I am curious about the early stages of launching an ecommerce business. Do you begin by dropshipping items with no visible logo or branding to see how the market reacts? Also, do you ship them straight from overseas locations like China? If that is the case, at what point do you increase order sizes and start using branded packaging? For example, do you scale up after selling around 500 units?
hey, i began with plain packagin and only switched to branded after around 400 sales. this kept initl costs low and helped test market reaction. once the orders became more reliable, i found that custom packaging boosted cusomer trust and repeat purchases.
In my experience, beginning with non-branded packaging allows you to test market viability without overcommitting to formatting costs. I initially used basic logistics while focusing on product quality and customer service. When I noticed steady sales, around 300 units or more, it became cost-effective to place larger orders that allowed for branded packaging. Transitioning to branded packaging at this stage helped solidify my brand’s presence and improved customer loyalty without risking significant upfront costs during early testing.
i think testing with non-branded packs is a smart move. i only switched to branded packaging after about 500 units sold, even though shiping delays from overseas did occurr sometimes. gives you a good feel for the market before heavy investment
Hey there fellow forum members, I’ve been mulling over this approach too. I’ve dabbled in the idea of starting with plain, non-branded packaging—mostly to test the waters without sinking too much cash into custom boxes right off the bat. In my little experiment, I noticed that keeping the packaging generic helped me keep costs low and concentrate on nailing down the product quality. But something kept nudging me about the potential impact on customer perception. Without a branded package, it’s like missing an opportunity to really seal the deal and express the identity of your brand. I’m wondering if anyone has felt that the switch to branded packaging gave customers more confidence or if, in some cases, it might even have delayed initial sales because of increased costs. Have you all tried different timing for this change, maybe even earlier than 500 units, or do you hold off until you reach a concrete volume threshold? Would love to know everyone’s thoughts on balancing cost with brand presence in these early phases of an ecommerce venture!
Starting with non-branded packaging has been a tactic I’ve used to test product-market fit without sinking excessive capital into custom materials. I followed a similar phased approach where, after verifying consistent orders, I then moved to branded packaging around the same volume range. This method allowed me to maintain flexibility and minimize risk while gauging customer response. Your goal should be to find the point when customization yields value added, particularly with repeated purchase behavior, instead of committing too early when costs are uncertain.