In today’s e-commerce world, Amazon’s Souq is one of the most important online shopping platforms in the Middle East. It offers a wealth of sales opportunities and attracts sellers from all over the world. If you are an individual seller and are interested in selling products to the Middle East market, here is how to join the Souq platform. The process may be a bit complicated, but it will bring you new business opportunities.
Step 1: Register a Souq account.
Registering a Souq seller account is the first step to join the platform, but it is not an easy task for individual sellers. This is because Souq requires sellers to provide information such as ID cards, phone numbers, delivery addresses, bank card numbers, business licenses, etc. in the Middle East. This may not be realistic for small and medium-sized sellers in China. Therefore, individual sellers usually choose to register an account through an agent.
Currently, there are four main ways to register as an agent:
Agency points affiliated with large state-owned enterprises: These agency points have established a direct partnership with Souq and can help introduce Chinese sellers. This method is relatively less risky, but the price is higher, usually between 20,000 and 30,000 RMB.
Logistics company agent: Logistics companies register accounts in the Middle East and then sell them to e-commerce sellers. Sellers can directly use the logistics services and overseas warehouses of these logistics companies. This method is relatively cheap, generally less than 10,000 RMB.
Cooperate with Middle Eastern partners: Cooperate with local partners to run e-commerce business together.
Buy second-hand accounts: This method has higher risks, but the lowest price.
Different registration methods require different documents, usually requiring an ID card (or business license) and a bank account number to the agent. Logistics company agents may also require additional documents. Sellers can choose the appropriate channel according to their own situation.
Step 2: Product selection.
When choosing products, sellers need to consider the culture and regulations of the Middle East. There are many cultural taboos in Middle Eastern countries, such as alcohol and certain commodities are prohibited from entering local customs. In addition, if there are women’s patterns on the product packaging, the clothes cannot be too exposed. Therefore, when selecting products, be sure to pay attention to whether your products comply with local regulations and culture.
Step 3: Upload products and descriptions.
Once you have registered and selected your products, the next step is to put your products on the shelves. Souq requires that the uploaded product images must have a white background, and usually only product photos are required. The Arabic in the product description is automatically translated, so when you enter the English description on the platform, the platform will automatically translate the English into Arabic.
Step 4: Logistics.
Logistics is an important part of joining the Souq platform. First, you need to ship the goods from your home country to Souq’s warehouse. Accounts registered through different channels may require different shipping methods. If you purchase an account from a logistics company, you usually need to bind a logistics service. It is very important to deliver the goods to the Souq warehouse in a timely manner, otherwise you may face the risk of being blocked. Therefore, be particularly careful when choosing a logistics partner.
The second logistics link is local delivery. Souq stipulates that only their own couriers can be used for local delivery, so this link does not require additional consideration.
Step 5: Customer Service.
Unlike other e-commerce platforms, Souq sellers cannot communicate directly with customers. You cannot use Aliwangwang like Taobao or send emails like Amazon. In Souq, unless the customer complains, the seller can only reply based on the customer’s message.
In summary, entering the Souq platform is a challenging process for individual sellers, but it provides an opportunity to access the Middle East market. Choosing the right registration channel, complying with local regulations and culture, and carefully choosing logistics partners are the keys to successfully entering Souq.