Introduce your business and tell us your story: How did you decide on what to sell, and how did you source your products?
As a personal trainer and general health enthusiast I have always been motivated to help others achieve their goals. Growing up in Australia you constantly hear of our obesity problems and I just wanted to contribute in any way possible. To begin with, everything was outsourced through overseas suppliers. As the company has grown, and continues to grow each and every day, it has given us the opportunity to source more and more of our products (packaging, labelling etc.) from Australian suppliers.
How did you earn your first sales? Which channels are now generating the most traffic and sales for you?
Wow, it seems like yesterday when the first notification popped up on my phone from Shopify notifying me of the sale. It was the greatest feeling and it came relatively quick, only a few days after launching our online store with Shopify. The sale was earned through an Instagram link on our profile which redirected them to the website. We've spent a lot of money on SEO (search engine optimization) in order for us to rank higher on Google. Shopify analytics and notes left on our orders suggest that our orders primarily come from Google searches, followed closely by Instagram links and then blog post referalls.
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?
We use a variety of apps in our store but the number one most important app for us is MailChimp. It allows us to notify our subscribers of upcoming sales which usually generates into a substantial amount of orders. Yotpo reviews is also a very handy app we have installed as it validates the authenticity of reviews which is important in the eCommerce market with all of the fake reviews going around. We internally ship all orders within 24 hours. We have thought in the past about using a drop shipper (fulfillment house) but like to ensure the product being sent is personally tailored for the customer. We also like to personally ensure its delivery to the local courier, in general personally handling your shipping makes way for an efficient, error free process.
What are your top recommendations for new store owners?
Be persistent. Continue to work on your store and learn as much as possible about the market you're entering. Figure out exactly where your product will fit in and why someone if anyone will want to purchase it. I know it's corny but don't listen to friends or family who will tell you something won't ever work. If you think it will, then go for it.