I'm Switching Lanes

[JasonR]

I'm moving over from the Slowlane to the Fastlane; I can see the road now and I'm driving it. The feeling is amazing, I've been on Cloud 9 for the last two days.

I've got a product that's selling well, and that people love. My advertising efforts are paying off (I've spent thousands testing), and I've seen my sales more than double in the last couple of days. The awesome news is that I can scale way beyond what I'm doing now. My next goal is to do $1k in sales a day. I got 66% of the way there yesterday.

A couple take-a-ways: there were times I wanted to give up, to say why isn't my product selling. The frustration and struggles were real. I had to push through them. I had a good support network (mastermind group) and that support has helped tremendously. I've spent a lot of money on advertising just to find a winning ad. But the most important part is that I kept pushing, and never gave up. And I have a loonngg way to go.

People are raving about the quality of my products, and my customer service. People are literally shocked when we answer the phone that's listed on my website. They keep saying, wow, no one answers the phone or I get an automated service when I call a website. Not us. We pick up the phone to close the sale or help a customer through an order if they need it. That's already payed off in spades. Guess what, didn't get your order? Having a problem? We'll send you out a new one, and make it right every time.

All of this from one simple product. I'm excited for what the next day brings. My next goal is to hit $1k a day, and will set a new goal after that. Relentless pursuit.

I officially "opened" this business in July, and it has taken until now to see relatively consistent profit. Don't give up.

No matter what happens, I can't go back to the "normal" way of thinking. Waking up to sales, and having a business running 24/7 and working without me is absolutely incredible.

Stay Hungry, Stay Humble. Get better every day.

 

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[JasonR]

First $1,000 day.

 

[JasonR]

Hey Jason. If there's one (or two) things you learned from your success... What would it be?

I wouldn't call it success, yet, but more of positive progress. I have a long way to go, and a helluva lot to learn. Where I take this will depend on my execution and dedication.

I have learned so many things in the last year, that I could write a book about it. This is the best I have to offer:

1) Get you priorities straight. Learn to sacrifice where you need to, and be RELENTLESS about your goals. Some people will not believe in your or tell you your idea or business sucks. Don't listen to them. Learn to test the market first, and if the tests go well, start building your business. Get a customer as quick as you can. Then get more.

2) Have brass balls. Sometimes you have to go with your gut and make quick decisions. I started out with spending $20/day in advertising, and now I'm doing $250 (which is still small compared to some people). I make less than $250 a day at my job, lol. This was something I had to overcome. Instead of looking at how much can I afford to lose, but how how much are you losing if you don't spend the money on advertising. Also, advertise as smart as you can. I started with $20/day, and 3 weeks later I was doing $250. Now I'm looking to do more.

3) Find like-minded people, and engross yourselves within them. Form a mastermind. Listen to people smarter than you. Listen to people who are where you want to be. Set GOALs. Tell your friends about your goals, and tell them you owe them $50 or $100 if you don't meet them. You may be surprised how effective this is.

Never give up; throw out your back up plan. All you need is one home run. Give yourself a time limit, however. "If you can't make a business work in 6 months, and get customers, and start selling, perhaps its time to move on."

Again, I am not in the Fastlane yet by any means, but I am making more than I was at my job, and I see a path to scale my business exponentially. I have a long, hard road ahead of me. But it'll be fun.

 

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[JasonR]

Jason, I'm curious why will drop shipping be dead?

Amazon is the 800 lb gorilla, and is taking over for reselling other people's products. Best Buy and other big box stars are starting to partner with an unknown (to me) company offering additional items online (i.e. a shitload) on their websites that you won't find in there store. They are doing this to compete against Amazon. Ever heard someone call Best Buy an Amazon showroom?

There has always been less money in dropshipping. Why? Well, how much value are you really adding? Anyone can set up a website and start someone else's products. Setting up an e-commerce is easier than it ever was. It's a decent way to get your feet wet in e-commerce, but it isn't 2003 any more. When you're dropshipping, you have very little control, and in my opinion it violates CENTS.

When you build your own brand by importing your own products, creating your own products, etc. you have complete control. You can then use Amazon, eBay etc. to sell your own brand. It's much harder to compete with you when you OWN the product. You're adding a lot more value, you're innovating. A product doesn't need a major innovation need to work. Hell, my product has been around forever, I just have a very unique twist on and I found a way to make it scalable.

Edited to add: Anyone I know who has really killed it in business, has always ended up creating their own brand(s).

There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. Bodybuilding.com, TennisWarehouse.com, Zappos.com etc. But, they all started before 2000, when you could pretty much open up shop online and make money online. It's a bit of a different landscape, now.

If you look at some of the guys on this forum who are killing it, each one of them has their own brand of products, even though they may have started drop shipping initially.

See a trend here...?

 

[JasonR]

Packed & shipped 50 orders last night only to find out the Post Office is closed today.LOL

 

[JasonR]

Just quit my job. Turned in my resignation letter.

 

[JasonR]

What was the hardest part in building your business? Was it getting traffic and buyers, coming up with the product, or anything else?

All of the above. But, once you know to do it once, your next deal is easier.

In my opinion: find a big market, develop a product for that market, find a way to market these people. Profit.

E-Commerce Drop Shipping will be dead soon. Creating your own products and building a brand will never be dead.

Hope this thread helps and inspires people. I want to see people do well and kick a$$.

 

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[DeletedUser2]

I'm still working outsourcing production. This is the ONLY thing standing in the way of me being able to skill my business even further. At $1k+ sales a a day, I can't keep up on them.

I think I mentioned that....



Z

 

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[Vigilante]

I can tell you are hooked on the drug. Welcome to my addiction.

 

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[DeletedUser2]

Jason, you can also ping our "amazon group" we started in house. 10 people, doing it every day, sharing what works, and kickign butt.. BTW, Cody is our merchant account guy, and in the amazon group. you may get 2 for 1 there

deff bug KAK tho too!

Z

 

[JasonR]

Got overwhelmed with orders this week, had to pause ads yesterday, and still did a decent amount of sales. I'm getting caught up on orders right now.

I'm still working outsourcing production. This is the ONLY thing standing in the way of me being able to skill my business even further. At $1k+ sales a a day, I can't keep up on them.

Time to pound the phones.

 

[DeletedUser2]

ROCK ON!

Got it! Get going Jason!


Speed+


Z

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Way to beat the shit out of that pinata.

Congrats.

 

[DeletedUser2]

good for you anyway.!
F*ck ya!

 

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[JasonR]

This is awesome and motivating - are there other threads detailing your business?

I'm also interested in how you formed your mastermind and "found" likeminded people - this is something I want to do. (I live in NYC)

No, I don't have any threads detailing my business - I just don't have the time for it and I'm learning so many new things I'm not sure how helpful it would be. Come to B&P though - I'm sure I'll talk a little bit about it there.

A small group of us at B&P started our own private mastermind, and we are all actually moving to Scottsdale next week for 6 months.

 

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[JasonR]

Met with a company to outsource production today, thanks to Z telling me "What the f*ck are you doing making these yourselves." Looks to be promising, so I can just focus on selling, selling, and selling. Going to be selling that Thermal Printer I just bought after all...

 

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[JasonR]

Congrats bro, how hard was it to get your online merchant account?

It took two seconds (Authorize.net). Well, actually signing up didn't take long, but they required all sorts of proof of address, etc. etc. so they held onto my money for a while. Was frustrating. I'd recommend using someone else like Stripe or BrainTree, and use someone with true Tokenization capabilities.

Still a very inspiring thread - what type of product is it? And is it self-made or imported?

I actually have the product made, so no importing. However, my vertical is very deep, and I have some products that I want to start importing soon so I can market them to my existing (and new) customers. I want to KILL it and blow this one set of products up first, though.

 

[DeletedUser2]

It took two seconds (Authorize.net). Well, actually signing up didn't take long, but they required all sorts of proof of address, etc. etc. so they held onto my money for a while. Was frustrating. I'd recommend using someone else like Stripe or BrainTree, and use someone with true Tokenization capabilities.

we have now launched a merchant account company. talk to us, we special in online stuff.

Z

 

[JasonR]

What advertising medium have you gotten the best results with? Are you using google product ads?

100% Facebook advertising. There is sooooo much volume on Facebook, it's ridiculous.

Z - working out outsourcing production at the moment (so tired of making these LOL). I'll give you a call about the Merchant Account next week. Thanks man!

Kyle - I have a new product I want to put on Amazon. I'm an amazon newbie, so I may need your help.

 

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[JasonR]

How did you start off by testing the market? Ebay? Amazon? Or strictly your own e-commerce website?

I'm selling my own product on my own store. I actually "manufacture" the product myself. Strictly Facebook and my own e-commerce store right now, with the exception of a couple Google and Bing branding campaigns.

Z - will ping them!

 

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[JasonR]

My roommates told me to post this. Shipping Labels (Yes Z, working on kicking this thing off the balcony). LOL

Please pay close attention to TheTruth's sexy calves (and socks). 0 F*cks given.

[video=youtube;rqoihagUiy0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqoihagUiy0[/video]

 

[JasonR]

What industry / niche are you involved in?

I'm in the pet niche (mainly dogs/cats). I've only targeted dog owners so far, but have even sold a few to horse owners. LOL

 

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[Vick]

 

[putinwork]

Great thread!

I've been so busy getting ready for the holiday season -specifically black friday and cyber monday but I had to take a look at this thread since a few friends mentioned it.

How did you start off by testing the market? Ebay? Amazon? Or strictly your own e-commerce website?

Thanks for giving me some extra juice to keep pushing through!!!

 

[TheTruth]

lol!

You almost gave me a papercut on my leg, when rolling out that 1976 print label job.

My roommates told me to post this. LOL

Please pay close attention to TheTruth's sexy calves (and socks). 0 F*cks given.

[video=youtube;rqoihagUiy0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqoihagUiy0[/video]

 

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[JasonR]

I think I mentioned that....



Z

That you did. I'm actually working w/ one company to see if they can make my products at a reasonable price. Quite a few companies I've talked to were too small to do what I want on any sort of scale.

Was planning not to call you until I've pounded the phones.

 

[Phillipbro]

Motivation right here, tell us more and keep us updated boss.

 

[brycer9]

Speed+ for perseverance! See you in the fastlane

 

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[tjmaxattack1]

Great Job

Keep up the great work and strive for better!

 

[brycer9]

Hey Jason. If there's one (or two) things you learned from your success... What would it be?