Thinking of Starting an E-commerce Business: Here’s What You Need to Know

Julie Starr • May 23, 2022



Starting an eCommerce business can be a great way to make money and be your boss. However, there are a few things you need to know before you get started. This blog post will discuss the basics of starting an eCommerce business, including tips on choosing a product, setting up your store, and marketing your business. We will also discuss the challenges of running an eCommerce business and offer advice on how to overcome them. So if you’re thinking of starting an eCommerce business, read on!

1) Choosing a product or service to sell:

When starting an eCommerce business, one of the first things you need to do is choose a product or service to sell; this can be a tricky task, as there are millions of products and services out there. However, you can keep a few things in mind when making your decision. First, consider what you’re passionate about – this will help you narrow down your options and make it more likely to stick with your business in the long run.

Second, think about what people are willing to pay for – just because you love a particular product doesn’t mean anyone else will be willing to buy it! And finally, don’t be afraid to get creative – many successful businesses are selling unique and innovative products.

2) Setting up your store:

Once you’ve decided on a product or service to sell, it’s time to set up your store. If you’re selling physical products, you’ll need to find a way to ship them to your customers. And if you’re selling digital products, you’ll need a payment processor such as PayPal or Stripe. You’ll also need to create attractive and user-friendly product listings and write compelling copy to convince people to buy from you.

If all of this sounds like too much work, don’t worry – there are plenty of eCommerce platforms that can help you get started, such as Shopify, BigCommerce , and WooCommerce. These platforms will take care of the technical aspects of setting up your store, so you can focus on running your business.

3) Start driving traffic

Once your store is up and running, it’s time to start driving traffic to it. The best way to do this is through search engine optimization (SEO). This involves optimizing your website, and product listings for the keywords people search for. For example, if you’re selling women’s clothing, you’ll want to use keywords such as “women’s fashion,” “ladies clothes,” and “women’s apparel.”

In addition to SEO, you can also drive traffic to your store through social media, email marketing, and paid advertising. The important thing is to get creative and experiment with different marketing tactics to find what works best for your business.

4) Overcoming challenges

Running an eCommerce business is not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges you’ll face is competition. With many other companies selling similar products, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. However, one way to overcome this challenge is by offering superior customer service. Another way is to focus on a niche market – this will make it easier to attract customers looking for what you’re selling.

Another common challenge faced by eCommerce businesses is managing inventory and shipping logistics. This can be a time-consuming and challenging task, but there are ways to simplify it. For example, you can use drop shipping services such as Amazon FBA or Shopify Shipping. These services will take care of shipping and delivery for you to focus on other aspects of your business.

5) Hiring the right team

As your eCommerce business grows, you’ll need to start hiring employees to help you with the day-to-day running of your store. This can be a daunting task, as it’s crucial to find people who are both skilled and trustworthy and who understand a fleet manager’s job responsibilities when hired. However, there are a few things you can do to make it easier.

First, take your time when hiring – don’t just hire the first person who applies! Second, use social media and online job boards to reach out to potential candidates. And finally, consider using an employment agency that specializes in eCommerce businesses. These agencies will have a good understanding of the skills and experience you’re looking for, and they’ll be able to find candidates that match your needs.

6) Growing your business

Once you’ve overcome the challenges of setting up and running your eCommerce business, it’s time to start thinking about growth. One way to do this is by expanding your product range . This will give customers more reasons to visit your store, making it easier to attract new customers.

Another way to grow your business is by opening up new distribution channels. For example, if you’re selling physical products, you could start selling on Amazon or eBay. Or, if you’re selling digital products, you could begin selling through an app on the app store such as the App Store or Google Play. By expanding your reach, you’ll be able to attract more customers and increase sales.

7) Making it sustainable

The final step is to make your eCommerce business sustainable. This means finding ways to generate consistent revenue and profit over the long term. One way to do this is by diversifying your income streams. For example, you could start selling products on a subscription basis or start offering services in addition to your physical products.

Another way to make your business sustainable is by focusing on customer retention. This involves keeping customers happy and satisfied, so they continue to buy from you in the future. There are several ways to do this, such as offering loyalty programs, providing excellent customer service, and regularly sending out marketing emails.

Starting an Ecommerce business is a great way to build a successful and sustainable company. First, however, it’s essential to be aware of the challenges you’ll face and plan for them. By following the tips in this article, you’ll be well on your way to setting up a successful Ecommerce business.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.