Today, I want to dive into one of the biggest challenges I faced early on: managing a wide range of different products on a tight budget 💸, all while being the only person running the show 👩💼.
If you’re thinking about starting a product-based business, here’s what I wish I had known from the start:
1. Avoid Big Items 📦: Big products come with big storage issues 🏢. In my case, I quickly realised I needed a warehouse just to keep my inventory, and that created a fixed cost that hung over me from day one. The contract, the responsibility... it’s a huge commitment before you even start selling! If I were starting again, I would focus on small, manageable products that I could store at home 🏠 to keep those overheads low.
2. Steer Clear of Fragile Items 🍽️: Shipping is tricky. Things can break either on their way to you or, worse, when they're being shipped to customers 🏠. And who gets the blame? The company. I learned that firsthand while dealing with fragile items like plates and vases, which required me to spend extra on protective packaging 📦💔. It’s not worth the stress when you’re just starting out. Stick to products that can survive the trip!
3. Simplify Your Product Range: I went a little overboard at first, trying to offer a huge range of products 🌈. That meant I had to learn the different import taxes for each product category, invest in various types of packaging, and deal with all the logistics 🚚. It took me about six months to get a handle on everything. In hindsight, I would have started with just one product category, like table textiles, and scaled from there. One category, fewer headaches 🧘♀️.
4. Marketing is an Uphill Battle 📈: Google and Meta take time to recognise your brand and build trust ⏳. Imagine having to do that while trying to promote a range of completely different products 😩. It’s much easier to market a single category, especially when you’re new to the game. For example, selling cutlery versus textiles requires different marketing strategies and pricing 💰.
In summary: If I could start again… I would focus on just one product category, something light, easy to ship, not fragile, and with consistent sizing, like cotton napkins in a variety of colours. It would streamline every part of the business, from importing to marketing.
Of course, I had no idea about all these challenges when I first launched my brand , but the beauty of entrepreneurship is that every mistake teaches you something new 💡. The upside of managing a complex business is that it becomes more difficult for competitors to break in once you’ve solved the logistical puzzle 🔑. It all depends on how quickly you want to grow, how much you’re willing to invest 💰, and the numbers you’re working with 📊.
Feel free to reach out! 🤝 I keep Fridays at 2pm open for anyone who wants to chat about starting a business. Let’s connect! 💬
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