In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:

In recent years, subscription boxes have taken the ecommerce world by storm. This trend grew even faster since the onset of the pandemic, when more people sought out new ways to keep themselves entertained at home.

Research supports this theory—McKinsey predicts that, by 2025, the subscription box market will reach a staggering $ 473 billion, up from just $ 15 billion in 2019. 

So how can you, as an entrepreneur, capitalize on this trend and build your own subscription box business? That’s just what we’ll discuss. In this article, you’ll learn how to choose the right subscription-based business model, how to get started building your business, and plenty of tips for success.h

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What is a subscription business?

Let’s go over the advantages of adopting a subscription business model:

More cash on hand. Subscription companies typically receive payments upfront. Besides being good for cash flow, the buffer provides much-needed peace of mind.  Predictable revenue. Knowing how much one has coming in every month helps you forecast everything from sales to inventory requirements.  Loyal customers. Subscriptions allow you to personalize the customer experience, which is a catalyst for repeated purchases and …
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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:

As another tumultuous year ends, we eagerly anticipate what’s to come in the following twelve months. Here are the top CPG and retail trends we predict will be top-of-mind for retailers, brands, and consumers in 2023:

1. Direct-to-consumer

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) is a retail model where brands sell directly to new customers, eliminating the need to join forces with big retail brands and brick-and-mortar stores. Consumer expectations and preference to buy from DTC brands are at an all-time high, with 23% of shoppers claiming DTC channels offer better quality products. And 61% of consumers also believe DTC companies provide the best personalized and engaging digital experiences compared to marketplaces and third-party channels.

A DTC brand takes complete ownership over its relationship with a consumer from sales, distribution, and marketing. For brand owners, DTC channels help increase profits by cutting distributor and middle-men costs, creating strong relationships with consumers, and forming a memorable brand personality. DTC brands also have the mobility to create personalized relationships with their shoppers, follow retail trends in a timely manner, and use their consumer data to their advantage.

2. Personalized experiences

Closely connected with the rise of DTC comes the trend of personalized shopping experiences. Personalizing a …

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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:

Whether you're an individual freelancer, a small business owner, or a high-profile coach, you could do with a business card.

Your business card can be a conversation starter, something for people to keep and act on. It can grow your brand awareness, helping people learn more about your company and get in touch.

And contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a pro designer to make custom business cards. Many free business card makers and templates enable you to DIY. 

Below, I’ll walk you through seven of the best tools to make free business cards. As a bonus, I’ll list a few websites offering business card templates you can make your own.

Use these resources to create and/or print off a stunning design, so potential customers and clients remember your business.

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7 best free business card makers

1. Shopify’s free business card maker

Best for professional business cards.

Shopify free business card maker

Shopify’s business card maker is extremely quick and simple to use. Simply provide the information you want to showcase, upload your logo, and click the Create button. Shopify will then email you a download link for your business card mockup.…

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
Retailers Focus On Customer Experience With Store Remodelling

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed as if the demise of physical retail was imminent. With stores forced to close, the popularity of e-commerce accelerated and many retailers wondered if in-store shopping would ever return. So far, such fears are proving unfounded – in the U.S., foot traffic has continued to rise, and retailers are expected to open more than 75 million square feet of new space.

However, this is not simply a return to pre-pandemic normality. Retailers are recognizing that shoppers are now looking for a different experience – and are remodeling their physical space accordingly. Walmart spent $ 3.3bn on store upgrades last year and continues to remodel its spaces. Target is investing larger sums in revamps of existing stores and new openings.

Aligning the physical with the digital

In many cases, the store remodelling programmes now underway at leading retailers worldwide reflect an attempt to bring the physical shopping experience into line with the digital one. Retailers often talk about the importance of an “omnichannel” approach, offering shoppers a means to buy their products in any way they see fit. Still, these channels will not operate independently of one another – consistency and interoperability …

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In: Dropshipping|Last Updated:
How to Sell on Etsy in 7 Easy Steps

Etsy has grown into a powerhouse in its niche: it’s often the go-to place for people looking to buy high-quality, artisan goods. If you’re a crafty type who excels at creating, learning how to sell on Etsy may be a great way for you to make some extra cash or grow a full-fledged business.

The important thing is to approach this business like a true entrepreneur. You’ll need to cover some critical bases before you’re truly set up to succeed on the platform. But no worries, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll cover whether being an Etsy seller is right for you, as well as how to go about building and launching your Etsy shop.

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How to sell on Etsy in 7 steps

1. Determine if Etsy is right for you

Just because you want to sell handmade goods doesn’t necessarily mean you should open an Etsy store. Unfortunately, this is a hard truth that many aspiring Etsy sellers learn too late. So how do you know if it’s right for you?

The main things to consider are the types of items you’d sell and the geographic location …

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In: Retailing Tips|Last Updated:
How CPG Brands are Surviving – and Thriving – Amid Increasing Costs

If there is one thing that all consumer packaged goods suppliers have learned over the past two years, it’s how interconnected our global economy is. Even a supplier that is local to its primary market is at the mercy of events happening on the other side of the planet. 

Nowhere has this been more evident than with the rising costs of doing business, whether it’s due to scarcity of raw materials, supply chain bottlenecks, or increasing fuel and labor costs. At the same time, inflationary pressures are squeezing them from the consumer side, as shoppers are more cognizant than ever of spending. 

I spoke with more than a dozen suppliers from around the world – some of them during a recent ECRM session – to get a sense of the challenges these brands are facing, and how they have adapted their businesses to accommodate them. 

What it basically comes down to is that suppliers are getting hit on all fronts: rising costs of raw materials, shipping and freight (even local freight prices have gone up due to the increased fuel price). Labor is also getting expensive and can be scarce. Added to this are shipping backlogs at the ports, which …

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