šŸŽ$12M Drop Shipping One Fruit

Plus storytelling to billions in revenue & Amazon CEO comments on AI Revolution.

šŸ‘‹ Itā€™s Thursday! Today weā€™re exploring a $12M dropshipping win from just one fruit, storytelling that's driven billions in revenue, and the Amazon CEO's take on the AI revolution.


This issue takes 6 minutes to read. If you only have one, check this:

This issue is brought to you by Clickfunnels ā€” get exclusive access to advanced sales funnel training for free.

ClickFunnels for drop shippers

Join the ClickFunnels Startup Program and get 12 months free.

Master the art of high-converting sales funnels to boost your dropshipping business. Whether youā€™re launching your first store or scaling to six figures, ClickFunnels has the tools to skyrocket your success.

Join thousands of eCommerce entrepreneurs using ClickFunnels to streamline sales, maximize profits, and transform their businesses.

Ecommerce In Focus šŸ“¦

šŸ“° News:

šŸ”— Resources:

šŸ’” Pro Tips:

How to Make $40,202 Per Month Selling Mugs With A.I

Inspiration

$12M Selling A Fruit: How Steven Guo Made Millions by Age 24

Today, we're diving into the inspiring journey of Steven Guo, a 24-year-old entrepreneur who has built over 15 e-commerce businesses, generating more than $12 million in revenue. His story is a testament to how passion, strategic thinking, and frugality can lead to remarkable success in the competitive world of e-commerce.

The Beginning: Selling Fidget Spinners in High School

Steven's entrepreneurial journey began in high school with a simple yet effective idea: selling fidget spinners. Utilizing Reddit subreddits to reach potential customers, he quickly realized the power of online marketplaces. The moment he heard the first "cha-ching" from his Shopify store, he was hooked. This venture wasn't just a fleeting success; it grew to generate $250,000 in revenue, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.

Niche Markets: Anime Figurines & Celebrity Customers

While attending college, Steven expanded his horizons by selling anime figurinesā€”small collectibles featuring popular characters wearing stylish sneakers. Despite navigating the complexities of copyright issues, this venture was a significant milestone. The business even caught the attention of Justin Bieber, who purchased directly after seeing one of Steven's Facebook ads. This experience underscored the potential of niche markets and the importance of targeted advertising.

Building Diverse Brands: From Dates to Car Accessories

Today, Steven runs multiple successful e-commerce businesses:

  • MedjoolDays.com: An online store specializing in premium Medjool dates, sourced directly from farms and delivered to consumers. This venture taps into the health and wellness niche, catering to customers who appreciate high-quality, natural products.

  • K-Pop Jewelry and Fashion Brand: A business that offers unique jewelry and fashion items inspired by K-pop culture, appealing to the passionate fanbase of this global phenomenon.

  • Car Accessories Brand: A specialized brand offering customized car accessories for enthusiasts. While details are kept confidential, this venture represents Steven's ability to identify and capitalize on underserved markets.

The Numbers:

  • šŸ’° Total Revenue: Over $12 million across all businesses

  • šŸ›ļø Number of Businesses: 15+ e-commerce brands

  • šŸ“¦ Orders Fulfilled: Over 50,000 orders across all brands

  • šŸ‘„ Team Size: Employs over 20 VAā€™s from OnlineJobs.ph & Upwork

  • šŸ’² Order Value: Over $80 to maintain profitability amid rising ad costs

  • šŸ“ˆ Profit Margins: Targets at least 30% net profit across all brands

  • šŸ¤ Collabs: Micro-creators for organic growth & content generation

How Steven Built His Empire: The Four-Step Plan

1. Identifying Underserved Niches

Steven believes that "the riches are in the niches." Instead of chasing viral products, he focuses on passionate, underserved markets. For instance, with MedjoolDays.com, he identified a demand for high-quality dates among health-conscious consumers. By sourcing directly from farms, he offers a product that's both premium and unique, setting his brand apart from generic competitors.

2. Emphasizing Quality and Customer Loyalty

Quality is at the forefront of Steven's business model. By offering exceptional products, he encourages repeat purchases, which is evident in the high returning customer rates of his brands. This approach reduces dependency on constant new customer acquisition and builds a loyal customer base that sustains long-term growth.

3. Building Efficient Systems and Remote Teams

To manage and scale multiple businesses, Steven invests in robust systems and remote teams:

  • Project Management: Uses tools like Notion and Slack for effective communication and organization.

  • Customer Service: Employs Gorgias, integrated with Shopify, to handle high volumes of customer inquiries, ensuring customer satisfaction.

  • Talent Acquisition: Hires skilled contractors through platforms like OnlineJobs.ph and Upwork, allowing for scalability without significant overhead costs.

4. Staying Frugal and Reinvesting in Growth

Despite his success, Steven maintains a frugal lifestyle. He avoids unnecessary expenses and reinvests profits back into his businesses. This financial discipline provides a cushion during market fluctuations and allows for continuous innovation and expansion.

Key Takeaways:

  • Find and Serve Niche Markets: Success often lies in catering to specific, passionate audiences overlooked by mainstream competitors.

  • Prioritize Quality: High-quality products lead to customer satisfaction and repeat business, crucial for long-term success.

  • Implement Strong Systems: Efficient operations and remote teams enable scalability and effective management of multiple businesses.

  • Maintain Financial Discipline: Keeping expenses low and avoiding flashy expenditures ensures stability and sustainability.

  • Adapt to Industry Changes: Stay ahead of market trends and be prepared to adjust strategies in response to increased competition and rising costs.

Looking Ahead: The Future of E-Commerce

Steven acknowledges that the e-commerce landscape is becoming more challenging with the rise of giants like Temu and increasing ad costs. He advises entrepreneurs to focus on:

  • High Average Order Value: Aim for orders exceeding $80 to offset rising advertising expenses.

  • Customer Lifetime Value: Build brands that encourage repeat purchases and foster customer loyalty.

  • Unique Value Propositions: Offer products that stand out from generic alternatives, reducing direct competition with large marketplaces.

Final Thoughts

Steven Guo's journey from a high school student selling fidget spinners to managing a $12 million e-commerce empire by age 24 is inspiring. His success underscores the importance of niche markets, quality products, efficient systems, and financial prudence. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Steven's story is a roadmap illustrating that with the right strategies and mindset, significant achievements are possible at any age.

For more insights into Steven's methodologies and experiences, check out this interview on Alex Ulbinā€™s Youtube channel

Which region are your main suppliers located in?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Last editions polling results coming soonā€¦

Recommended Resources

šŸŒ Dropshipp.com Community: Join Now

šŸ’» Ecommerce Website - Shopify: Start Free

šŸŽ“ Online Courses - Udemy: Dive In

šŸŒ Domain Names - Namecheap: Get Yours

šŸŽØ Graphic Design - Looka: Begin Now

šŸšš Dropship Suppliers - Spocket: Discover More

āœ‰ļø Email Marketing - GetResponse: Learn More

šŸ” SEO Tools - SEMrush: Start Here

šŸ’° Sales Funnels - ClickFunnels: Explore Here

šŸ§‘ā€šŸ’» Virtual Assistants - Fiverr: Get Help

šŸ“£ Ads Agency - That Company: Check It Out

šŸ’µ Business Broker - Flippa: Find Out More

Storytelling

Storytelling to Billions: Why it matters & how to implement it

Alright, letā€™s get real for a second. If youā€™ve been following us, you already know that in the dropshipping and eCommerce game, just having a good product wonā€™t cut it anymore. Itā€™s how you connect with your customers that makes all the differenceā€”and trust me, storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to do that. One guy whoā€™s absolutely nailed this is Sabri Suby, founder of King Kong, one of Australiaā€™s biggest marketing agencies. His approach to using storytelling to build brands and drive sales has transformed businesses, and I want to share some of his top strategies with you today.

Why Sabri Subyā€™s Advice Matters

Sabri didnā€™t start out in a plush office or with massive investment backing. Raised in Byron Bay, Australia, and from humble beginnings, he built his digital marketing agency, King Kong, from the ground up. Today, his agency has driven over $1.33 billion in sales for more than 400 businesses. Sabriā€™s emphasis on the power of storytelling in marketing has made him one of the most respected voices in the eCommerce space. Whether youā€™re looking to grow a dropshipping business or expand an existing eCommerce store, his insights offer practical, actionable strategies that you can implement to achieve success.

Now, letā€™s dive into the core of Sabriā€™s adviceā€”his four-step plan to build a successful eCommerce brand through storytelling and other strategic tactics.

Sabri Suby's Four-Step Plan to Build a Successful eCommerce Brand

  1. Master Storytelling to Drive Sales
    Storytelling is the foundation of successful marketing. Whether in a viral TikTok video, a product page, or a dropshipping ad, engaging stories connect with customers on a deeper level and boost conversions. Focus on how your product impacts the customerā€™s life, not just its features.
    Actionable Tips:

    • Uncover your customerā€™s pain points and highlight how your product solves them.

    • Use real customer stories or testimonials to create trust and build credibility.

    • Craft emotional hooks that make your audience feel connected to your brand.

  2. Leverage TikTok for Organic Growth
    Sabri recognized TikTokā€™s potential early on. This platform allows businesses to create viral, organic content without huge ad budgets. Dropshippers can use TikTok to build their brand quickly by creating relatable, engaging content that resonates with their audience.
    Actionable Tips:

    • Keep content authentic and relatableā€”focus on storytelling, not just selling.

    • Use trending music and hashtags to increase the chances of going viral.

    • Engage with your audience through comments and collaborations to build community.

  3. Test Organically Before Scaling with Ads
    Before investing in paid ads, Sabri suggests testing content organically to see what resonates with your audience. Once a piece of content performs well, scale it through paid advertising on platforms like Facebook and Instagram to maximize your return on investment (ROI).
    Actionable Tips:

    • Use organic content to test customer reactions before pouring money into ads.

    • Identify which videos or posts have the highest engagement and repurpose them as ads.

    • Gradually increase ad spend based on the performance of your best content to scale efficiently.

  4. Fast Execution for Long-Term Success
    Sabri is a strong advocate for fast execution. Many entrepreneurs wait for the perfect moment to launch, but Sabri emphasizes taking action, learning from mistakes, and iterating quickly. For eCommerce and dropshipping, this means launching quickly, gathering customer feedback, and making improvements as you grow.
    Actionable Tips:

    • Donā€™t wait for perfectionā€”launch your product and refine it based on real feedback.

    • Stay agile and make adjustments to your product, story, and ads based on customer responses.

    • Focus on fast, actionable improvements rather than long-term perfectionism.

Key Takeaways for eCommerce and Dropshipping Success

Sabri Subyā€™s journey from grinding peanut butter to building King Kong, one of Australiaā€™s largest marketing agencies, offers invaluable lessons for eCommerce and dropshipping entrepreneurs. His focus on storytelling, fast execution, and organic growth has generated billions in revenue for his clients and provides a clear roadmap for success. By applying these principles, you can elevate your eCommerce business and boost your sales.

For more insights on Sabriā€™s journey and actionable tips for growing your eCommerce or online business, check out his interview on the Foundr Podcast.

Get the FREE Strategic Ecommerce Business Plan Template valued at $99

How?
šŸ”— Get your special link!
āœ‰ļø Share it with of your friends & have 3 subscribe.
šŸŒŸ Get instant access to this awesome resource!

Login or Subscribe to participate.

That's it for this week, hope you got some value out of it.

Cheers,

The Dropshipp.com team

P.S. If you havenā€™t already feel free to join our free community to connect & network with other like-minded dropshipping entrepreneurs.