European inspection: Basics in order
European consumer legislation is harmonized on many points. Valued Shops carries out an inspection based on these guidelines. Among other things, we check for:
- The right of withdrawal
- Full contact information (including business address)
- Correct statement of prices, VAT and shipping costs
- Legally correct general terms and conditions and privacy policy
- Complaints procedure
Upon approval, you will receive the Valued Shops seal of approval, showing that you meet European consumer protection standards.
Please note that although this inspection follows European guidelines, additional requirements may apply per country.
Exceptions per country
Within the EU, many rules are unified, but some countries have their own conditions or customs. Some examples:
- Germany: Legally required to display an Impressum. Also, the order button must clearly indicate that an obligation to pay arises.
- France: The entire website, including legal documents, must be available in French.
- United Kingdom: Since the Brexit, separate rules apply for VAT, imports and returns.
- Spain: Customers expect clear information in their own language, and reviews play a big role in the buying process.
Make sure you check per country whether your webshop meets local requirements.
Multilingualism and international reviews
Language is essential for trust. Within Valued Shops you can:
- Display the trustmark and widgets in multiple languages (e.g. English, German, French, Spanish).
- Collect reviews in the customer's language
- Set up automatic translations of review requests
- Filter the display of reviews by language
In the dashboard you can easily set which elements are shown per language.
Showing the trustmark to foreign visitors
The Valued Shops Seal of Approval is available in multiple languages. Visitors automatically see the trustmark in their language, including the corresponding member page. You can display the seal in different places, such as:
- Home page
- Footer
- Checkout page
- Product pages
In addition, it is possible to use local badges, such as a seal with German flag or French-language explanation.
Sales by country
Germany
An important market with a lot of potential, but also strict rules.
Attention:
- An Impressum is mandatory
- T&C and return information must be available in German
- Payment methods such as Klarna, SEPA and Sofort are common.
- Trust plays a major role; a visible seal of approval helps here
Belgium
A relatively accessible market, but pay attention to the language differences.
- Target both Dutch-speaking (Flanders) and French-speaking (Wallonia) customers.
- Reviews in both languages increase trust
- Local payment methods such as Bancontact are expected
United Kingdom
Since Brexit, different rules apply.
- Customs rules and VAT handling may affect delivery time
- Transparency about possible import costs is important
- English is of course the official language
France
A language-sensitive market with a preference for local-looking webshops.
- Everything must be available in French, including legal documents
- Reviews and seal of approval must be in French for optimal trust
- Customer service in French is a plus
Spain
A growing market, especially interesting for fashion, lifestyle and electronics.
- Spanish language is a requirement
- Customer reviews have great influence on purchasing behavior
- Allow for longer delivery times, especially to islands
In conclusion
Selling internationally requires customization per country. With good preparation, multilingual support and a visible hallmark, you can generate a lot of confidence among foreign customers. Valued Shops offers practical support and tools with which you can expand quickly and correctly.