TikTok Shop has a new policy, allowing you to quickly settle in and sell goods through short videos, live broadcasts, and product displays!

Recently, TikTok Shop has updated its cross-border e-commerce policy for the US market, lowered the entry threshold and provided support plans. This is undoubtedly a huge opportunity for merchants who want to expand into the international market.

Many friends asked me, I want to do live streaming to sell goods, what should I do if I want to go overseas?

Recently, it has been noticed that TikTok Shop cross-border e-commerce has updated the entry standards for cross-border self-operated merchants in the US to improve the shopping experience of US consumers and help merchants expand the market. Next, we will introduce the relevant information of TikTok Shop.

01 What is TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop (also known as TikTok e-commerce) is an innovative e-commerce platform that brings together merchants, influencers and buyers. TikTok Shop provides merchants and brands with a one-stop e-commerce solution to help achieve sales and growth on TikTok.

This innovative shopping feature will enable brands, merchants and creators to display and sell products directly through short videos, live broadcasts and product demonstrations. From attracting users to final purchase and delivery, TikTok Shop provides a seamless online shopping experience with a short shopping path, and can help merchants achieve business take-off, stimulate creativity, and maximize the power of the brand.

Short video sales

Mall Sales

Live Sales

02 The core entry principles remain unchanged, and more platform merchants are supported to enter

Currently, TikTok Shop has been officially launched in markets such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore.

The official website of TikTok Shop shows that cross-border merchants in Southeast Asia and the United States are currently being strongly recommended, the entry standards have been lowered, and there are relevant support plans.

Southeast Asia cross-border store

American cross-border store

While relaxing the entry threshold, TikTok Shop still adheres to the core entry principles for merchants, including:

Local warehousing and logistics capabilities

Merchants must have local warehousing and logistics capabilities in the U.S. to ensure that goods are shipped from the U.S. This requirement is intended to enhance consumers’ shopping experience and shorten logistics time.

E-commerce operation experience

Merchants need to have operating experience on other e-commerce platforms or independent websites to prove their ability to operate on TikTok Shop.

Healthy business indicators

Merchants' store ratings and operating indicators must be maintained in good condition to ensure the quality of goods and services on the platform.

With the latest entry standards, TikTok Shop cross-border e-commerce has adjusted the operating indicators of sellers that have previously supported the platform.

Among them, Amazon's store rating requirement was adjusted from a maximum of 4.0 to 3.5; the 500,000 transaction requirements for Walmart, Wayfair, and eBay were canceled, and the fan requirements for DTC independent sites were canceled; at the same time, the quick entry of well-known brands in Douyin e-commerce was added, and the store rating requirements of Doudian were also lowered to 4.0.

The new merchant entry standards support more platforms. In particular, three new types of merchants have been added: TEMU semi-hosted, Shein semi-hosted, and AliExpress self-operated, bringing the number of domestic and overseas e-commerce companies supported by TikTok Shop to 9, almost completely covering the entire platform.

Whether it is a cross-border e-commerce seller or a seller with e-commerce experience in domestic and international markets; whether it is a seller engaged in shelf e-commerce, content e-commerce or DTC independent site, all sellers can get support by entering TikTok Shop.

03 Taking the US cross-border self-operation as an example, detailed summary of merchant entry requirements

In order to improve the shopping experience of consumers in the US and help merchants expand their market, TikTok Shop cross-border e-commerce has updated the entry standards for cross-border self-operated merchants in the US. Now, taking the US as an example, we will explain the merchant entry requirements in detail.

1. Merchants with entities in mainland China or Hong Kong, China, and with local warehousing and logistics capabilities in the United States (currently do not support shipments from China)

The following major categories of thresholds must be met:

2. US-based merchants

For merchants whose store owners are American and whose Chinese nationals hold more than 25% of the shares, they can enter the market if they have local warehousing and logistics capabilities in the United States (currently not supporting shipments from China):

04 Conclusion

TikTok currently has more than 1 billion monthly active users worldwide and is becoming the first choice for global entertainment in the mobile era. Currently, TikTok Shop is available in the UK, the US, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and other markets. This also opens up a channel to the global market for more businesses.