Welcome to Money Making Story,

Today, we’re thrilled to share the story of Steven, who scaled multiple niche businesses to millions while living a semi-retired life in Bali.

In this discussion, we’ll discuss his:

• Top Advice

• The Early Days

• Building a Multi-Million Dollar Portfolio

• The Secret Sauce

• 8 Japanese Philosophy to Change Life

• The Numbers Behind the Success

• Challenges and Solutions

• Scaling to Seven Figures

• The Real Key to Success

• Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

• A Story Worth Reading

Top Advice:

"The secret to e-commerce success lies in niches, systems, and staying grounded."

An entirely new way to present ideas

Gamma’s AI creates beautiful presentations, websites, and more. No design or coding skills required. Try it free today.

At just 24 years old, Steven has built over 15 e-commerce businesses, generating more than $12 million in revenue. Now semi-retired in Bali, he balances his time between working a few hours a day, surfing, and traveling the world. His story demonstrates how strategic thinking, disciplined execution, and focusing on the right products can lead to financial freedom.

The Early Days: Fidget Spinners and Reddit Hustles

Steven's journey began in high school with fidget spinners. Armed with nothing but determination and a Reddit account, he started promoting the product across various subreddits. His first sale, marked by the iconic Shopify notification, became the addictive catalyst that propelled him into e-commerce. This initial venture brought in $250,000 in revenue, a promising start that set the foundation for his future successes.

In college, Steven continued experimenting, this time with mini anime figurines dressed in Nike sneakers. Despite the copyright risks, the business proved lucrative, even attracting celebrity customers like Justin Bieber. These early experiences taught Steven invaluable lessons about product selection, marketing, and scaling.

Building a Multi-Million Dollar Portfolio

Steven's portfolio now includes three major businesses:

1. Medjool Dates: A direct-to-consumer brand selling dates sourced straight from farms.

2. K-Pop Jewelry and Fashion: A niche brand catering to passionate K-pop fans.

3. Car Accessories: A brand focused on unique automotive products (details kept under wraps due to its competitive edge).

These businesses highlight Steven's ability to identify and capitalize on underserved markets, leveraging his skills to create sustainable, high-revenue brands.

Invest with the art investment platform with 23 profitable exits.

How has the art investing platform Masterworks been able to realize an individual profit for investors with each of its 23 exits to date?

Here’s an example: an exited Banksy was offered to investors at $1.039 million and internally appraised at the same value after acquisition. As Banksy’s market took off, Masterworks received an offer of $1.5 million from a private collector, resulting in 32% net annualized return for investors in the offering.

Every artwork performs differently — but with 3 illustrative sales (that were held for 1+ year), Masterworks investors realized net annualized returns of 17.6%, 17.8%, and 21.5%.

Masterworks takes care of the heavy lifting: from buying the paintings, to storing them, to selling them for you (no art experience required).

Now, you can SKIP THE WAITLIST when you use our exclusive link to get started.

Past performance not indicative of future returns. Investing Involves Risk. See Important Disclosures at masterworks.com/cd.

The Secret Sauce: Finding Million-Dollar Products

Steven attributes his success to two main strategies:

1. Niche Markets: He emphasizes the importance of targeting passionate niches. By observing his surroundings and analyzing consumer behaviors, he identifies opportunities in hobbies and interests that others often overlook.

2. Differentiation: Steven avoids the trap of selling generic viral products often promoted by online "gurus." Instead, he focuses on creating customized, branded products with a unique value proposition.

8 Japanese Philosophy to Change Life

The Numbers Behind the Success

Steven shared backend statistics from some of his stores to validate his success:

• Store #1: Nearly $4M in sales, with 90% organic traffic, resulting in higher profit margins.

• Store #2: Over $1M in revenue and a 40% returning customer rate.

• Store #3: Launched recently, generating $175,000 in sales and poised to hit $150,000/month.

Challenges and Solutions: Navigating the Complexities of E-Commerce

Like any entrepreneur, Steven has faced his share of challenges, particularly in logistics:

• Inventory Management: For his jewelry business, managing thousands of SKUs and forecasting demand is a constant struggle.

• Seasonal Variations: His date business experiences fluctuations in quality and availability, requiring dynamic scaling.

• Customization: For highly personalized products, maintaining efficiency in the design and production process is critical.

To tackle these challenges, Steven relies on robust systems like Slack for team communication, Notion for planning, and platforms like OnlineJobs.ph and Upwork for hiring skilled contractors.

Scaling to Seven Figures: The Blueprint

Scaling a business requires more than just a great product—it demands strategic marketing and streamlined operations. Steven highlights two essential components:

1. Influencer Marketing: Collaborating with micro-influencers helps generate organic content that drives sales. By sending free products, Steven creates a steady stream of authentic endorsements, boosting brand visibility.

2. Logistics Systems: To handle high demand, Steven employs a drop-based model, fulfilling orders in batches and closing sales temporarily to ensure quality and efficiency.

Looking Ahead: The Real Key to Success

Despite his financial success, Steven lives a modest lifestyle. He warns against the unsustainable "flex culture" often glamorized by online influencers. Instead, he prioritizes reinvesting profits and maintaining a lean operation, ensuring long-term sustainability.

As competition intensifies with platforms like Temu entering the market, Steven predicts that traditional dropshipping will become increasingly difficult. He advises entrepreneurs to focus on two key areas:

1. High Lifetime Customer Value: Building recurring revenue through subscriptions or exceptional products.

2. High Average Order Value: Selling premium products to offset rising ad costs.

Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Steven’s advice for newcomers to e-commerce is clear:

• Start with $3,000–$5,000: This budget allows for testing products without heavy upfront inventory costs.

• Choose the Right Marketing Channel: Platforms like TikTok and Facebook cater to different demographics, so understanding your target audience is crucial.

• Focus on Quality: High-quality, unique products encourage repeat customers and build brand loyalty.

Learn More About Steven Guo

For Steven, financial freedom has brought peace of mind rather than extravagance. While he enjoys surfing and traveling, his daily life revolves around managing his businesses and maintaining their growth.

Steven's story is a testament to the power of focus, adaptability, and strategic planning in e-commerce. Aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from his approach: find your niche, differentiate your product, and always keep the customer at the center of your business.

A Story Worth Reading

We Value Your Feedback

Was this featured story helpful? Rate it, and let us know how we can improve.