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E-Commerce Shipping to Alaska: Why This Underserved Market Is Worth Reaching
Alaska is home to over 730,000 residents, and yet many e-commerce businesses still do not ship to the state.
As a non-continental U.S. destination, e-commerce shipping to Alaska requires different transportation planning and delivery networks than shipping within the continental United States.
Whether it’s due to high costs, limited carrier coverage, or outdated assumptions, many retailers continue to treat shipping to Alaska as a niche exception rather than a core part of their growth strategy. But businesses that ship reliably and affordably to Alaska are seeing something others aren’t – a loyal customer base with limited local retail options and growing online demand.
Because Alaska is a non-continental U.S. destination, e-commerce shipping to Alaska requires different transportation planning, network design, and last-mile execution than shipping within the continental United States.
At International Bridge (IB), we’ve been helping businesses deliver to Alaska since 2004. Today, we support enterprise e-commerce brands, MLM companies, and fast-growing small businesses that understand reaching Alaska isn’t a hassle — it’s an opportunity.
A population worth reaching
Alaska’s population—though often overlooked—is nearly the size of San Francisco, and larger than several U.S. states. These residents face limited access to local retail, especially in remote communities. As a result, online shopping is not just convenient—it’s essential.
And the numbers back it up: despite lower overall online shopping participation, Alaskans generate over $2.16 billion in annual e-commerce revenue (Capital One Shopping, 2024).
If your business isn’t shipping to Alaska, you’re leaving thousands of potential customers—and their repeat orders—on the table.
The Business Challenge of Shipping to Alaska: Cost, Complexity, and Inconsistency
Shipping to Alaska from the mainland often means:
- Carrier surcharges that erode margins
- Long and unpredictable transit times
- Weather-related disruptions
- Gaps in final-mile delivery coverage
- Limited visibility once packages leave the mainland
These challenges are typical of non-continental U.S. delivery markets, where shipments rely on regional routing rather than dense ground networks.
That’s why many affordable shipping businesses choose to skip Alaska entirely. But that decision carries a cost: customer dissatisfaction, limited growth, and a missed competitive advantage.
The IB solution: e-commerce shipping built for real-world challenges
At International Bridge, we provide e-commerce shipping solutions tailored to Alaska’s unique logistics landscape. We work with a broad spectrum of shippers—from major platforms to high-touch DTC brands—to help them expand reach, reduce costs, and improve delivery performance in underserved markets.
Our Alaska service includes:
✅ 3–5 business day delivery to final recipients
✅ Up to 30% cost savings compared to traditional carriers
✅ Reliable, consistent performance with high delivery success rates
✅ Solutions for both small parcel shipping and high-volume shippers
✅ Full tracking visibility across the shipping lifecycle
✅ Local presence in Anchorage and Juneau for operational strength
✅ Responsive customer service to support your teams
This local execution model is what allows IB to maintain predictable delivery performance even during peak season and weather disruptions.
We don’t treat Alaska like a challenge to manage. We treat it like a market to grow.
Trusted by leaders, built for flexibility
Unlike mainland shipping, Alaska deliveries depend heavily on air cargo availability and regional distribution partners, making network stability more important than raw transit speed.
Whether you’re moving thousands of packages a day or just getting started with shipping to Alaska, we offer flexible options that plug directly into your operations. Our network is designed for scalability, without adding friction to your existing systems.
And our customer base reflects that flexibility. We serve:
- Large-scale e-commerce platforms
- National MLM brands with distributed delivery needs
- Small and mid-size businesses ready to expand
Make Alaska part of your growth strategy
For over 20 years, we’ve helped businesses build customer loyalty and improve operational performance in remote markets like Alaska. Similar logistics challenges also apply to other non-continental U.S. markets such as Hawaii and Puerto Rico, where specialized delivery networks are essential.
If you’re ready to:
- Eliminate unnecessary shipping complexity
- Serve an underserved customer base
- Improve cost efficiency
- Deliver with confidence
Then we’re ready to help you with shipping to Alaska.
Connect with our team to explore the best solution for your business. Alaska isn’t too far—it’s simply underserved. And that’s exactly where e-commerce shipping solutions live.