Starting out in eCommerce is both lucrative and daunting. There are lots of things to consider, and whether you are a new business, or an existing business looking to expand into the online sphere, it is hard to know where to start.
As well as hosting the eCommerce MasterPlan Podcast, Chloe is the host of the “Start Your Own Business Podcast” a podcast created by StartUpDonut and FSB that is totally focused on helping new businesses get started faster, and with less costs. You can find out more about that show here.
eCommerce Questions you need to answer
So you know eCommerce has many advantages, but how do you get started? There are lots of things to consider, including:
- Who will you sell to?
- What’s your niche?
- Are you an online only retailer, bricks and clicks boutique, etc?
- How are you going to market yourself?
- What are the key pitfalls you need to avoid?
- What is the quickest route to success?
These are questions that can be hard to answer by yourself, and even if you know the answer implementing the solution can be tricky.
Hear how others have done it on the eCommerce MasterPlan podcast
Our podcast interviews with eCommerce Startups:
001: Allergy Best Buy’s Andrew Wilson on buying an online only eCommerce business and content marketing
003: Muck Munchers’ Martin Harvey on how to grow fast in year one
022: Lick my Dip’s Dave Rotheroe on using Crowdfunding and Thunderclap to launch 2 subscription businesses in 6 months
034: Taste Tradition Direct’s Ian Smith discusses growing a new site to 50 orders per month in just 2 months
042: Benny Hsu discusses making $100k profit selling t shirts in 5 months by focusing on the customer first
043: Project Repat’s Nathan Rothstein on how a focus on email sign ups led to $4million sales in 2015
049: Fresh Clean Tees’ Matthew Parvis 4 months into his startup subscription business and growing 200% per month
051: So Unusual’s Kerry Williams just 7 weeks live, has LOTS of great advice for us all. Even non start ups
056: Regal Gentleman’s Liam Jennings with great startup and social media tips, plus lots of Shopify ideas
059: Social Jukebox’s Tim Fargo on SaaS eCommerce, and the importance of customer service for 2xGrowth in 5 months
060: On The Tools’ Lee Wilcox gives a masterclass in social media inc Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram
067: Rock Pamper Scissors’ Mat Braddy on m-commerce, startups, and building a marketplace
069: Studio 15’s Jia Wertz masterclass on fashion startups inc popups and social media (10,000 customers in 12 months)
071: Wink Beds’ Dan Adler shares the strategy and marketing that achieved $2million in year 1
083: Best Self Co’s Cathryn Lavery and Allen Brouwer on how they won the Shopify Build a Business Competition and will achieve 100,000 orders in their first year
086-5: The Product Startup’s Filip Valica – should you create your product? And if so, how do you get it right?
091: Temples and Markets’ Judith Treanor on getting to $10k per month in year 1 w/ email and social enterprise focus
094: Copper Dust’s Vanessa Agyemang – Startup, Popup shops, Wholesale Trade Shows and more
096: Near St’s Nick Brackenbury by using eCommerce to help the high st he’s seeing 35% month on month growth
103: Divine Leg’s Christine Nicholson discusses her 100 orders in 100 days eCommerce startup strategy
106: Delicious Coffee’s Simon Rigby – Startup Growth, Offline Marketing, and Customer Focus
122: Harper Wilde’s Jane Fisher, 18m of planning, 1m live and they’re already getting repeat customers…
123: Ramp’s Neil Cocker – selling tshirts via B2B eCommerce. The importance of Live Chat, Trust and Funnels
128: Goat Milk Stuff’s PJ Jonas on growing an eCommerce business to $1m and improving efficiency
147: To 1,000 orders per month in year 1; events, networking, and Instagram. Paws with Opulence
178: Growing a B2B Subscription eCommerce business to 7-figures in 1 year – Jonathan from Penji
180: To 6-figures in year 1 Stephen Wright of Micro Bikes UK GSC, Google Ads, Remarketing, Dropship
215: Bryan Lewis of FINCH on getting to $300k subscription sales in 6 months, then starting again
235: Tracey Wallace (ex BigCommerce editor) tells all about launching her new startup Doris Sleep
244: How to grow a new store fast with Google Ads and SEO with Joe & Mike Brusca
253: Ethical eCommerce and how to get to 10,000 customers in 18 months with Lucy Bloomfield
254: Taking a jewellery site from 0 to $3m in 3 years, and then exiting with Ashish Malhotra
255: Plotting a 3 month Growth Strategy with Simon Driscoll from UXB Skincare
259: Colin McIntosh explains how he took Sheets & Giggles to $1m in 12 months
265: Find out how Brie Read has grown Snag to £2m per month in just 2 years
273: Simon Driscoll from UXB Skincare is Back to update us on his Growth in Q1 and plans for Q2
283: From zero to $1.5m in 2 years via DTC and FBA with Kevin Urrutia from Chester Travels
287: Getting the foundations right for exponential growth with Bouq’s John Tabis
288: ID your seasonality, getting ready for Q4, Facebook Ads and Klaviyo with Simon from UXB Skincare
290: Making the most of a 400% sales boom with Chris Meade from Crossnet
301: DTC brand 0 to 7 figures in 3 years via content and email with Shivraj Bassi from Innermost
305: Influencer marketing, Pinterest Ads, and Lead Gen Quizzes with Simon Driscoll from UXB Skincare
314: Meet our 2021 Startup founder: Luke Carthy of Afro Drops. What’s the plan for the first 6months?
320: How to quit your job and in 12 months grow your eCommerce store by 300% with Daniel McClen
323: How to survive the first 12 months of a beauty startup with Jessica Bellinger of Bess & Color
330: Startup Story 2: Afro Drops the Rollercoaster continues! With Luke Carthy
339: Growing a start up to 2,000 orders a month in 1 year with Tom Mucklow from Aurora Mornings
349: Growing to £180,000 sales in year 1 with Martin Thornalley from Red Rock Games
374: Tiny Business, Big Money: Strategies for Creating a High-revenue Microbusiness with Elaine Pofeldt
379 10 Simple Ways to Make Your eCommerce Brand More Sustainable
380: Building Europe’s most Sustainable Product Marketplace with Veo’s Joe Darwen