How this mompreneur turned her knack for planning into a lucrative ecommerce biz

Could you tell us a bit about yourself, what you sell at Plan-It Planet and how you got started?

Plan-It Planet is an online shop dedicated to those who still use calendars or paper planners to keep their lives organized. As someone that knows all that goes into keeping up with the appointments and the needs of a family, I incorporated stickers specifically geared toward staying on track..

Between appointments, extracurriculars, events, and more, Plan-It Planet helps keep it all together. We provide cute and functional stickers and other accessories to help people stay on track in their busy lives. Every item is drawn and handmade personally by me and we have nearly 1,000 items to choose from.

What did it take to get your first products in stock? Has that changed since you started?

I imported all of the merchandise that I had currently in my shop over to Shopify.

How did you get your first sale?

I was already successful on Etsy and migrating my customers over was easy and difficult at the same time.

What obstacles and challenges have you overcome along the way?

Competing with the marketplace that Etsy had been my biggest obstacle, but I stuck it out and 99% of my customers prefer my website now as opposed to my Etsy page. 

What influenced your decision to use Shopify?

My shop began in 2015 on Etsy and grew to so much success that I moved it to Shopify in 2016.

I really wanted a platform that would give me freedom over my own business. Etsy was great, but I didn’t feel like a real business owner until I took back my control. 

What was the process like to get started? Is there anything you wish you had known then that you know now?

It was very easy for me. I knew what I needed to do and how to get there. It just took some time to fine tune. 

What Shopify apps do you currently use? Which apps are most important to your business? 

I honestly use very few apps. An important one for me is Smile.io so that my customers can earn rewards for their purchases. 

What strategies have you used to attract more leads and grow Plan-It Planet?

Instagram is my biggest outlet for marketing and exposure. Now that I can link my listings on Shopify directly to my Instagram posts, it has been a big help. 

What are some of the most effective ways that you interact with your customers?

I try to interact with my customers often on Instagram and through Facebook. I don’t pay for followers or exposure, so providing fun and interesting content is always a great conversation starter. 

Are there any metrics you can share in terms of order volume, monthly sales, increased revenue, growth %, etc.?

I'm proud to say that after being in business for less than five years, I now ship thousands of stickers each and every month. 

To what do you attribute those positive metrics?

A happy return customer base, new ideas and designs. 

What are you working towards now? 

I’m working towards filling more wholesale roles.

Based on your own success, what advice would you share with others who might be just starting out with Shopify (or with eCommerce in general)? 

Get to know your customers and interact often. Don’t be too “salesy.” When you form a relationship, they think of you to give your business to rather than you having to ask for it. 

Awesome - thanks for sharing! Where can we learn more?

Our website is https://shop.planitplanetshop.com/ and we are active on social media, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr. We also have our own YouTube channel as well.

~ Carla Garza, Founder of Plan-It Planet