Did you know that there are only 700 Irish sellers on the Amazon marketplace?

Amazon started as an online bookshop in the USA but has grown and now encompasses many different types of business. It is now a “one-stop” shop that umbrella’s seven key segments such as online stores, Amazon Web Services (AWS), physical stores, subscriptions, third-party seller services, and others.

This means you can buy almost anything from books, electronics, budgie food, tools, exercise machines, kitchen appliances, clothes, shoes, baby products, and many more.

Now imagine all this goodies at your Irish doorstep. Sounds amazing right?

In October 2020, Amazon extended its presence in Ireland with bases in Dublin. Amazon opened a delivery operations center in Dublin that uses local delivery companies to deliver orders swiftly. This opens up opportunities for Irish brands and small businesses to join the Amazon marketplace and make money.

With only 700 sellers to compete with, you should seriously consider this wonderful opportunity before the Amazon marketplace gets flooded.

Why should you consider selling on the Amazon marketplace in the first place?

Amazon has been investing and growing in Ireland for over 16 years and counting. The company established its first cloud infrastructure in Ireland in 2007 and worked hard to strengthen its relationship with local communities across the country. All this time Amazon handled everything and the shipping costs were off the roof.

Now that the Amazon marketplace has opened fulfillment offices in Dublin, more sellers can join the eCommerce and make a profit. This means customers can now buy products from local brands and small businesses without extra shipping costs. In addition, the products will reach customers in a day or two thanks to the collaboration with local delivery companies.

The good news is, if you already have a physical store, you can also sign up as a seller and tap into the online market. After the Covid-19, the business faced the “Retail Apocalypse” and most bleed dry. However, the Amazon marketplace offers a second chance to sellers as everyone adapts to the “new normal.”

What does the Amazon marketplace offer you as the seller?

The most obvious benefit you can expect is the readily available customers. For any new business, attracting customers is usually the main issue and it might take weeks if not months without building a strong customer loyalty base.

With the Amazon marketplace, you can tap into the readily available market and start selling immediately. The Amazon selling algorithm is designed to give customers what they’re looking for and this system pays off well.

Amazon knows how to rank on Google and shoppers trickle in daily, drawn by the Amazon marketplace wide selection. Shoppers love to compare prices, variety of products, excellent shipping, and good reputation. Now the moment you sign up to become a third-party seller on the Amazon marketplace, you gain access to all this wonderful experience.

How will Brexit affect sellers on the Amazon marketplace?

After months of intensive negotiations and speculations, around the end of January 2021, UK officially left the European Union (EU), which means the return of high duties and taxes on imported goods is expected.

In simpler words, customers in Ireland now will incur additional customs duty on imported goods over €150 on Amazon.co.uk, as well as VAT (Value Added Tax) charges from July 1st this year on goods regardless of their value.

There are four key ways that Brexit affects Amazon sellers from customs and shipping to Value Added Tax (VAT) laws and even trademark registrations. Here’s what you need to know about each of the changes.

There is no customs duty on any products made in the UK and delivered to Ireland or any other EU country.
Customs Duty may be charged on some categories of goods coming from the UK with a “country of origin*” outside the UK – but only IF the order is more than €150.
Orders with a value below €150 (before postage charges) will NOT be liable to Irish/EU customs duty regardless of the product’s country of origin *.
UK VAT should not be charged by retailers on any orders delivered to Ireland from the UK. However, Irish import VAT will apply to orders over €22. If retailers are doing things correctly – this should mean a price reduction on orders under €22 IF UK VAT is being charged by the seller.

On the bright side, you can take advantage of the unique market search.

Unfortunately, as a UK seller, you won’t be able to tap the 440 million EU customers due to limited access to Amazon’s logistics network. However, you can tap into the local customers. Most buyers will be left stranded but you as the seller can be their answer. As stated above, selling within the UK saves you from paying customs duties.

You can use The Amazon marketplace data to approach each sales channel differently and adjust your views on local customer acquisitions, sales, and profitability for your products. Expect hidden costs to crop up during post-Brexit adjustments but it’s nothing to worry about.

As an Irish seller, there’s a world of opportunities waiting for you to join. Yes, at the moment the marketplace is volatile but what is business without some risks right?

FAQs

Is Amazon available in Ireland?

There is still no Amazon. ie or “Amazon Ireland” website yet. The size of the market here in the Republic of Ireland might not be big enough to justify a separate website. Shopping at Amazon has been even more popular than usual in Ireland during this coronavirus crisis as more people move to online shopping.

Does Amazon have a warehouse in Ireland?

Warehouses will be far from the only buildings in Ireland bearing Amazon’s name. The tech giant’s data center and cloud business has been operating in Ireland for years, joining several major tech companies in building sprawling data centers in Dublin and neighboring counties.

Will Amazon UK deliver to Ireland?

If you spend at least £20 or more on eligible items at Amazon UK, you will get free delivery to Ireland. To count as eligible, products need to be either: Sold and dispatched by Amazon UK. Sold by Amazon Marketplace sellers and dispatched by Amazon (excluding some electrical items)

How do I order from Amazon in Ireland?

The answer is sometimes: it depends on the item. But you can order any product from the Amazon.com USA store and get it shipped to Ireland, regardless of whether Amazon ships it internationally or not. Here’s how to get started:

Step 1: Go to Amazon.com International Shopping Portal. …
Step 2: Create an Account and Set Up Your 1-Click Ireland Address. …
Step 3: Sign Up For A Shipping Forwarder. …
Step 4: Buy Your Amazon Product.

Is Amazon charging customs to Ireland?

Amazon charges you the import fees and will arrange for them to be paid on your behalf to Irish Revenue. Therefore, you’ll pay no further charges to a Post or couriers. If the estimate of import fees does turn out to be higher than the actual import fees, then Amazon will refund you the difference.

How do I get free delivery from Amazon to Ireland?

For customers in the Republic of Ireland, orders including £20 or more (including local VAT) of eligible items qualify for free delivery.

Final thoughts

Despite the few stepbacks due to Brexit changes, the Amazon marketplace remains a gold mine that brands should look into. Note that there more than 67% of Irish shoppers use the Amazon platform and the Brexit challenges might be a blessing in disguise. Before the marketplace gets flooded, you can hope on the platform and make money.

Familiarize yourself with the process, fees, product, and sales research, and seller responsibilities first. There are a few things you must understand for you to succeed in the Amazon marketplace.

To understand better if the Amazon marketplace is right for your business, check out our detailed guide here.

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