Online store expansion to Ukraine

Ukraine is a huge market with over 40 million people. However, its potential is negatively affected by the war conflict with Russia. As soon as the situation calms down, the local e‑commerce market is expected to experience rapid growth due to the low level of competition. This will be another interesting market in which it will be easy for expanding Czech online shops to succeed. The right timing of expansion into the vacant Ukrainian market is thus an opportunity that you should watch closely.

WHY EXPAND INTO UKRAINE?

Despite the country’s level of development, e‑commerce in Ukraine is relatively advanced, with the country regularly topping European e‑commerce growth charts. In 2016, it was the absolute number one. The economic setbacks of recent years have not dampened the population´s growing appetite for the use of payment cards and the Internet. Nearly 10 million people regularly shop online, with that number growing constantly. In recent years, the local e‑commerce market has grown significantly faster than in most other European countries.

WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN EXPANDING INTO UKRAINE?

At present, the most significant risk in Ukraine is probably the political situation. No‑one can predict the developments on this front. The advice is to monitor the situation and proceed with caution.

Knowledge of foreign languages is very low among Ukrainians. Of the 32 European countries, Ukraine finished 28th in 2018. The overwhelming majority of the population does not speak any foreign language. However, the situation with regards to their native language is also ambiguous. While 70% of the population consider Ukrainian to be their native tongue, 30% consider this to be Russian. This 30% not only includes the Russian ethnic minority, but also Ukrainians themselves. Online store operators should therefore be prepared for this linguistic inconsistency by translating their online shop into both languages.

In terms of customer support, it is necessary to operate a Ukrainian telephone number with a native speaker of Ukrainian. Ukrainians always appreciate the opportunity to communicate in their native language. As a result, your reputation and the impression that the online shop is local will be enhanced.

Should you require more in‑depth information on what to look out for when expanding your online store into Ukraine, we can conduct foreign market research as part of our service.

41,7 mil.

population

hryvnia

currency

14%

year‑on‑year growth of e‑commerce

34%

number of online shoppers

ca 100 000

number of online shops

67%

percentage of internet users among the population

420

population per online shop

712 bn. €

e‑commerce volume

SERVICES FOR YOUR EXPANSION TO UKRAINE

Customer support in foreign laguages

Looking to ensure the success of your online store abroad? Then excellent customer support in the local language is an absolute must. Having the option to call a local phone number or write a query in the local language substantially increases the credibility of an online store in the eyes of customers. Professional customer support provided by NK Expand is intended for online shops expanding abroad.

Keyword analysis in a foreign language

Keyword analysis is the basis for any successful online shop expansion abroad. An in‑depth analysis provides important information on how foreign customers search for your products and services on the internet. This helps to precisely identify which foreign language keywords to target and what improvements are required.

SEO translation and localization of website and online store

The expansion of an online store abroad usually entails considerable costs. A substantial part of these costs relate to SEO translation and website localization in order to make sure that visitors to the website in the given country feel that it reads naturally in their own language. Of equal importance is how easily the website can be found on the internet ‑ so that potential customers can visit the online shop and make their purchases.

Online marketing for expansion abroad

Online marketing for foreign expansion that works! To support your online shop expansion abroad, we provide the following services ‑ SEO optimization, PPC advertising, direct e‑mailing and social media communications. By using the correct tone for communications, appropriate keywords in a foreign language and originally written SEO texts, visitors of your online store will quickly turn into customers.

Foreign market research

Are you serious about expanding your online shop abroad? Then we will agree that good preparation and market research are the basis for success. Without a clear idea about market potential or proven interest from target groups, investment in expansion is a non‑starter. Our specialists can prepare complete source materials, provide recommendations and help to properly prepare your online store for expansion abroad.

Legal and administrative assistance abroad

Do you run an online shop and plan to expand abroad? In this case, it is desirable to offer customers the option to pay into a local bank account in the local currency and to ensure that the business terms and conditions are in accordance with the laws of the country. It is very likely that the establishment of a collection point or a local branch will have to follow in time. We are available to help with all of these matters.

Content creation in foreign languages

NK Expand can help you create high‑quality content in foreign languages that will be useful and/or entertaining for your customers, which they will then be happy to share with others. Our native foreign language speakers and copywriters can create high‑quality content that respects the local culture and target group and will convert new visitors into customers. You can easily improve your business results with this form of casual marketing.

Business development for online shop expansion abroad

Are you expanding to a new market abroad with your online store and would you like to improve your business results? Then try our business development service for online shop expansion abroad. We will find B2B contacts for you, which you can use as the basis for the foreign distribution network of your online shop.

SUMMARY

Ukraine represents an exciting opportunity for foreign online shops to expand, an opportunity that will not repeat itself any time soon. The relatively low number of online stores in the country and the growing willingness of Ukrainians to shop online are an attractive mix for many foreign e‑commerce players. If your local e‑commerce market is already limiting your prospects and you are considering expansion, Ukraine is a good choice.

At NK Expand, we can help you with everything you need for your expansion into Ukraine. Contact us and let our specialists help you expand your online shop into Ukraine as well.

Online store expansion to Ukraine

Hunger for goods from the west