How to Launch a Successful $10K/month E-commerce Store with No Experience

How to build a successful e-commerce store withno technical backgroundPresented by Cody McKibben (Thrilling Heroics) and Jun Loayza (RewardMe) Cody Jun

Background• UCLA 2007: B.A. in Economics and Philosophy• Left the corporate world after 3 months• Failed 2 companies from 2008 - 2009• Successfully sold 2 companies from 2010 - 2011• Closed deals with Whole Foods Market, Sephora, Levi’s, and Activision• Raised over $1,000,000 in Angel funding• Current full-time startup: RewardMe• Current lifestyle business: Minted Republic http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Minted Republic Overview• Launched in February 2012• Currently generates over $10,000 in revenue• 5 hours of work or less per week• 2 partners http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

How to get started The 1st steps to take

Why did we choose an online boutique forwomen’s apparel?

Establish partners that compliment each other1. Joseph (Equity): Advertising and Operations2. Rees (Equity): Development3. Jun (Equity): Accounting, legal, overall management4. Christine (Commission): Stylist5. Kevin (Paid): Photographer http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Find the manufacturer and negotiate• Joseph (partner in Los Angeles) ➡ Met with 10 companies in the garment district ➡ Set up meetings for me to negotiate and close a deal• Terms negotiated ➡ We hold no inventory (drop-ship model) ➡ We get access to their entire collection (sold to LA boutiques) ➡ We pay wholesale prices ➡ Manufacturer ships product to customers ➡ Manufacturer receives 10% of the proﬁts http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Build and design the e-commerce store• Platform: Shopify Professional ➡ $60/month• Theme: Shopify premium theme ➡ $200• Customized the premium theme ➡ Joseph: designed based on premium theme structure ➡ Rees: coded the design http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Model + Photography Catalog and Lookbook shoot

Core principle: Copy what works

We modeled our site after Nasty Gal

Model: Lauren• Found on Model Mayhem• Cost: $400/day• Utilized Kevin’s account to reach out to her

Photography• Team • Stylist ➡ Kevin and Felix: lead ➡ Christine: founder of the photographers manufacturing partner company ➡ Christine: Hair and makeup ➡ 10% of proﬁts (from terms)• Cost • Clothing + Accessories ➡ $3,500 per day ➡ Manufacturing partner gives us samples for the shoot ➡ $5 per ﬁnal image ➡ Christine brings accessories• Location from her closet ➡ Studio: Kevin’s house ➡ Buy and return from stores http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Drive Trafﬁc: advertising and SEO

Advertising: what did NOT work• Google Adwords• Facebook Ads http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Advertising: what DID work• Banner ads on fashion blogs• Sponsored reviews with fashion bloggers• Giveaways with fashion bloggers Giveaway spike http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Advertising: cost breakdown Type Cost Payment Type Banner ads $50 - $200 per month Sponsored review Free - $200 per review Giveaway Free - $100 per giveaway http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Prime placementNegotiated with fashion bloggersto get prime placement on site

Search engine optimization• Anchor text on all sponsored reviews and giveaways• Get links from popular fashion sites: ➡ Lookbook.nu ➡ Chictopia• Alt tags for all product images http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Improve conversions + How to make the sell email marketing

How we improved conversions• Free shipping and 365-day return policy• Grapevine reviews• Featured items on the home page that were mentioned by fashion bloggers• Gave fashion bloggers a widget to embed our product on their blog http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

How we use emails• Platform of choice: Mailchimp• How we collect emails: ➡ Fashion blogger giveaways ➡ On-site: customer can opt-into our newsletter• What we send via email: ➡ Style inspirations ➡ Announcement of new collection ➡ Promotions http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

What’s next for Minted Republic

Upcoming projects• Hire social media manager• Launch Minted Republic blog• Create a network of fashion bloggers• Expand manufacturing partners http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

Jun LoayzaPresident of Minted Republic Jun@MintedRepublic.com

http://www.thrillingheroics.com	8623
http://feeds.feedburner.com	203
http://digitalnomadacademy.com	139
http://allandall.co.za	73
http://www.netvibes.com	4
http://translate.googleusercontent.com	4
http://theoldreader.com	3
http://www.allandall.co.za	2
http://feeds2.feedburner.com	2
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com	2
http://xss.yandex.net	1
http://flavors.me	1
http://www.google.fr	1
https://www.peterfun.info	1
http://www.newsblur.com	1

How to Launch a Successful $10K/month E-commerce Store with No Experience

by Cody McKibben on Jul 13, 2012

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

15 Embeds 9,060

Statistics

How to Launch a Successful $10K/month E-commerce Store with No Experience Presentation Transcript