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Low-Budget Shopify Store Launch

Oct 1, 2025

Summary

  • The meeting reviewed an experiment to create a profitable Shopify dropshipping store using only free AI tools and a budget of $1, accomplished within an hour from a laptop.
  • The process covered niche selection, store customization, product sourcing, domain setup, influencer outreach, and financial results.
  • The store generated 10 genuine sales (plus 2 test sales), resulting in $0.35 profit after all costs, demonstrating the feasibility of a low-budget AI-powered ecommerce launch.
  • Key decisions included product selection, marketing strategy, and store setup methodology.

Action Items

  • ASAP – Mark Tilbury: Update the store name to prevent audience purchases post-video.
  • Add store contact and location details to the terms and conditions page.
  • Continue monitoring product and influencer performance for potential scaling opportunities.

Store Creation & Setup

  • Chose "Sport and Fitness" as the store niche based on market demand and audience interest.
  • Used "Build Your Store" AI to automate Shopify store creation, completed within one hour and under $1 budget.
  • Customized the store by selecting inclusive and attractive banners targeting both genders.
  • Signed up for Shopify's free trial and selected the basic plan; payment deferred until after initial trial period.
  • Installed "Build Your Store" app and connected it to Shopify for AI-driven website setup.
  • Registered with "AutoDS" (product sourcing platform) using the same account info, selecting a starter plan for $0.99 (within the $1 budget).

Product Selection & Store Customization

  • Used AutoDS to automatically import trending and relevant sports/fitness products, including a breathing trainer, golf club clips, resistance bands, and a jogging hat.
  • Analyzed product pricing for profitability (e.g., golf clips cost $6.84, sold for $13.68).
  • Reviewed product page quality: professional photos, PayPal checkout, AI-generated product descriptions, related product recommendations, and completed policy pages.
  • Noted the importance of a professional domain; set up a free .store domain ("Tilbury Fitness") via Build Your Store AI.

Final Tweaks & Launch

  • Linked new domain to Shopify store and finalized footer, terms, and social media connections.
  • Launched the store live and confirmed all pages/assets were working as intended.

Marketing & Promotion

  • Decided on influencer marketing, choosing micro-influencers over celebrities to maximize engagement and conversion rates.
  • Partnered with The Graze Brothers (approx. 145k Instagram followers) for a paid promotion ($50 for an Instagram story).
  • Conducted product quality checks before marketing to ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Approved influencer’s energetic and relevant promotional video targeting their audience.

Results & Financials

  • After 24 hours of promotion, 12 breathing trainers sold (10 genuine customer sales, 2 test orders).
  • Calculated expenses: $39.50 for product/shipping, $50 for influencer, $1 Shopify fee; total spend $90.50.
  • Gross revenue was $134.20 (£113.42 converted), resulting in a net profit of $0.35 for the test.
  • Noted that only the advertised product sold, suggesting future experimentation with broader product promotion for scaling.

Decisions

  • Used micro-influencer marketing — Chosen for greater engagement, higher conversion rates, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Selected sports/fitness niche and specific products — Based on perceived market demand and personal experience.
  • Allocated $1 setup budget for AI tools — Maintained a strict initial investment cap to test feasibility.

Open Questions / Follow-Ups

  • Will promoting more products, or diversifying influencer partnerships, significantly increase store profitability?
  • Are there additional free or low-cost AI tools that could further automate or optimize future store launches?
  • Should marketing spend be increased or diversified (e.g., other platforms, ads) for more robust results?