Over the last few months, HC Contributor Nicole Karlis followed through on a web-based business idea from conception to execution. How did she do it so quickly and easily? By using Shopify.com to design and customize her own landing page, online store and marketing initiatives. Be sure to catch up on any of her posts that you may have missed, and read on to learn how to create your own money-making home on Shopify.com!
The Collegiette Advantage
If you’re a fan of Her Campus, chances are you’ve heard the amazing entrepreneurial journey that its founders, Windsor, Stephanie and Annie, took from Harvard undergrads to the helm of a media network. In the current economy, more and more of us are looking to entrepreneurship rather than traditional routes for our post-grad lives – and it’s sites like Shopify that make this possible for each and every one of us.
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In Nicole’s past posts, she highlighted some of the great features that she had access to – from personalization to search engine marketing to privacy for those under-construction times. But with all of those possibilities, where do you start?
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Well, I’ve rounded up some of the best Shopify ventures to kick start your creative juices. Whether you’re a photographer, a jewelry designer or a writer – there’s a way to make Shopify work for you.
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Lindsey Baker – Handcrafted Jewelry
Lindsey’s site not only features her beautiful creations, she has also incorporated new and hot products, upcoming events, a blog, and even a “How to Care for Jewelry” page. Her Shopify  store is an online shop and so much more – it is a real online home for her personal brand.
Tycoon Neckwear
Attention all aspiring fashion designers – take note.
Tycoon Neckwear is an online store that sells “recycled men’s ties with a feminine flare”. The stop features photos of the ties on models, press mentions, a lookbook and a blog. Plus, with the help of Shopify, Tycoon’s customers can shop and checkout seamlessly within the website.
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Raw Crunch Bar
Maybe you aren’t the next Oscar de la Renta or Tiffany engagement ring designer, but you are known by all of your friends as a whiz in the kitchen. Raw Crunch Bar is the result of two people who liked to make their own energy bars – and then decided to take their passion online. Whether you’re a cookie connoisseur, or an amazing candy maker, Shopify, is a way to cook and bake what you love – and find a customer base of people willing to pay to indulge in your talents.
Shopify and Collegiettes: A Natural Fit
Whether you’re social-minded like Nicole and her My Hankies store, or a crafty student who just loves to create, Shopify has the ability to turn your passion into a brand. The site provides you all of the tools, apps and plugins that you’ll ever need and Shopify’s community is a built-in support system of best practices, tips and tricks.
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Do you have the entrepreneurial bug and you’re just looking for the perfect inspiration? Head over to Shopify’s blog to see featured shops, favorite products and fun promotions. With the combination of collegiette spirit and energy, and Shopify.com, the sky is the limit for the businesses that we can create.