When faced with a $40,000 loss, where do you find hope? How do you turn setbacks into success?
Embarking in starting my online business was daunting yet irrepressible. While failure always lurks, fear looms larger. Because no matter how clear the horizon, clouds will always gather.
Mine battered my $40K e-commerce yacht for a year.
Because I wanted to work remote, be location-independent, more than a freelancer or consultant. I wanted an online business to own.
So, I started one in 2018. My game plan?
I’d use established brands to launch an online storefront. I’d combine a gourmet Costa Rican chocolate maker’s products with those of a stellar Costa Rican coffee producer. I’d spotlight unique product bundles to ship directly via Amazon gradually to grow a base, next to start a private label.
Strategy was job one.
And by 2019, execution had unfolded seamlessly with remarkable success.
The products were tested, which justified creation of my own website to attract my own traffic and not rely on Amazon alone anymore. I got it fully functional. Direct traffic began arriving. And in 2020, Phase 2 kicked off. I got my first California wholesaler on board.
I’d brokered a consignment deal with my supplier and sold a grand product launch package to my wholesaler, not just product but an actual promotional campaign, with substantial shipments!
Enter sudden lightening and thunder: THE PANDEMIC.
The domino effect was unstoppable:
☠️ Lockdowns: My wholesaler closed shop, cutting off my consumer access.
☠️ Supply Chain: My Costa Rican producer nearly went bankrupt.
☠️ Employment: My sales reps abandoned ship and left for another state.
My $40K investment suddenly stood before an unprecedented tsunami.
This wasn’t just a setback; it felt like $40K and over 2 years pitched and sank.
Rising from the deep, I looked among the wreckage for some spark of hope – some gem.
My brand remained intact, and my credibility. Also, my tech infrastructure was solid. The possibilities glimmered beneath the surface.
Only the sea needed to calm down a spell.
The story is one of resilience—one that refuses to fade away.
So, jump to 2021: I channeled my energy into a renewal of my consulting practice, except with an expanded skill set.
The e-commerce dream remains alive. But the gem is now boxed in a different vehicle.
Embrace The Journey
Though my B2C e-commerce plans were temporarily shelved, this isn’t a tale of failure but a tribute to the relentless spirit of entrepreneurship.
Take what didn’t work for you and leverage it to apply elsewhere.
Because challenges will always emerge. But the core of your vision ought to remain unwavering.
Don’t let adversity snuff out your spark.
Showcase your failures as fulcrums. Leverage!
If my $40K venture so weathered the storm, so can your aspirations.
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