Jan 16th, 2025

My website is hosted by BigCommerce, which I chose here after many comparisons. The convenience and cost are the key points for INW. However, when it comes to building an e-commerce site, Shopify is often the first platform people think of—it’s the number one go-to place. Their marketing has deep pockets, but every time I saw/hear their ADs, I basically thinking about all the small shops over their platform how much they overpaid Shopify to supporting that Ads.

If you’re creating a free website just to share information, there are plenty of great options. But if you’re planning to sell merchandise online, Shopify can quickly become an expensive platform for a startup. They charge fees at nearly every step of the selling process, and they have a vast ecosystem of apps that promise to help you grow your business. While helpful, these apps often come with additional costs that can add up fast.

I just want to make it clear that, there's nothing wrong with the fees they charge to exchange some conveniences, However, I'm kind of believing that you invest yourself more efforts and time to find a way to saving costs, and you will learning more along the way.

Let me share what I’ve learned from my own experience. Here’s what I currently pay for to keep my business running smoothly:

• Email account: Using info@indigoandwhales.com gives my business a professional image.
• Email marketing tool: This sends newsletters I design, allowing subscribers to click images and links that take them directly to my shopping page.
• Sales tax tool: It tracks sales, files tax returns, and ensures payments are on time.
• Shipping label software: To create and make the shipping process more efficient.
• Data storage software: To organize and back up my records.

These tools don’t show up on the surface, but they create a polished shopping experience for my customers. They make my website look more professional—almost like a larger, established store.

Despite the extra costs, I still take pride in doing much of the work myself to save money. It’s more effort, but as a small business owner, every bit counts. Every time I pack one of my lunch bags, feel the quality of the material, and write a thank-you card for my customers, I’m reminded why I started this journey. This is a really nice bag, and it’s all worth it.

Before I end, I want to say that this isn’t an advertisement. I wasn’t paid or given any perks for mentioning these names. I’m just sharing my personal experiences and lessons as I grow Indigo and Whales.

Thank you for reading!