WorldShopping
WorldShopping is a Japan-based proxy purchase and international shipping service operated by zig-zag Inc. that enables shoppers in 228 countries to buy from Japanese online stores with domestic-only shipping, offering integrated cart systems on partner merchant sites and multilingual support across six languages.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersShibuya, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WorldShopping does
WorldShopping is a Japan-based cross-border e-commerce proxy service that purchases products on behalf of international shoppers from Japanese online stores and ships them to 228 countries and regions worldwide. Operated by zig-zag Inc. (a Japanese holding entity), WorldShopping primarily serves foreign consumers who want to buy from Japanese retailers that do not offer overseas shipping, including enthusiasts of Japanese fashion, anime merchandise, beauty products, electronics, and lifestyle goods. The company addresses three core pain points for this audience: domestic-only shipping restrictions, language barriers on Japanese checkout pages, and limited payment method compatibility for cross-border transactions.
The platform is built around three product layers: the flagship WorldShopping proxy-purchase service, an embedded 'WorldShopping Cart' integrated into partner Japanese merchants' storefronts, and a 'Purchase Request' flow for non-partner stores where customers submit product URLs. Underlying infrastructure connects eight payment providers (VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, JCB, PayPal, Amazon Pay, AliPay, UnionPay) plus AFTEE BNPL for Taiwan, with three outbound shipping carriers (EMS, FedEx, DHL) routed from a Tokyo-area warehouse. Customer support and website localization span six languages (English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French).
WorldShopping earns revenue primarily through per-transaction proxy-purchase service fees and international shipping margin, supplemented by payment-processing partnerships and promotional coupon economics (¥500-¥2,000 tiered discounts, fee waivers above ¥10,000). Distribution combines a direct-to-consumer website with channel-partner integrations on Japanese merchant sites; marketing is concentrated in multilingual organic social (Instagram @japanfashion_by_worldshopping, Facebook, X, YouTube) and referral/affiliate promotions. The company does not disclose revenue, headcount, funding history, or pricing for individual service tiers, leaving financial scale inferential.
WorldShopping firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WorldShopping
- Legal name
- zig-zag Inc.
- Website
- https://worldshopping.global
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- WorldShopping is a Japan-based proxy purchase and international shipping service operated by zig-zag Inc. that enables shoppers in 228 countries to buy from Japanese online stores with domestic-only shipping, offering integrated cart systems on partner merchant sites and multilingual support across six languages.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WorldShopping industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cross-Border E-commerce Services
- NAICS
- Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (424)
- SIC
- Retail-Variety Stores (5331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International DTC & Brand.com (Global Shipping) (CRAFAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cross-border Import/Export Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAE)
Keywords
Where WorldShopping is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shibuya
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Markets served
WorldShopping business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Proxy Purchase Service Fees: WorldShopping purchases products on behalf of customers from Japanese online stores and charges service fees for this proxy purchasing function. The service enables customers to buy from stores that only offer domestic Japanese shipping.
- International Shipping Fees: The company charges international shipping fees for delivering purchased items from their warehouse to customers worldwide. Shipping methods include EMS, FedEx, and DHL. International shipping charges are determined after packing is completed (typically within 1-3 business days of receipt).
- Payment Processing Services: WorldShopping partners with AFTEE (Deferred Payment Service) in Taiwan to offer alternative payment methods. The company benefits from transaction volume through this payment partnership.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Proxy shopping fee discount campaign |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | AFTEE payment promotion - new users |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Service fee waiver promotion |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
WorldShopping product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WorldShopping operates a proxy purchase and international shipping service that enables customers from 228 countries and regions to buy products from Japanese online stores that only offer domestic shipping. The company provides an integrated shopping cart system on partner merchant websites and a separate purchase request form for non-partner sites, handling payment processing, warehouse receiving, quality verification, repackaging, and international delivery via EMS, FedEx, and DHL.
Product overview
WorldShopping is a proxy purchasing and international shipping platform that enables global customers to shop from Japanese online stores that do not offer overseas shipping. The core offering consists of the WorldShopping service (proxy purchase and international shipping to 228 countries/regions), the WorldShopping Cart (integrated into partner shops), and the Purchase Request Service (for shops without cart integration). Supporting services include the International Shipping Calculator and multilingual customer support (English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese). The platform integrates payment providers (VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, JCB, PayPal, Amazon Pay, AliPay, UnionPay) and shipping carriers (EMS, FedEx, DHL) to deliver a complete cross-border e-commerce solution for purchasing Japanese products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WorldShopping Proxy Purchase and International Shipping Service Proxy purchasing and international shipping service that purchases items on behalf of customers from Japanese online stores and handles all international logistics including payment, warehouse reception, quality checks, repackaging, and worldwide delivery.
- WorldShopping Cart Specialized international shopping cart system integrated into partner Japanese online shops, allowing international customers to add items and proceed through international checkout directly on partner merchant websites.
- Purchase Request Service Proxy purchase service for Japanese online shops that do not have the WorldShopping Cart installed. Customers submit a purchase request form with product details and WorldShopping procures the items on their behalf.
- International Shipping Calculator Online tool that calculates international shipping costs for orders, helping customers estimate total shipping expenses before completing purchases from Japanese online stores.
- AFTEE Payment Integration Buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment option integrated with AFTEE service, allowing Taiwanese customers to complete purchases with just a mobile phone number and pay within 14 days at convenience stores, ATMs, or via online banking.
Quantifiable outcome
- International shipping to 228 countries and regions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use WorldShopping
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
WorldShopping technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
WorldShopping partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- AFTEEminorAFTEE is a deferred payment (BNPL) service provider in Taiwan. WorldShopping partnered with AFTEE to offer alternative payment options for Taiwanese customers, including promotional discounts of up to 450 NTD for new users and ongoing benefits for existing users.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WorldShopping competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Neokyo: Proxy buying agent for Japanese online stores, with purchasing, consolidation, and forwarding to international destinations — comparable in offering and customer profile to WorldShopping.
- FromJapan: Proxy purchase and forwarding service for Japanese online stores, with consolidated shipping and multi-carrier delivery options; competes head-to-head with WorldShopping for international shoppers of Japanese goods.
- Jauce: Proxy purchase service specializing in Japanese auction and shopping site access for international buyers, with English-language interface and international shipping — overlapping core service with WorldShopping's purchase request model.
- Tenso: Japanese forwarding/proxy purchase service focused on helping international customers buy from Japanese e-commerce sites; offers multilingual support and consolidated shipping similar to WorldShopping.
- ZenMarket: Japan-based proxy buying service offering purchase, consolidation, and international shipping from Japanese retailers and auction sites, with multilingual interface — directly comparable in service model and customer segment to WorldShopping.
- Buyee: Operated by BEENOS, Buyee is one of the largest Japan proxy purchase and forwarding services, offering multilingual support, integrated shopping, and consolidated international shipping — directly overlapping with WorldShopping's core value proposition and target customer base.
- JSHOPPERS: Japanese cross-border shopping service offering consolidated purchasing and international shipping; competes directly with WorldShopping in proxy purchase and forwarding from Japanese retailers.
Broad incumbents
- Rakuten Global Express: Rakuten's cross-border logistics and shopping service leverages Rakuten's massive Japanese merchant base; overlaps with WorldShopping on international shipping from Japan but is part of a much broader e-commerce and fintech portfolio.
- Amazon Japan (Global Shipping): While Amazon Japan increasingly offers direct international shipping, it remains a broad incumbent covering only merchants on its platform; for Japan-exclusive brands outside Amazon, WorldShopping's service fills the gap.
Regional players
- CamelCamelCamel / Suruga-ya International: Suruga-ya, a major Japanese used/vintage retailer, has expanded direct international shipping for select items; partially competes with WorldShopping in the Japanese collectibles and vintage fashion segment for international buyers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WorldShopping social profiles
Digital presenceWorldShopping financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WorldShopping leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
WorldShopping funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WorldShopping M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WorldShopping
What does WorldShopping do?
WorldShopping operates a proxy purchase and international shipping service that enables customers from 228 countries and regions to buy products from Japanese online stores that only offer domestic shipping. The company provides an integrated shopping cart system on partner merchant websites and a separate purchase request form for non-partner sites, handling payment processing, warehouse receiving, quality verification, repackaging, and international delivery via EMS, FedEx, and DHL.
Is WorldShopping a public or private company?
WorldShopping is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was WorldShopping founded?
WorldShopping was founded in -1.
Where is WorldShopping based?
WorldShopping is headquartered in Shibuya, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does WorldShopping make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Proxy Purchase Service Fees are the primary driver. The others are international Shipping Fees and payment Processing Services.
Who are WorldShopping's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Neokyo, FromJapan, Jauce, Tenso, ZenMarket, Buyee and JSHOPPERS. Broad incumbents are Rakuten Global Express and Amazon Japan (Global Shipping). CamelCamelCamel / Suruga-ya International is listed as a regional player.
Does WorldShopping have an API?
No public API is recorded for WorldShopping.
What industry is WorldShopping in?
WorldShopping's product category is Cross-Border E-commerce Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAJAB, International DTC & Brand.com (Global Shipping), with a secondary code of CRAFAAAE, Cross-border Import/Export Generalist Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 424 and its SIC code is 5331.