"Dropshipping is like fishing."
How to launch a dropshipping store in three days: the Like&Go online hypermarket case study
Alexey Filippov, owner of the Like&Go online hypermarket and founder of the digital agency of the same name, shares how the store was launched on the 4Partners platform, when the first sales came in, and the challenges faced along the way.
About the partner
Like&Go is an online hypermarket specializing in the sale of original and exclusive branded products from the USA, Europe, China, and Turkey.
→ 2 million products in the catalog;
→ 16 categories, including clothing, cosmetics, children's goods, and household appliances;
→ 1000+ brands.
→ 2 million products in the catalog;
→ 16 categories, including clothing, cosmetics, children's goods, and household appliances;
→ 1000+ brands.
Like&Go online store homepage
Our main business is a digital agency. We often work with e-commerce clients, promoting online stores and understanding how their processes work. We had thought of entering the product business ourselves because we saw the e-commerce market growing and recognized it as a promising direction.
Our primary goal was to launch an e-commerce business but with minimal risks and costs—no inventory, no warehouse rentals, no logistics. We wanted to try a business model where a partner handles these processes, leaving us responsible only for marketing and sales—our areas of expertise.
It turned out that dropshipping fit this perfectly. Although we were skeptical at first, we didn’t believe we wouldn’t need to handle orders or logistics ourselves. We knew almost nothing about dropshipping but started researching, and the model appealed to us.
Our primary goal was to launch an e-commerce business but with minimal risks and costs—no inventory, no warehouse rentals, no logistics. We wanted to try a business model where a partner handles these processes, leaving us responsible only for marketing and sales—our areas of expertise.
It turned out that dropshipping fit this perfectly. Although we were skeptical at first, we didn’t believe we wouldn’t need to handle orders or logistics ourselves. We knew almost nothing about dropshipping but started researching, and the model appealed to us.
What we asked 4Partners for:
We wanted to start an e-commerce business with minimal risks and investments.
Why we chose 4Partners:
The service met all our needs. We also considered a similar service from CDEK but didn’t find any advantages over 4Partners. We didn’t look at other options.
What we liked the most:
What we liked the most:
- Vast catalog of trusted, in-demand brands. The 4Partners catalog has over seven million products. All of them are genuine, not fakes or replicas.
- Minimal risks and investments. We weren’t prepared to dive into the operational processes of an online store, so it was crucial that our partner handle product storage, supplier relations, and delivery.
- Technological approach. We didn’t have to hire a development team to launch our online store. 4Partners’ specialists did almost everything turnkey, which saved us a lot of resources.
- Support. If something is unclear or not working, the 4Partners team responds immediately and helps solve the problem.
Advantages of the 4Partners dropshipping service
On 4Partners' side, everything was quick and seamless. They set deadlines, sent detailed instructions on what to do at each stage. The managers were constantly available on Telegram and even handled some tasks for us.
The only hiccup was setting up the domain, which took us two or three tries. This was a technical issue that wasn’t anyone’s fault—just human error and our oversight.
The launch took 3-4 days. We had two people on our side, though one person could have easily handled it. Initially, we experimented with landing pages, tested SEO settings, and actively responded to customer emails. Now, there’s less routine work, and the store runs smoothly. For us, this isn’t our main business, and it takes no more than 5% of our working time.
The only hiccup was setting up the domain, which took us two or three tries. This was a technical issue that wasn’t anyone’s fault—just human error and our oversight.
The launch took 3-4 days. We had two people on our side, though one person could have easily handled it. Initially, we experimented with landing pages, tested SEO settings, and actively responded to customer emails. Now, there’s less routine work, and the store runs smoothly. For us, this isn’t our main business, and it takes no more than 5% of our working time.
How the online store was launched
How operations work once you become the owner of an online store on the 4Partners platform:
1. You pay for the online store launch and gain access to the entire 4Partners infrastructure.
2. We assign you a personal manager who will assist with all inquiries.
3. You choose the product categories you want to sell in your online store.
4. Within 24 hours, you receive access to your online store and the entire 4Partners system.
5. You start receiving your first sales and increase your profit with our full support.
1. You pay for the online store launch and gain access to the entire 4Partners infrastructure.
2. We assign you a personal manager who will assist with all inquiries.
3. You choose the product categories you want to sell in your online store.
4. Within 24 hours, you receive access to your online store and the entire 4Partners system.
5. You start receiving your first sales and increase your profit with our full support.
Time from launch to first sales
We worked intensively on the project in December, and the online store launch coincided with the January holidays. The site went live in the second half of January, and we received our first orders in early February. Excluding weekends, it took 3 weeks from launch to first sales.
The first orders were quite unexpected. We focused on clothing, shoes, and perfumes, but ended up selling bicycle parts, CDs, and bulk shoe orders. However, there was a pattern in these orders.
The first orders were quite unexpected. We focused on clothing, shoes, and perfumes, but ended up selling bicycle parts, CDs, and bulk shoe orders. However, there was a pattern in these orders.
First orders in the Like&Go online store
I tried to find our products on marketplaces but couldn't. For them, cross-border was the only way to get what they needed.
Three weeks passed from launch to first sales.
How we attracted the first customers
Initially, we didn’t do anything special. We let things run on their own to see how the online store would perform without effort.
4Partners experts set up SEO efficiently: meta tags, titles, descriptions, and interface. We left everything as default. Once the store was indexed in search engines, orders started coming in.
For two weeks, we relied on organic traffic. Then, we launched contextual ads, and banner ads on our platforms. This brought a small increase—200-300 unique visitors daily, which led to more orders. The ad campaign lasted two weeks, costing about $500.
Currently, without any promotion, we receive 15-20 orders per week. It’s clear that this number could be significantly increased with effort, but organic traffic is sufficient for us.
4Partners experts set up SEO efficiently: meta tags, titles, descriptions, and interface. We left everything as default. Once the store was indexed in search engines, orders started coming in.
For two weeks, we relied on organic traffic. Then, we launched contextual ads, and banner ads on our platforms. This brought a small increase—200-300 unique visitors daily, which led to more orders. The ad campaign lasted two weeks, costing about $500.
Currently, without any promotion, we receive 15-20 orders per week. It’s clear that this number could be significantly increased with effort, but organic traffic is sufficient for us.
Challenges faced
1. We didn’t understand how customers interact with the online store
Even before launch, we were unclear about the customer journey in a dropshipping store: what notifications they receive, how the system communicates the current order status. To answer these questions, I became a customer myself and ordered a pair of sneakers. I wrote down questions that came up during the process and even sent feedback to the 4Partners team, most of which has since been addressed.
2. We received many objections from customers
Many customers don’t understand the mechanics of dropshipping. They view it like Amazon: "I’ll order from abroad, and it will arrive in four days." Some don’t even check delivery times and ask about their order after a couple of days. We have to explain how cross-border works, what dropshipping is, and how it differs from marketplaces.
There was a case where a customer added an item to their cart and, without paying, emailed: "How can I be sure this is authentic and not a fake? Why is the product coming from China?" Many people associate Chinese products with cheap, low quality, and likely counterfeit goods. To address this objection, we turned to 4Partners managers for scripts.
It turns out that dropshipping customers aren’t focused on price. They seek authenticity and quality, and discounts aren’t always the deciding factor for them.
Customers are also reassured when they see the tracking progress. The logistics process is entirely transparent—for example, with warehouses in Germany where packages are dispatched and tracked. When a customer sees their package has left a specific warehouse and cleared customs, they’re convinced it’s not a fake and everything is legitimate.
Some customers immediately demanded refunds. We communicated with them directly, discussed the issues, and now they’re making their second or third orders. Negativity is inevitable as an online store grows. There will always be technical issues, failures, and unforeseen events, but it’s essential to communicate with customers.
Even before launch, we were unclear about the customer journey in a dropshipping store: what notifications they receive, how the system communicates the current order status. To answer these questions, I became a customer myself and ordered a pair of sneakers. I wrote down questions that came up during the process and even sent feedback to the 4Partners team, most of which has since been addressed.
2. We received many objections from customers
Many customers don’t understand the mechanics of dropshipping. They view it like Amazon: "I’ll order from abroad, and it will arrive in four days." Some don’t even check delivery times and ask about their order after a couple of days. We have to explain how cross-border works, what dropshipping is, and how it differs from marketplaces.
There was a case where a customer added an item to their cart and, without paying, emailed: "How can I be sure this is authentic and not a fake? Why is the product coming from China?" Many people associate Chinese products with cheap, low quality, and likely counterfeit goods. To address this objection, we turned to 4Partners managers for scripts.
It turns out that dropshipping customers aren’t focused on price. They seek authenticity and quality, and discounts aren’t always the deciding factor for them.
Customers are also reassured when they see the tracking progress. The logistics process is entirely transparent—for example, with warehouses in Germany where packages are dispatched and tracked. When a customer sees their package has left a specific warehouse and cleared customs, they’re convinced it’s not a fake and everything is legitimate.
Some customers immediately demanded refunds. We communicated with them directly, discussed the issues, and now they’re making their second or third orders. Negativity is inevitable as an online store grows. There will always be technical issues, failures, and unforeseen events, but it’s essential to communicate with customers.
Dropshipping customers aren’t focused on price.
Results
Dropshipping is like fishing because each new customer brings joy. When a customer receives an order and leaves a review, it’s a motivation to keep going. I feel like I’m helping people. I understand that neither Amazon, eBay, nor other marketplaces helped this customer solve their needs, but Like&Go did, and that’s great.
We track monthly statistics and see that the number of orders and average ticket size are growing. And with effort, this can be scaled. It’s great when you can personally influence your business’s profit.
→ Launched the online store in 3 days
→ Received the first orders in 3 weeks
→ Currently receiving 15-20 orders a week with no traffic investment
We track monthly statistics and see that the number of orders and average ticket size are growing. And with effort, this can be scaled. It’s great when you can personally influence your business’s profit.
→ Launched the online store in 3 days
→ Received the first orders in 3 weeks
→ Currently receiving 15-20 orders a week with no traffic investment
5 Tips for Beginner Dropshippers
1. Invest in content marketing
To handle customer objections effectively, provide clear explanations: explain how dropshipping works, its benefits, and what buyers can expect. One option is to add a link to a product card with an article explaining why the product comes from China and why it’s not a fake.
Another option is to create videos showing the benefits of dropshipping compared to offline stores and marketplaces. Go to any store and visibly show the price difference between a regular item and a dropshipped one.
To handle customer objections effectively, provide clear explanations: explain how dropshipping works, its benefits, and what buyers can expect. One option is to add a link to a product card with an article explaining why the product comes from China and why it’s not a fake.
Another option is to create videos showing the benefits of dropshipping compared to offline stores and marketplaces. Go to any store and visibly show the price difference between a regular item and a dropshipped one.
Price for New Balance 530 sneakers in Like&Go and Street Beat
You can also showcase customer reviews. These social proofs show that the store genuinely operates and isn’t a scam. This helps to address common objections.
Content marketing helps persuade customers. And a convinced customer is yours.
2. Don’t expect dropshipping to bring immediate profit
To profit from this business model, you need to engage in marketing and sales, just like with a standard online store. Of course, 4Partners handles many processes, but the entrepreneur has the final say. Success depends on their skills, determining if the business will profit or lose.
Dropshipping isn’t a magic wand. It can yield very good profit, but it initially requires an investment of both time and money.
3. Focus on not just attracting but retaining customers
One of the most important metrics in e-commerce is LTV (Customer Lifetime Value). It shows how much revenue a customer generates over their relationship with the store. Ideally, a customer should make at least 3-4 purchases a year, and preferably more than 5. This keeps lead acquisition costs well below profit margins.
Remember, customers are your gold reserve. Building a customer base builds the company’s profit.
4. Automate customer support
When a customer wants to know the status of their package, they don’t care if the information comes from a bot or a person. But for serious issues—like a lost package or wrong order—a manager is needed since a bot can’t handle such situations.
In most cases, it’s better to automate support or use AI, as maintaining a full call center can be too costly.
5. Take care of your customers
To stand out from competitors, offer high-quality service and full transparency. Remember, customers take a risk because there are many online stores, including scams. Customers should understand each step of the process.
Sometimes you may need to exceed expectations, like overestimating delivery times and delivering earlier. This adds a nice bonus and wow factor.
You can’t make customs process goods faster, so delivery speed can’t be influenced. This is why service and care are what can set your online store apart.
Content marketing helps persuade customers. And a convinced customer is yours.
2. Don’t expect dropshipping to bring immediate profit
To profit from this business model, you need to engage in marketing and sales, just like with a standard online store. Of course, 4Partners handles many processes, but the entrepreneur has the final say. Success depends on their skills, determining if the business will profit or lose.
Dropshipping isn’t a magic wand. It can yield very good profit, but it initially requires an investment of both time and money.
3. Focus on not just attracting but retaining customers
One of the most important metrics in e-commerce is LTV (Customer Lifetime Value). It shows how much revenue a customer generates over their relationship with the store. Ideally, a customer should make at least 3-4 purchases a year, and preferably more than 5. This keeps lead acquisition costs well below profit margins.
Remember, customers are your gold reserve. Building a customer base builds the company’s profit.
4. Automate customer support
When a customer wants to know the status of their package, they don’t care if the information comes from a bot or a person. But for serious issues—like a lost package or wrong order—a manager is needed since a bot can’t handle such situations.
In most cases, it’s better to automate support or use AI, as maintaining a full call center can be too costly.
5. Take care of your customers
To stand out from competitors, offer high-quality service and full transparency. Remember, customers take a risk because there are many online stores, including scams. Customers should understand each step of the process.
Sometimes you may need to exceed expectations, like overestimating delivery times and delivering earlier. This adds a nice bonus and wow factor.
You can’t make customs process goods faster, so delivery speed can’t be influenced. This is why service and care are what can set your online store apart.
***
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A fully ready business in 24 hours—with products, acquiring, an order processing system, and automated logistics.
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