How Ted’s Electronics Overcame Cross-Border Challenges to Achieve Global Success in Latin America

Ted’s Electronics, a U.S.-based retailer founded in 2011, began as a store specializing in photo and video accessories. Over time, it expanded to offer a wide range of electronics, including photography equipment, audio devices, tablets, laptops, and health and beauty electronics. By 2023, with a catalog of over 1,000 products, the company had become a key player in the U.S. electronics market. However, the team, led by Director of Sales Sol Kahan, knew it was time to take the next step: international expansion.

Ted’s Electronics had already tried its hand at selling internationally, first focusing on the UK market. However, despite investing time and resources, the company faced unexpected challenges, which led to their decision to withdraw. Undeterred, they turned their attention to Latin America—a region brimming with potential but filled with its own unique challenges.

The Challenge: Expanding into Latin America

Latin America’s e-commerce market is booming. Valued at nearly $510 billion in 2023, with over 350 million online consumers, it is one of the fastest-growing regions globally. Yet, for Ted’s Electronics, it wasn’t just a matter of entering a large market—it was about overcoming significant barriers. Sol Kahan, Director of Sales, explained:

“Latin America can be difficult for electronics retailers due to the strong presence of major brand names that dominate the market, but there’s always room for sellers willing to take the leap.”

Ted’s Electronics had a diverse product catalog and competitive pricing, but they faced a series of hurdles, including:

1. Integration Roadblocks: The company used Sellercloud to manage its U.S. operations across Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. However, Sellercloud did not support Latin American marketplaces like Mercado Libre, Magalu, Coppel, or Amazon Brazil and Mexico. Integrating their system with these platforms would require extensive technical expertise and resources that the team didn’t have in-house.
2. Complex Logistics: Shipping internationally, especially to Latin America, presented logistical hurdles that couldn’t be ignored. As Sol Kahan shared, “We’ve received requests from Australia, but we just can’t ship there directly.” The complexity of international logistics was daunting and created delays in the fulfillment process.
3. Pricing Pressures: Ted’s Electronics needed to navigate the complex tariffs and regional cost differences in Latin America to remain competitive. Finding the balance between attractive pricing and maintaining profitability was a critical challenge.

Despite these obstacles, Ted’s Electronics remained committed to entering the Latin American market. They saw immense potential in the region’s consumer demand for competitive and diverse electronics, and they knew that with the right partner, they could turn their vision into reality.

The Solution: Partnering with nocnoc

In 2024, Ted’s Electronics decided to partner with nocnoc to help them overcome these barriers. The partnership addressed the unique needs of Ted’s Electronics by providing a tailored solution for Latin American expansion.

Custom Integration Solution
First and foremost, nocnoc developed a custom integration for Ted’s Electronics. This allowed them to connect their existing Sellercloud system to Latin American marketplaces like Mercado Libre, Magalu, Coppel, and Amazon. Through nocnoc’s megastores on these platforms, Ted’s Electronics could publish their product catalog without managing individual accounts or handling separate integrations for each marketplace. nocnoc took care of every operational detail—managing product listings, translating descriptions, optimizing titles, applying discounts, and ensuring seamless customer experiences. This comprehensive solution saved valuable time and resources, allowing Ted’s Electronics to focus on scaling its business in the region.

User-Friendly Tools
nocnoc equipped Ted’s Electronics with intuitive tools that simplified the management of pricing, logistics, and order fulfillment. These tools helped the company navigate the complexities of international trade, making the processes more efficient and manageable.

Tailored Expertise for Latin America
With deep regional expertise, nocnoc provided the guidance Ted’s Electronics needed. Their support helped adapt strategies for the Latin American market. From navigating local trends to offering insights on consumer behavior, nocnoc’s team worked closely with Ted’s Electronics. This collaboration ensured a smooth market entry and set the foundation for sustained success.

As Sol Kahan, Director of Sales at Ted’s Electronics, explained:

“nocnoc worked closely with us to create a custom solution that allowed us to continue using Sellercloud while simultaneously expanding into new markets. Their support was crucial for streamlining our operations and optimizing our ability to sell in Latin America.”

Results and Benefits: A Transformative Partnership

The results were immediate. Within three days of uploading their product catalog to nocnoc’s platform, Ted’s Electronics achieved its first sale in Latin America. Over the next month, the company saw a dramatic increase in orders and overall market presence, with a 108% increase in sales from September to October 2024. Additionally, the number of orders in November was 70% higher compared to October, fueled by the success of Black Friday promotions.

This rapid success was driven not only by the high demand for Ted’s Electronics’ products but also by the operational efficiencies enabled by nocnoc’s platform. Key benefits included:

• Seamless Market Expansion: Ted’s Electronics was able to list its products on multiple Latin American marketplaces—Mercado Libre (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Chile), Magalu, Walmart, Americanas, Coppel, and Via Varejo—without needing to open individual accounts for each marketplace.
• Pricing Optimization: nocnoc’s tools helped Ted’s Electronics stay competitive while maintaining profitability. They effectively navigated regional tariffs and cost differences to achieve this balance.
• Efficient Logistics: The integration with nocnoc’s logistics solutions simplified fulfillment, allowing Ted’s Electronics to meet customer demands quickly and efficiently.

As Sol Kahan reflected on the partnership:

“Working with nocnoc has been a smooth and rewarding experience. Their team’s deep knowledge of the region has made all the difference. With their help, we’ve seen a clear increase in our market presence, and we’re confident our growth will continue.”

Looking Ahead: A Bright Future in Latin America

Ted’s Electronics is now positioned for continued success in Latin America. With a strategic market entry plan in place and the ongoing support of nocnoc, the company is on track to achieve even greater milestones in the region. Ted’s Electronics plans to expand further into new countries, refine its product offerings to better cater to local preferences, and continue optimizing its operations to meet the growing demand.

“We’re excited about the future,” said Sol Kahan. “The growth we’ve seen in such a short time is just the beginning. With nocnoc by our side, we’re confident that we’ll continue to grow and succeed in Latin America.”

Unlocking Growth with nocnoc

Ted’s Electronics’ story is a prime example of how U.S. companies can successfully navigate the challenges of cross-border expansion into Latin America. Through the partnership with nocnoc, they overcame obstacles related to system integration, pricing, and logistics, resulting in impressive sales growth and a strengthened presence in the region. For other electronics retailers looking to expand into Latin America, nocnoc offers a comprehensive solution to streamline operations, optimize pricing, and unlock the potential of this dynamic market.