I started an online hair extensions company in 2010 and and I still love every minute of owning and operating my hair company. It is my baby but I had other visions for new brands that I wanted to introduce to the world. I was married and had one child when I started my 1st business. I kept putting off my new ideas for a new brand because I was always getting pregnant...lol. We had our second child in 2012 and when he was 7 months old, I got pregnant with my 3rd child. So, I had a good heart to heart with God and I knew it just wasn't my season in life to introduce a new brand while having 3 small kids all under the age of 5. We moved to Los Angeles with the 3 little ones in tow and as soon as we touched L.A. soil, I found out I was pregnant with our 4th child. I had a 6 year old, 2 year old a 1 year old, and now I'm pregnant living in one of the most expensive cities in the WORLD!!
To say I was scared was an understatement, I felt like I was in the same boat as a 14 year old kid. What am I going to do?? The vision to revisit my idea of a women's intimate line came back to mind and so while 6 months preggers and 3 other children, I decided to go for it and launch my new brand. At this point, there never would be a perfect time to start. Fast forward 2 years later, I'm making up to $80k/month from Amazon alone. I use other channels such as my website and other online platforms but Amazon has by far has been the quickest launching pad to grow my new brand. Below, I give you my formula...
(screenshot: 1 month of my sales from Amazon)
Focus on Building a Brand NOT a Product
While I originally started with just one product idea, I began to write down several products that could complement that product. Amazon really caters to brands and will help you sell your whole collection of products which is ultimately your brand.
Decide on an Audience and Serve Them
I conducted research on the internet to see if there was a nice size audience for the products that I planned to sell. While, I initially started with one product idea, I quickly began to think of other products the same audience can benefit from. I thought of 8-10 great additional products that I can introduce to my audience (aka customers) after they would purchase product.
Source a Manufacturer to Produce Product
I went to Alibaba to find a manufacturer and asked them if they could produce in large quantities my product. I sourced a manufacturer that could make changes to differentiate my product from others. An example would be to have a basic hat but ask your supplier to create a pocket to put your credit card or key inside.
Create a Niche
I knew selling on Amazon I would face hundreds of other listings that could be similar to my product. I decided to carve out a new opportunity for customers among the crowded marketplace. Let's take an example of a simple hat again. My niche could be a "Sports Training Hat" instead of just a basic hat. This hat is designed for people who train and it absorbs sweat a lot better than a regular hat. Now, I stand out among all the sea of people searching for "hats".
Packaging that Sells
People buy based off feeling. What do people feel when they see my product? Can they feel it and how they will look from my packaging. I focused and researched everything from the color to font of packaging to get my audience excited to purchase. Keep in mind that you have to have a good product. Packaging does not take the place of a crappy product.
Rinse and Repeat
Once my first product gained momentum, I rolled out my second product that complemented the first product. Amazon is so good with creating a great customer buying experience that my launch of my second product increased sales of my first. Their platform will show a frequently bought together which makes it easier for one customer to purchase several of my products at once. Example below:
Allow Amazon to Handle Things
Amazon has a beautiful thing called FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon). It is where I ship my products directly to Amazon at Amazon's step discounted rate and they will ship to each individual customer, handle any customer service issues, any returns and exchanges, payment processing, advertising. It truly is a beautiful thing. It allows me to work on my business and not in my business.
Does this work for others?
Yes, I want to use my blog to share my entrepreneurial journey and influence people to take the leap of faith to start or pivot their existing business in areas that have great opportunities. I started coaching a client last March to the present. She was making little to no sales last January. We worked on this strategy I just shared with you on her business and she has experienced a 1,376% increase in her business compared to last year. She gave me permission to use her current sales as an example of her growth. She made over $71,000 within 30 days. This strategy is not rocket science, it is simply implementing the knowledge. Follow my Instagram page @ginalosangeles as I will be doing live stories about how to start and grow your business. If you are interested in an upcoming group coaching/mentor program led by me email Gina@GinaLosAngeles.com for more details.
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About the Writer (Gina) I have an enterprise of online brands. I started my first online business at the tender age of 24 selling high quality hair extensions and years later private label hair extensions. I launched a new brand in 2015 and used Amazon as my launching platform for my brand as well as my business website. Within 6 months, I made six figures where all the sales came from Amazon. I was so astonished from the success and with a deep desire to help people that want to see their ideas manifest into a reality, I established Gina Los Angeles. With Gina Los Angeles I focus on mentoring and coaching people on starting and launching a business brand on Amazon and other online sales channels (business website, Mobile Selling Apps). Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions or interested in working with me directly at gina@ginalosangeles.com. You can follow me on Instagram & Facebook @GinaLosAngeles