Boost Your Candle Business with a Presale

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Benefits of Having a Pre-Sale
3. Setting Up Your Shopify Store
4. Entering Products into Your Store
5. Making Pre-Orders Visible
6. Laying Out the Terms of the Pre-Sale
7. Estimating Timing and Inventory
8. Creating Incentives for Customers
9. Setting the Price and Collecting Taxes
10. Tracking Orders and Inventory

Article

The Benefits of Having a Pre-Sale

Are you planning to launch your own small candle business this year? If so, you may be feeling the pressure to meet a certain launch date and get everything done on time. Starting a small business can be overwhelming, but there is a solution that can help ease some of the pressure - a pre-sale. In this article, I will explain how a pre-sale can benefit your candle business and guide you through the process of setting up a pre-sale using Shopify.

Setting Up Your Shopify Store

Before we dive into the details of setting up a pre-sale, let's first familiarize ourselves with Shopify. If you're new to Shopify, I recommend checking out my video on how to set up your Shopify store for free. Once you're familiar with the back end of your store, it's time to start entering your products.

Entering Products into Your Store

To prepare for your pre-sale, you'll need to fill out the product page for each of your candles. This is the page that customers will see when they click on a particular scent. Make sure to include the title of the scent and add visually appealing images. To make it clear that the product is available for pre-order, I suggest including the term "pre-order" in the title and description. This will prevent any confusion and ensure that customers know they are participating in a pre-sale.

Making Pre-Orders Visible

To make your pre-orders as visible as possible, it's essential to emphasize that the product is available for pre-order. You can achieve this by using bold fonts or other eye-catching design elements. Additionally, it's a good idea to include a separate section in the description where you explain the terms of the pre-sale. Specify the start and end dates of the pre-sale, as well as when customers can expect their orders to ship out. By providing clear information, you'll help customers understand the timeline and manage their expectations.

Estimating Timing and Inventory

One of the challenges of a pre-sale is estimating the timing and inventory needed. Since you're asking customers to buy into your product before it's made, you'll need to have a good grasp of how many items you'll need to produce. Create a spreadsheet where you can keep track of the number of orders for each scent. This will give you an idea of how much inventory you'll need to produce. Additionally, make a list of the supplies you'll need to order and factor in the time it takes for suppliers to ship the items to you. Keep in mind that your products will also need time to cure before you can ship them out.

Creating Incentives for Customers

To make your pre-sale even more enticing, consider offering incentives to customers. This can be in the form of free samples of other scents, a discount card for their next order, or any other bonuses that add value to their purchase. By providing extra goodies, you'll make the wait worthwhile for customers and build excitement around your brand.

Setting the Price and Collecting Taxes

When setting the price for your pre-sale candles, keep in mind your profit margin and the cost per item. Make sure to charge the appropriate taxes and collect the necessary sales taxes for your state. Shopify makes it easy to set up tax collection, ensuring that you stay compliant with the law.

Tracking Orders and Inventory

Now that your pre-sale is set up, it's important to track your orders and inventory. Shopify allows you to track the number of pre-orders you receive, even if you don't have the physical inventory on hand. When a customer makes a purchase, you'll see a negative number indicating the number of items that need to be made. This tracking feature will help you stay organized and understand exactly how much inventory you'll need.

In summary, having a pre-sale for your candle business can be highly beneficial. It relieves the pressure of a full launch, allows you to gauge customer interest, and provides valuable feedback for improving your brand. With Shopify, setting up a pre-sale is a straightforward process that enables you to track orders and inventory. So, if you're ready to launch your candle business, consider starting with a pre-sale and take your first step towards success.

Highlights:

• A pre-sale is a great way to launch your small candle business and gauge customer interest.
• Shopify provides the necessary tools to set up a successful pre-sale, allowing you to track orders and inventory.
• Clearly communicate the pre-order terms and timelines to manage customer expectations.
• Create incentives for customers to make the pre-sale worth their while.
• Make accurate estimations of inventory and order supplies in advance.
• Offer a visually appealing product page, making the pre-sale clear and visible.
• Use Shopify to set the price, charge taxes, and collect sales taxes.
• Track and manage orders and inventory using Shopify's tracking features for pre-sales.
• A pre-sale allows you to gather valuable feedback and improve your brand before the official launch.
• Don't forget to embrace the perks of a pre-sale and enjoy the process of building your candle business.

FAQ

Q: Why should I have a pre-sale for my candle business? A: A pre-sale allows you to generate interest in your products, gauge customer demand, and gain valuable feedback before fully launching your business.

Q: How can Shopify help me set up a pre-sale for my candle business? A: Shopify provides a user-friendly platform that allows you to easily create a pre-sale, track your orders, and manage your inventory.

Q: How do I make pre-orders visible to customers? A: You can make pre-orders visible by including the term "pre-order" in your product title and description, using bold fonts, and clearly stating the terms of the pre-sale.

Q: What incentives can I offer to customers during a pre-sale? A: You can offer free samples of other scents, discount cards for future orders, or any other bonuses that add value to their purchase.

Q: How do I estimate timing and inventory for a pre-sale? A: Create a spreadsheet to track the number of orders for each scent and make a list of the supplies you'll need to order. Factor in supplier delivery times and the curing time for your products.

Q: How do I track orders and inventory during a pre-sale? A: Shopify allows you to track orders and inventory, even if you don't have physical inventory on hand. Negative numbers indicate the number of items that need to be made.

Q: Can a pre-sale help me improve my brand before the official launch? A: Absolutely! A pre-sale provides an opportunity to gather valuable feedback about your website, order process, and branding, allowing you to make improvements before the official launch.