In the Middle East, Souq, as a leader in the e-commerce field, has become a leader in the Middle East e-commerce with its strong market share and up to 10 million unique visits per month. After years of hard work, Souq has established a large user base in the Middle East. It is particularly worth mentioning that Amazon successfully acquired Souq in March this year and continued to operate as an independent brand. Souq has received full support from Amazon, and its position in the Middle East e-commerce field is unshakable. For Chinese e-commerce companies, if they want to make a breakthrough in the Middle East market, entering Souq has become a shortcut.
1. Steps for Souq sellers to open a store.
To open a store on the Souq platform, sellers need to go through a series of steps:
1. Register a Souq account.
Souq account registration is relatively cumbersome for individuals, requiring the provision of Middle East ID card, phone number, delivery address, bank card number, business license and other information. Since this is not practical for small and medium-sized domestic sellers, they usually register an account through an agent. There are four main types of registered agent points: central enterprise agent points, logistics companies, Middle East partners and second-hand accounts, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Central enterprise agent points: directly sign cooperation with Souq and introduce Chinese sellers, with lower risks but higher prices.
Logistics companies: register through logistics companies, you can use their logistics services and overseas warehouses at the same time, which is relatively cheap.
Middle East partners: do e-commerce business with local partners.
Second-hand accounts: buy registered Souq accounts, which are more risky but the lowest price.
Different registration methods require different documents, and the specific requirements depend on the needs of the agent.
2. Product selection.
There are many cultural taboos in Middle Eastern countries. Sellers should pay attention to avoid violating local taboos when selecting products. For example, alcohol and drugs are prohibited from entering local customs. In addition, product packaging and patterns must also conform to local cultural habits.
3. Upload products and descriptions.
Uploading products and descriptions is equivalent to putting products on the shelves. White-background pictures are required, and the Arabic descriptions are automatically translated by the platform. Sellers can choose to upload in batches or upload individual products to ensure that product information is accurate.
4. Logistics.
The logistics process is divided into two parts: domestic delivery to Souq warehouse and local delivery. Accounts purchased from different channels have different delivery methods, and you need to carefully choose logistics to prevent the risk of account suspension. In addition, Souq stipulates that local delivery can only be made through their own express delivery.
5. Customer service.
Unlike other platforms, Souq sellers cannot communicate directly with customers. Sellers can only respond when customers complain or leave messages on product listings or stores. This is quite different from Taobao and Amazon in China, and sellers need to adapt to Souq’s customer service methods.
2. Four ways to settle in Souq.
In the process of opening a store on the Souq platform, sellers can choose four methods, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
State-owned enterprise agency points: Direct cooperation with Souq, with lower risks but higher prices, suitable for sellers who pay attention to safety.
Logistics company agency points: Using a logistics company to register an account, you can enjoy logistics services and overseas warehouses at the same time, and the price is relatively cheap.
Middle East partners: Cooperate with local partners to jointly operate an e-commerce business, suitable for sellers looking for local support.
Second-hand account: Purchase a registered Souq account, with the lowest price but the greatest risk, suitable for sellers with a limited budget.
Depending on the seller’s situation, you can choose a suitable method to enter the Souq platform.
In the Middle East market, Souq, as a leading e-commerce platform, provides an important opportunity for Chinese e-commerce to enter the region. By understanding Souq’s store opening steps and entry methods, sellers can more smoothly expand the Middle East market and achieve cross-border business development.