Global Funding Know-How: Part 1 ‘K-Brand’ 🌟
Will our product be successful overseas?
Although we’ve built up quite a following domestically, we find ourselves hesitating when it comes to expanding overseas.
Many makers find themselves wondering where to start and whether the products they’ve created will really catch on overseas.
But it’s a waste of time to just dwell on your worries.
This is because interest in "Korean culture" is currently higher than ever in overseas markets.
The Korean Wave, which began with K-pop and K-dramas, has now expanded its reach, deeply permeating people’s daily lives and tastes—from those learning the Korean language to consumers drawn to traditional patterns and designs, and locals seeking out Korean cuisine.
But when faced with the unfamiliar challenge of global expansion, what if there were a a “platform that helps build the foundation together”?
Starting today, Wadizwill be sharing a four-part series of articles to help makers successfully expand into international markets, all in the spirit of creating a world where anyone can take on new challenges 😊
Expanding overseas: Where and how should you start? 🌍
(Photo) A tutorial video for traditional Korean games featured in "Squid Game" has been released on Netflix's YouTube channel, and related merchandise—such as paper-blowing games, paper-slapping games, and dalgona candy—is being sold on overseas platforms like eBay. / Source: Netflix YouTube (left), eBay (right)
As traditional games featured in *Squid Game* have gone viral among the MZ generation overseas, items for traditional games such as Korean paper-blowing, paper-slapping, and dalgona have emerged as top-selling products on global e-commerce platforms like eBay.
The same goes for products featuring traditional patterns, such as traditional fans or tiger hats.
Last year, sales of traditional cultural products reached a record high of 11.9 billion won, signaling that the “Hip+Tradition” trend is gaining momentum worldwide.
It’s fair to say that this is a time when a “realistic possibility” has emerged for Korean brands to make their mark on the global stage.
Source: Unsplash
I’m dying to break into overseas markets, but when it comes time to actually take action, I find myself stumped by a flood of questions.
Where should we showcase our products? Which channels are the best fit for our brand?
How do we handle international shipping, payment, and customs clearance? There’s a lot to prepare, and there’s also the added pressure that even a minor misstep could negatively impact the brand’s image.
As a result, many makers tend to postpone their expansion into overseas markets, saying things like, “Once the team grows larger,” or “Once we’re better prepared.”
We’re confident in the quality of our product, so we definitely see the potential, but the reality is that the preparation procedures and processes make it feel complicated and out of reach.
The pressure of having to handle everything on your own as a brand 😶🌫️
It is difficult to expand overseas The main reason for this feeling is the overwhelming sense that the brand has to handle everything on its own.
While the platform does help showcase the products, exporting, shipping, customer service, and marketing are often entirely the brand’s responsibility.
While the global market is undoubtedly attractive, the resources and risks involved are by no means insignificant.
However, when facing the challenge of global expansion, so that the brand can focus on its products and customer feedback
What if there were a platform that helps build the foundation together?
Wadiz Global is a new opportunity that lowers the barrier to entry for makers precisely at that point.
Wadizis here to help ⛑️
Wadizunderstands the risks faced by makers better than anyone else.
So, as you face the major challenge of expanding overseas, Wadizhas taken care of everything else so your brand can focus solely on growth .
If creators prepare their projects in Korean as usual, Wadizwill help bridge the gap to reach a global audience.
First of all, it’s fine if the product story is written in Korean only.
Wadiz, AI translates your project story written in Korean into English, and you can then edit the translation yourself.
Just because it’s global funding doesn’t mean you have to prepare a separate English story from the start.
You can introduce your brand and products to international customers using your existing product pages, without the need for a complicated translation process.
Advertising and shipping—even the most important things—made easy 🤝
The fastest way to introduce our brand to international customers is through advertising.
Advertisements targeting international customers are also run alongside those in Korea.
Based on its proprietary BizCenter solution, Wadizoperates a separate global social media advertising service targeting countries outside of South Korea.
We are currently developing a new global influencer advertising product designed to deliver high reach at a reasonable cost.
In addition, as part of the process of preparing advertising campaigns, a feature is provided that allows AI to automatically translate text written in Korean into English.
You can review this translation yourself and easily edit it to use the phrasing you prefer, it can help reduce the burden of creating advertising content for international markets.
➡️[Global Advertising Guide] BizCenter Global Launch! Target Ads to Your Desired Countries
Wadizcan help with international shipping, too.
Just like for domestic customers, you can view and download payment information and shipping addresses for international customers in bulk via "Maker Studio," where you manage your projects.
Through Wadizofficial international shipping partners, we not only provide reliable international shipping at competitive rates but also handle essential procedures such as export declarations on your behalf.
Even if you're a maker shipping products to international customers for the first time, we've got everything you need to get started smoothly.
Additionally, when international customers access Wadiz Global service, the available projects, rewards, and currency information are automatically configured based on their location, allowing them to intuitively browse and participate in projects that suit their needs without any additional setup.
➡️[International Shipping Guide] How does international shipping work for global projects?
Now is the perfect time to expand globally 💯
Wadizcontinues to serve as a Wadiz continues to serve as a vital testing ground
Many makers are using Wadizto prove their brand’s potential through crowdfunding and expand their reach overseas.
(Photo) "Risl," a modern hanbok brand that made its debut at Milan Fashion Week following a successful Wadiz crowdfunding campaign / Source: Global Fashion Collective
Risl, best known for the hanbok worn by BTS, built a fan base through Wadizbefore making its debut at Milan Fashion Week and entering the global market as a modern hanbok brand. It is a prime example of a company that first established its potential in Korea and then used that foundation to take the global stage.
(Photo) "Bongsook" (left), a traditional gochujang brand that garnered a positive response on the international crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, and "Setoworks" (right), which introduced Korean-style tarot cards / Source: Kickstarter
The potential of K-culture brands has already been proven on overseas crowdfunding platforms.
“Bongsook,” a modern take on traditional gochujang, gained popularity in the North American market through Kickstarter, while “Setoworks,” which introduced Korean-style tarot cards, was selected for Kickstarter’s “Project We Love” curation and attracted a global fan base.
As such, the unique cultural sensibilities and designs of Brand K are now gaining attention as a new trend in the global market.
And crowdfunding provides a structure that allows you to quickly gauge the response.
This is an opportunity to see if a brand’s authenticity can resonate without having to secure overseas distribution channels or incur significant costs.
In other words, it is effectively becoming a "testing ground for the global market."
Maker and Wadiz Join Forces to Go Global🌍
Wadiz, a global testing ground for exploring a brand’s potential, launched its platform this past May.
Wadiz Global is a new crowdfunding platform that supports automatic story translation, country-specific payment and shipping settings, and global advertising.
If you’ve been considering expanding overseas, this service can serve as the first step toward your brand’s growth.
➡️Go to theWadiz Global Service Integration Guide
We're looking for makers to join us for our first global funding opportunity 🔍
와디즈에서 글로벌 서비스 런칭을 기념해, 브랜드의 글로벌 데뷔를 지원하는 <The First Global Maker> 를 준비했습니다.
<The First Global Maker> 를 신청하는 메이커분께는 아래 혜택을 모두 제공해 드릴 예정인데요.
- Extensive free marketing support (prominent placement onWadiz, 2-for-1 ad credits, etc.)
- Support for Creating English Product Detail Pages (Limited Quantity)
- Practical support, including VODs featuring previously unreleased insights on global market expansion
We welcome everyone—from teams just starting out on the global stage to brands that have already built a fan base and are preparing to expand into broader markets.
Take a step further onto the global stage today.
If you’re dreaming of taking your brand to the next level, now is the time to get started.
