HOW TO START & GROW YOUR VEGAN SIDE HUSTLE USING SHOPIFY

It was previously expected that by 2024, e-commerce would account for over 21% of retail sales worldwide, but in view of how the shutdowns caused by the pandemic forced us to change the way we shop in 2020, this percentage is likely to be much higher now.

There is no doubt that 2020 and 2021 have presented challenges and caused hardship for many people. However, for others these trying times have presented unforeseen opportunities given that when people have more time to spare and less work to do then they naturally have more energy and time to spend on doing things they enjoy.

So it comes as no surprise to find that if you developed a passion for something during the pandemic, then you would like to find a way to turn this into a viable way of earning a living, if you can, or at least achieve a better work-life balance.

The Ecommerce Journey

To make the most of the growing trend of buying and selling online, it’s important that you use a respected e-commerce platform like Shopify to sell physical or digital products that you are eager to share with the world without having to invest in a physical outlet.

Shopify also gives you access to the world of dropshipping thanks to their partnership with another digital platform, Oberlo, which enables you to source other products already on sale to sell through your Shopify e-commerce store. Dropshipping is a great concept if you haven’t got your own wide range of products or if you want to avoid the risk of carrying stock or getting involved in packaging and shipping. It’s a quick and easy way to embark on your e-commerce journey.

Turning your passion into a living

If you’ve already decided to turn that passion you developed during the pandemic or a hobby or interest that you already had into a way of making money, then you really are set to embark on that journey.

It is so so important though, even if you’re still at the planning stages, to make sure the niche you choose is something that really interests and engages you and that you know you will be passionate about because it is that enthusiasm about you’re selling that will get you over those bumps in the road that you will inevitably encounter.

Your passion will also shine through all that content marketing you create as you grow your Shopify business. After all, if you don’t love what you’re selling, who will and who wants to try to promote something that won’t interest them, and sustain them in the long term anyway?

So, the important message here is that whatever you’re offering – be it eco-friendly products, sustainable solutions, vegan merchandise and whether you’ve created from scratch or sourced via Oberlo, make sure your Shopify store is built around the niche area that inspires you.

Design your store to suit your product

Once you’ve settled on exactly what it is you intend to sell then the next step is to decide on the design of your website making sure it will enable your Shopify store to grow but always bearing in mind that there certain general site features that apply to every Shopify store regardless of what is being sold.

Depending on how confident or tech savvy you are, now’s the time to decide whether to design your e-commerce store yourself or find a reputable Shopify designer and Shopify developer to help you. Whichever route you choose, there are certain ways to help you increase the chance of success, such as:

• Making sure the site design will work across any digital device, from smartphones to desktops
• Choose a design or theme that has the option to include visual media of your products (photos, videos, GIFs) without compromising the speed of the website
• Make sure the theme or design you choose is easy for visitors to navigate and has a straightforward checkout process
• Once you’re up and running and confident using Shopify, there are some great in-house marketing tools available free of charge (such as the on-site blog and SEO options) that will help your e-commerce business to continue to grow.