In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
Funding 101: What to Know to Maximize Cash Flow for Online Business

You’ve heard the stories: “I got started with just $ 800.” or “Oh, you need at least $ 10,000 to successfully start an e-commerce business.” While the stories may vary, they all share one truth: You need funding to achieve long-term success for your online business. How do you know where to start? 

There are a variety of types of funding, each appropriate for different points along your e-commerce journey. While this list is a comprehensive view of the different types of funding, there are a variety of times and uses for each type. Remember: Nobody knows your business better than you and no two businesses are the same, so make the decisions that work best for your brand, based on the data you have on hand.

All Online Businesses Can Benefit from Funding

As a business grows, it’s only natural that it needs more cash flow. More sales results in the need for more inventory. More inventory means a larger warehouse or increased logistics setup. A larger warehouse means more staff. It’s an endless cycle that means only good things for your business.

However, without funding at the right time, you could actually be harming your business’s growth. The …

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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:
Facebook Ad Library: How to Use It for Your Campaigns

Facebook Ads can be an incredibly powerful tool for your business when you do it well. But doing it well can be a tough challenge. There’s a lot to consider, from targeting the right audience to choosing the right settings to crafting the right creative.

Many entrepreneurs and marketers swear by the Facebook Ad Library—or the Meta Ad Library, as it’s now called. The Meta Ad Library is a free database of ad campaigns that you can tap into for guidance and creative inspiration on your own ads.

Let’s look at what exactly the Meta Ad Library is, when and why it can be useful to a growing business, and how you can get started using it today.

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What is the Meta Ad Library?

The Meta Ad Library is a searchable database that contains information about ads currently running across Meta platforms. These platforms include Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and other services. Ads related to politics, elections, and sensitive issues are also in the database, regardless of their current status. 

Why and when should you use the Meta Ad Library?

The Meta Ad Library has numerous uses. Before launching …

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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:

Do you have an idea that feels like “the next big thing?” Or maybe you’d like to build on an existing idea to tweak or enhance it. When it comes to the product development process, there are plenty of use cases where it can be applied. And for the entrepreneurs and businesses that apply it well, the outcomes can be incredible.

But there’s a big obstacle: for many, the product development cycle can be wildly intimidating and even mysterious. It can be hard to know what applies where and which steps to take at the right time.

In this article, we’ll go over the basics of the process, some examples, and six key steps to product development, including:

Idea generation Product and market research Product and business planning Prototyping Sourcing and manufacturing Product launch

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What is product development?

Product development refers to the overall process of taking a product from concept to market. This includes conceptualizing the item, identifying audience needs, collecting feedback, building the product roadmap, and launching the item. For some companies, product development covers revamping an existing product and introducing an old product in a new market. …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

Starting a business can be one of the most rewarding experiences of someone’s life, and the satisfaction that comes with owning a successful business can be life-changing. It isn’t all easy, but seeing your labor bear fruit can be worth the effort.

Starting a retail business, in particular, is one of the most popular small business concepts and can be highly profitable if done correctly. Fashions and trends change, markets shift, but one thing remains true: people will always want or need to buy products, and a customer-focused retail operation can empower people to find the products that are going to improve their lives regardless of the current trends.

Simply put, a retail business is one that sources, aggregates, and then sells goods or services directly to consumers. The specific goods or services are what make your retail business unique and can include anything from products in a small convenience store to a major department store, high fashion boutique, or an online business. The goal of the business, whatever the product, is to generate profit from selling the products and services offered. Retailers are rewarded with growth, profit, and repeat business if they are able to provide their customers with …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

Before you launch your brand in the United Kingdom, it’s important to know what’s going on in today’s U.K. retail market as it may differ from the markets your brand currently has a presence in. Whether the British market is familiar territory or completely new, here’s a deep dive into understanding the U.K.’s marketplace, retailers, and how your brand can understand a new set of consumers.

Understanding the U.K. retail market

Over half of the £456bn industry is dominated by supermarkets, presenting a lot of opportunity for food and beverage brands looking to expand into the U.K. market. For years, the “big four” retailers have been Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons, but discount supermarkets like Aldi are quickly expanding in the market. Now that Aldi is outperforming Morrisons in terms of the country’s grocery market share, the “big four” are no more.

As we’re seeing in many countries, rising costs due to inflation are changing consumer behavior and the U.K. market is no exception. Inflation of grocery prices is up 14.4%, causing consumers to gravitate even more towards private label or store-owned brands over name brands to cut down their weekly spending costs. It comes as no surprise that the …

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