Contemplating expanding internationally early?
At Chubbies, we set up a new business entity in Australia before we were ready.
And, it cost us.
- We were two years into a healthy US DTC e-commerce business.
- Every product we launched worked.
- But, the holidays were slow for shorts & swimwear.
So, logically, we thought: if the US sales slow down in December, why not open in Australia?
We filed paperwork, spent cash, sent a lean team and launched a second business 9,000 miles away.
But, we skipped the most basic test: Were we strong enough at home to warrant this?
Simple answer, no. We werenât even close.
At <$10M in annual sales, our brand recognition in the US was near-zero despite being generally successful.
It wasnât even close to being able to support a second market.
This is everything we learned (the hard way):
a. Strong home base â> Best for global expansion
If customers at home aren't talking about you yet, youâre likely not ready to enter new markets. Stay focused.
b. Start lean, test & iterate
Use tools like Shopify Markets and Global-E to test international shipping while keeping your operations simple.
With a few clicks, you can read the results of small tests in 200 countries overnight.
All without hiring or managing the administrative burden of a new entity.
c. Put a great person on it
If your international strategy is core to your overall strategy, hire a 0-to-1 operator.
Someone you trust to own it independently.
Let them experiment with new platforms, donât force what is working in the US on the rest of your business.
So what finally worked for us?
Stepping back.
Keeping operations simple.
Investing in operational visibility.
And, giving full attention to each market we entered.