How to Start An Online Store With Just One Product

One simple item helped kick-start my brand.

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I had no intention of making money with my first business.

Weird, right?

That’s because my first business started life as a blog with about nine readers.

But like all good things that receive a little nurturing, it grew.

And grew. And grew.

One day, I looked at the stats for that little blog and realized it wasn’t quite so little anymore.

“Hang on a tick,” I thought, “do people actually LIKE this?”

Turns out, they did.

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My blog had become a website, and then a brand. And my brand had gained fans. Lots of them.

That was when I decided the loyal fans of my brand needed some merch, and since Trek NI’s all about getting outdoors in the mountains and whatnot, I chose a cozy, organic cotton beanie hat as my first-ever piece of merchandise.

So, I ordered some samples, had them embroidered with my brand logo, and proudly stuck one on my head as soon as it arrived.

Tell you what — when you get your hands on your first ever product, it feels pretty darn good.

But now that I had my merch, how was I going to sell it?

My initial blundering steps saw me post pictures on Facebook and take orders privately through PayPal. It worked, in fairness, but it was a cumbersome process and orders were hard to track.

Back then, I was a big believer in NOT SPENDING MONEY unless I had to. If I could sell a beanie here and there through social media, wouldn’t that do the trick?

Narrator: It would not.

I knew about Shopify, of course. But it cost money, and I was determined not to part with any unless I absolutely had to.

How could I grow a business if I had to spend money, after all?

[insert slow eye roll here]

But finally, after several orders had been missed and I found myself increasingly struggling to keep track of everything, I gave in.

I joined Shopify.

And honestly, it was one of the best business decisions I ever made.

I went from having one product to three (an organic cotton hoodie and printed enamel mug joined the party). Orders ticked gently upwards, customers returned to make more purchases. And all the while, Shopify managed the process with ease.

My online store was alive and kicking.

Fast-forward to today and Trek NI’s “merch” now includes recycled sweaters, eco-friendly t-shirts, and even thermal gloves.

And it all started with one, simple product.

If you have an idea, try it. Test it. Explore your options.

Maybe you want to try your hand at candle-making, or jewellery. Or maybe creating your own eco-centric clothing brand is your jam.

Trust me when I say you just need ONE product to kick everything off, and as long as you stick to a long-term strategy, the rest will take care of itself.

Some quick-fire tips

1. Choose a product that solves a problem experienced by your customers, one that fulfills a specific need in the market. In my case, it was a hat geared towards hikers.

2. Craft a compelling brand story and make sure your product fits neatly into it.

3. Build a user-friendly website that showcases your product and makes it easy for people to purchase it. Use a reliable e-commerce platform.

4. Invest in professional product photography that enhances customer trust and entices them to boop the Pay Now button.

5. Track your brand mentions as closely as you can to gauge audience reaction to your products. I recommend Brand24 for this.

6. Use persuasive language in your product descriptions and gather reviews as soon as possible.

7. This is a big one — provide outstanding customer service to build trust and loyalty. Positive customer experiences lead to repeat business and organic sales.

By focusing on a single, amazing product that solves a problem or addresses a need for your customers, you can establish your brand for the long haul and pave the way for future growth and exponential income generation.

Start today!

PS. This article contains a couple of affiliate links to products I’ve personally used myself.

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