How Glasvin Boosted Global Sales 71% with Shopify Managed Markets

How Glasvin Tackled International Shipping Friction

When Glasvin began reaching customers in Canada, the UK, and Europe, they ran into a common snag: unexpected duties and surprise fees. Wine glasses are heavy, fragile, and require protective packaging, so shipping costs were already high. Adding duties at delivery created customer requests for refunds, negative cart experiences, and pressure on Glasvin’s thin margins.

The Shipping Challenge

Glasvin founder David Kong explains, “Customers would email me wondering why they got charged around $50 in duties for a $100 shipment. We’d refund them the $50, but it still felt like a terrible experience.” With margins nearly zero on international orders, raising product prices wasn’t an option. Nor could they keep absorbing unexpected fees. They needed a way to guarantee up-front costs.

Choosing Managed Markets

Shopify offered a solution:Managed Markets. David requested beta access to test delivered duty paid (DDP) shipping rates. He says, “I was very pleasantly surprised with how low shipping costs were. The timing worked out perfectly.”

Key Benefits Unlocked

Once Glasvin switched on Managed Markets, several improvements stacked up:

• DDP shipping at checkout so customers never see surprise fees on delivery.
• Transparent duties and taxes shown before purchase to improve cart conversion.
• Local currency display and payment methods that match each shopper’s country.
• Reduced customer service inquiries about unexpected costs.
• Better tracking and fewer lost packages.

Measurable Results

In the five months after launching Managed Markets in October 2023, Glasvin saw:

• 71% year-over-year growth in global sales.
• 11% increase in overall global conversion rate.
• 122% boost in Canada’s conversion rate.
• 109% rise in Australia’s conversion rate.

Strategic Insights

By surfacing exact costs, Glasvin attracted more decisive shoppers who valued quality but needed clear pricing. The analytics dashboard revealed where demand was highest, guiding plans for new distribution centers in Canada, the UK, and Europe.

What This Means for DTC Brands

Complex duties and unpredictable shipping can derail a global launch. DDP shipping and local payment methods build trust and reduce friction. With data on where conversion spikes, small teams can justify investment in local warehousing to scale further.