European fulfilment for New Zealand ecommerce brands
For New Zealand 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
New Zealand brands sometimes ship every European order individually from New Zealand. 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 New Zealand
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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Where stock is held | In one warehouse in Breda, the Netherlands, close to European order volume. | In New Zealand, in the brand's own facility or with a New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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 NZ-EU corridor in one view
From factory 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand-side readiness | Brand + its export partner | SKU data, product classification, origin evidence and export documents are prepared before goods leave New Zealand. |
| Freight to the EU | Brand's freight forwarder or transport partner | Transport, insurance and export formalities 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 New Zealand
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 (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
- A defined VAT route for EU sales
- Product compliance status, including any EU responsible-person or notification requirements
- New Zealand export documentation, prepared before goods leave New Zealand
- 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, GST and product compliance
Importing goods from New Zealand 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.
In the other direction, New Zealand Customs generally does not charge duty or GST on goods with a value of NZ$1,000 or less; alcohol and tobacco are exceptions. That does not mean GST is never due: under Inland Revenue rules, GST of 15% applies at checkout when an overseas seller's taxable turnover from New Zealand sales is NZ$60,000 or more in a 12-month period. Goods above NZ$1,000 are charged at the border and a Customs Number is required. New Zealand also applies biosecurity requirements to imported goods; cosmetics, supplements and products containing plant or animal ingredients can carry additional conditions. Confirm the current rules with New Zealand Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries before shipping.
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
- Supplying low value imported goods — Inland Revenue New Zealand ↗
- Duty and GST — New Zealand Customs Service ↗
- Importing supplemented foods — Ministry for Primary Industries ↗
- Import health standards — Ministry for Primary Industries ↗
- 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
When does holding stock in the EU become worth assessing for a New Zealand brand?
When European order volume grows and shipping every order individually from New Zealand becomes operationally relevant to compare. Whether it fits depends on the operation. Product fit is confirmed during qualification.
What is the difference between holding stock in Europe and shipping every order from New Zealand?
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 New Zealand 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 arrange the freight from New Zealand?
Inbound transport is normally arranged by the brand or its freight forwarder. Vareya receives and checks the stock once it arrives in Breda. Exact intake steps are agreed during onboarding.
Does Vareya handle customs, VAT or import for New Zealand 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 New Zealand shoppers pay GST or duty on orders shipped from Europe to New Zealand?
Goods with a value of NZ$1,000 or less are generally not charged duty or GST at the New Zealand border; alcohol and tobacco are exceptions. However, under Inland Revenue rules, GST of 15% applies at checkout when the overseas seller's taxable turnover from New Zealand sales is NZ$60,000 or more in a 12-month period. Goods above NZ$1,000 are charged at the border and a Customs Number is required. Confirm the current thresholds for your products with the official sources before shipping.
Can Vareya ship to New Zealand too?
Yes. 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 connect to a Shopify store?
Vareya uses ShipHero as its warehouse management system, fully integrated with Shopify.
Related fulfilment pages
Assess EU fulfilment for your New Zealand brand
Share your current order profile and destination mix for an initial fulfilment fit assessment.