How We Launched A Sustainable Packaging Business And Got Our First Customers
Hello! Who are you and what business did you start?
I’m the founder of Viva Magenta Project, which creates distinctive and customizable packaging solutions. Our mission is to empower businesses to elevate their brand presence through beautifully designed, bespoke packaging options. We take pride in crafting products that meet and exceed our clients' branding expectations.
Our flagship products include customizable labels, cards, and flyers designed to enhance and uniquely reflect our clients’ brand identities. We cater to a diverse clientele, from entrepreneurs and artisan crafters to creative studios and product manufacturers. Our customers value the precision, creativity, and impact our packaging brings to their products.
Today, our focus on delivering exceptional branded packaging solutions has driven our success, with a significant increase in client base and revenue over the past year. Our story is unique because it demonstrates that a brand can achieve remarkable growth and recognition in a competitive market with the right blend of design innovation and customer focus.
What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?
My journey into bespoke and sustainable packaging began in Turkey, where I was born and raised. With a solid academic background and extensive experience at leading global companies like Unilever, Intel, and Mastercard, I’ve always been at the intersection of technology, consumer behavior, and innovation. However, the lessons from my early years truly shaped my professional path.
My father, a passionate entrepreneur, founded his printing company nearly five decades ago. From age 13, I spent every summer in his production facility, learning the ropes of the printing business. This experience wasn't just about understanding the mechanics of printing; it was about appreciating the art of creating something tangible that carries a story. Despite my career taking a more corporate direction, the foundational knowledge and passion for the printing industry never left me.
The idea for the Viva Magenta Project sparked during one of my discussions with my father. I realized there was a unique opportunity to blend my understanding of global brands and the digital world with my deep roots in the printing industry. The concept was simple yet powerful: create customized, aesthetically pleasing packaging solutions to help businesses enhance their brand narrative and appeal via an easy-to-use online platform. This idea is not as accessible to smaller companies as you would think.
Launching the Viva Magenta Project was a significant financial risk. I invested a substantial portion of my savings and dedicated all my time off to work at our production facility in Turkey. Balancing a full-time job and a startup is still challenging for me and my loved ones, but I have no doubt that the dedication will pay off.
Looking ahead, I am excited about the potential to expand Viva Magenta Project beyond the United Kingdom and to the point where I am comfortable moving full-time to my own business. This journey from the printing floors of my father’s factory to the digital platform that simplifies the packaging purchasing journey offered by Viva Magenta Project has been nothing short of extraordinary, combining lifelong lessons with new ambitions.
The business has been financed entirely through personal savings. I used my funds to cover all business expenses, including website development, initial inventory, and marketing efforts like Google Ads. This approach has kept us debt-free but meant that our advertising budget was reasonably tight.
Take us through the process of building the first version of your product.
Creating the first version of our product at Viva Magenta Project involved several straightforward steps. First, we decided on our main products—customizable labels, cards, and flyers. We determined the specific features for each product, such as the types of materials, sizes available, and customization options. This was an essential step because it defined what our brand would be all about.
We began by constructing our website, aiming for simplicity and user-friendliness. We used Shopify themes to create detailed designs, ensuring the site was visually appealing and easy to navigate. While free Shopify templates were available, we invested in a premium theme for $300 to enhance the site's aesthetics.
Beyond this initial expense, we minimized costs by using free mockups and taking advantage of Shopify's three-month free trial. Our online platform serves as a marketplace and a tool that enables customers to transform their designs into reality.
At the same time, we investigated how much we should charge for our products by comparing our competitors’ prices and the costs of similar products. This helped us set our prices at attractive and competitive levels. We also considered what customers liked and what was trending in the market to help guide our marketing and product decisions.
Every step of the way, we improved our products and website based on feedback from potential customers. This ensured that we offered products that people wanted and fit their needs when we launched. It was a busy but rewarding process that established a strong foundation for our business.
First version of the website
It's important to highlight a challenge we encountered with Google Analytics, which led to unforeseen expenses. Initially, I was unaware of the data analytics issues between Shopify and Google when setting up our store.
Until recently, we struggled to access accurate data on our website through Google Analytics. We collaborated with the Analyzify team to resolve this issue, whose communication style and responsiveness greatly impressed us. Analyzify charges a one-time setup fee of $750 and offers data analytics setup services for nearly all social media and search platforms. Strongly recommended to anyone who is facing similar challenges.
In summary, thanks to the existing businesses within our family, our expenses were limited to website construction, data analytics, and graphic design, totaling approximately $1,250.
Describe the process of launching the business.
Launching the Viva Magenta Project was an exciting but challenging process. We started with a very soft launch, a quiet introduction of our website and products to the market without an extensive promotional campaign. Initially, we saw little to no interest, which was disheartening.
Recognizing the need to attract more visibility, we turned to Google Ads, starting with small budgets we could manage. This shift in strategy made a significant difference. Soon after we began our online advertising efforts, we noticed an uptick in interest, particularly from big retailers who started requesting sample packs. This was a pivotal moment for us, proving that strategic, targeted advertisements could attract the right clientele, even with limited financial resources.
The business has been financed entirely through personal savings. I used my funds to cover all business expenses, including website development, initial inventory, and marketing efforts like Google Ads. This approach has kept us debt-free but meant that our advertising budget was reasonably tight.
Despite these financial constraints, we’ve managed to navigate through the initial phases without taking on loans or credit, focusing instead on slowly building our revenue and reinvesting profits into the business.
Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?
Since launching Viva Magenta Project, we've focused on building brand visibility and customer engagement, mainly through targeted strategies:
1. Social Media Engagement: We leverage Instagram and Pinterest to showcase our unique, eco-friendly packaging. Regular posts of behind-the-scenes content help us connect with our audience and drive traffic to our website.
2. Public Relations: PR has been vital in building visibility. We collaborate with packaging-related platforms to feature our products in relevant publications, enhancing our reach and credibility. When you can find good opportunities, you can achieve triple the traffic on that week.
3. Retention Strategies: We focus on excellent customer service and follow-up communications, such as thank-you emails and newsletters, to keep customers engaged and informed about new products and discounts.
My advice for aspiring founders is to focus on understanding your target audience and engaging them through meaningful content. Build a strong brand identity and maintain high customer satisfaction to boost retention and referrals. These strategies have shown positive engagement and growth trends for us.
Even though digital assets are significant, the final leg of most deals is closed after a few offline conversations, as there are many technical details to discuss with our customers.
How are you doing today and what does the future look like?
Viva Magenta Project is progressing well and is currently profitable at the gross level, though we're reinvesting all profits to fuel growth. We maintain strong gross margins by efficiently managing costs and keeping customer acquisition costs low despite significant investments in advertising to reach new markets.
Our sales come from offline channels, including direct B2B relationships and boutique retailers. We are expanding our online presence to increase sales to our e-commerce platform. Operationally, we're enhancing production processes and exploring new partnerships to increase our reach.
In the short term, we focus on expanding our product line and entering new market segments. In the long term, we aim to grow our international presence and increase key metrics like monthly traffic, conversion rates, and social media engagement. These efforts aim to establish a stronger digital footprint and drive further growth.
Embracing your 'imposter syndrome' is one of the first pieces of advice I would give. Though unsettling, this feeling signals that you’re stepping into new territories and challenges—it's normal and part of the growth process.
Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?
Starting the Viva Magenta Project taught me valuable lessons about balancing self-reliance and seeking expertise. Given my time restrictions, I initially tried to manage all aspects of the business, which was stressful and less effective. Learning from this, I began hiring experts for specific tasks, which improved our output quality and efficiency. This approach allowed me to focus more on growth-driving activities like customer engagement.
Investing in targeted advertising and SEO also proved crucial. Once I directed more resources towards these areas, we saw a significant uptick in customer engagement and sales. Additionally, launching our business during a surge in demand for sustainable products was fortuitous and aligned perfectly with our brand, helping accelerate our growth.
These experiences taught me the importance of strategic marketing investments and the benefits of consulting with specialists. Lessons have become fundamental to our operational strategy and future planning.
What platform/tools do you use for your business?
At Viva Magenta Project, we use a selection of online tools to streamline operations and enhance our marketing and design efforts:
- SEO Meta in 1 Click Chrome Extension is helpful for quickly checking the SEO meta information on our web pages, ensuring they are optimized for search engines and driving organic traffic.
- Whatruns Chrome Extension helps identify technologies used on competitors' sites, helping us stay updated with industry standards and innovations.
- Semrush is a comprehensive tool that offers insights into our SEO, paid advertising, and social media strategies. It allows us to track performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Grammarly ensures that all our content is explicit and professional, crucial for maintaining high-quality communication with clients and in marketing materials.
- Canva facilitates the creation of visually appealing designs for social media and advertisements with an easy-to-use interface and a wide range of templates.
- ChatGPT generates content ideas, customer service responses, and web content drafting, significantly enhancing our productivity and customer engagement.
What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?
I'm an avid reader, particularly drawn to books that merge business acumen with innovation, psychology, and resilience.
One of my key inspirations has been Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. This biography analyzes Jobs' obsession with art, innovation, and design, showcasing his relentless pursuit of excellence and unique ability to blend technology with creativity. These aspects of Jobs' character have profoundly influenced my approach to running the Viva Magenta Project, inspiring a commitment to excellence and innovative thinking.
Mindset by Carol Dweck is another transformative book that explores the powerful distinction between fixed and growth mindsets. This concept has been instrumental in my personal growth and the evolution of my business. Dweck's principles of resilience and adaptability have fostered a culture at Viva Magenta Project where challenges are embraced as opportunities for learning and growth.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
Embracing your 'imposter syndrome' is one of the first pieces of advice I would give. Though unsettling, this feeling signals that you’re stepping into new territories and challenges—it's normal and part of the growth process. Recognizing and accepting these feelings can transform them into a powerful drive to learn and expand your skills.
It's also essential to focus on your unique path and not get caught comparing your progress with others. Everyone’s journey is different, and success comes in many forms. Set realistic goals for your situation, and remember to acknowledge and celebrate even the small milestones. These moments of recognition are crucial for maintaining motivation and perspective.
A mistake I often observe among new entrepreneurs is the quest for perfection in every aspect of their business from day one. While quality is essential, striving for perfection can hinder progress. It's often more practical to start with a good enough version of your product or service and refine it over time based on honest user feedback. This approach allows for more flexibility and responsiveness, which is vital in today’s fast-paced market.
Lastly, never underestimate the importance of self-care. Your health and well-being are invaluable; sustaining them is vital to enduring the entrepreneurial marathon. Balance your work with time for yourself, family, and friends. This balance will help you stay energized and inspired throughout your journey. Building a business is not just about financial success—it’s about creating a fulfilling life.
Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?
At Viva Magenta Project, we're excited to expand our team and are looking for a marketing intern. This role involves assisting with the optimization of our marketing strategies and the development of new marketing materials.
As our marketing intern, you'll gain hands-on experience in digital marketing, content creation, and market research, contributing directly to the growth and innovation of our brand.
This position is paid and part-time, perfect for university students in 3rd-4th years of their studies. If you're interested in joining our team, please message [email protected].
We look forward to hearing from you!
Where can we go to learn more?
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
