Having lived in Russia since 2002 the most frequent question that European companies ask me is: “How is It possible to sell to the Russians”? And my answer amounts to “If you want a quick result then it is through online sales using existing and widespread local e-commerce platforms”.
Online Russia provides European clients Interested in the Russian market with a series of representation and consulting services to swiftly and efficiently enable promotional launches in Russia. We don’t just deal with new businesses, but also help to optimize and develop existing ones. Additionally we host a ‘virtual office’ service in Moscow which allows operations to have a cost-effective and time-efficient footprint in Russia’s capital.
The geopolitical crisis and the sanctions have discouraged many European companies from investing in Russia by opening new offices and shops. This situation has created a sort of natural selection because only the most motivated and trusted companies have consolidated their position.
Consequently European companies are now less likely to have a costly physical presence. Instead they opt for e-commerce as the risks and investments are minimal. Yet even e-commerce in Russia, or anywhere else, can fail. So it requires a serious approach and an in-depth knowledge of all the specifications and problems.
Selling into Russia effectively despite sanctions, which are largely on foodstuff, is possible. European start-ups or established businesses have several routes to market but none are easy…
It is vital that all goods sold in Russia are certified. European certification isn’t valid in Russia and the CIS so it’s necessary to comply with regional regulations that can vary.
In this post we have summarized the main regulations regarding e-commerce in Russia with the purpose of providing a ready-reference overview…
