Selling Directly From Your Website: An Online Store Guide for Korean Businesses in Australia

Kimchi, K-beauty, banchan, desserts, handmade goods… Many Korean business owners in Sydney have great products, yet sales still happen mostly through KakaoTalk or Instagram DMs. Taking orders by hand, checking bank transfers, and tracking stock in a notebook only gets harder as sales grow.

That's where an online store (e-commerce) comes in. We've already covered payment integration in a previous post, so this article focuses on how to set up the whole selling system.

1. Decide clearly what you'll sell

Some products suit online sales better than others.

Shippable items: long-shelf-life foods, cosmetics, merchandise
Pickup-only items: fresh foods, banchan, cakes (where cold delivery is tricky)
Both: offering delivery and in-store pickup gives customers flexibility

2. Plan your delivery and pickup policy first

Australia is large, so shipping costs matter. Decide rules up front such as flat-rate delivery Australia-wide, free Sydney pickup, or free shipping over a set amount. Basing it on Australia Post or Sendle rates works well.

3. Product pages live and die by photos and descriptions

Several bright, sharp real product photos
Accurate details like size, ingredients, and storage
Allergen labelling (essential for food items)

4. Automate stock and order management

Platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce automatically reduce stock and send order notifications and receipts. This dramatically cuts down manual work.

5. Check GST and settlements

If your annual turnover exceeds $75,000, you'll need to register for GST — and online sales are no exception. Talk to your accountant early about how to factor GST into your pricing.

Start small — even listing a few popular items is enough. Growing your range as you gauge demand is the safest approach.

PICKTECH designs and builds online stores tailored to your products and delivery methods as a Korean business in Australia. If you'd like to start selling but aren't sure where to begin, feel free to get in touch.