Selling Internationally from India — Shopify vs Amazon

Why Indian D2C Brands Are Going International

I see three drivers behind this:

• Higher margins — I’ve watched Indian products (ethnic wear, Ayurvedic beauty, spices, handcraft) command premium prices internationally
• Dollar/Euro revenue — At ₹84+ per dollar, I see international sales carrying a built-in margin advantage
• Less competition — I watch thousands of Indian D2C brands compete for the same domestic buyer. Internationally, your products are unique.

But international selling is complex, and I’ve watched most brands fail because they underestimated logistics, duties, and customer expectations.

Option 1: Shopify Markets

How It Works

• In my experience, Shopify Markets lets you sell from your existing Shopify store to international customers
• I like that it auto-converts currency, calculates duties/taxes at checkout, and handles international shipping labels
• Your products, your brand, your customer relationship — I keep them all

Costs

Best For

• I’d put brands here with international demand already — Instagram followers from US/UK/UAE
• I point premium brands here, where high shipping costs are acceptable on ₹3,000+ products
• Brands wanting full control over customer experience and data — my own pick

Option 2: Amazon Global Selling

How It Works

• I list products on Amazon US, UK, UAE, etc. directly from Seller Central
• I ship to Amazon’s international FBA warehouses, and Amazon takes over local fulfillment from there
• Alternatively, I use Amazon’s Global Logistics (AGL) for cheaper India-to-warehouse shipping

Costs

Best For

• I’d steer brands with mass-market appeal and competitive pricing here
• Small, light products — I’ve watched these keep FBA fees lower
• Brands comfortable handing customer data to Amazon — the trade-off I flag upfront

Option 3: Manual Export

How It Works

• I start by setting up export documentation — IEC code, AD code, RCMC if applicable
• Then I partner with an international courier (DHL, FedEx) or a freight forwarder
• And I handle customs, duties, and compliance myself

Best For

• I route B2B/wholesale international orders here
• I recommend this only to brands with a dedicated operations person who understands export documentation
• High-value, low-volume products, where margins justify the complexity — my pick

Comparison

Getting Started: My Recommendation

1. Start with UAE — I start founders here: large Indian diaspora, familiar with Indian brands, lower shipping costs, and Dubai as a gateway to the Middle East.
2. Use Shopify Markets for D2C — I keep control of your brand and customer data, and start with 10-20 bestselling products.
3. Add Amazon US after 6 months — Once you understand international logistics, I ship inventory to Amazon FBA US for scale.
4. Don’t try all markets at once — I make founders master one market before expanding. US, UK, UAE are the top 3 for Indian D2C brands.

Need Help Going International?

At Growww Tech, my team and I help Indian D2C brands set up international selling — from Shopify Markets configuration to Amazon Global Selling setup. Let’s explore international markets.

What I’d read next:

• Shopify Plus vs Basic Guide
• Amazon FBA Advanced Guide
• GST for Ecommerce Sellers