Should You Venture to eCommerce While Studying in College?

Understandably, many college students would rather dismiss the idea of having an eCommerce business to focus on their studies. To be honest, there is nothing wrong with that. If your goal is to get a skyrocketing GPA, then go ahead.

However, a few are considering starting their own businesses while studying at the university. If you are one of them, you have come to the right post. Perhaps you are having doubts because college can be very demanding. You have to work on your reports, your term papers, and you probably belong to a club that expects commitment. So, do you still need to have an eCommerce venture? Our answer is a resounding YES! 

There are many benefits of putting your own eCommerce even while you are still in college. Let’s discuss two major points. 

It Teaches You Real-Life Lessons 

The first benefit of starting your own online business as early as now is that you get to feel what real work is. We have to tell you, it’s not a walk in the park. It takes discipline, commitment, and dedication. 

Also, while we always want you to think positive, there could be a time where you need to tank your business. But that doesn’t mean you are a failure. Like most business people, they had their fair share of ups and downs. What matters most is that you become resilient, and you try again.

In addition, when you start your business in college, you get to discover things that you can’t learn in the classroom. You see, theories are always good. But knowing what is practical indeed has its own advantages. 

What’s also good about starting your eCommerce business while in college is that you are compelled to understand the trends. You are always on the lookout on the best and relevant business strategies as you would naturally want to grow your venture. 

You Can Earn More 

Let’s have a bit of a disclaimer before we explain this section further. Having your own eCommerce business doesn’t mean you’d get instant money. Truth be told, it could take several months or years. You will need blood, sweat, and tears to make it grow. However, if you do the right strategies, coupled with perseverance and patience, you would reap the rewards over time. 

We’ve met many successful entrepreneurs today who didn’t need to apply for jobs after college. It was because they already started their businesses while they were still studying. Again, it wasn’t easy. There were sleepless nights and even empty pockets. But they knew they wanted to have their own eCommerce business, and they worked hard for it.

If you are ready for the challenge, we have a number of tips that could help you start your eCommerce business. That way, you can increase the likelihood of being successful. 

Look for Products with Low Start-Up Cost

Starting your own venture online doesn’t have to be extremely expensive. You can begin with FMCG or fast-moving-consumer-goods. Some ideas are packaged snacks and cosmetics.

Others are using the dropshipping business model, so you do not have to keep a large inventory of the items. This is more ideal if you live in a dormitory as you do not have storage for all the goods. Renting a separate space could be another cost for you.  

Use Study Hacks

It is hard to balance your studies and your business. If you try to do everything on your own, it could be exhausting. A practical solution is to learn ‘study hacks.’ For one, you can join groups where you can discuss your courses. This eliminates the need to work on the subjects on your own. 

You can also ask for professional help in terms of answering your homework or writing your term paper. This is what you call outsourcing and is a great skill as you expand your business.   

Maximize Social Media to Market Your Products 

If you do not have a huge budget to work on your marketing, you can always resort to social media. You can start reaching out to your families, friends, and other university students to promote your products. 

According to research, the eCommerce generated around $400Billion of sales. This proves the demand and potential of the industry. It is still far from being saturated, but you have to be unique and innovative in positioning your products even at the onset.