In this episode, Yasmine and Lucy dive into the big questions about starting and scaling a side hustle into a full-blown e-commerce business. Whether you’re dreaming of launching your first Shopify store or turning a passion project into profit, this episode is packed with actionable tips, relatable stories, and honest insights. From defining your “why” to avoiding the perfection trap, they share lessons learned from their own journeys and highlight the importance of community and persistence. Plus, the girls reflect on the incredible growth of Ecomm Girls Club this year and reveal big plans for 2025 (hint: vision boards and retreats are involved!). What We Talked About Defining Your “Why”: Why passion is critical for persistence and how your motivations don’t need to be profound. Progress Over Perfection: The power of starting now and adapting as you go—because nobody loves their first version! The Numbers Game: Why understanding your costs, margins, and cash flow is non-negotiable for long-term success. Lessons From Our Journeys: How Lucy and Yasmine accidentally (and intentionally) ended up in e-commerce. Community Is Key: The value of surrounding yourself with like-minded women who understand the grind. Top Tips for Starting Your E-Commerce Journey Just Start: No one loves their first product, logo, or website—but progress beats perfection every time. Define Your Why: Find what motivates you, whether it’s freedom, creativity, or financial independence. Do the Math: Everything will cost more and take longer than you think—so plan for it! Test and Adapt: Don’t assume you know what your customer wants—let them guide you. Find Your People: Join a community (like Ecomm Girls Club!) to combat loneliness and learn from others. Avoid the Guru Trap: Most skills can be learned online or through trial and error—no need to spend thousands. Comparison Is the Thief of Joy: Focus on your progress, not someone else’s Instagram highlight reel. What’s Next for Ecomm Girls Club? 2025 is shaping up to be huge! Think vision boards, retreats, and more intimate events that bring our global community even closer together. Stay tuned for announcements, and if you’d like to sponsor an event or collaborate, we’d love to hear from you! Who Even Are We? Yasmine Cheikh: Co-Founder of Cloth Project (clothproject.co) Lucy Greenleaf: Founder of The Leaf Group (theleafgroup.io) Both are passionate about e-commerce, community building, and creating space for women to thrive in business. Stay Connected with Us Ecomm Girls Club: @ecommgirlsclub Yasmine: @yasminecheikh Lucy: @lucygreenleaf_ Get Involved! Love what you heard? Join the Ecomm Girls Club community and connect with like-minded women across the globe. 📧 Email us: hello@ecommgirlsclub.com 📍 Events: London, Hong Kong, Dubai, and more! Sponsor Shoutout We’re on the hunt for sponsors to help elevate our podcast production. If you’re interested, drop us a line—we’d love to collaborate! Thanks for listening, and see you in 2025! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode. 🎉