Go Global with Shopify Markets
What if your online store could greet a customer in Tokyo in Japanese, show prices in yen, and handle duties before they even click “Buy Now”?
That’s not a fantasy. That’s the real power of Shopify Markets.
For many e-commerce brands, growth feels like a numbers game. More emails. Extra content. Endless ads. But what if the real growth opportunity isn’t more of the same, but somewhere else entirely?
Your next customer could be in Paris or Dubai or São Paulo. The only thing standing in your way is a smart strategy for going global. And that’s exactly what Shopify Markets offers.
This guide unpacks everything you need to know about expanding your store internationally using Shopify Markets. We’ll walk through its features, compare it to other platforms, and share tips that are actually easy to follow. Ready to think big?
Let’s get started.
What is Shopify Markets?
Shopify Markets is a built-in solution that lets you sell to customers around the world from a single store. It gives you the power to localize your shopping experience by currency, language, pricing, domain, and taxes. All of this is managed from one central dashboard.
Think of it as your command center for going global.
Why Go International in the First Place?
Selling globally isn’t just for big brands. In fact, many small and mid-sized businesses are now tapping into global demand to grow faster and build resilience.
Take a look at what’s happening worldwide:
| Region | E-commerce Sales (2024 est.) | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| North America | $1.1 trillion | 9.4% |
| Europe | $900 billion | 8.2% |
| Asia-Pacific | $3 trillion | 12.3% |
| Middle East & Africa | $100 billion | 15.1% |
By going international, you’re not only boosting potential sales but also protecting your business against local market slowdowns.
Breaking Down Shopify Markets’ Best Features
Let’s simplify the key tools that make Shopify Markets such a powerful option.
Multi-Currency Support
Customers want to shop in their own currency. Shopify lets them do that with support for over 130 currencies. Prices automatically convert based on real-time rates, and checkout feels local and familiar.
Tip: Use Shopify’s pricing rules to round prices. For example, show €49.99 instead of €47.62 to build trust.
Localized Shopping Experiences
Localization is more than just translation. It’s about helping your customer feel at home on your site.
With Shopify Markets, you can:
- Customize domains for each country like
store.frorstore.ca - Translate product pages, policies, and buttons using the Shopify Translate & Adapt app
- Reflect regional holidays and buying habits
Real-World Advice: Begin with the top three countries sending traffic to your store. Tailor the experience just for them. It builds loyalty fast.
Upfront Duties and Tax Display
Nothing kills a sale faster than surprise charges at delivery. Shopify Markets calculates duties and import taxes at checkout so your customers know exactly what they’ll pay.
| Feature | With Shopify Markets | Without Shopify Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Import tax estimate | Yes | No |
| Prepaid duties | Yes | No |
| Region-specific pricing | Yes | No |
No more unhappy emails or unclaimed packages.
Country-Specific Catalogs and Pricing
Not every product makes sense for every market. Shopify Markets lets you show or hide products by region and even set different prices.
Imagine this. You sell summer dresses. They’re popular in Australia when it’s winter in Canada. With Shopify Markets, you can:
- Hide cold-weather gear from your Australian catalog
- Increase pricing for high-demand items in specific countries
It’s flexibility that makes sense for your inventory and your bottom line.
One Dashboard to Rule Them All
Instead of juggling multiple stores, Shopify Markets brings everything into one dashboard. You get one login, one inventory system, and one clear view of your business performance across the world.
How to Set Up Shopify Markets in Minutes
Setting up Shopify Markets is easier than you think. Here’s a step-by-step checklist:
- Go to your Shopify Admin and click Settings
- Select Markets
- Choose the regions or countries you want to sell in
- Set preferred currency and language for each
- Turn on automatic duty and tax calculation
- Use Shopify Translate & Adapt to offer multilingual options
- Enable regional domains for SEO and trust
You’re now open for business worldwide.
How Shopify Stacks Up Against Other Platforms
Let’s quickly compare Shopify Markets to what’s offered by competitors like BigCommerce and Magento.
| Feature | Shopify Markets | BigCommerce | Magento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Localization built-in | Yes | Partial | Requires extensions |
| Multi-currency checkout | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duties and taxes calculated | Yes | No | Needs manual setup |
| Unified dashboard | Yes | No | No |
| Designed for non-tech users | Yes | No | No |
While other platforms support international commerce, Shopify Markets makes it simpler and smoother. Especially for businesses that want powerful tools without hiring a tech team.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Expanding globally sounds exciting, but it’s not without a few speed bumps. Here’s what to watch out for and how to move around them.
Language Gaps
Auto-translations can get the job done, but they often miss cultural context. A poorly translated product description could confuse or even offend.
What to Do: Use Shopify Translate & Adapt for initial translations, but always review them manually or work with a native speaker.
Shipping Headaches
International shipping means different carriers, customs processes, and timelines. If you’re not clear, your customers won’t be happy.
What to Do: Be upfront with expected delivery times. Use trusted carriers like DHL or FedEx. Offer tracking and estimated arrival dates.
Payment Preferences Differ
What works in one country might flop in another. For example, many German shoppers prefer bank transfers over credit cards.
What to Do: Enable Shopify Payments and research popular gateways in each market. Offer flexible options like Klarna or PayPal.
Rules and Regulations
Every country has its own policies for taxes, returns, and labeling. Not knowing them can get you into trouble.
What to Do: Start with Shopify’s country-specific guides. You don’t need to be a lawyer, but you do need to follow the basics.
From Local to Global: A Quick Brand Story
Let’s say you run a skincare brand based in the US. You notice you’re getting a lot of site visits from Japan and Germany. Before Shopify Markets, expanding felt overwhelming. But now, here’s what you do:
- Translate your product pages and policies into Japanese and German
- Price in yen and euros
- Turn on prepaid duties to simplify checkout
- Remove products that aren’t a fit culturally or seasonally
Three months later, your international sales are up by 40 percent and returns are down. Why? Because your shopping experience feels local, even if you’re based across the ocean.
Tips to Supercharge Global Growth
Here’s how to use Shopify Markets like a pro.
- Start with Data: Look at your analytics. Where is international traffic coming from? Start there.
- Make it Mobile First: Most shoppers worldwide use their phones. Your site should load fast and look great on mobile.
- Optimize for SEO by Country: Use region-specific domains and include country-specific keywords.
- Create Country-Based Promotions: Offer free shipping in Canada for orders over 50 CAD. Launch a summer sale just for Australia.
- Use Apps that Scale with You: Shopify’s app store includes tools like Salesloop, which lets you build upsells that adapt to each region’s pricing and language.
Recommended Tools to Use with Shopify Markets
| Tool | What It Does | Why You’ll Love It |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Translate & Adapt | Adds translations | Keeps your store multilingual without the headache |
| Salesloop | Adds upsells and post-purchase offers | Boosts order value based on region |
| Geolocation App | Suggests the right region for visitors | Makes sure people see the right prices and language |
| Weglot | Adds advanced multilingual support | Great for SEO and user experience |
| Markets Pro | Automates compliance and tax | Lets you expand faster with less risk |
Conclusion
Shopify Markets is more than a tool. It’s a mindset shift. It helps you stop thinking like a local business and start thinking like a global brand.
You don’t need a massive team or a stack of tech skills. What you need is a smart setup, a clear plan, and the courage to reach beyond borders
Your best customers might not be down the street. They might be across the globe, waiting to discover what you offer.
So are you ready to meet them?
FAQs
1. What is Shopify Markets?
Shopify Markets is a built-in tool that helps Shopify merchants sell products globally. It offers features like local currency support, language translation, regional domains, and tax and duty calculation—all from a single dashboard.
2. Is Shopify Markets free to use?
Yes, Shopify Markets is included in all Shopify plans, but some advanced features like duties and tax calculations or Markets Pro may have extra costs depending on usage.
3. How does Shopify handle multiple currencies?
Shopify automatically converts prices using real-time exchange rates. You can also round prices and set rules for each currency to maintain consistent pricing across markets.
4. Can I translate my Shopify store using Shopify Markets?
Yes. You can use the Shopify Translate & Adapt app to add multiple languages and customize translations per region. This helps create a local shopping experience for each customer.
5. Do I need a separate store for each country?
No, that’s the beauty of Shopify Markets. You can sell to multiple countries from one store, manage everything in one dashboard, and customize the experience by market.
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