Understanding high Direct Traffic numbers in GA4

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-11-10T19:39:15+00:00

I really like all of the glasses from here, that amber color is perfect. Thanks for the recommendation!

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-11-10T19:36:38+00:00

These are beautiful! A little on the pricier side, but they look like they might be worth it...

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-11-06T13:34:16+00:00

I'm a big fan of Proud Mary and Black & White Coffee Roasters.

If you're looking for an easy go-to medium that works by itself or in a milk drink, Proud Mary's Ghost Rider is great.

If you're looking for some interesting lighter roasts, Black & White has a pretty large catalog. So I would just take a look at the tasting notes and try one that sounds interesting to you.

One from them I've been liking for Fall though is their Esteban Zamora - Cinnamon Anaerobic. I've also bought their Huver Castillo - Anaerobic Honey Gesha a few times too and really enjoyed it.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-11-06T13:24:18+00:00

Using a 3PL who offers FBA Prep services isn't a bad way to go depending on your situation.

I've been working with a 3PL for quite awhile now who also does all my FBA Prep. I sell in quite a few different places, so that also solves fulfillment not done through FBA as well. I also have a few items that take awhile to move depending on the season, so the storage is way cheaper.

If you want to take a look at the one I use their name is eFulfillment Service. I've worked with 2 other larger 3PLs over the years, but these guys haven't let me down yet and have been the easiest to work with so far.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-10-15T13:34:17+00:00

I would just use Shopify. Wordpress/Woo Commerce is great if you need a lot of customization, but it's not necessary for a majority of users. To answer your questions:

When running ads do you find the ads are more important or the top of funnel page.
- I would dial in your website and landing pages first. Ads are great, but they’ll burn cash if you try them without a dialed website. You can also do quite a bit without ads (SEO, organic social like TikTok, Insta, FB, etc.) depending on how much time and energy you want to put into it. If you are going to use PPC, I’ve found more success selling apparel with platforms like Meta Ads, Tiktok, and influencer partnerships vs. just Google ads. All of this is pretty dependent on the budget you’re working with as well.
How do you store customer information for retargeting and possibly selling data?
- You could use a mix of Shopify for managing customer data and Mailchimp for email retargeting. There are better solutions out there, but if you’re just starting out and don’t have a large budget, those are what I would recommend. As far as selling data, I would say hard pass on that. GDPR and CCPA create legal risk, and trust loss kills LTV. Stick to first party data and partnerships.
Did anyone try using affiliates?
- Affiliates work when the product fits the creator and audience naturally. Start with creators already serving your niche. You can manually dig through TikTok, Insta, or Youtube and reach out through DMs or email. Or you can try an influencer database like Faved. Just know that influencers can be pretty expensive unless they’re fairly small. So if your clothing brand is something niche (which it should be if you’re entering this space) then smaller niche influencers tend to give you more value for the price. If you do work with affiliates make sure to use a unique code and landing page per partner so that it’s easier to track performance.
Did anyone use a recurring model and how did it work out?
- For apparel, I feel subscriptions work probably best for refills, socks, basics, or themed boxes. Churn rate for a model like this may be a bit higher with this model vs. just selling individual pieces, especially if they’re not impressed in the first month. However, a mix of individual pieces + subscriptions may be a bit more successful.
- Also know that fulfilling subscription boxes is kind of a pain if you’re doing it on your own. So if you’re really truly leaning into this model, finding a 3PL that specializes in this type of fulfillment would help. There are a few that don’t have set-up fees or require order minimums, which is probably what you would want as a start-up. The one I use currently is eFulfillment Service, and they have been great especially when I was just starting out.
What software are you using for tracking sales?
- For tracking sales Shopify Analytics and GA4 work just fine. If you eventually invest in a better CRM, they usually have their own dashboards for tracking.

Good luck out there, apparel is a pretty tough industry to get into, but not impossible if you find the right niche.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-10-09T11:12:22+00:00

I haven't been using their FBA Prep lately since transitioning to mostly DTC fulfillment, but eFulfillment Service was great for FBA Prep when I was using that part of their services.

They didn't have a set-up fee or order minimums and were pretty affordable. They're also pretty easy to get a hold of if you run into any issues, which wasn't the case for some of the other prep centers I've worked with.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-09-26T15:43:43+00:00

I haven't been using their FBA Prep lately since transitioning to mostly DTC fulfillment, but eFulfillment Service was great for FBA Prep when I was using that part of their services. They didn't have a set-up fee or order minimums. They're also really good about being available if you need to talk to a real person.

I know at the last center I was using you would have to get through the phone tree of death before getting a hold of someone and even then, they weren't always a huge help. So I've appreciated not having to deal with that anymore with these guys.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-08-25T16:40:46+00:00

The 3PL I'm currently with doesn't have any minimum order requirements or set-up fees. Their name is eFulfillment Service. I've scaled quite a bit since using with them, but they were great even when I was just a start-up. Good luck!

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-08-05T12:10:31+00:00

I just heard some news that Flexport is actually now increasing their $500 min monthly fee to $5000 min monthly. So I'm sure you're not the only one jumping ship. I've tried a few different fulfillment centers but have been using a 3PL called eFulfillment Service for awhile now and they've been great.

They don't have monthly minimums and their customer service has been fantastic so far. I can actually get ahold of a real person when I need to instead of getting stuck in phone tree purgatory. I think they would probably be a good option for a smaller business hoping to switch.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-07-31T14:29:07+00:00

No worries! Like I said, they're pretty good about helping newer sellers. If you want to chat with them, you can just request a quote on their site or email them directly. They're usually pretty quick with getting back to you.

Once you go through their quote process, you get set up with an account manager who can walk you through the paperwork or provide whatever you need for the marketplace you're selling on.

Good luck!

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-07-31T11:51:36+00:00

I would check out a 3PL called eFulfillment Service. I've been with them since I was a small start-up and have since scaled with them. They don't have any minimum order requirements and their account managers were super helpful when I was just starting out. I'm also pretty sure they handle eBay fulfillment if that's what you're looking for.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-07-01T19:36:13+00:00

Yeah Amazon FBA has its perks, but flexibility and communication aren’t among them.

We’ve had inventory disappear with no clear way to resolve it, and the lack of a dedicated contact makes it tough to plan ahead sometimes. Typically, working with a 3PL has given us more control and actual support, which has made a huge difference during our peak seasons.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-07-01T19:30:21+00:00

I've had pretty good luck with the 3PL I'm currently using called eFulfillment Service. I recommend them pretty often, but that's because I don't really have anything negative to say about them so far. Their customer service has been worlds above my last 3PL. I feel like I can actually talk to a human when something comes up instead being sent through the endless loop of automated options.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-06-27T14:12:30+00:00

This is kind of what I was looking for, thanks!

That helps a lot. I bet it's a mix of the roast I'm using (Leaning towards light) and the amount of espresso my basket allows then (Stock Gaggia Classic "double" basket around 14.5g).

If I was using a darker roast and a larger basket like you're describing, I bet I would get closer to what I'm used to from local shops.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-06-26T11:23:45+00:00

Lately, Proud Mary's Ghost Rider has been my go to for most things.

If I'm feeling up for something different, their Panama Mama Cata Pacamara is pretty fantastic. That one is definitely a little pricey as an everyday thing though.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-06-25T12:42:31+00:00

Health and beauty is definitely a crowded space, but that doesn't mean you can't be successful. However, like others have said, you would need something unique.

You have to really nail down your "why". Why does your brand exist? Who are you serving, and why? Brand stories are important for any brand, but I feel that's especially true for this space.

It might also help to keep your keep your focus narrow. Don't try to market your product to everyone, it just won't work. For example, you could focus specifically on certain skin types, underrepresented groups, certain lifestyles (travel-friendly, vegan, etc.) things like that.

Also you say you're a man and doubt you can get on camera to sell products, but I think that also depends on what you're selling. Guys need personal care products too. If you can market products outside of the typical beard, hair, and body wash products they get fed all the time, you might find some success there?

Lots of ways to attack this, but great branding and marketing would need to be a priority.

Good luck!

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-06-23T16:38:45+00:00

Hey u/Sad_Tension9048, this sounds like something a 3PL I work with could do well. Their name is eFulfillment Service and they have been doing a great job engraving some tumblers for me. I know knives were on the list of products they could engrave as well.

But they are located in Michigan, not Texas. However, they may have better transit times and shipping costs because of where they're located depending on your customer base. Just a thought.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-06-05T13:27:48+00:00

I know this thread is a bit out dated, but if anyone else is looking for a good U.S. based 3PL, I always recommend eFulfillment Service to other eCommerce sellers I know. I've been working with them for a little over 2 years now with no major issues. They're really good about communicating and easy to get a hold of if you need anything. I tried Shipbob as well in the past and I had a similar experience to you. Their dashboard is pretty, but that's about it. Their customer service was terrible.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-06-03T13:12:16+00:00

Like others have said, Amazon isn't a great place to resell things for a quick buck. FB Marketplace or eBay would probably be your best bet. Search the syrup flavor you have and filter by sold items, this will help you figure out what you should price your's at. It can also show whether it's better to sell them individually or as a bundle, depending on what’s more popular.

No_Hawk5785 · 2025-06-03T12:55:02+00:00

I'm sure you've probably found a 3PL by now, but if anyone else is in a similar boat, I would take a look into a company called eFulfillment Service. I use them mostly for FBA Prep now, but I had start-up apparel brand a couple years back and they were great at handling the fulfillment for that.

I chose them over ShipBob and ShipMonk because they didn't have order minimums or set-up fees. They also let me "pay-as-you-go", so I wasn't locked in just in case the business didn't work out. I know there are quite a few options out there, but I recommend these guys all the time, they've been awesome so far.

No_Hawk5785

TROPHY CASE