29 Ecommerce Retailing Business Success Stories [2024]
Here are some real life success stories of starting a ecommerce retailing business:
1. Tower Electric Bikes ($3.6M/year)
Stephan Aarstol, the CEO of Tower Electric Bikes, came up with the idea for his business while observing the growing trend of electric powered vehicles on the beach boardwalk. He saw the potential of electric bikes as the perfect form of transportation and recognized the fragmented market of ill-conceived products and brands. With his experience in the paddleboard industry, Aarstol aimed to create a high-quality, low-cost eBike brand that would fill the void in the market, ultimately building the world's first famous eBike brand.
How much they make: $3.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
Current team size: 6
Tower Electric Bikes is a direct-to-consumer eBike brand co-founded by Stephan Aarstol and Mark Cuban, which has done over $36 million in sales since its $150,000 investment in 2012, and produced and sold everything from paddleboards to electric bikes for half the retail price, with the aim of creating the world's first famous eBike brand.
2. Auric ($3.6M/year)
After a backbone fracture led him to explore yoga and Ayurveda, the founder of Auric had a lightbulb moment to make Ayurveda more convenient and aspirational for others. With a background in consumer brands from his time at Unilever, he launched Auric as a beauty and wellness brand based on Ayurveda, creating 100% natural and low-calorie beverages that offer visible benefits. With already selling 150k bottles monthly, the future looks bright for Auric as they aim to penetrate more consumers in India, the US, and the UK.
How much they make: $3.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500K
Current team size: 9
A beauty and wellness brand based on Ayurveda, Auric, is making 150,000 sales per month after launching in September 2018 and is currently 95% bootstrapped, with the company focusing on social media and D2C strategies and driving traffic to its website to understand its end consumer.
So... can you actually make money with a ecommerce retailing business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Breeze Mobility ($300K/year)
Breeze Mobility was founded by Tom White after experiencing difficulty sourcing mobility aids for his family members with mobility issues. With a background in digital marketing and running online businesses, Tom saw the potential for growth and the opportunity to make a positive impact. Breeze Mobility has been turning over around $30,000 a month and is poised for breakout success in 2021, with plans to become a social enterprise and give back to organizations supporting people with disabilities.
How much they make: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 1
Breeze Mobility is a successful eCommerce store selling a range of high-quality mobility aids & wheelchair accessories and has grown from a few thousand dollars in revenue to turning over $30,000 a month, with goals to become a social enterprise and increase its range of own-branded wheelchair accessories.
4. Bcombinator ($1.2M/year)
Bcombinator was co-founded by an entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience and a successful track record of creating and scaling startups. The idea for Bcombinator came from the founder's experience teaching entrepreneurship and their desire to create a comprehensive startup incubation program that combines mentoring, networking, investment, and other support services. Since its launch in 2017, Bcombinator has worked with over 100 entrepreneurs and launched approximately 25 startups.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
Current team size: 10
Learn how Bcombinator, a startup incubator co-founded by a serial entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience, has launched around 25 startups and worked with over 100 entrepreneurs with their incubation, acceleration, mentoring, training, networking, and investment fund programs.
So... can you actually make money with a ecommerce retailing business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Vitafive ($3M/year)
Nik Hall, the founder of Vitafive, came up with the idea for a custom vitamin pack business while studying entrepreneurial management and finance at Texas Christian University. Inspired by the success of Dollar Shave Club, Hall and his business partner initially launched a direct-to-consumer custom gummy vitamin pouch business. After overcoming early challenges and refining their marketing strategy, Vitafive has now expanded its product line and secured partnerships with major retailers, projecting to reach $3 million in revenue in 2021.
How much they make: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $200K
Current team size: 3
Vitafive, a direct-to-consumer custom gummy vitamin pouch business founded by 21-year-old Nik Hall and his business partner, Garret, reached a seven-figure business and will earn $3m in revenue in 2021, despite starting with only 31 orders after launch, with a focus on Facebook and Instagram marketing, and expanding into retail with eco-friendly packaging.
6. FactoryPure ($36M/year)
Eugene Ravitsky and his brother, Mike, co-founded FactoryPure after their previous venture in eCommerce ran into trouble. They identified air purifiers as a niche category with potential, built relationships with manufacturers, and utilized a drop-ship model to bootstrap the business. Today, FactoryPure generates around $3M per month in revenue and has achieved consistent growth by carefully managing gross margins and ad spend.
How much they make: $36M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 12
Two brothers co-founded FactoryPure, an online retailer with a focus on generators, which generated around $3M per month in revenue and had cumulative sales of $6.1M in 2018.
So... can you actually make money with a ecommerce retailing business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. Olori ($180K/year)
Tomide Awe, the founder of Olori, was inspired by her rich Nigerian culture and the beautiful textiles she grew up surrounded by. She wanted to share African craftsmanship and empower women, so she started Olori, a business that creates gorgeous, Africa-inspired handbags. Through incorporating traditional fabrics into modern designs, Olori invites people from all over the world to experience the beauty and culture of Africa while supporting artisans and women-owned businesses in Africa.
How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 1
Olori founder Tomide Awe shares how she turned her love for African textiles into a profitable e-commerce business, with a Kickstarter campaign that raised over 112% of their goal, over 2,000 units sold, and a profitable revenue of $180k/year.
8. Faerie's Dance ($204K/year)
Adrienne, the founder and CEO of Faerie's Dance, came up with the idea for her sustainable fashion business after struggling to find eco-friendly clothing for herself. Recognizing the lack of options in the market, she decided to create an online store that brings together the best eco-brands in one place. The business has since grown, with organic cotton bras becoming their signature product, and they now generate an annual revenue of $65k - $75k.
How much they make: $204K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 2
This eco-fashion case study showcases a sustainable clothing company that generates an adjusted gross income ranging between $65k - $75k per year and has over 13,000 newsletter subscribers, predominantly focused on ethical, eco-friendly clothing, lingerie, jewelry, and accessories.
9. Blindster ($36M/year)
Kyle Cox, Founder and CEO of Blindster, came up with the idea for his business after purchasing blinds for his new home and realizing that the existing online shopping experience was lacking. He saw an opportunity to create a true eCommerce experience for custom window treatments and provide exceptional customer service. With $50k in initial start-up costs, Blindster launched in 2010 and has since achieved tremendous growth, with record sales of $39MM in 2020.
How much they make: $36M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 30
Blindster, a leading custom window treatment eCommerce retailer, achieved record sales of $39MM in 2020, experiencing a 60% increase over 2019, by focusing on over-the-top customer service with a six-week training program for customer service reps and a Fit-or-Free guarantee, among other marketing tactics.
10. From The Ground Up Socks ($30K/year)
Rami Nasr, founder of From The Ground Up (FTGU), came up with the idea for his high-performance hiking sock brand while on a backpacking trip after realizing the lack of stylish and sustainable options in the market. Since launching 2.5 years ago, FTGU has achieved over $170k in sales, donated $5,000 to a trails association, and secured partnerships with over 25 retail locations. Nasr's success can be attributed to his commitment to quality, feedback from customers, and strategic partnerships.
How much they make: $30K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 1
From The Ground Up founder Rami Nasr grew his side hustle into a 6-figure business in 2.5 years, generating over $170k in sales and donating $5,000 to the trails association in their state, by creating better, stylish, and sustainable hiking socks, through impactful in-person sales and collaborating with “real, gritty, dirtbaggy” influencers.
11. Superworld Comics ($1.08M/year)
Ted Van Liew, a lifelong comic book enthusiast, started Superworld Comics after selling a collection to pay back a loan and realizing the potential of selling comics as a business. With the help of his wife Lisa and the support of other dealers, friends, and family, they built Superworld Comics into a successful vintage comic book and comic art store, expanding their business online and through live shows on Instagram.
How much they make: $1.08M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 4
Superworld Comics Inc., a vintage comic book and art store, has been in business for 34 years, and has adapted to the pandemic by increasing web advertising, hosting live Instagram shows, expanding into WordPress, using social media (especially Mailchimp), and continuing to offer exceptional customer service through expert, fast, and inexpensive shipping.
12. B2C Furniture ($12M/year)
surged to $1.3 million, a 66% increase compared to the previous year, while online sales reached $2.6 million, a staggering 171% increase. The future looks bright for B2C Furniture as they continue to expand their product range, open new showrooms, and further establish themselves as a leader in sustainable e-commerce furniture.
How much they make: $12M/year
Current team size: 15
Anesley Clarke, the founder and CEO of B2C Furniture, achieved a 132% increase in revenue that primarily focuses on selling directly to end-users with their sustainable e-commerce furniture business that offers an extensive range of carefully crafted furniture which is constructed with hardwood and environmentally conscious design.
13. OCUSHIELD ($3.6M/year)
Dhruvin Patel, a qualified optometrist, came up with the idea for Ocushield after learning about blue light blocking coatings for prescription glasses while working at a vision clinic. He conducted his own research study on the harmful effects of blue light and set out to create a screen protector that would selectively filter blue light while maintaining a clear image. After winning grant funding and refining the product, Ocushield now serves over 150,000 customers in 80 countries, generating $300k per month in revenue.
How much they make: $3.6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
Current team size: 12
Ocushield, a brand that develops medically-rated products to eliminate harmful blue light from digital device screens and improve sleep after screen use, serves over 150,000 customers in 80 countries and generates $300k per month with their flagship product being a blue light blocking screen protector and filters, sold in Verizon, BestBuy, HSN & URBN Outfitters and personally recommended by Sir Richard Branson.
14. Dropout SRL ($1.68M/year)
Kola Tytler, the founder of dropout, came up with the idea for his business after learning about the underground sneaker resale market and self-teaching himself to code a sneaker bot. He later teamed up with others to create software that collected data and ran statistical analysis, which led to the creation of HypeAnalyzer. Frustrated with university, Kola decided to bring the ultimate sneaker shopping experience to Italy, leading to the birth of dropout.
How much they make: $1.68M/year
How much did it cost to start: $120K
Current team size: 8
Founder Kola Tytler managed to build a profitable business, Dropout, worth over $2.5 million by selling limited edition sneakers and streetwear, despite having no prior experience and juggling medical school; the company saw over 50,000 in-store visitors and over $100k in sales in December 2021 alone and raised €750k via equity crowdfunding in 6 days.
15. Custom License Plates ($2.42M/year)
Jerome Bulkan came up with the idea for Licenseplates.tv after struggling to find a German license plate for his own car. He saw a demand for German license plates in South Florida, so he flew to Germany, learned the manufacturing process, and started Euro Sign in 1987. The business eventually expanded to offer license plates from around the world and transitioned to online sales with the launch of Licenseplates.tv in 2003, becoming the first eCommerce store to offer customizable license plates. Today, Licenseplates.tv generates over $200,000 in monthly revenue and is trusted by auto enthusiasts, car collectors, museums, and motion picture studios.
How much they make: $2.42M/year
How much did it cost to start: $200K
Current team size: 15
Licenseplates.tv, founded by Jerome Bulkan and his brother Andy in 1987, manufactures authentic-look license plates for over 140 countries and over 90 states and provinces, with monthly revenues exceeding $200,000, and went live with their eCommerce store that enabled shoppers to customize their license plates online and review them before adding to the shopping cart back in 2003, serving automotive collectors, museums, high-end automobile auctioneers, and virtually all motion picture studios in Hollywood.
16. ProjectorScreen.com ($20.4M/year)
Brian Gluck, the founder of ProjectorScreen.com, came up with the idea for his business after identifying an opportunity in the projector screen market. After working at a catalog company and growing their B2C channel to a $4 million/year business, he decided to start his own company focusing on projector screens. Despite facing a lawsuit from his previous employer, Gluck successfully launched ProjectorScreen.com, which has experienced tremendous growth and averages over $1 million in sales per month in 2021.
How much they make: $20.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 12
ProjectorScreen.com has experienced an average growth rate of 40%-60%, averaging over $1,000,000 in sales per month in 2021, focusing primarily on the mid-to-premium market, selling projectors, screens, and related audio-visual equipment to both the residential and commercial markets, while distinguishing themselves as an unparalleled source of pre-sales advice and post-sale customer support.
17. ESKUTE ($3.36M/year)
Alan Chen, founder of ESKUTE electric bike, came up with the idea during the COVID-19 pandemic when the demand for electric bikes soared. With a background in the electric bike battery field, Chen saw an opportunity to provide a safe and eco-friendly transportation method and started planning the project. Despite facing challenges and making mistakes along the way, ESKUTE has become profitable, with plans to expand production and open new stores across Europe.
How much they make: $3.36M/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 60
ESKUTE started a successful electric bike brand during the pandemic, with a team of nearly 30 staff members, and now makes $280k per month with sales across Europe.
18. Ultra Growth Marketing ($720K/year)
Matthew Larsen, the founder of Ultra Growth Marketing, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the need for a comprehensive eCommerce marketing book specifically tailored to eCommerce store owners. He decided to write a step-by-step guide with over 75,000 words, offering actionable advice to help business owners create multi-million dollar eCommerce stores. Through Facebook lead generation ads, Larsen was able to give away over 17,000 free copies of his book and capture valuable leads, resulting in over $60,000 per month in recurring revenue.
How much they make: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 3
Matthew Larsen's Ultra Growth Marketing earns over $60,000/month in recurring revenue by giving away his eCommerce Marketing Book for free and then capturing leads using Facebook's Lead Generation ads, resulting in over 19,000 downloads in the first month since its launch.
19. Heavy Metal Merchant ($540K/year)
Dave Harrison, the founder of Heavy Metal Merchant, came up with the idea while working in the music industry and realizing the demand for licensed heavy metal merchandise. Starting with just a laptop and his own record collection, he bootstrapped the business and grew it to 6-figure weekly sales, shipping thousands of items per month worldwide. With a focus on authenticity and catering to a niche market, Heavy Metal Merchant has become a successful online retailer in the music merchandise industry.
How much they make: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 2
Heavy Metal Merchant is an online retailer that has grown sales to 6-figures/week and ships thousands of items every month to people around the world with a focus on licensed music merchandise specializing on the heavy metal genre and has been profitable for over 12 years straight.
20. TopWhiskies ($210K/year)
Ed, one of the co-founders of TopWhiskies, came up with the idea for the business while working in Financial Services in Hong Kong. He and his best friend Evan started a whisky blog as a hobby, focusing on social media to connect with fellow whisky enthusiasts. As they posted about unique independent whisky brands, their followers began asking where they could purchase these brands, leading them to launch an eCommerce site specializing in independent whiskies. With over 100,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 10,000 subscribers on YouTube, the eCommerce site has seen a monthly turnover of around $17,500 and continues to grow.
How much they make: $210K/year
How much did it cost to start: $300
Current team size: 0
TopWhiskies, an eCommerce store celebrating the best independent whisky brands, started as a social media hobby in 2016, and, after building a large following, pivoted to an eCommerce site in October 2020, achieving an average monthly turnover of around $17,500 with sales up around 50% year on year.
21. Swim University ($600K/year)
How much they make: $600K/year
Current team size: 2
Matt Giovanisci's vast knowledge and expertise in pool and spa maintenance led him to launch Swim University, a platform where he shares his extensive knowledge through informative articles and interactive video courses.
22. Empyre Off-Road ($1.2M/year)
Greg Shuey came up with the idea for Empyre Off-Road after purchasing his first Toyota Tacoma and realizing how expensive the aftermarket parts and accessories were. Through research and validation on Tacoma forums, he identified a gap in the market and decided to manufacture and sell his own aluminum grille inserts at a significantly cheaper price than competitors. By utilizing his marketing expertise, Greg was able to grow his business to generate an impressive $100,000 a month in revenue, attracting customers through content marketing strategies and building a strong online presence.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 2
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
23. Gumroad ($21.2M/year)
Sahil loves building stuff. He really enjoyed the process of taking a problem coming up with a solution, and then shipping a prototype of that solution to see how good his concept was. Before finishing college he had already shipped a dozen products. Most of the time, they weren't that great.
But sometimes something works out really well, and then he has to decide if he actually wants to work on the idea some more. Very rarely, the answer is yes. That was the case with Gumroad. The question at its core was really compelling to him: How easy could one make it to sell something?
How much they make: $21.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 17
Gumroad is an e-commerce platform for digital content creators, which generates $350K in monthly revenue and assists creators to earn over $5M/month, with approximately 5.31M website visitors per month.
24. Upper Limits ($1.44M/year)
Matthieu Fortin, the CEO of Upper Limits, started the company in 2013 with the goal of creating a place where medical cannabis patients could find education and guidance. Inspired by his personal experience with the health benefits of vaporization, he saw an opportunity to provide new product technology education and fill a gap in the market. With an initial investment of $30,000, he bootstrapped the business and focused on sourcing high-quality products and building relationships with vendors and customers. Word of mouth and a strong online presence, including Google tools, have played a significant role in attracting and retaining customers for Upper Limits.
How much they make: $1.44M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
Current team size: 7
Upper Limits, a hybrid brick-and-mortar/e-commerce company located in Springfield, IL that sells dispensary, smoke shop products, and custom glass pipes, has succeeded in generating 366% greater sales revenue than their industry peers by facing challenges head-on and diversifying their revenue streams.
25. The Goulet Pen Company ($12M/year)
How much they make: $12M/year
Current team size: 24
The Goulet Pen Company grew from a hobby to a global retailing firm providing high-quality items with exceptional customer service, all via an internet platform which had never been done before in the writing industry.
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
