Launching Our 5th Shopify Store
Last week of September 2024, we launched our 5th Shopify store here in the Philippines. This time, we wanted to create something seasonal swak sa ber months and pang-regalo.
That’s how we came up with our scented product line: sleep balm, oil rollers, linen spray, soy candles, and reed diffusers — products inspired by calm, warmth, and the Filipino love for pampering.
Locally Sourced, Proudly Pinoy
We made a conscious decision to source all materials locally not just to save on costs but to support fellow small business owners.
Before, we outsourced our labels from a third-party printing shop. Pero narealize namin, if we handle the printing in-house, mas manageable lalo na kapag bulk orders na ang dumating.
Since this is a Christmas-focused product, it’s important na hindi kami dependent sa third-party printers. Mahirap na kung may customer mag-order ng 100+ units, tapos ma-delay dahil sa printing. Kaya kami na ang nag-invest sa label printing. No regrets.
Facebook Ads Journey: From Negative to Breakthrough
📆 September 22–28, 2024
On our first week, we spent around ₱1,000/day for Facebook Ads. To be honest, hindi ko pa talaga nakuha ang tamang audience. After 6 days, we were down by ₱5,125.
But since hindi na ito ang first time ko sa Facebook Ads, I knew I just needed to adjust the audience, creatives, and objectives. I didn’t panic. I optimized.
October 1–6, 2024
By the first week of October, may improvements na. From ₱5,125 loss, bumaba na lang to ₱3,466 loss. This was a sign the campaigns were getting optimized. Facebook Ads take time to “learn” lalo na kung brand new ang Facebook pixel and store.
📆 October 7–13, 2024
By the 2nd week of October, we finally hit the sweet spot. The campaign started performing well and sales were consistently coming in. At this point, we knew we could scale confidently.
From Freelancing to Building Brands
Fast forward to December, after 3 months of hard work, we hit a gross sales milestone of ₱914,000.
Of course, that’s gross sales and we were spending around ₱1,000/day on ads but our profit margins were solid and the business was sustainable.
We plan to relaunch this every Christmas season and during other special gifting months. Shopify became a new income stream for us.
Why I’m Sharing This
As a freelancer for over 10 years, I know client work can be unstable. I’ve only lost one client in a decade pero it reminded me we all need backup plans.
Bukod sa Shopify, we also run Shopee and Lazada stores. Slowly but surely, we’re preparing to transition into full-time online entrepreneurs.
Final Thoughts: Online Success is Possible for Filipinos
Whether you’re working full-time, freelancing, or just starting, there are so many ways to earn online.
If we were able to hit ₱914K in gross sales in just 3 months selling locally made scented products, imagine what you can do with your own idea.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start now, adjust along the way, and believe in what you’re building.
