Introduce your business and tell us your story: How did you decide on what to sell, and how did you source your products?
I noticed that for cute jewelry and accessories your options were limited. You either had the high end brands to choose from, or places like Target. I am not one to spend $50-$100 for one item. And while I love Target, their selection isn't always the best. I wanted a place where customers could buy affordable jewelry and not empty their wallets. I also knew just how the perfect accessory can make you feel like you can conquer the world. I wanted to give women that. I source directly from the Fashion District in Los Angeles.
How did you earn your first sales? Which channels are now generating the most traffic and sales for you?
It was a mix of social media and word of mouth. I originally started on Storenvy with a free account. My first sale came from Facebook because of a post by my boyfriend; his friend ordered the first items. My first sale on Shopify was much easier, I transitioned over once I outgrew was Storenvy could do for me. My customers simply followed and with a much better website I was able to attract more customers. Direct to site and my app are generating the most traffic. I used an app through Shopify, Apptive, to get an app made. Most sales come from direct traffic; those who know what they're looking for. Others come from customers who use my app frequently.
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?
ShippingEasy for sure has streamlined my shipping. Apptive made it possible to have an app that my customers love. I love Yotpo for my reviews! Their structure, the social push, everything really. It really gives any customer shopping an easy to read past customer experience. Oh and can't forget ECC by webgility. This has made my life a thousand times easier. Allowing my sales to auto sync into my Quickbooks is something I searched for with Storenvy and never got, Shopify made it possible! We're handling fulfillment internally right now. My company is actually just myself. I've been building this company by myself. So I handle customer service, buying, shipping, marketing, etc, etc.
What are your top recommendations for new store owners?
You don't have to spend a bunch of money right away to be successful. You don't need expensive paid apps or anything like that to get off the ground. Oh and lots of hustle and not much sleep.