Yes, now that the forum is populated most of the common questions have been already answered at length.
Any newcomer should find all the information they need to build a nice looking store.
But still, some people are too lazy to search, read, learn, question themselves, debug, etc...
You won't find all your solutions just by reading only the forum. You have to try and test and dig by yourself.
Also apart from all the technical stuff, If you don't read books, articles, studies, watch courses, constantly learn, it won't get you anywhere.
If you can't handle the frustration, stop it right now and do something else. That seems harsh but it is not.
Because It would imply that it is easy for us when it not at all. We put tremendous energy and work in our stores and we are frustrated and upset too on a regular basis. That's what it takes.
If you hang on firmly to your independence there's no reason for not having some success.
No matter the few minutes you have your day, If you have to sacrifice free time, do it and don't complain.
Regarding the initial question of the thread:
It's good to surf on trends but when everybody is already doing the same - the same way -, potential consumers get bored quick.
If you don't have anything to differentiate yourself (design, offer, identity, concept, target audience? etc...), test another niche. There's so much to do.
There are so many interesting niches to try, it always surprises me when people do the same fandom stores, outdoor, fitness, phone cases... So fucking boring.
Do a store you will be confident to buy on, ask your friends around you. Fulfill a need that can be done better than the competition.
Always think of money as the result of good work not as a mean to an end.
A store filled with products and traffic is not a store... Put some life in it, put some interesting content, learn to tell stories people want to read, compelling descriptions, blog articles that could improve dwell time. Think of the most logical and simple navigation possible. Choose your category wisely.
Develop mail automation with follow up sequences so people don't feel you forgot about them once you have their hard earned money.
Be creative. Be bold and work your ass off and put some passion into it.
I could always complain that some people have more money than me to invest in paid ads, but I will never be jealous of any successful store when operated brilliantly. But I see boring stores after boring stores complaining about no sales, the explanation is quite simple.
1) Maybe the niche has no potential or is now boring to death because 10,000 people already do it the same boring way.
2) Your store sucks.
3) You suck and should learn more. We all got gaps to fill in some areas that need improvement. Google and learn like a demon, no excuses.
When something works, there are no mysteries involves. It works because all the boxes have been meticulously checked one by one.
You can be almost satanic to perfection when crafting the way your store operates when all is done properly. No guesswork.
And despite all these beautiful motivational words, I also see very successful stores with almost no content or description, poor design, that performs extremely well on irrational niches like Kpop and literally killing it. Yes, sometimes success can be totally irrational. But it's more the exception than the rule.
At least if you have done things well, let some irrationality comes in and appreciate even more success.
Try working with a Youtube influencer... That works wonders too.
Wish you success and lots of headaches too ;-)
