From one market to 36: the cross-border solution that transformed Catimini’s global reach

From one market to 36: the cross-border solution that transformed Catimini’s global reach

When we set out to take Catimini — a French premium kidswear brand — global, we had no idea how broken the cross-border e-commerce experience really was. Currencies clashed, trust was low, and tech just didn’t play nicely.

Here’s how we fixed it — and drove a 36% increase in international revenue in the process.

  • 27 May 2025
  • ⋅
  • 2 min read

The Real Problem ? Global Customers Don’t Trust You (Yet)

We weren’t suffering from a lack of demand. In fact:

  • 25% of new accounts came from non-French visitors.
  • International users browsed 40% longer.

But they didn’t buy. Why ? Because friction kills conversion. Our checkout had a 53% bounce rate for international customers. 

Analytics showed that 80% of new users were checking the terms & conditions — instead of adding to cart...

Build a Global Store That Feels Local

Localization wasn’t optional. It was mission-critical.

Here’s what we did: 

  • Country-based personalization : Visitors were auto-redirected to the right language, currency, and catalog.
  • Trust-building UX : We redesigned delivery info, terms pages, and size guides in local languages — because trust converts.
  • Multilingual checkout : A one-page checkout, adapted for each market, with local pickup options.

Result : Cart abandonment dropped 28%, and conversion jumped 33%.

From friction to familiarity: Localized currencies, languages, and UX cues built trust — and conversions.

Solve the Cross-Border Logistics Puzzle

Shipping abroad is hard. So we made it invisible to the customer.

  • Seamless integration : We connected Global-E (cross-border hub) with our warehouse partner, Logtex.
  • Transparent pricing : Duties, taxes, and final costs were all calculated and displayed upfront.
  • Localized payment options : From Alipay to Klarna, customers paid the way they preferred.

Result : Fewer return-related support tickets, and international AOV reached 120% of the domestic average.

Fix Customer Care for a Global Audience

What happens post-purchase is just as critical.

  • Unified support : We connected Zendesk with Global-E so customer care could manage cases across languages and regions.
  • Language onboarding : Market-specific welcome popups and translated help pages boosted confidence from first click.

Result : Support load dropped 34%, and satisfaction scores rose.

The Data That Drove Our Strategy

This wasn’t guesswork. We used:

  • ContentSquare for behavioral analytics.
  • Wizzville + CS data for qualitative insights.
  • Competitive benchmarking to spot gaps in our industry (most kidswear players weren’t even trying international).

We discovered:

  • Localized experiences = 45% higher conversion
  • Trust pages = most visited by new users
  • Countries like Japan and UAE had huge potential, but only with the right infrastructure

Key Takeaways for Product Teams

If you're serious about international growth, here’s what matters :

  1. Localization is not translation
    It’s pricing, payments, support, and experience — in context.
  2. Trust is your best conversion asset
    Don’t hide your policies. Highlight them. Make them local.
  3. Tech must disappear
    Integrate deeply so logistics and payments feel effortless.
  4. Data wins debates
    Use analytics to guide, not guess.
Date:

27 May 2025

Category: