13 eCommerce Beginner Mistakes (Ireland) — and the Simple Fixes

13 eCommerce Beginner Mistakes (Ireland) — and the Simple Fixes

13 eCommerce Beginner Mistakes (Ireland) — and the Simple Fixes

Intro
Most new stores don’t fail from lack of hustle; they leak profit and trust in small ways. Here are the 13 most common mistakes I see Irish starters make—and the quick fix for each so you can move forward this week.

TL;DR

  • Speed, margin and trust beat “cool products.”

  • One lane, one hero page, one clear next step.

  • Collect emails from day one.

H2: 1) Chasing “winning products” before learning the numbers

The problem: You pick products by vibes, not maths.
The fix: Build a simple margin sheet: price – (product + shipping + platform fees + ad cost + VAT/duties) ≥ 30% target.

H2: 2) Buying stock too early

The problem: €1–3k stuck in boxes you haven’t proven.
The fix: Validate with EU dropship/POD or a micro run (10–20 units) first.

H2: 3) Assuming Shopify brings traffic

The problem: Beautiful site; zero sessions.
The fix: Pick one source for 21 days (TikTok, Meta, or SEO). Post daily or run a tiny, focused ad test.

H2: 4) Ignoring fees on Amazon/eBay/Etsy

The problem: You price like you own the customer; you don’t.
The fix: Calculate after fees/PPC. If margin <25–30%, adjust price or channel.

H2: 5) Slow shipping (China lead times)

The problem: Irish buyers expect 3–7 days, not 3–4 weeks.
The fix: Use EU/UK warehouses or hold a tiny buffer locally for heroes.

H2: 6) Weak product pages

The problem: Pretty pictures; no answers.
The fix: Add benefits above the fold, delivery/returns, FAQs, social proof, and clear CTA. One hero page beats 10 thin ones.

H2: 7) No email capture

The problem: You rent attention; you don’t own it.
The fix: Add a simple pop-up (10% off or Starter Kit). Turn on Welcome + Abandoned Checkout flows.

H2: 8) Too many apps, not enough content

The problem: Bloat, slow pages, no sales.
The fix: Start with essentials only (email + reviews/UGC). Create photos, short videos and FAQs first.

H2: 9) Pricing to be “cheapest”

The problem: Race to zero; no room for ads or returns.
The fix: Price at market or slightly premium; justify with speed, service and presentation. Aim for healthy margin, not cheapest.

H2: 10) Copying US influencers in a tiny IE/UK niche

The problem: Strategies don’t map to Irish scale.
The fix: Right-size goals. Use local angles, local creators, Irish shipping times and seasonality.

H2: 11) Skipping policies and trust markers

The problem: “Is this legit?” kills conversion.
The fix: Clear delivery/returns (IE & UK), contact details, about section, reviews/UGC, secure badges that aren’t spammy.

H2: 12) Mixing personal and business money

The problem: No idea what actually profits.
The fix: Separate account, simple spreadsheet/bookkeeping from week one.

H2: 13) Quitting at week three

The problem: No feedback loop; you restart forever.
The fix: Set a 21-day sprint: ship, measure, tweak. One product, one channel, daily action.

H2: Your 7-day repair plan (bookmark this)

  • Day 1: Margin sheet for your top product (hit ≥30%).

  • Day 2: Rebuild hero product page (benefits, IE/UK delivery, FAQs).

  • Day 3: Enable pop-up + Welcome & Abandoned Checkout emails.

  • Day 4: Shoot 5 short clips (hooks, demo, before/after).

  • Day 5: Post 1/day or start €10–€15/day ads for 14 days.

  • Day 6: Add trust: returns, contact, reviews/UGC.

  • Day 7: Review metrics; kill losers; double down on 1 winner.

H2: What to do next

  • Pick one channel for the next 21 days.

  • Publish/refresh your hero product page today.

  • Start capturing emails now.

Soft CTA: Want a one-pager to track your margin and tasks? Grab the free Starter Kit (30-day checklist + budget planner + supplier worksheet) on the newsletter page.

H2: FAQs (Ireland)

Do I need a company to start?
No—many start as sole traders. Keep clean records and separate banking.

When should I register for VAT?
When required by thresholds/activities. If selling to UK/EU, check VAT/IOSS rules and build pricing with taxes/fees in mind.

How fast should shipping be?
Aim for 3–7 days to Ireland/UK for new stores. Faster shipping = higher trust and better reviews.

 

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