SHOEperheroes Updates: Sprint 9 & 10

As we wrap up Sprints 9 and 10, our team at SHOEperheroes has been dedicated to enhancing our marketing efforts, improving our product packaging, and setting up key financial and legal foundations for future growth. Each step we took brought us closer to creating a stronger, more sustainable business. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

Strengthening Marketing and Promotions

To increase brand awareness and drive traffic to our online store, we printed 75 promotional flyers featuring a QR code linked to our website. These were distributed to both classmates and potential customers, helping us expand our reach. By incorporating a scannable link, we ensured that even people unfamiliar with our business could easily visit our website with minimal effort. Additionally, we created Instagram and TikTok posts, including a Valentine's Day special promotion and engaging customer testimonial video reels, further boosting our online presence. These posts allowed us to connect with our audience in a more personal way, showcasing both our product and the positive experiences of our customers.

Developing Our Online Store

A major milestone this sprint was finalizing our Shopify website, complete with custom domains: shoeperheroes.com, .net, and .store. We collaborated with a Shopify freelancer to ensure the site was professional, user-friendly, and equipped with multiple payment options such as cash, Zelle, and PayPal. By expanding our payment options, we improved convenience for our customers and widened our potential customer base. This expansion makes it easier for customers to purchase SHOEperheroes both in person and online, ensuring accessibility for all types of shoppers.

Managing Finances and Inventory

To ensure our business can operate independently after graduation, Alicia and I opened a Bank of America business account. This step was crucial in helping us separate our business funds from personal accounts, ensuring better financial organization. With this account, we can manage our transactions efficiently, track revenue, and save for future expenses as we scale the business.

We also received our long-awaited shipment of 170 SHOEperheroes units from our manufacturer. Alicia and I sorted these into various size options (Small, Medium, Large) and product variations (clear/black, high-cut/low-ankle designs) to streamline order fulfillment. Organizing our inventory in this way not only improved efficiency but also ensured we could quickly respond to customer requests without confusion.

Tracking Sales and Expenses

To stay organized, we created a company profit and loss statement, which allows us to track sales, expenses, and inventory levels. This system helps us identify when stock needs replenishment and ensures we maintain healthy financial records. Creating this sheet also gave us greater insight into our spending patterns, helping us identify where to cut costs and improve profit margins moving forward.

Legal and Strategic Developments

In preparation for scaling our business, we registered for sales tax collection in Illinois. This important step ensures our compliance with state regulations and builds a solid legal foundation for future operations. While this process was time-consuming, it was valuable for understanding the responsibilities that come with running a legally compliant business. Taking this step now will also help us avoid potential issues as we expand.

Responding to Customer Feedback

Based on customer feedback regarding our original shoe cover storage bags, we sourced and purchased new, smaller, waterproof black bags. This change improves product convenience and addresses concerns about bulkiness. By taking customer feedback seriously, we demonstrated our commitment to continuously improving our product and providing a better experience for our customers.

Pitch Competition and Future Plans

To further promote SHOEperheroes, we applied for the Illinois Wesleyan Innovators Pitch Competition. This opportunity will allow us to refine our pitch, gain valuable feedback from experienced judges, and potentially secure funding to support our growth. Even if we don’t win, the application process alone has helped us reflect on our progress and articulate our goals more clearly.

Final Touches for Customer Experience

Lastly, we designed custom thank you cards and business cards to include with each order. These thoughtful additions provide customers with our contact information and reinforce our brand identity. Including these cards not only adds a personal touch but also encourages repeat customers by giving them a direct way to connect with us.

The Future

Through these sprints, we’ve gained valuable insights about marketing strategies, inventory management, and customer satisfaction. Moving forward, we’re committed to creating better solutions for our cusomters, exploring new sales opportunities, and strengthening our customer relationships to expand SHOEperheroes' impact. I’m so proud of the progress we’ve made as a team, and I’m confident that together, we’ll continue driving SHOEperheroes toward success.