Online store expansion to Spain

Despite the large number of online shops, further growth is expected in the coming years as the offline shopping infrastructure in Spain becomes more and more obsolete. For Czech online shops, Spain represents an exciting opportunity for expansion abroad.

WHY EXPAND INTO SPAIN?

At the start of the new millennium, Spain’s economy went through a period of stagnation. Since 2014, the crisis has eased and there is considered to be enormous potential for growth. The number of Spanish online shops is gradually growing and for 2022 the e‑commerce sales are expected to total EUR 37.7 billion. Even the political situation associated with Catalonia does not seem to be having a negative impact on the Spanish e‑commerce market.

The percentage of internet users among the population is relatively high at 94%. This is a solid basis for fulfilling the prediction that by 2025, up to 75% of Spain’s population will be shopping online. Unless something unexpected happens, the future for Spanish e‑commerce looks really positive.

On average, Spaniards shop online once a week. Of importance to them are the range of products, positive online shop references, time saved, fast delivery and a free returns policy. Discount events (e.g. Black Friday) are very popular in Spain, as are discount coupons. Spaniards like discounts and are fond of redeeming them.

Although the geographical distance between the Czech Republic and Spain is large, big logistics companies have strong distribution channels in Spain’s direction.

WHAT FACTORS SHOULD YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN EXPANDING INTO SPAIN?

Spain can be considered a mobile phone powerhouse. Approximately 83% of Spaniards own a mobile phone, and of the total number of online purchases, almost two‑thirds are made from mobile devices. An online shop that wants to succeed in Spain must be perfectly responsive.

When expanding an online shop to Spain, it is good not to forget the language barrier. The willingness of Spaniards to communicate in English is low when shopping online, with the majority giving preference to online stores in Spanish. Excellent SEO translation and localization by native Spanish speakers are therefore the first steps that need to be undertaken when planning online shop expansion.

When calling customer support, Spaniards expect availability on a Spanish telephone number. The telephone codes for Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Seville and other major cities hold particular credibility. A native Spanish speaker as a customer support operator should be a matter of course. Spaniards are generally very happy to call and solve their issues or questions over the phone.

With regards to payment methods, it is necessary to offer Spaniards the payment method they really use and prefer. Almost half of Spaniards like to pay via PayPal, which is practically unknown in Central and Eastern European countries. Another popular method of online payment in Spain is a bank card.

As in other major Western European countries, Amazon is the most popular online shop in Spain. Other major online sellers include ElCorteIngles.es, Carrefour.es and the Zara fashion online shop. Price comparators and marketplaces are popular in Spain, as is reflected in the fact that Spaniards make approximately 75% of all their online purchases through these.

Our foreign market research service can find out and prepare information tailored to your needs with regards to what to look out for when expanding your online store to Spain.

47,4 mil.

population

euro

currency

17%

year‑on‑year growth of e‑commerce

70%

number of online shoppers

ca 89 000

number of online shops

94%

percentage of internet users among the population

530

population per online shop

24,75 bn. €

e‑commerce volume

SERVICES FOR YOUR EXPANSION TO SPAIN

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

Spain is a huge e‑commerce market in southern Europe. Spaniards often and gladly shop in online store and expect high‑level customer service. If your online shop and customer approach meet these conditions, Spain can represent an exciting opportunity for expansion abroad.

At NK Expand, we can help you with everything you need for your expansion to Spain. Since 2021, we have been helping, for example, a large Czech online shop that sells compact spare tyres for cars to expand to Spain. Today, thanks to our customer support and SEO translations, the company is also successfully selling in Italy and France. Contact us and let our specialists help you expand your online shop to Spain, too.

Online store expansion to Spain

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