http://www.thrillingheroics.com/10k-ecommerce-website-lifestyle-business <=get all the resources & audio recording here! Learn how serial entrepreneur Jun Loayza (RewardMe.com) successfully launched his first online e-commerce store with no technical background, no experience, in his spare time, and got it to the point of making $10,000 per month within just 4 short months! This free Lifestyle Business / ecommerce webinar is brought to you by MintedRepublic.com and Digital Nomad Academy

1. How to build a successful e-commerce store with
no technical background
Presented by Cody McKibben (Thrilling Heroics) and Jun Loayza (RewardMe)
Cody Jun

2. Background
• UCLA 2007: B.A. in Economics and Philosophy
• Left the corporate world after 3 months
• Failed 2 companies from 2008 - 2009
• Successfully sold 2 companies from 2010 - 2011
• Closed deals with Whole Foods Market, Sephora, Levi’s, and Activision
• Raised over $1,000,000 in Angel funding
• Current full-time startup: RewardMe
• Current lifestyle business: Minted Republic
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

3. Minted Republic Overview
• Launched in February 2012
• Currently generates over $10,000 in revenue
• 5 hours of work or less per week
• 2 partners
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

4. How to get started The 1st steps to take

5. Why did we choose an online boutique for
women’s apparel?

6. Establish partners that compliment each other
1. Joseph (Equity): Advertising and Operations
2. Rees (Equity): Development
3. Jun (Equity): Accounting, legal, overall management
4. Christine (Commission): Stylist
5. Kevin (Paid): Photographer
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

7. Find the manufacturer and negotiate
• Joseph (partner in Los Angeles)
➡ Met with 10 companies in the garment district
➡ Set up meetings for me to negotiate and close a deal
• Terms negotiated
➡ We hold no inventory (drop-ship model)
➡ We get access to their entire collection (sold to LA boutiques)
➡ We pay wholesale prices
➡ Manufacturer ships product to customers
➡ Manufacturer receives 10% of the profits
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

8. Build and design the e-commerce store
• Platform: Shopify Professional
➡ $60/month
• Theme: Shopify premium theme
➡ $200
• Customized the premium theme
➡ Joseph: designed based on premium theme structure
➡ Rees: coded the design
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

9. Model + Photography Catalog and Lookbook shoot

10. Core principle: Copy what works

11. We modeled our site after Nasty Gal

12. Model: Lauren
• Found on Model Mayhem
• Cost: $400/day
• Utilized Kevin’s account to
reach out to her

13. Photography
• Team • Stylist
➡ Kevin and Felix: lead ➡ Christine: founder of the
photographers manufacturing partner company
➡ Christine: Hair and makeup ➡ 10% of profits (from terms)
• Cost • Clothing + Accessories
➡ $3,500 per day ➡ Manufacturing partner gives us
samples for the shoot
➡ $5 per final image
➡ Christine brings accessories
• Location from her closet
➡ Studio: Kevin’s house ➡ Buy and return from stores
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

14. Drive Traffic: advertising and SEO

15. Advertising: what did NOT work
• Google Adwords
• Facebook Ads
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

16. Advertising: what DID work
• Banner ads on fashion blogs
• Sponsored reviews with fashion bloggers
• Giveaways with fashion bloggers
Giveaway spike
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

17. Advertising: cost breakdown
Type Cost Payment Type
Banner ads $50 - $200 per month
Sponsored review Free - $200 per review
Giveaway Free - $100 per giveaway
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

18. Prime placement
Negotiated with fashion bloggers
to get prime placement on site

19. Search engine optimization
• Anchor text on all sponsored reviews and giveaways
• Get links from popular fashion sites:
➡ Lookbook.nu
➡ Chictopia
• Alt tags for all product images
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

20. Improve conversions +
How to make the sell
email marketing

21. How we improved conversions
• Free shipping and 365-day return policy
• Grapevine reviews
• Featured items on the home page that were mentioned
by fashion bloggers
• Gave fashion bloggers a widget to embed our product
on their blog
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

22. How we use emails
• Platform of choice: Mailchimp
• How we collect emails:
➡ Fashion blogger giveaways
➡ On-site: customer can opt-into our newsletter
• What we send via email:
➡ Style inspirations
➡ Announcement of new collection
➡ Promotions
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

23. What’s next for Minted Republic

24. Upcoming projects
• Hire social media manager
• Launch Minted Republic blog
• Create a network of fashion bloggers
• Expand manufacturing partners
http://MintedRepublic.com | Jun@MintedRepublic.com

25. Jun Loayza
President of Minted Republic
Jun@MintedRepublic.com