The Side Hustle Show

758: From Zero to $120k/mo in 18 Months

39 snips
Sep 7, 2026
Phil McEleney, founder of UK camper accessory retailer Camper Nation, shares how he built a £120k-per-month e-commerce business while working a day job. They explore data-led niche selection, high-ticket dropshipping, landing authorized suppliers, Google Shopping campaigns, trust-building for big purchases, SEO growth, and the shift from dropshipping to inventory and private-label products.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ADVICE

Earn Supplier Trust Before You Have Sales

  • Build a credible website with demo products before contacting suppliers for authorized-reseller approval.
  • Present yourself professionally, pay upfront, and emphasize that you handle marketing while the supplier fulfills orders.
ADVICE

Start With Manual High-Intent Shopping Ads

  • Start with manual Google Shopping campaigns aimed at bottom-funnel searches from buyers ready to purchase.
  • Avoid automatically adopting Performance Max; Phil found manual control more appropriate for high-ticket products.
INSIGHT

Separate Shopping Ads By Buyer Intent

  • A three-campaign structure pushes generic searches downward while reserving higher bids for precise product queries.
  • “Sauna” signals weak intent; a branded model, size, and product-type search signals imminent purchase.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app