I found a business opportunity that combines creativity with low risk. ShineOn is a print on demand (POD) platform that allows you to start a jewelry business without the usual startup hurdles.
If you have a way with words or want to get into business without a lot of resources, ShineOn is an interesting option.
This POD model is simple and easy to use, perfect for newbies to business. I’ll break down the details of ShineOn and answer your questions about this new platform.
What’s special about custom jewelry?Print on demand jewelry is a new spin on personalized accessories. I noticed it’s a less crowded space than the t-shirt and apparel market. While everyone knows about customized mugs and towels, jewelry has been quietly growing.
This type of jewelry never goes out of style. Gift giving occasions keep demand strong year round. I’ve seen how these pieces make great gifts, especially for women, but options for men too.
With on-demand design you can create one of a kind pieces for both creators and customers. No inventory required.
Go to the top ShineOn at a quick glanceShineOn launched in early 2016 by Eric Toz. Although new to the e-commerce scene, ShineOn has already made a splash in the custom jewelry space.
I’ve seen how ShineOn’s focus on personalized accessories has resonated with consumers looking for sentimental gifts.
The business model is simple and works. They only cater to Shopify store owners and provide a full suite of services.
Product design, order fulfillment, shipping management, sales tracking. They even host product listings so sellers don’t have to.
I like ShineOn for newbies to e-commerce. Success on the platform is based on two skills: product design and Facebook ads. So even if you’re not experienced you can still succeed.
ShineOn has two customization options:
Direct jewelry engraving or printing Customized packaging cards Graphics, photos or text on the jewelry For items like 3D pendants where direct customization isn’t possible. Go to the top How ShineOn worksShineOn is a platform I like for its print on demand jewelry approach. Designers and sellers can upload their designs or hire designers to create designs.
The platform then allows users to apply those designs to different jewelry pieces and generate mockups for marketing purposes.
What’s unique about ShineOn is its production model. Products are only made after a customer orders. This eliminates inventory and risk for sellers.
The profit model is simple:
| Seller’s Earnings | = | Sale Price | – | Manufacturing Cost | – | Shipping Fee |
ShineOn’s product selection process is thorough. They do market research and testing to find jewelry pieces with high sales potential. This ensures their products are on trend and consumer demand.
Once a product is approved ShineOn makes it in their factory. The platform then updates with new product images and sellers can create mockups and start marketing.
One of the benefits of ShineOn is no upfront costs. Sellers can list products without inventory. When a sale happens ShineOn deducts the product cost and shipping fee from the payment received.
This makes jewelry selling open to many entrepreneurs, from hobbyists to established businesses. It combines custom design with on demand production.
Go to the top ShineOn’s Sales and Marketing Tools Learning ResourcesShineOn has a free course for sellers to get started on their platform or Shopify. It explains everything in detail so you don’t have to guess, covers the basics of selling. For more advanced strategies there are paid courses.
I like the knowledgebase for new sellers. It has text and video tutorials on getting started, managing Shopify orders, shipping and fulfillment processes.
Customer ReconnectionI like ShineOn’s free retargeting service. It shows Facebook ads to users who have added products to their cart or started checkout. They also get follow up emails. This increases sales by targeting people who have shown interest.
Sellers can do retargeting themselves or have ShineOn manage it.
Product PromotionShineOn has customizable product pages. I can click “View In Store” and add to my Facebook to drive traffic.
Design AssetsI have access to a huge library of mockups, video creatives and message card designs and jewelry customization. This is great for design inspiration when I need it.
The platform has a ton of free mockups I can rearrange as needed. These are good for advertising but I can also upload my own product photos if I want.
Buyer SupportUnlike most print on demand services ShineOn goes beyond manufacturing and shipping and offers buyer support for my customers. Customers can contact via contact form or email.
Value AddsI can offer engraving as an upsell. It adds $6 to the product cost but I can charge customers $15 or more and increase my average order value. I can adjust pricing as needed.
Sales IncentivesThe platform has discount tools I can add coupon codes to product pages to attract more sales. I can access these tools from the Discounts tab.
Coupons are categorized by savings type, fixed dollar amount and percentage. I can adjust product pricing to maintain profit margins when using discounts.
Go to the top What Can I Sell Through ShineOn?ShineOn gives me a wide range of customizable jewelry products to sell.
I can sell graphic products like pendants, keychains, bracelets and necklaces. These come in shapes like dog tags, hearts, crosses and circles. Customers can upload their own photos or choose from pre-made designs.
When creating graphic products I have two design options. I can use transparent backgrounds so the product color shows through or non-transparent backgrounds for a more defined look. ShineOn also has free designs that have been proven to work.
For card based products I need to use templates so my designs fit within the printable area. This ensures professional results every time.
Engraving adds another layer of personalization. I can offer text engravings on jewelry pieces and even photo etching on heart or dog tag pendants for necklaces.
Here’s a quick summary of the product types:
Graphic products (pendants, keychains, bracelets, necklaces) 3D pendant necklaces with card messages Engraving onlyThe 3D pendant necklaces are interesting. The jewelry itself is not customizable but the card boxes have sentimental phrases. The appeal is in the messaging not the jewelry design.
There are two engraving only products currently:
Horizontal bar necklace Engraved rectangle keychainBy having all these customizable jewelry I can cater to different customer preferences and create unique personalized products that stand out in the market.
Go to the top ShineOn Pod Jewelry PricingShineOn has jewelry products at different price points.
The most affordable ones start at $9.90, mostly for steel or silver. Some popular $9.90 options are silver circle pendant with snake chain, silver graphic heart keychain and steel dog tag with swivel keychain.
Customers can opt to upgrade their purchase. 18K gold plating is available for most products. Personalized engraving is another popular add-on. These upgrades increase the final price.
Let’s take an example:
Base price (silver circle pendant): $9.90 Gold plating upgrade: +$5.00 Engraving: +$6.75 Total: $21.65I found that offering these upgrades can increase order values. While engraving costs $6.75 to produce, I can price it up to $15 for customers and increase profit margins.
For the complete list of base prices and upgrade costs check the Inventory tab in your ShineOn account. This will help you price your products accurately and maximize your earnings.
Go to the top Is ShineOn Easy to Use?ShineOn has a simple and easy to use platform for sellers. I found the sign up process quick and easy. New users can create products in minutes of signing up.
If you need extra help ShineOn University has free courses to get you started.
Paid courses are also available for more advanced strategy training.
Here’s a quick overview of the sign up process:
Go to platform.shineon.com Enter your name, email, password and location Enter a secondary email for notifications Set up store details (Facebook pixel, Google Analytics, URL handle) Add payout information (PayPal, Payoneer or Pingpong)Once your account is set up you can create products in no time. I was able to upload designs and launch new products in under 20 minutes. The step by step process is:
Click “Create Product” Choose from product types Upload your design Add title and description Set variants and pricing Set Facebook pixel and Google Analytics Choose your niche Edit product URL PublishShineOn has pre-written product descriptions which I found helpful as a starting point. I could easily customize them to fit my brand and target audience.
After publishing the platform generates a unique sales page URL for each product. This can be used in Facebook ads or other marketing efforts to drive traffic and sales.
I love how ShineOn simplifies the whole process from sign up to product launch. The platform removes many of the technicalities of e-commerce so sellers can focus on creating great designs and marketing their products.
For newbies to print on demand ShineOn is a big plus. The platform takes care of the production and fulfillment so sellers can focus on the creative side of their business.
The basic features are easy to understand but I found that the platform also has more advanced options for experienced sellers. This scalability makes ShineOn suitable for both newbies and seasoned e-commerce entrepreneurs.
Go to the top Pros and Cons of Using ShineOn to SellShineOn has many benefits for sellers. I like the zero upfront cost. When a customer orders a product ShineOn deducts the product cost from my account and I only get my profit. This removes financial risk and simplifies cash flow.
The platform is a turnkey e-commerce solution so I can start selling right away. ShineOn takes care of most of the business from production to shipping so I can focus on two main areas: running effective Facebook ads and creating winning product designs.
But there are some limitations to consider. Since I’m selling under the ShineOn brand I don’t own the brand itself. I can’t sell the business if I wanted to exit.
While it’s worth noting that selling a store can be tough even with full ownership, not having this option may be a con for some sellers.
Customer support is limited on ShineOn. They do handle customer inquiries but no phone support.
Customers can only reach out via email or by filling up a contact form with their details and message. This might not be suitable for customers who prefer immediate voice support.
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