Online store expansion to Switzerland

Switzerland is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association but is neither a member of the European Union nor the European Economic Area. The country is economically strong. In terms of GDP, it is the ninth richest country in the world. A specific feature of Switzerland is the country´s division into cantons and not only one, but several official languages ‑ German, French and Italian.

WHY EXPAND INTO SWITZERLAND?

The purchasing power of the Swiss is very high, with almost 90% of the population shopping online in online shops. The average Swiss customer spends about EUR 900 (approximately CZK 23,000) a year in online stores. The most frequently purchased products include electronics, clothing, and food.

E‑commerce is well developed in Switzerland, with many third‑party services available through online shops. The high number of Internet users among the Swiss population provides a good space for online shop marketing.

The advantage of expanding into Switzerland is its geographical location in the middle of Europe. You can utilize many companies that regularly drive to Switzerland (UPS, DHL, TNT Express, DPD, etc.). Easy and fast delivery of consignments is also possible thanks to the high quality of Swiss infrastructure.

As in the case of Germany, more and more people in Switzerland are choosing to shop with foreign online stores. The main reasons are the lower prices, greater choice and growing availability and reliability of foreign online retailers.

Instead of being afraid of language fragmentation, use it to your advantage. Use the translation of your online store into German to also expand into Germany and Austria. Likewise, your French and Italian texts to potentially expand your online shop into France and Italy, too.

WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN EXPANDING INTO SWITZERLAND?

The high purchasing power of the population also carries certain risks. The costs associated with the operation of an online store will be relatively high due to the local price level. It is also necessary to take into account the high level of competition, which will affect the costs associated with online shop marketing. In addition to Google Ads and PPC ads, it is advisable to think about the use of popular product comparators in Switzerland ‑ the most famous is probably Toppreise.ch.

Besides selling through your own online store, you can also sell through some of the online marketplaces that operate in Switzerland. These include the Digitec.ch, Amazon.de, Nespresso.com or Brack.ch platforms. When selling through your own online shop, a Swiss domain is essential, as is perfect optimization for mobile devices (most Swiss own and actively use a smartphone) and effective product pricing due to the purchasing power of the population and the willingness to pay higher prices.

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

8,7 mil.

population

Swiss Franc

currency

25,8%

year‑on‑year growth of e‑commerce

83%

number of online shoppers

ca 15 000

number of online shops

87%

percentage of internet users among the population

580

population per online shop

12,2 bn. €

e‑commerce volume

SERVICES FOR YOUR EXPANSION TO SWITZERLAND

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

Expanding your online store into Switzerland is an attractive opportunity due to the high purchasing power, the chance to realize higher margins and the potential for further growth in the future. The Swiss online market is well developed and finding suitable suppliers of accompanying services is easy. If you have excellent customer service, positive references, and can process and deliver orders quickly, you have a great chance of succeeding in Switzerland.

When expanding your online shop into Switzerland, you can rely on our specialists, professional services and many years of experience. At NK Expand, we can help you with everything you need for your expansion into Switzerland. For example, we recently helped the software companies TrustSoft and Lukapo to successfully expand into the Swiss market. Contact us and let our specialists help you expand your online shop into Switzerland too.

Online store expansion to Switzerland

Watches, chocolate and huge purchasing power