Summary
Written in May 2021, this guide introduced a downloadable Brexit guide for eCommerce retailers. It explained that the UK left the EU on 1 January 2021, causing complications and delays, and that the export grace period ended on 1 July 2021. The full guide covered selling into the EU and selling into the UK.
[Founder / CEO]
- Brexit brought significant complications and delays for online businesses selling internationally.
- Trade rules can change on fixed dates; plan your cross-border sales strategy around them, not after them.
- Make sure you understand the rules for both selling into the EU and international sellers selling into the UK.
[Operations]
- The 1 July 2021 deadline required retailers to be fully set up under the new UK-EU trade processes.
- Check your fulfilment partner is ready for new export processes before deadlines arrive.
- Keep product and customs information complete so cross-border orders aren't held up.
[Marketing / eCommerce]
- Complications and delays affect EU customers' experience, so keep shipping information accurate on your site.
- Review how you promote to EU customers whenever the rules for selling to them change.
- Clear delivery information at checkout reduces friction for international shoppers.
[Finance]
- New trade processes can bring new costs; budget for duties, taxes and admin when selling across borders.
- Delays tie up stock in transit, which affects cash flow on international orders.
- Take professional advice on tax changes rather than guessing how they apply to you.
[Customer service]
- Expect more questions from EU customers when cross-border rules change.
- Prepare clear answers on delivery times and any extra charges for international orders.
- Keep customers informed early if new processes delay their orders.
[FMCG]
If you sell everyday items into the EU, check how new export processes affect delivery times and costs.
[Health & wellness]
Before selling wellness products into the EU, confirm which requirements apply to them under the new trade processes.
[Beauty & cosmetics]
Confirm what the new trade processes mean for your cosmetics before selling into EU markets.
[Sustainable]
Longer, more complex cross-border journeys affect your delivery promise; set honest expectations for EU customers.
[Subscription box]
Recurring EU deliveries make any delay more visible; check new processes before committing to delivery dates.
[Books]
Check how export processes apply to books before promising EU delivery times.
[Pet supplies]
Confirm what the new processes mean for your pet products before promising EU delivery dates.
[Luxury goods]
High-value orders are more exposed to duties and taxes; make sure EU customers know what to expect.
[Toys & games]
Check export processes well before seasonal peaks so EU gift orders aren't held up.
Your guide to Brexit - key information for ecommerce retailers
The UK’s departure from the EU on the 1st January 2021 has caused significant complications and delays for online businesses selling internationally.
The final wave of changes to the way UK businesses sell into the EU will come in effect on the 1st July 2021. This deadline marks the end of the export ‘grace period’, and retailers will need to be fully set up and ready to trade by the new processes outlined in the UK-EU trade agreement.
In this Brexit Guide for eCommerce businesses, we’ll cover the key information retailers need to know, along with some solutions and advice for selling into the EU efficiently with the new regulations in place. In addition to this, we’ll unpack the key changes for international retailers looking to sell into the UK.
Download your full Brexit guide here.
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