Expanding your business into new markets and selling products internationally is tricky. Not only do language barriers present huge challenges but you also need to consider local laws, currencies and conversion rates, the logistics of delivery and returns and the preferences and behaviour of local consumers.
To help retailers and brands navigate the treacherous waters of international expansion, TOPPAN Digital Language has teamed up with We Are Pentagon to present at this year’s Fashion Without Borders event. The event takes place on Thursday 17th September 2015 at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London.
What you can expect from the event
The event is designed to provide retailers and brands with advice and guidance on the challenges of cross-border trade.
The first panel session, moderated by Transform’s Joe Tarragano, will explore how to capture the local approach when selling into a new market.
After that, experts from TOPPAN Digital Language, Search Laboratory and Fits Me will discuss the importance of applying a localised approach and understanding how user journeys differ from market to market.
They will show that localisation is not just about translating product names and descriptions, but selecting the right products, understanding the local lingo and capturing the essence of the local culture when considering sizing guidelines, relevant imagery and preferred payments methods.
Spaces at Fashion Without Borders are limited, so register here today to avoid disappointment.
The panellists
Patrick Eve, Co-Founder and Executive Director at TOPPAN Digital Language
TOPPAN Digital Language is a global language service provider, which has pioneered technology and processes that allow global retailers and ecommerce businesses to successfully expand into new developed and emerging markets. Patrick will explore the importance of tailoring language and client attribution models for each market.
Ian Harris, CEO at Search Laboratory
Search Laboratory was formed in 2005 to fill the gap in the market for a dedicated multilingual digital marketing service. Today it helps clients, including Karen Millen and Matches, to significantly increase their online revenue. Ian will discuss how to get your brand noticed in new markets by understanding the key phrases that local consumers use during search.
Heikke Haldre, Founder of Fits Me
Fits.me is a groundbreaking technology that helps apparel retail move from stores to online, giving confidence to consumers when buying the right size of a garment, and providing the retailers with wealth of data. Heikke will give examples of how technology can provide retailers with unprecedented tools for global expansion.
The marketplaces
Fashion Without Borders aims to showcase some of the most interesting and exciting global e-marketplace to UK brands and retailers.
Some of the marketplaces speaking at this event may be relatively unknown, but they can open doors for retailers who want to accelerate their international roadmap and sell into a broader range of countries.
Some of the marketplace speakers include:
Qingfei Xu: Associate Director at China’s largest direct sales company, JD.com
Sean Summers: VP of Marketplaces at Latin America’s largest ecommerce ecosystem, MercadoLibre
Ahmed Alkhatib: CEO and Founder of the Middle East’s leading online shopping community, MarkaVIP
Smrithi Ravichandran: Director at India’s largest marketplace, Flipkart
Farrukh Syed, CCO Crossborder at Southeast Asia’s number one online shopping and selling destination, Lazada
Chikodi Ukaiwe: VP, Market Expansion at Nigeria’s largest online shopping mall, Konga
and many more…
The industry experts
Four key panel sessions, led by industry experts, will provide tips and advice on how to overcome the main barriers to cross-border trade:
Capturing the local approach: from language to sizing
Experts from TOPPAN Digital Language, Search Laboratory and Fits Me will discuss the importance of applying a localised approach when selling internationally. They will show that localisation is not just about language, but selecting the right products and capturing the essence of the local culture.
Evaluating the risks: a financial step-by-step guide to selling internationally
Leading financial institutions and consulting companies (World First, Santander and Meridian), will discuss the best ways to manage currency conversions, preferred local payment methods and VAT compliance when selling internationally.
Understanding and overcoming the legal barriers to entry
Legal advisers from the multinational law firm Eversheds and specialists in the field of consumer commerce from IORMA, will provide helpful deeper understanding of the potential legal barriers, for brands and retailers, when selling internationally. They will answer questions concerning all aspects of compliance that brands and retailers may face when selling into a new region.
International shipping and international returns: making logistics work for your brand
Experts from wnDirect and GS1 will discuss the best ways to manage your international shipping, from innovative logistics solutions to global supply chain standards, while ZigZag will present a new, disruptive platform that helps retailers manage their international returns more cost-effectively.
Register today
The event takes place on Thursday 17th September 2015 at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, this international retail event will have speakers from 12 global e-marketplaces reaching all corners of the globe; from China to Brazil, India to Indonesia, the Middle East to Europe.
If you are brand or retailer who is interesting in selling internationally, want to increase your overseas sales or discover how to fast track your international growth, then register to attend Fashion Without Borders today!
