Download our free workbook and get started on your action plan to launch your business
The email you entered is invalid.
Thank you for subscribing.
By entering your email, you indicate that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy and agree to receive marketing from Squarespace.
For many ecommerce and brick-and-mortar businesses, online order fulfillment and shipping can be a time consuming undertaking. San Francisco-based travel accessory company, Aer, has solved its workstreams with ShipStation, which enables businesses to simplify shipping by importing and managing orders and expediting workflows.
Aer founder, Allen Choi, sat down with Squarespace to share how their travel-focused products have been adapted in the pandemic, what strategies they employ to build awareness as an ecommerce business, and how the support of ShipStation empowers them to focus on long term growth — even in an unpredictable year.
SQUARESPACE: Since your launch in 2014, your offerings have expanded from a hybrid gym and office bag, to full collections for everyday and distance travel. What strategies do you apply to product development, and determining what customers are looking for next?
Allen Choi: We're constantly collecting feedback from our customers to determine what they might want next. We also keep a keen eye on how people are commuting or traveling when we're out and about to see if we can learn anything new. Being avid travelers ourselves helps too!
SQSP: As an ecommerce business, what tools do you use to build brand awareness and community online?
AC: Social media is key. We also leverage blogs and forums to engage with our fans directly and stay connected with the bag and travel community.
SQSP: You use ShipStation to coordinate shipping and fulfillment for your customers worldwide. What impact has this extension had on the day-to-day operations of your business?
AC: ShipStation makes our order fulfillment process simple and easy. The seamless communication not only between ShipStation and Squarespace, but also between ShipStation and our carriers allows us to focus more on our customer experience rather than being worried about order fulfillment on a daily basis.
SQSP: How have you pivoted your ecommerce offerings to meet shifting customer needs during the pandemic?
AC: While people are traveling and commuting less during this pandemic, they do have more things to carry on a daily basis like hand sanitizers and masks. Seeing this shift, we've been focusing on smaller, everyday bags. We're also designing more accessories and organizers that are useful for those working from home.
Learn more about launching your online store by checking out our Selling on Squarespace guide.