Cracking into the USA eCommerce Market – Webinar with Avalara & GFS
58% of online retailers see Delivery & Taxes as the #1 barrier to US growth
In this webinar, GFS (managed multi-carrier parcel services) and Avalara (global tax software) share the practical steps to enter the US — from choosing sales channels to navigating sales tax, delivery and returns.
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What’s inside the webinar
- Market opportunity: Why UK brands rank the USA as the #1 eCommerce growth market.
- Online marketplaces: Using Amazon, eBay, Walmart and niche vertical marketplaces as a lower-risk launch pad.
- US sales tax basics: State-level rules, economic nexus and product taxability.
- Delivery & Returns: Building a localised experience that balances cost, speed and control.
Marketplaces: fast, low-risk entry
Marketplaces can cut acquisition costs and speed time-to-market. A multi-marketplace approach helps spread risk and prevents products getting lost among generalist catalogues. Test categories, price points and regions before scaling D2C.
US Sales Tax: what to know (Avalara)
- Decentralised system: 45 states + DC levy sales tax; thousands of local jurisdictions and rates.
- Economic nexus: Many states require registration once thresholds are met (commonly $100k revenue or 200 transactions into a state).
- Physical presence still counts: Holding inventory in a state (e.g. FBA) creates nexus even below thresholds.
- Product taxability varies: Digital goods/SaaS and even apparel can be taxed differently by state.
- Compliance tips: Map your activity, register proactively, calculate tax at the full address (not ZIP-only), file accurately and automate to reduce audit risk.
Delivery & Returns that convert US customers (GFS)
- Localised choice: Offer a broad mix of speeds and price points; many US shoppers view 2-day as “fast”, while free delivery is widely expected.
- Final mile reliability: Use robust national networks for coverage and frequent address changes.
- End-to-end visibility: Tracked services with proactive notifications and easy proof-of-delivery build trust for cross-border buyers.
- Data & customs readiness: Accurate HS codes, values, country of origin and paperless trade help avoid delays. Check restricted/prohibited items (e.g., some cosmetics can be classed as drugs).
- Returns that reassure: Clear policies, tracked options and a local US returns address with consolidation to reduce cost and friction.
Keen on getting started with US shipping? Find out more about Shipping to the USA with GFS Managed Multi-Carrier Delivery.
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