3 Strategies for BASE Success
- 1. Original Merchandise - T-shirts, phone cases via print-on-demand (target: $30 x 100 units)
- 2. Digital Products - Templates, resources (target: $5 x many units)
- 3. Handmade Items - Accessories, crafts (target: $50 x dozens)
What is BASE? Compared to STORES and Shopify
BASE is a free e-commerce platform where you only pay fees when you make a sale. It's perfect for beginners who want to start selling with zero risk.
BASE
- Setup: $0
- Monthly: $0
- Fees: ~9.6%
- Best: Beginners
STORES
- Setup: $0
- Monthly: $0+
- Fees: 5%
- Best: Design-focused
Shopify
- Setup: $1
- Monthly: $25+
- Fees: 0%
- Best: Serious sellers
Which to choose?
BASE: Risk-free start, perfect for beginners and side hustlers
STORES: More design options, lower fees at volume
Shopify: Full-featured for serious e-commerce businesses
7 Products to Sell on BASE (No Inventory Needed)
1. Print-on-Demand Merchandise
Highly RecommendedConnect with SUZURI or Printful. Upload designs, they print and ship. No inventory, no risk.
2. Digital Downloads
Notion templates, Canva templates, photo presets, illustrations. Create once, sell forever.
3. Handmade Jewelry
Earrings, necklaces, bracelets. Materials are cheap, margins can be high.
4. Stickers & Prints
Small-batch printing is affordable. High repeat customer potential for cute designs.
5. Handmade Crafts
Candles, soaps, pouches, bags. Turn hobbies into income.
6. Washi Tape & Stationery
Popular with journaling community. Can produce small batches affordably.
7. E-books & Digital Guides
How-to guides, recipe books, template collections. Package your knowledge.
5 Steps from Setup to First Sale
Create Your Free Shop (3 minutes)
Just email required. No credit card, no approval process.
What You Need
- - Email address
- - Shop name (can change later)
- - Password
Design Your Storefront
Choose from templates. Create logo and banner with Canva (free).
Design Tips
- - Create a simple logo (Canva works great)
- - Use consistent brand colors (max 3)
- - Make header image show your brand vibe
- - Test on mobile - most visitors use phones
List Your Products
Start with 3-5 products. Quality photos are crucial.
Listing Best Practices
- 1. Use 5+ photos per product
Front, back, in-use, scale reference, details - 2. Write detailed descriptions
Size, materials, care instructions, shipping info - 3. Research competitor pricing
Check similar products to price competitively - 4. Create urgency
"Only 5 left" or limited editions drive purchases
Drive Traffic with Social Media
BASE's internal search won't bring customers. Social media marketing is essential.
Marketing Channels
- - Instagram: Post daily, use Stories for behind-the-scenes
- - X (Twitter): Announce new products, sales, share process
- - Pinterest: Pin product photos for long-term search traffic
- - TikTok: Behind-the-scenes making videos can go viral
Build Repeat Customers
One-time buyers become loyal fans with the right follow-up.
Retention Tactics
- - Include handwritten thank-you notes
- - Add next-purchase coupon (10% off)
- - Send new product announcements via email
- - Create members-only sales
- - Offer "review = discount" programs
5 Tips to Increase Sales
1. Professional Product Photos
Natural lighting, clean backgrounds (white or wooden textures work well). Use Canva to add text overlays. Smartphone photos are fine if well-lit.
2. Tell Your Story
Why did you make this? What's the inspiration? People connect with stories. Include your "why" in product descriptions and your About page.
3. Create Limited-Time Sales
"48-hour flash sale - 20% off" creates urgency. Monthly promotions keep customers checking back. But don't overdo it or sales feel meaningless.
4. Bundle Products
"Buy 3, get 10% off" increases average order value. Create gift sets or themed bundles for higher revenue per customer.
5. Collect Reviews
Ask buyers to leave reviews. "Review for 10% off next order" provides incentive. Reviews build trust for new visitors.
Product-Specific Strategies
Handmade Jewelry
One of the most popular categories on BASE. Visual appeal is everything.
Success Tips
- - Consistent visual aesthetic across products
- - Include model/wearing photos
- - Seasonal and trend-aware new releases
- - Instagram is essential for this category
Pricing Guide
- - Earrings: $15-50
- - Necklaces: $20-80
- - Bracelets: $15-40
- - Rule: Material cost x 3-5
Digital Products
No inventory, no shipping, high margins. Once created, pure profit.
Success Tips
- - Show multiple preview images
- - Include usage instructions
- - Regular new product releases
- - Cross-promote on social media
Pricing Guide
- - Single template: $3-10
- - Template pack: $15-30
- - Asset bundle: $5-20
- - Margin: 90%+ (no production cost)
Print-on-Demand (SUZURI Integration)
T-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, tote bags. Just upload designs - they handle printing and shipping.
Success Tips
- - Find a niche theme and build a following
- - Create series/collections for brand identity
- - Use mockup images for professional look
- - Share design stories on social media
Pricing Guide
- - T-shirts: $25-40
- - Phone cases: $20-35
- - Tote bags: $20-30
- - Margin: 20-40%
5 Common Beginner Mistakes
Expecting Sales Without Marketing
"Build it and they will come" doesn't work. BASE has no internal discovery. Traffic requires external effort.
Solution: Create Instagram account minimum. Post daily. Link to shop in bio.
Too Few Products
1-2 products doesn't look like a real shop. Visitors don't trust sparse catalogs.
Solution: Launch with minimum 10 products. Variations (colors, sizes) count.
Poor Photography
Dark, blurry, or cluttered product photos kill sales instantly.
Solution: Natural daylight, white background, 5+ photos per product.
Underpricing
"Must be cheap to sell" often leads to losses after fees and shipping.
Solution: Calculate: materials + labor ($10/hr) + shipping + fees. Price for profit.
No Updates
Months without new products signals "abandoned shop" to visitors.
Solution: Add new product monthly minimum. Or blog post, or sale announcement.
Understanding Pricing and Profit
BASE charges fees only when you sell. Understanding the math ensures you price profitably.
BASE Fee Structure
- - Payment fee: 6.6% + $0.40 per transaction
- - Service fee: 3% of product price
- - Total: ~9.6% + $0.40
Pricing Example: Handmade Earrings
- Materials: $3
- Labor: 30 min @ $10/hr = $5
- Packaging: $0.50
- Cost basis: $8.50
- Target price (3x markup): $25
- BASE fees (~9.6% + $0.40): $2.80
- Profit: $13.70 (55% margin)
Shipping Strategy
"Free shipping" converts better, but add shipping cost to price. For expensive items, include shipping. For cheap items, charge separately. Generally, items over $30 should have "free shipping" built in.
Example: $1,000/Month Goal
$25 products with 50% margin:
Profit per unit: $12.50
Units needed: 80/month = ~2.7/day
With 1,000+ Instagram followers driving traffic, this is achievable
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BASE really free to start?
Yes, completely. $0 registration, $0 monthly fees. You only pay ~9.6% + $0.40 when you make a sale. This makes it zero-risk for beginners.
How long until first sale?
With daily Instagram posting, typically 1-2 months. Without social media marketing, possibly never. BASE doesn't bring customers - you do.
Can I sell without making things?
Absolutely. Digital products (templates, resources) and print-on-demand (SUZURI integration) require no physical crafting. Design skills are the only requirement.
BASE vs STORES - which is better?
For beginners: BASE (truly zero cost until sales). STORES has lower transaction fees (5% vs 9.6%) but works better at higher volumes. Start with BASE, consider STORES when hitting $1,000+/month.
Do I need to report taxes?
Generally, side income over $400/year (US) requires reporting. BASE provides sales data exports. Use accounting software or consult a tax professional as earnings grow.
What sells best?
In 2025, digital products are strong performers due to 90%+ margins and no shipping hassle. Print-on-demand follows closely with no inventory risk. Handmade items work well but require production time investment.
How many Instagram followers do I need?
1,000 followers is a good initial target. But engagement matters more than count - 500 engaged followers who comment and save posts outperform 5,000 passive ones.
Start Your Online Shop Today
$0 to start, $0 monthly. Launch your e-commerce business risk-free.
Create Free BASE Shop >