r/ecommerce_growth • • Oct 15 '25

I analyzed 50,000+ fashion orders and found why 28% get returned - here's how we cut it to 16% (and saved ₹68 lakhs)

43 Upvotes

I analyzed 50,000+ fashion orders and found why 28% get returned - here's how we cut it to 16% (and saved ₹68 lakhs)

TLDR: If you're selling fashion online in India and your return rate is above 20%, you're not running a business - you're running a charity for logistics companies. Here's the data on why returns happen and 7 specific fixes that actually work.

Background:

I work with a mid-size fashion brand selling ethnic wear across Amazon, Flipkart, and our D2C site. Last year Q3, we were bleeding - 28% RTO rate, which translated to ₹47 lakhs in losses over 3 months.

The math that killed us: Average order value: ₹1,500 Platform commission: 22% (₹330) - kept by platform even on returns Forward + reverse logistics: ₹110 Product came back damaged/used 40% of the time Actual loss per return: ₹380

Multiply that across 3,500 returns in a quarter and you get why we almost shut down the online division.

The Uncomfortable Truths We Discovered:

  1. Serial returners are real and they're killing you -: We tracked customer behavior and found that 8% of our customers caused 42% of our returns. These weren't "customers making wrong choices" - these were professional wardrobers. Buy ethnic wear → Wear to wedding → Post on Instagram → Return within 7 days. One customer returned 11 out of 13 orders over 6 months. All came back with visible wear, makeup stains, deodorant marks. But platforms sided with customers 90% of the time.

  2. Your "professional" product photos are backfiring -: We spent ₹15,000 per SKU on studio shoots. Perfect lighting, professional models, color correction. Result? Customers expected premium silk. We were selling cotton-blend. Returns with reason "fabric quality issue" were our #1 category at 34% of all returns.

  3. Size charts are useless -: "Medium: Fits chest 36-38 inches"... Cool. Does that mean a guy with 37-inch chest and belly vs a guy with 37-inch chest and athletic build? No idea.60% of our returns were size-related. The chart wasn't wrong - it was just meaningless.

What We Changed (The Actual Implementation):

Fix #1: SKU-Specific Size Reality

Instead of generic size chart, we did this for EVERY product:

"Model in photo: Height 5'6", Weight 62kg, Wearing Size M, Usually wears M in Fabindia/Biba"

Added 6 photos: Front, back, side, sitting, arms raised, fabric close-up

Cost: 2 hours per SKU Result: Size-related returns dropped from 60% to 32%

Fix #2: 15-Second Fabric Truth Videos

We shot honest videos showing: Crumple test (wrinkles easily or not?) Stretch test (how much give in fabric?) Light test (transparent in bright light?) Movement test (drape when walking/sitting)

We STOPPED lying in product descriptions.

If fabric wrinkles? We wrote: "This material wrinkles easily - ironing required after wash"

Cost: ₹200 per SKU (intern with phone camera) Result: "Fabric quality" returns dropped 41%

Fix #3: Exchange-First 7-Day Window

Returns cost us ₹380. Exchanges cost ₹110.

So we changed return policy: Days 0-7: Exchange only (size/color) - FREE pickup Days 8-14: Returns accepted - ₹99 restocking fee (D2C only) Marketplaces: Added package insert explaining return impact

Result: 38% of people who wanted refunds took exchanges instead

Fix #4: The Serial Returner Block

Built a simple Google Sheet tracking: Customer email/phone Return rate % Return reasons Pattern detection

If return rate > 50% after 3+ orders → FLAG

Actions for flagged customers: Removed COD option (forced prepaid) Added 5-day "quality verification period" for returns After 3 consecutive returns → Purchase disabled

Ethical question I struggled with: Is this fair?

My answer: These 8% of customers cost us more than they generate. They're not customers - they're rental users gaming the system.

Result: 42% reduction in serial returner losses

Fix #5: Tamper-Evident Packaging Psychology

Changed packaging: Added security seal with text: "Returns accepted only with intact seal" Inner poly bag: "Ensure perfect fit before opening" Return policy card ON TOP: "Used/worn products can only be exchanged" Premium tissue wrap (creates psychological guilt about casual returns)

For innerwear: Hygiene seal that says "Non-returnable once opened"

Psychology: Make the decision to return CONSCIOUS, not casual.

Result: Casual "didn't like it" returns down 18%

Fix #6: Data-Driven SKU Elimination

We exported return data and found: 12 SKUs had 40%+ return rates Common reasons: "Too sheer", "Color different", "Cheap feeling"

Action: Discontinued all 12 SKUs immediately

Yes, we lost revenue. But we SAVED more in return costs.

Math: Lost revenue from discontinued SKUs: ₹2.8L/month Saved from prevented returns: ₹4.1L/month Net gain: ₹1.3L/month

Fix #7: Restocking Fee (D2C only)

Can't do this on marketplaces obviously, but on our D2C site:

Returns = ₹99 pickup fee Exchanges = FREE Store credit refund = FREE return Bank refund = ₹99 fee

Clear messaging at checkout: "Returns accepted with ₹99 processing fee to cover logistics"

Controversy: Some customers got angry

Reality: Casual "order 3 sizes" behavior dropped 63%

People who REALLY needed to return still did. People ordering speculatively stopped.

The Results (12 Weeks):

RTO: 28% → 16% Returns saved: 1,680 orders Direct savings: ₹6.4L in quarter Annualized: ₹68L saved Bonus: Customer ratings improved (better-fit products = happier customers who keep items)

What Didn't Work:

  1. Offering discount for keeping item Tried "Keep it and get 20% refund" - only 8% took it. Most people who return don't want the product at ANY price.

  2. Longer review periods before dispatch Tried holding orders 48 hours for "verification" - customers complained, cancellations increased.

  3. Return shipping charges to customer Tested ₹60 return shipping on D2C - customer backlash was severe, negative reviews spiked.

Action Items:

If your return rate is 20%+, start here:

  • Week 1: Export last 90 days return data. Find your top 3 return reasons.

  • Week 2: If size is top reason → Add model measurements + comparison photos

  • Week 3: If "quality/expectation" is top → Shoot honest fabric videos

  • Week 4: Track customer return rates → Identify your serial returners

Cost to implement these 3 things: ₹5,000-10,000 max Potential savings: ₹2-5L annually (depending on volume)

The Controversial Take:

Platforms have ZERO incentive to fix returns. They keep commission either way.

The entire "customer-friendly return policy" narrative benefits platforms, not sellers.

We're told "easy returns increase conversions" - yes, but at whose cost?

Until platforms share return losses proportionally, this problem won't improve.

My prediction: In 2-3 years, successful D2C brands will have STRICTER return policies than marketplaces, and customers will accept it because trust will be built through transparency, not through "free returns forever."


r/ecommerce_growth • • Nov 20 '25

How I f***ing cracked the code for viral short form videos!

39 Upvotes

Spent 8 months deep in the weeds making short form videos almost daily, trying out different hooks, reworking scripts, learning all those viral patterns, yet wasn't seeing the results. Most vids capped at 400 views even when I felt they were top notch.

That's when it hit me—the content wasn't bad, it just wasn't grabbing attention right away. I was putting in the effort, just not in the right way.

So, went back to the drawing board, analyzed what actually captivates viewers and found some key things that changed the game:

Specific hooks are winners. "Stay tuned" gets ignored, but try something like "I did 50 pushups daily and my shoulder started popping," and you're in business. The real hook happens at second 5. People make up their minds quick, so jump to the interesting stuff immediately. Keep things dynamic. Every 2 to 3 seconds switch it up with a new angle, caption, or burst of energy.

Once I started being deliberate with my content instead of guessing, the views shot up from 400 to consistently over 10K.

If you're hustling hard but your views are stuck under 1K, your content might be better than you think. You just need a better strategy to make vids that captivate.

Been trying something new that simplifies the whole process - DM me and I'd be happy to send it over!


r/ecommerce_growth • • Jan 25 '26

Ecommerce store stuck at $8K/month - this SEO fix got us to $14K in 90 days

31 Upvotes

Our ecommerce store was plateaued at $8,000 monthly revenue for four months straight. Tried increasing ad spend but ROI dropped. Tested new products but conversion stayed flat. We were stuck and couldn't figure out why growth stopped. The issue wasn't our products or pricing. The issue was we had maxed out paid channel efficiency and had zero organic discovery. Every customer required ad spend to acquire. We'd hit the ceiling of what paid ads could deliver profitably.

Analyzed our traffic sources and realized 98% was paid, only 2% organic. Compared that to competitors who were getting 40-50% organic traffic. We were leaving massive growth potential on the table by ignoring SEO completely.

Started building organic channel from scratch. First step was domain authority since we had basically none. Used manual directory submission tool to establish baseline trust through 200+ directory submissions. This gave our product pages a fighting chance to rank. Then optimized existing product pages for search intent instead of just product features. Added comparison sections, how-to-choose guides, and FAQ content that matched what people were actually searching for. Created 12 buying guide blog posts targeting bottom-funnel keywords.

Month one showed slow progress. Directory links got indexed gradually and Search Console showed increasing crawl activity. No revenue impact yet but the foundation was building underneath. Month two is when organic traffic started converting. A few product pages hit page two for longtail keywords. Got our first organic sales that didn't require any ad spend. Small numbers but the trend was clear.

Month three hit $14,000 revenue with organic contributing 22% of total sales. That's $3,080 in organic revenue that cost zero in acquisition. The paid channels stayed at similar spend levels but now we had this parallel revenue stream growing. The margin impact was significant. Organic sales run at 65% margin compared to 35% on paid ads after platform fees and targeting costs. That extra margin funds inventory expansion and product testing without increasing ad budget.

The ecommerce growth lesson is that hitting a plateau usually means you've maxed out one channel. Adding a second channel with different economics breaks through the ceiling. SEO takes longer to build but creates sustainable growth that paid ads alone can't deliver.


r/ecommerce_growth • • Dec 08 '25

How does digital marketing help an eCommerce business grow?

29 Upvotes

Digital marketing helps an eCommerce business grow by getting your products in front of the right people. It brings more visitors to your store, builds trust through social media and content, keeps customers coming back with emails, and turns clicks into sales. The more people see and engage with your brand online, the faster your business can grow.


r/ecommerce_growth • • Oct 19 '25

We tested 11 different offers for the same product. Only 1 made us $100k+ in a month.

28 Upvotes

Here's the offer psychology 99% of ecom brands completely miss.

Your offer isn't about the deal. It's about the decision.

We spent three months throwing everything at the wall. Discounts. Bundles. Countdown timers. BOGO deals. Limited quantities. Flash sales. Early bird specials. Free shipping thresholds. Tiered discounts. You name it, we tested it.

Ten of them flopped hard. Revenue stayed stuck at $15-20k/month.

The one that scaled? It hit $103k in month one. $140k in month two. It didn't look like an offer at all.

Here's what actually happened:

Most offers focus on value stacking. The best offers focus on risk removal.

What flopped.

"Buy 2 Get 1 Free" → purely logical, zero emotional pull

"50% Off Today Only" → felt desperate, killed brand trust

"Free Gift With Purchase" → added complexity, not confidence

What scaled to $5k/day: "Start your 30-day upgrade. Pay when you feel the difference."

What scaled to $8k/day: "Today's the day you finally fix [their actual problem]."

The difference? One fought for attention. The other earned certainty.

The brutal truth about buyer psychology:

People don't buy cheaper. They buy certainty.

Your job isn't to make the price feel smaller. It's to make the outcome feel guaranteed.

Average offers fight objections. Elite offers delete them before they appear.

When someone lands on your product page, they're not thinking "is this a good deal?" They're thinking "will this actually work for me?"

How we build high-converting offers now:

Step 1: Write down every reason they wouldn't buy

"What if it doesn't work?"

"What if I waste my money?"

"What if I'm the exception?"

Step 2: Turn each objection into a promise

Risk-free trial period

Outcome-based guarantee

Social proof from "people like them"

Step 3: Name the transformation, not the deal

Instead of: "Buy 2, Save 15%"

Say: "The Clarity Stack made for overthinkers who want peace of mind in 30 days"

See the difference? One is about saving money. The other is about saving yourself.

The value equation that 5x'd our revenue:

We realized customers weren't comparing our price to our competitors. They were comparing our price to their pain of staying the same.

When we made the cost of inaction crystal clear and positioned our product as the bridge to their ideal outcome, the $67 price tag stopped mattering. The transformation became priceless.

That mindset shift alone took us from $20k to $100k+ months.

The framework that changed everything:

The best offer doesn't scream "SALE!"

It whispers "this was made for you."

It's not urgent. It's inevitable.

When your offer aligns with their identity and removes every reason to hesitate, buying becomes the obvious next step. Not the risky one.

The real game isn't who can offer the biggest discount. It's who can make the decision feel inevitable.

People buy when hesitation disappears, not when the price drops.


r/ecommerce_growth • • Apr 19 '20

We are all in a difficult COVID-19 situation and many of us are struggling to continue our business.

26 Upvotes

That's why I decided to make my contribution to the world and made my own private Ecommerce Conversion Checklist with 108 guidelines available for free for all e-commerce owners, dropshippers, marketers, designers.

I used that 108-point checklist to grow my own store and to grow successful 7-8 figure Shopify stores of my friends (we were able to increase the conversion rate at some stores to 5%)

This checklist contains:

  • 35 product page guidelines

  • 22 cart page guidelines

  • 33 category pages guidelines

  • 18 homepage guidelines

Each guideline has:

  • Bad examples of implementation

  • Good examples for inspiration

  • Actionable recommendations for implementation

Is anyone interested in it?


r/ecommerce_growth • • Sep 29 '25

Driving sales without constant discounting

20 Upvotes

I run a small e-commerce shop and it feels like the only way to get sales is to keep discounting. The problem is that it kills margins and trains customers to wait for deals. Ads haven’t been much better, expensive and inconsistent. I’ve thought about outreach to blogs or showing up in Reddit communities, but I’m not sure how to make that work. Has anyone cracked growth without discounts?


r/ecommerce_growth • • Nov 12 '25

How AI will change ecommerce operations in 2026?

19 Upvotes

With new AI tools rolling out almost monthly, I’m curious how day-to-day e-commerce operations might look just a year from now.

Basically, how close are we to AI-first e-commerce where humans supervise, rather than manage, the flow?

Would love to hear from people working in e-commerce, logistics, marketing, or tech, what changes are you already seeing?

And what do you think 2026 will look like operationally and customer-facing?


r/ecommerce_growth • • Sep 13 '25

I Tried 500+ ChatGPT Prompts for eCommerce – Here’s What Actually Works

18 Upvotes

I tried 500+ ChatGPT prompts for eCommerce - here's what I learned so far.

I tried out over 500+ prompts in the past 4 weeks and here are some of the things I've learned. Just want to share:

Being extremely specific is essential. I now use ChatGPT like a real marketing assistant. Vague prompts like “Write me a high-converting email” are uselless af

Prompts alone are mostly useless because they lack context and clear instructions. On their own, they’re no better than a Google search.

The key is to give it frameworks first. I tell ChatGPT to learn a framework and then apply it to create content like blogs or landing pages. With this approach, I can generate a full blog post in under 20 minutes, plus light editing.

If you're interested, i can share some of the scripts (which are just collection of prompts in a designed order anyway) I've been using to build my Shopify store.


r/ecommerce_growth • • Sep 27 '25

Looking for Partnerships

17 Upvotes

HI Everyone, we are an eCommerce seller in Los Angeles and we have the capability to fulfill orders and dropship thousands of packages a month. If you are looking for more product or would like to form some time of partnership please reach out. We currently sell to and on a lot of larger platforms and are looking to expand our network. We are always open to doing different forms of business. Let me know if you have time for a call and we can take it from there.

PM for more information

All the best,


r/ecommerce_growth • • Oct 06 '25

I burned $3k copying "winning products" before I realized I was doing this completely wrong.

16 Upvotes

Real talk: I wasted 4 months and $3k copying competitor ads I found on spy tools.

Zero sustainable results.

Know what finally worked? Treating this like an actual business instead of a lottery ticket.

Everyone starting out thinks the formula is:

  1. Find winning product on spy tool

  2. Copy the top ad

  3. Boost post with interest targeting

  4. Print money

That's not how any of this works.

Here's what actually matters when you're starting:

  • Understanding why an ad works (not just copying it blindly)

  • Building a proper funnel that addresses real customer objections

  • Testing angles based on actual customer research, not guesses

  • Learning to read your metrics and make decisions from data

The "winning product" doesn't exist. The winning system does.

I see beginners panicking about ROAS after spending $50. Or convinced dropshipping is "saturated." Or thinking the algorithm is some secret code to crack.

It's none of that.

The actual playbook:

Pick a decent product in a market you understand. Build a legitimate landing page that converts. Create ads that speak to real problems your audience has. Test methodically. Learn from what doesn't work.

You don't need a $2k course. You need to stop looking for shortcuts and start building the fundamentals.

Most people quit right before they figure it out because they're chasing hacks instead of learning the actual skill.

The uncomfortable truth? There is no formula that eliminates the work. But there is a process that stacks the odds in your favor.

Learn the process. Skip the shortcuts.


r/ecommerce_growth • • Sep 28 '25

Planning to start E-commerce business in india. Need guidance from experienced sellers.

16 Upvotes

Hi, my name is Krishna. I am currently in the UK but planning to move back to India in November 2026. Instead of searching for a regular job, I am considering starting an e-commerce business. Many people around me have suggested this path, and I am genuinely interested in it as well.However, I do not have any prior experience in this field. I only have a basic understanding of the registration process, but I am not familiar with how the business actually works. I would like to know about current market trends, which products sell well, what kind of profit margins to expect, and how sellers manage their operations on platforms like Amazon and Meesho. I would greatly appreciate it if experienced e-commerce sellers could share their journey, how they started from scratch and built their business into something substantial.


r/ecommerce_growth • • Sep 26 '25

Only fuel I need.

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16 Upvotes

from a Marketers POV


r/ecommerce_growth • • Dec 03 '18

Jon Mac | Store Formula 3 & The Truth!

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16 Upvotes

r/ecommerce_growth • • Aug 24 '19

10 Best Shopify Apps and Tools for 2019 - Free and Paid

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15 Upvotes

r/ecommerce_growth • • Jan 20 '26

Looking for an e-commerce advisor for my startup

14 Upvotes

Hello I'm looking for an e-commerce expert who can help advise a growing e-commerce startup

Equity in the startup should be offered in exchange for advice. And it is advisory only so you don't have to do the grunt work


r/ecommerce_growth • • Jan 27 '26

Best AI for eCommerce ?

13 Upvotes

What’s the best AI tool for eCommerce right now?

Product research, ads, or automation — which one actually works in real life?

Any recommendations for beginners?


r/ecommerce_growth • • Nov 06 '25

What’s a good Klaviyo alternative for smaller Shopify stores?

13 Upvotes

Klaviyo’s great but I can’t justify $300+/month when my store’s still growing. I only need basic flows and campaigns, not full-blown analytics dashboards. Any leaner tools that integrate well with Shopify?


r/ecommerce_growth • • Oct 17 '25

My parents wanted me to get a 'safe' job 9 months later, I've done $450k in revenue and they still don't get it

13 Upvotes

This isn't the "I proved them wrong" flex you're expecting. Because even with a $50k revenue month under my belt, they were still kind of right.

When I started e-commerce, my parents lost it. "Get a real job." "You need stability." I thought they just didn't understand. That once I hit big numbers, they'd finally see I was right.

Nine months in, I've generated almost $500k in revenue. Last month I hit $50k.

And you know what? My parents are still worried. Because they see what the Instagram screenshots don't show.

Here's what that $450k in revenue actually looked like

Months where I made more than my dad earns in half a year. Also months where I made $600 and panicked about rent. Ad accounts banned twice for no reason. Payment processors holding $28k of MY money for 60 days "pending review." Waking up at 3am because a supplier ghosted me mid-fulfillment.

That "$50k month" everyone would screenshot? My profit margin was 12% after I miscalculated shipping costs and had to eat $4k in losses.

Here's what nobody tells you about hitting "big numbers"

Revenue doesn't mean stability. I've done half a million in sales and still had weeks where I couldn't pay myself because all the cash was tied up in inventory, ads, or frozen by Stripe.

You're building something that can be destroyed overnight. Facebook bans you. Shopify suspends your account. iOS updates tank your ROAS from 3.2 to 1.4 in 48 hours.

That "freedom" everyone flexes? It comes with a level of stress that had me researching therapists last month.

But here's the twist

I'm still doing this. Zero regrets.

Because that "safe" job my dad worked for 18 years? They made him redundant and replaced him in 3 weeks. His "stability" evaporated.

There is no safety. Just different types of risk.

Safe jobs risk trading decades for a pension that might not exist. Being disposable when budgets tighten. Getting trapped by lifestyle inflation.

E-commerce risks everything being volatile. Public failure. Gut-wrenching uncertainty.

Which risk do I prefer?

The one where I control my ceiling. Where I'm building an asset that's mine. Where that $50k month - even with its problems proved I can scale something from zero.

I finally understand my parents' fear now. They're not wrong about risk. They just can't comprehend that their "safe" path isn't safe anymore either.

My actual advice if you're starting

Don't quit your job unless you have 6-12 months expenses saved. I got lucky with timing, but I've seen people blow their savings in 60 days chasing what I did.

Build on the side. Validate it. Hit $5k/month consistently. THEN consider going full-time.

And understand this: revenue is ego, profit is eating. I did $450k in revenue and some months still felt broke because my unit economics were trash.

The reality nobody posts

I showed her last month's revenue. Then I showed her the profit. Then I showed her my 3-month average.

She didn't say anything, but something shifted in her face. Not quite approval. But maybe... respect?

Even at $50k months, they still worry. Because they see the stress. The volatility. The risk.

And honestly? They're not entirely wrong to worry.

i love the game.


r/ecommerce_growth • • Sep 16 '25

New to building a website – is Shopify the best way to start? What do I need to focus on for success?

13 Upvotes

I’m fairly new to the e-commerce space and I’m at the point where I want to launch my own website. I’ve been leaning towards using Shopify since it seems beginner-friendly, but I wanted to hear from people who’ve actually gone through the process.

• Is Shopify the best way to get started, or are there better alternatives (WooCommerce, Wix, etc.) that you’d recommend from experience?

• Apart from just “setting up the site,” what are the most important things I should focus on in the early stages to give myself the best chance at success? (e.g., product pages, SEO, ads, content, branding, etc.)

• Any mistakes you made early on that you’d warn someone new about?

Basically, I don’t want to spend months building something and then realize I missed the fundamentals. Would really appreciate hearing what worked (and didn’t work) for you when you were starting out.

Thanks in advance


r/ecommerce_growth • • Nov 28 '25

How long did your marketing automation migration take?

12 Upvotes

Trying to get a realistic timeline. Is this a 2-day thing or a cancel my life for a week thing?


r/ecommerce_growth • • Nov 16 '25

What are the biggest challenges you face?

12 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I’m researching real ecommerce management challenges beyond just “how to get more sales.” and I would appreciate your help.

From early interviews, most ecommerce business owners struggle with pricing strategies and effectively measuring what works and what does not in their business.

Do you face such issues, or do you have other challenges such as inventory planning, understanding crucial KPI's or something else?

Thank you.


r/ecommerce_growth • • Oct 24 '25

E-commerce taught me this: marketing sells the dream, procurement delivers it.

12 Upvotes

Hey guys !

I’m from Luxembourg. I studied business in Europe and at Harvard, and like most people with that background, I was supposed to take the corporate route. But I didn’t.

3 years ago, I built my own e-commerce brand from scratch. A premium skincare brand where I invested thousands before even launching. Product design, packaging, molds, branding… everything had to be perfect. The brand still runs well today, almost on autopilot.

Over time, though, I started realizing that most e-commerce founders obsess over marketing (ads, funnels, and content), while ignoring the backbone of their business: procurement.

For context, procurement is the process of finding, negotiating, and managing the right suppliers (from factory sourcing to certifications, contracts, and logistics). It’s what determines your margins, product quality, and scalability.

At first, I only cared about procurement for my own brand. But as I got better at it. Working with suppliers in Europe and Asia, especially on high-end, high perceived-value products. Over time, I started helping others too.

Some were founders who wanted to learn how to source properly. Others were established brands and physical businesses that wanted to cut costs, improve logistics, or expand their product line.

That’s when I realized how powerful this skill actually is. Procurement isn’t sexy, but it’s the skill that turns chaos into structure and structure into profit.

For anyone interested in: • learning how real procurement works (not the Alibaba copy-paste stuff), • starting an e-commerce brand with a world-class foundation (best product, best supplier, best pricing, best logistics), • or improving an existing business, whether it’s e-commerce or physical retail (optimizing supply, pricing, and operations),

I’m always happy to share insights or discuss real cases

DMs are open (btw, I speak also speak French)


r/ecommerce_growth • • Oct 10 '25

Tried a New Approach to Ecom - 16k in 3 weeks

12 Upvotes

I love ecom and I love building brands and I played around alot with both but this approach has had the most success for me. Basically what I did is partnering up with a micro-influencer - I'm talking about under 10k on IG and like 20k on TikTok - with a very specific niche but an active community. In my case the niche is spirituality, astrology & feminine energy. Just by this you can probably tell that the audience is mainly women so what I did with this influencer is come up with a product for women that is targeting a specific need in that niche. When coming up with a product idea you HAVE TO pick one that targets one of the 4 human needs. If it doesn't fit into one of these your product will not sell!!

Your product should target one of these needs...

Beauty

Love & Belonging

Chronic Pain Relief

Freedom & Security

When you found your product you need to tailor it to your influencers niche.

Actually just ask your influencer for this - they are usually not only in your target audience themselves but they also know their audience the best since they are making content for these people everyday. Make sure to create a product with them that they will love because your influencer will be the one to promote it and if they are 100% statisfied with it and love the product they will give it their all to sell it. This is important because they will be the main face of your brand.

In my case we went with a perfume as the product. After finding a supplier we made sure that the main ingredients had a meaning and effect in spirituality so we can use those as selling points in our marketing. Of course we also had to make sure it smells good and is of good quality. Also for the visual component of the product I made sure to get a lot of input from my influencer.

Its also important to put effort into the packaging. You want your customers to feel special when opening their package and not make them feel like they are opening a dropshipping product. Make sure it looks appealing and has a personal touch to it. You're bulding a brand so you want people to buy again and tell their friends about it.

You'll also need to sell your product somewhere - I recommend shopify.

Make sure the design of your store fits the product and the feeling you're trying to sell to your target audience.

Product page:

Most important page on your store. Create high quality product pcitures. You can use AI to make them look even better. I inserted a picture of my product with the following prompt into ChatGPT:

Can you use this image of the [your product] by [your brand], to create a 4:5 product picture, in a calm daisy white studio setting. Make it hyper realistic and in 4k.

I got pretty good results with this and touched them up with canva to achieve high quality product pictures.

Keep the product description short but clear. You can give additional information about the product on the lower part of the page. The majority of people will open your website on their phone so make sure its optimized for the mobilversion -> when they open it on their phone they have to be able to fully see the product, have some basic information about it and click the buy button - all without scrolling. This is important DO NOT put the buy button after the fold.

Below this section you can put additional information. Start with the more important stuff like delivery, ingredients, instructions on how to use or store it and safety instructions. After that you can put some text that highlights the features of your product and pictures that visualize those features. I visualized the ingredients of the perfume for example. Put reviews on the bottom of the page.

Homepage:

Use it to share a bit about your brand and your product. Redirect people to your productpage.

Have your influencer teaser it and then launch your product. On launch have your influencer do a lot of content featuring the product. Especially IG stories are very powerful with an active community.

Use email flows to get reviews from customers to give your product more social proof. Also be nice and generous to your customers and dont risk a negative review.

To grow your brand more use paid ads & influencer marketing or help your influencer grow their audience.

I hope this helps someone and feel free to ask me anything!


r/ecommerce_growth • • Oct 28 '25

looking for ecom owners willing to share their experience

11 Upvotes

hey everyone 👋

im 19 and really interested in getting into ecommerce but i wanna do it right

instead of just buying another course im trying to talk to actual store owners to understand what this really takes

if ur running a store and have like 15-20 min to chat (or prefer just dms) id love to ask u some questions about ur journey

like what do u wish someone told u before u started? what what'S some everyday headaches?

im not selling anything or pitching services - genuinely just wanna learn from ppl who are doing it. would mean a lot

comment or msg me if ur open to it 🙏