I sell natural skin care products which I make in my studio which is located just under my new retail space. Most of my products feature organic Argan Oil which is a really great moisturizer and is full of anti-oxidants. I went to Morocco to source it and I get it from a women's cooperative in Morocco where the women grind the nuts by hand to extract the oil (i.e. it is cold-pressed).
When developing new products, I listen to my customers to determine what their needs are and I try to make things that meet these needs.
How did you earn your first sales? Which channels are now generating the most traffic and sales for you?
I started selling my products in small craft markets around town and I launched my online store soon after. As my business started to grow, I had to move it out of my home to a larger space for production. Sales increased after dramatically after my deodorant was featured on laineygossip.com and so I decided to open a physical shop. It just opened on May 1st!
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 use a lot of Shopify apps: Order Printer, Canada Post, Variant Images, Facebook Store. I use Shopify Mobile a lot to keep track of what is happening as I am on the go a lot. I use Yotpo Product Reviews in my online shop. I purchased the Shopify POS system a little while ago at a pop up that Shopify had in Toronto and I am really happy with it. Everything is consolidated in one spot now and sales and inventory are so easy to track.
What are your top recommendations for new ecommerce entrepreneurs?
I think that it is really important to have customer reviews on your website as this is what gives customers the confidence to take the plunge and give you a try. I am really happy with the Shopify POS system. Also, I have found it really rewarding to reach out to other makers in my area and to collaborate with them, especially those who are just starting out.