Launch US Shopify Merchant Live in the EU (strategy/systems design/implementation)

Job Title: EU Market Entry Specialist — Shopify, SEO & Compliance (USA B2B Client, Germany-First Expansion) About the Company Client is a US-based B2B distributor of industrial automation parts — PLCs, VFDs, servo drives, HMIs, motors — with a strong Shopify storefront and active Google Ads presence. We carry brands like Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi, and others that are dominant in the EU market. We're now piloting EU sales starting with Germany. What We're Looking For A senior freelancer or small agency who has taken US Shopify merchants live in the EU — specifically handling the design, development, SEO, and compliance side end-to-end. This is not a "consultant who knows the theory." We need someone who has shipped this before and can show us the work. Scope of Work Shopify EU Setup Configure Shopify Markets or Managed Markets for Germany (EUR pricing, VAT display, duty handling) Implement subdirectory or subdomain structure for DE locale (/de/ preferred) Set up Shopify Translate & Adapt or equivalent for DE content Coordinate or execute German translation for key pages (product pages, landing pages, checkout, emails) Regulatory & Tax Compliance EU VAT registration guidance and Shopify tax configuration (OSS threshold awareness) GDPR-compliant cookie consent implementation German-specific requirements: Impressum, Widerrufsrecht (right of withdrawal), AGB (terms), correct Preisangabenverordnung (price transparency) display Packaging/WEEE/EPR obligations awareness (can flag, doesn't need to execute) SEO hreflang implementation and validation DE locale sitemap setup and GSC property configuration Keyword research for German industrial automation search terms (DIN standards references, local terminology, 400V/50Hz spec language) On-page SEO for translated pages — not just translated English copy, but localized for German search intent CDN/page speed for EU visitors Design Localize existing Shopify theme for DE market (not a full redesign — clean adaptation) Trust signals relevant to German B2B buyers (certifications, Impressum placement, etc.) What You Must Have Portfolio showing at least 2–3 US Shopify merchants you've taken live in Germany or the broader EU — we will ask for URLs and specifics Hands-on Shopify Markets/Managed Markets experience (not just Shopify in general) Working knowledge of German B2B buyer expectations and the legal requirements above Technical SEO chops — hreflang, canonicals, sitemap segmentation, GSC setup Ability to work in English; German fluency or access to a trusted German localization partner is a plus Nice to Have Experience with industrial, manufacturing, or B2B technical product categories Familiarity with Shopify + Unbounce or separate landing page stacks Prior work on catalog-heavy Shopify stores (10K+ SKUs) Engagement Details Project-based to start, with potential for ongoing retainer as we expand to additional EU markets (Netherlands, France) Timeline: Looking to move quickly — initial scoping call within 1–2 weeks Budget: Open to proposals; please include a rough breakdown by workstream How to Apply Include in your proposal: Links to 2–3 EU market launches you executed for US Shopify clients (with a brief description of what you owned) Your approach to German legal compliance — specifically how you handle Impressum, GDPR consent, and VAT display Your honest assessment of Shopify Managed Markets vs. self-managed VAT for a B2B parts seller doing low order volume to start Proposals without specific portfolio examples will not be reviewed.