Most people are pretty intimidated at the idea of selling physical goods because they think it means warehouses, overhead, and logistical nightmares. Much easier to stay in the “digital only” lane while leaving massive brand equity on the table. Oh so wrong.
Using a storefront platform with a fulfillment service allows you to understand tech stacks for ecommerce —think WooCommerce, Shopify, Fourthwall etc—as well as the world of print-on-demand and inventory management.
So whether you you’re looking for a hybrid approach to using a storefront platform to sell both digital and physical goods, or you’re looking to do print on demand or drop-shipping, creating a dedicated online store can overall help with frictionless conversions.
Shopify: The gold standard for ease of use and scaling.
WooCommerce: More techy than Shopify, but as a WordPress plugin you’ll have more creative freedom.
Fourthwall: The best all-in-one online store platform. Easily sell both physical and digital products as well as print on demand. No monthly fees too.
The Everything Store (Brad Stone) — The incredible story of Amazon, essential for simply understanding the sheer scale and logic of e-commerce.
Built to Sell (John Warrillow) — How to create a business (like a storefront) that can run automagically without you.
Blue Ocean Strategy (Kim & Mauborgne) — A process and strategy for making sure the physical products you’re selling aren’t just more generic junk in a crowded market.
