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I spent 5 years growing Shopify Stores for others. Before I built my first 8 figure brand.
r/Entrepreneur
7/10/2025
Content Summary
The author shares their journey from growing Shopify stores for others to building an 8-figure skincare brand. Key strategies included focusing on fundamental human desires (beauty/insecurity), collaborating with 500+ micro-influencers through free samples and ad visibility exchanges, and launching a mobile app with 20% first-order discounts and free gifts. The brand achieved 4x higher conversions on the app, 60% app-based revenue, and 16% net margins through subscriptions and first-party data retargeting.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinions praise the influencer strategy and mobile app approach. Key debates focus on:
- Product legitimacy: Commenters question how a skincare brand could launch without clinical approvals
- Operational feasibility: Concerns about managing 500+ influencers and inventory logistics
- Financial transparency: Requests for clarity on startup costs and supply chain management
- Trend vs fundamentals: Support for focusing on evergreen markets over trendy products
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Not mentioned | E-commerce Platform | Core platform for store operations |
| Meta Ads | Not mentioned | Advertising | Retargeting using first-party data from mobile app |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Fear of failure when starting a new venture
- Inventory management challenges in fashion
- Need for clinical approvals in beauty products
- Difficulty in influencer collaboration management
Problems to Solve:
- Creating sustainable brand growth beyond trends
- Improving conversion rates on mobile platforms
- Building reliable supply chains
- Ensuring product compliance with regulations
Potential Solutions:
- Focus on evergreen human desires (beauty/lust/insecurity)
- Develop mobile apps with incentives
- Partner with contract manufacturers
- Leverage micro-influencers at scale
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Building brands on fundamental human desires rather than trends
- Aggressive mobile app adoption with conversion incentives
Marketing & Acquisition:
- 500+ micro-influencer collaborations
- UGC-driven ad campaigns on Instagram Reels
- First-order discounts (20% off) and free samples
Monetization & Product:
- Subscription model implementation
- 16% net margins despite discounts
- Premium pricing strategy ($29 value samples)
User Engagement:
- Community-driven growth through UGC
- Mobile app loyalty incentives
- First-party data utilization for retargeting