European fulfilment for US ecommerce brands
For US brands selling into Europe, holding inventory closer to EU customers may be worth assessing. Vareya fulfils orders from a warehouse in Breda, the Netherlands, shipping across Europe and to other international markets.
Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Share your current order profile and destination mix for an initial fulfilment fit assessment. No sales call required.
Quick answer
US brands sometimes ship every European order individually from the United States. When European order volume grows, comparing that setup with fulfilment from a warehouse inside the EU can be worthwhile. Vareya operates a warehouse in Breda, the Netherlands, and fulfils orders from there across Europe and to other international markets.
Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Holding stock in the EU or shipping every order from the US
The first question is which market you are really serving. If most of your orders go to European customers, holding stock inside the EU changes the operational picture: goods cross the EU border once as a consolidated inbound shipment, and customer orders are fulfilled from Breda. If European orders are occasional, shipping individually from the US may be the simpler setup.
The table below compares the two setups. Whether a move to EU fulfilment fits your brand depends on your volumes, products and order profile. Product fit is confirmed during qualification.
| What to compare | Holding stock in the EU | Shipping every order from the US |
|---|---|---|
| Where stock is held | In one warehouse in Breda, the Netherlands, close to European order volume. | In the United States, in the brand's own facility or with a US 3PL. |
| How orders reach EU customers | Orders are picked, packed and handed to the carrier network from the warehouse in Breda and travel within the EU. | Each order is packed in the US and sent to the EU customer as an individual cross-border parcel. |
| Customs per order | Stock crosses the EU border once, as a consolidated inbound shipment. The import declaration is handled by the brand or its customs representative. | Every parcel crosses the EU border individually; customs formalities, duties and VAT may apply per parcel depending on value and classification. |
| Returns | Returns can land at the Breda warehouse. Returns handling is available. Contact Vareya to discuss the required returns process. | Returns travel back to the US unless the brand arranges an alternative return route. |
| When it is worth comparing | When European order volume becomes large enough that the consolidated import and EU-side operation is worth assessing. | While European volume is low and orders are occasional. |
The US-EU corridor in one view
From warehouse to customer, the work is shared. This table shows which part each party typically owns. Vareya's role covers receiving, storage, fulfilment and the agreed returns process.
| Stage | Typical owner | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| US-side readiness | Brand + its export partner | SKU data, Schedule B/HS classification and export documentation are prepared before goods leave the United States. |
| Freight to the EU | Brand's freight forwarder or transport partner | Transport, insurance and any required export filing (such as Electronic Export Information through the Automated Export System) are arranged and paid for by the brand or its partners. |
| EU import and customs | Importer of record + customs representative | The responsible party submits the import declaration. Duties and VAT follow the product, its classification and proof of origin. |
| Receiving and storage | Vareya | Stock is received at the warehouse in Breda and stored until orders are processed. |
| Fulfilment | Vareya | Orders are picked, packed and shipped through the carrier network from the Netherlands. |
| Returns | Vareya, per the agreed process | Returns handling is available. Contact Vareya to discuss the required returns process. |
What to prepare before stock leaves the US
Most onboarding delays come from missing data and documents, not from the warehouse work itself. This checklist shows the information that is usually needed before the first inbound shipment:
- Complete SKU master data: identifiers, barcodes, dimensions and weight
- Correct product classification (Schedule B / HS code) for every SKU
- Proof of origin documentation where a reduced duty rate is relevant
- An importer of record and, where needed, an EORI number for the EU side
- A defined VAT route for EU sales
- Product compliance status, including any EU responsible-person or notification requirements
- US export documentation, including any required Electronic Export Information filing, prepared before goods leave the US
- Final label and packaging information
- Storage and handling instructions per product
- Sales-channel connection details (for example Shopify)
- Planned inbound shipment contents and arrival window
This is general operational information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Customs, VAT and product-compliance details should be confirmed with qualified advisers before the first shipment.
Customs, VAT and product compliance
US exports are classified using Schedule B codes, based on the international Harmonized System. Depending on the product and shipment value, an Electronic Export Information filing through the Census Bureau's Automated Export System may be required before goods leave the US. Importing goods into the EU normally requires an import declaration, and duties and VAT may apply. An EORI number is needed for the party that deals with customs.
The EU's €22 VAT exemption for low-value imports ended on 1 July 2021. For goods with an intrinsic value up to €150 sent from outside the EU, the IOSS scheme can simplify VAT collection at checkout. Since 1 July 2026, a temporary flat fee of €3 per tariff item applies to relevant low-value imports from outside the EU and is planned to apply until 1 July 2028. Whether any of this applies to your setup depends on your products and where your customers are.
Have customs, tax or specialist handling requirements? Include them in the fulfilment scan so Vareya can confirm which parts of the proposed setup can be supported.
Official planning resources
- Automated Export System (AES) — US Census Bureau ↗
- Schedule B / HS export classification — International Trade Administration ↗
- Customs formalities for low value consignments — European Commission ↗
- Temporary flat fee on low-value imports (until 1 July 2028) — European Commission ↗
- Importing non-EU products: a checklist (Business.gov.nl) ↗
Capabilities
Shopify integration is available.
Amazon FBM fulfilment is available.
Returns handling is available. Contact Vareya to discuss the required returns process.
Carriers include DHL, PostNL, Asendia, FedEx and Royal Mail.
Cut-off times of up to 23:00 may be available by agreement.
Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Good fit / may not be a fit
Typically a good fit
- ✓ Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
- ✓ Vareya specialises in cosmetics, supplements, phone cases, accessories and other smaller parcel products.
- ✓ Suitable smaller parcels have combined dimensions below 900 mm and a maximum length of 600 mm.
- ✓ Brands selling through Shopify or Amazon FBM. Shopify integration is available. Amazon FBM fulfilment is available.
- ✓ Brands that want orders fulfilled from the Netherlands for European customers.
May not be a fit
- ✗ Order volumes well below the 500-orders-per-month level.
- ✗ Parcels that exceed the combined 900 mm / length 600 mm guideline.
- ✗ Products with specialist customs, tax or handling requirements — include them in the fulfilment scan so Vareya can confirm which parts of the proposed setup can be supported.
Product fit is confirmed during qualification.
Frequently asked questions
Does holding stock in Europe make sense for every US brand?
This depends on your order volume and markets. When European order volume grows and shipping every order individually from the US becomes operationally relevant to compare, holding stock in the EU is worth assessing. Product fit is confirmed during qualification.
What is the difference between holding stock in Europe and shipping every order from the US?
With stock in Europe, goods cross the EU border once as a consolidated inbound shipment and customer orders travel within the EU. Shipping every order from the US means each parcel crosses the EU border individually, so customs formalities, duties and VAT may apply per parcel depending on value and classification. The table above compares both setups.
Does Vareya handle customs or import for US brands?
Have customs, tax or specialist handling requirements? Include them in the fulfilment scan so Vareya can confirm which parts of the proposed setup can be supported.
Do US exports need special documentation?
US exports are classified using Schedule B codes (based on the international Harmonized System), and larger or regulated shipments may require an Electronic Export Information filing through the Census Bureau's Automated Export System. Requirements depend on the product and shipment value — confirm with a customs broker or freight forwarder before the first shipment.
Which markets can Vareya ship to from the Netherlands?
From Breda, Vareya ships to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States.
What order volume is needed?
Vareya is generally best suited to brands shipping 500 or more orders per month.
Can Vareya handle EU returns for a US brand?
Returns handling is available. Contact Vareya to discuss the required returns process.
Related fulfilment pages
Assess EU fulfilment for your US brand
Share your current order profile and destination mix for an initial fulfilment fit assessment.