👉 Ready to start your own online store? Start here: https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep160-we-failed-then-scaled-to-7m

🗣 In this episode, ecommerce founders Lewis Smith and James Eardley get brutally honest about their early failures in dropshipping - what went wrong, why low-ticket “trend chasing” burned cash, and the exact shifts that helped them scale to £7M+ in combined online sales.

👉 Prefer to watch this on YouTube? Check it out here ➡️ https://youtu.be/GbtpGhyIEUI

Topics Discussed
★ Why the first stores failed: Low-ticket products, wafer-thin margins, angry customers, slow shipping, no brand or positioning.
★ The turning point: Ditching “everything store” thinking and validating niches with demand data, supplier readiness, price points, and seasonality.
★ High-ticket math that works: Fewer orders, bigger profits, manageable ops—why one £2k–£5k order beats 50 cheap ones.
★ UK supplier partnerships: Next-day delivery, fewer support headaches, real relationships, and consistent customer experience.
★ From plan to profit: A step-by-step launch path—store setup → supplier signings → ads → systems & SOPs → removal from day-to-day.


Links and Resources Mentioned
Pick up a copy of Lewis’ book: htabook.com
Get Shopify for £1 a month for 3 months: https://dropshipunlocked.com/shopify
Get a free trial with a professional phone line: https://dropshipunlocked.com/circle

Key Takeaways
★ Model > hustle: High-ticket products + domestic suppliers give you the margins and reliability low-ticket never will.
★ Validate before you build: Check search demand, supplier availability, pricing, and seasonality to remove guesswork.
★ Own a brand, not a gimmick: Positioning and relationships create a durable asset (and happier customers).
★ Consistency compounds: Follow a proven plan, avoid trend chasing, and use systems/VAs to remove yourself from ops.

FOLLOW
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dropshipunlocked/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DropshipUnlockd
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/dropship-unlocked
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dropshipunlockedlewissmith
Website: https://www.dropshipunlocked.com/

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★★★ Dropship Unlocked – Lewis Smith ★★★

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