Michele Ferron of Once Upon a Tuesday bootstrapped her stationery business from an Etsy shop to a 7-figure Shopify success story, achieving 100% year-on-year growth. This episode reveals her strategies for scaling a seasonal product business, managing inventory, leveraging wholesale, and building a purpose-driven brand through customer feedback and a commitment to B Corp certification, offering invaluable lessons for any ecommerce entrepreneur.
Key takeaways
Transitioning from Etsy to Shopify provides greater control and scalability for established businesses, allowing for enhanced brand building and customer experience.
Embrace both positive and negative customer reviews as crucial data points for product development and business improvement.
Strategic expansion into wholesale can significantly boost revenue and brand exposure, complementing direct-to-consumer channels.
Meticulous inventory management is paramount for seasonal and dated products to mitigate waste and capitalize on demand cycles.
Collaborations, affiliate marketing, and partnerships are effective growth levers for expanding reach and acquiring new customers.
Pursuing ethical practices and certifications like B Corp can differentiate a brand and resonate deeply with modern consumers.
Michele Ferron is the founder of fully bootstrapped Once Upon A Tuesday–selling calendars and planners for design lovers.Founded in 2020, Once Upon A Tuesday now sells via their Shopify store, Etsy, and Wholesale. They’re on track to hit £1,000,000 in annual sales this year, and have a growth rate of 100% year on year.Hit PLAY to hear:Michele’s accidental eCommerce journey from Etsy to Shopify to wholesaleTheir motivation to venture into wholesaleHow they handle the ever-changing stationery marketWhy selling dated and seasonal products works for Once Upon a TuesdayHow collaborations, affiliates, and partnerships fit into their eCommerce strategiesThe importance of getting both negative and positive customer reviewsWhy becoming a B Corp certified brand is a goal that goes beyond sustainabilityKey timestamps to dive straight in:[03:37] Successful calendar design led to a successful Etsy business.[08:12] Challenging process, but created reusable acrylic wall decor.[09:20] How they create products that stay on-brand.[13:30] Selling seasonal products and dealing with inventory concerns.[15:47] The importance of both negative and positive reviews.[17:00] Doing things right in the business, and not just on the sustainability side.[18:39] Listen to Michele’s top eCommerce tips....This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/lega
Frequently asked about this episode
What does this episode say about brand strategy?
Transitioning from Etsy to Shopify provides greater control and scalability for established businesses, allowing for enhanced brand building and customer experience.
What does this episode say about customer experience?
Embrace both positive and negative customer reviews as crucial data points for product development and business improvement.
What does this episode say about ecommerce growth?
Strategic expansion into wholesale can significantly boost revenue and brand exposure, complementing direct-to-consumer channels.
What does this episode say about operations & logistics?
Meticulous inventory management is paramount for seasonal and dated products to mitigate waste and capitalize on demand cycles.
What does this episode say about brand strategy?
Collaborations, affiliate marketing, and partnerships are effective growth levers for expanding reach and acquiring new customers.
