If you've ever dreamt about starting a side hustle to quit your job or are looking for ways to support your family with additional income, this article is for you. I'll explain how we generated over $104,000 in profit in just four months with our new Shopify store.

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Introduction

My name is Chris Ekman, and I've been in the e-commerce business for seven years. I've tried every model under the sun and have made over $25 million in sales. This article aims to share the lessons I've learned so you can achieve similar success without the years of trial and error.

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The Reality of Side Hustles

The notion of a side hustle being just a few hours of work per week for a significant passive income is misleading. True success in business comes from providing real value to customers. It's not about how little time you can put in for the most money, but about creating value for your customers.

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Our Journey

We started our Shopify store back in July, and by mid-December, we had crossed the $100,000 profit mark. My wife and I managed this business with only a handful of hours each week, thanks to the efficient business model we chose.

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Why E-commerce?

E-commerce stands out because:

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1. Flexibility: You can work on your business when and where you want.
2. Scalability: You can build an asset that can be sold.
3. Fun and Creative: It allows for creativity and building something tangible.

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Choosing the Right E-commerce Model

After trying various e-commerce models, including dropshipping and importing products, I found print on demand to be the most effective. Print on demand allows for creating unique, proprietary products without the need for holding inventory. This model ensures quick fulfillment and high-quality products, which leads to repeat customers.

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Steps to Our Success

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1. Identifying a Niche:
   • Focus on a specific audience or interest. For example, we targeted yoga enthusiasts.
   • Use the "bumper sticker test": if people display it on their cars, they're likely to buy products related to that interest.
2. Product Selection:
   • Start with a proven product category like t-shirts.
   • Use tools like Amazon, Etsy, and Pinterest to identify popular designs and create similar products.
3. Design Creation:
   • Initially, hire designers from platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.
   • Leverage AI tools like MidJourney or DALL-E to create designs, reducing costs and time.
4. Using Printify for Fulfillment:
   • Printify handles printing, packing, and shipping directly to customers.
   • Focus on creating designs and marketing, while Printify manages fulfillment.

Marketing Strategy

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1. Facebook Ads:
   • Start with a budget of $500-$1,000.
   • Test different designs with low-budget campaigns to identify what resonates with your audience.
2. Iterative Design Process:
   • Continuously create new designs based on what sells.
   • Use data from ad campaigns to refine your product offerings.

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Building a Sustainable Business

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• Focus on Customer Experience: Providing excellent customer service and quality products builds customer loyalty and increases lifetime value.
• Scale Your Efforts: Once you have a validated niche and successful designs, expand your product catalog and marketing efforts.

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Conclusion

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Our Shopify store's success came from choosing the right niche, creating appealing products, and effectively marketing them. By focusing on these elements, we were able to generate $104,000 in profit in just four months. If you're interested in starting your own Shopify store and learning more about e-commerce, join our free school community for detailed guides, support, and more.

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Join us in our school community for more tips and detailed tutorials on starting and growing your Shopify store. Together, we can achieve success in the exciting world of e-commerce.