Parenity Brand Startup Journal | Entry #4 | Week Ending Jul.12/24
Parenity is a solopreneur brand (read about it here) being built from the ground up by me, Rob Bond. For other entries in this startup journal, check out the startup journal category on this site, or if you want to just check out the previous post, you can find it here.
And if you don’t feel like reading every single thought, here’s the blog post condensed into a short video:
Basics Are in Place in Shopify Dev Site
Fonts selected (this can burn a lot of time if you let it; button colors and shapes are set. Logo version, size and alignment set. Now what to do with my long product descriptions! Custom cart icon: And how to balance diy and spending on apps!
Starting to Install Shopify Apps Where it Makes Sense
I have a list of apps in my mind that I know from experience I don’t want to be without. There are also others that I’ve been thinking about for a while I’ve decided they’re necessary for what I’m trying to do. Any of these apps that have a free tier or free version for development stores, I’m installing now so they’re there waiting for me when the mood strikes or time presents itself to configure or learn them. And if any end up being losers, better I know now than right before launch!
I’m Going To Try Not Using Klaviyo for Email
It seems to be a given that if you’ve got an e-commerce site, you’ve got to use Klaviyo. I’ve used it and loved it, but I’m going to see what happens if I use Shopify’s free option, Shopify Email! I’m sure I’ll meet limitations, but maybe not so many it’s worth paying Klaviyo’s climbing fees.
Health Canada Product Regulations
Our NPN application for our Adulting Done Bright product is definitely underway. So far, the only change we’ve had to make is reducing the amount of Rhodiola-Rosea per dose from 300mg to 200mg. This is not terrible, and perhaps it will reduce our costs.
The people doing the application on our behalf have also provided me with a description of Health Canada’s rules for product names (see below). As far as I can tell, the “Adulting Done Bright” name should stand, but time will tell.
A Bit Green on the NPN Submission Process
I just learned that the uses and dosage part of our product label is not dictated by Health Canada as I was assuming. We (I and the 3rd party assisting with the application) write it up and submit to Health Canada for their approval. It’s a little more work (that I’ve mostly done already in my early draft of the product description for the website), but I actually prefer this so we can get specific with customers on the best way to use the product.
When to Push Back and When to Recognize your Lack of Leverage
There are a few pieces of the manufacturing and regulatory processes that have caused slight adjustments in product contents and directions. Some of these have not worked in my favor, and some pieces I have not had my hand held on as much as I’d like. When you’re relatively new to an industry and placing small orders, you do have to consider: is this wrong enough that my small buying power is irrelevant to it? Is this wrong enough to slow up production? Is this wrong enough to risk souring a business relationship, even a little? And is this something that I can course-correct on later when I have more leverage?