Introduce your business and tell us your story: How did you decide on what to sell, and how did you source your products?
I curate products based on specific manufacturing principles we follow - all of our goods fit one or more of the following criteria: organic, fair trade, made in USA, or natural materials (ie. untreated wood). My store taps into a growing trend to buy products for children that are ethically made and safe, for not only their delicate skin and bodies, but also for the environment. I search out brands that meet my criteria from all over the globe, but prefer to support fellow small businesses and new entrepreneurs.
How did you earn your first sales? Which channels are now generating the most traffic and sales for you?
Referrals from mommy blogger reviews. Also our affiliate program was important in the beginning to kickstart our sales. Google search, followed by Pinterest and Facebook are generating the most traffic and sales.
Tell us about the back-end of your business. What tools and apps do you use to run your store? How do you handle shipping and fulfillment?
I love all of the Shopify apps! A few of my favorites are Traffic Control to alert us of 404 redirects, Mailchimp and CouponPop for our newsletter growth, and the Quickbooks integration for easy and streamlined bookkeeping. Lately the Wanelo integration has become a new profitable channel so that is also at the top of the list. We use a mix of internal fulfillment and dropshipping through select brand partners.
What are your top recommendations for new store owners?
Have a clearly defined vision for your store and brand. What differentiates you and why should shoppers chose your store over others? Once you figure this out, tell the story and stick to it across all touch points, from your site design to social media and packaging. The right customers will find you and stay loyal if you have an authentic story and vision that is clearly communicated from all angles.