There are 8.5 billion mobile phone connections worldwide, compared to our population of 7.6 billion people. That’s a staggering number of mobile phones!
Although this sounds like the beginning of a sci-fi horror movie, it is actually a good sign if you want to create your own phone cases and accessories to sell online.
Finding an Idea
Customized mobile phone cases, in particular, are readily available and appeal to people looking to personalize or add extra functionality to the one device they can’t live without.
Building a business around making and selling your own phone cases comes with a variety of benefits: it’s easy to keep stock and ship due to their small size. They have a relatively low production cost. You can sell them online and at a kiosk offline. You can print on demand to start with less risk or buy in bulk for better margins. Each new phone model presents a new opportunity to meet the needs of 44% of smartphone owners who upgrade every two years.
As with any business where the barrier to entry is low, you will face competition. However, all you need to succeed is a slice of this massive market.
Guide to Starting a Phone Case Business
The following is a guide that answers common questions about starting a phone case business, such as: What types of phone cases are there? Where can I get unique designs for phone cases? How do I know which phone cases/designs will be popular? Where can I sell my phone cases?
If making and selling phone cases sounds like a compelling online business idea but you don’t know where to start, you are in the right place. Check out our guide on how to get your business started.
Are Phone Case Businesses Profitable? Things to Consider Before Starting a Phone Case Business
A phone case business is a profitable way to make money online. Customized phone cases are not going out of style.
With a compound annual growth rate of 5.4%, the size of the “mobile phone case market” is expected to grow from $6.572 billion in 2020 to $9.926.2 billion by 2026 according to MarketWatch. Clearly, there will be no shortage of customers for your phone case business.
Phone cases are easy to manage from an operational perspective. They don’t break often, so there are fewer returns to deal with. They are usually lightweight and cheap to ship, and they often yield good profit margins. You can find phone cases for as little as $5 on websites and sell them for $10 or more – an easy 50% profit.
The best part? It doesn’t take much initial investment to start a phone case business. You can set up an online store in minutes, link it to a print-on-demand shipping app, and start working within a few hours.
Types of Phone Cases
Before you get started creating your own phone cases, there are a few things you should know, such as the types of phone cases available and which phones you should support.
Types of Phone Cases
Phone case types range from practical to aesthetic. Some provide protection, while others are more like a “second skin” rather than a shell. Some phone case companies try to solve all of these issues.
There are many options, but here are some of the most common types to get you started:
Thin and Clear Cases
Thin cases are some of the slimmest cases and allow you to add an attractive design and some extra grip to the phone, usually through a flexible, rubbery silicone material.
These are some of the cheaper options you can use to produce and design your own phone cases, especially if you want to print them on demand (we’ll talk about that later). Remember, not every customer in the phone case market wants a super safe and bulky cover.
Cases
Edges
Unlike slim covers, these covers typically wrap around the sides/edges of the phone (and can also come with an additional piece to protect the back from scratches) and are often made from a hard shock-resistant material to protect the phone from scratches and impacts.
Wallet or Folio Cases
Wallet cases have a cover that folds over the front of the phone to protect the screen from dust and scratches, giving the phone a small book-like appearance.
Some even feature wallet-like capabilities, such as the ability to store cash or credit cards, while others can convert into a phone stand.
These cases are usually made from a leather-like material and are likely to cost more than slim covers but appeal to more practical consumers.
Rugged Cases
Many view having a phone case not just as an aesthetic choice but as a means to protect the hundreds of dollars they’ve invested in their phones in case of a fall.
Rugged cases are usually thicker and add more weight to the phone, providing greater protection for customers.
It’s important to keep this in mind when creating online listings for phone cases and writing your product descriptions for rugged phone covers, as anything from drop tests to details about water resistance can help reassure customers.
Battery Cases
Battery life seems to be an issue no matter what phone you own these days.
While battery cases are more expensive than most phone cases, they are also very practical and provide a lot of benefits during those moments when we wish we had more charge.
Since these cases aren’t just for protecting the phone but also offer extra charging, battery cases are a great companion for phone models whose owners constantly complain about battery life.
Silicone Cases
Silicone is another low-cost option for selling phone cases online. Silicone cases are soft and durable and also work well in high temperatures. Silicone phone cases provide a soft touch for customers. You can find these cases on print-on-demand sites for about $2 per case.
Choosing the Devices to Focus On
This is not just a decision about the types of phone cases you want, but also about the types of phones you’d like to support.
However, this opportunity can also provide a chance to explore specific opportunities based on phone models. If you can anticipate the need for cases for upcoming phones or see any types of smartphones that haven’t been well catered for, there may be an opportunity there as well.
Some devices you might want to consider before designing or manufacturing custom phone cases are:
iPhone Models
iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus
Samsung Galaxy Models
Galaxy S, Galaxy A, Galaxy F, Galaxy M, Galaxy Z
Xiaomi Models
Mi 9, Mi 10, Mi 11, Xiaomi 11, Xiaomi 12
Do some basic research in Google’s keyword planner or KWFinder for an insight into search volume as an indicator of demand for phone cases for specific types of phones. If you plan to use Google Ads to sell your products, it’s certainly advisable to consider this before designing your phone cases.
How to Start Your Own Phone Case Business
Top phone case businesses didn’t become successful overnight. Even with some trial and error, these brands followed a business plan and grew at a sustainable pace. Use this step-by-step guide to organize your own business model and start your own phone case business:
Identify
Market Need
You won’t be able to successfully design your own phone case solely with effort. Consider the gap in the market that no one is fulfilling yet. Is there a case that is best for outdoor adventures? Are there a series of cases designed by local artists in your area? Discover what types should be available and have not been offered by the big brands – then create phone cases online to fill those gaps. While many consumers try to create DIY phone cases, there are still plenty of opportunities to capture a share of the market.
Andrew Moore from Felony Case says in a Shopify Masters interview that when he started his phone case business, “he saw a need in the iPhone case market. At that time, there were basic cases you could buy at Dollarama, a dollar store, or at a kiosk in the mall where they were very cheap.”
In his research, he found that the other side of the market consisted of expensive protective iPhone cases. But those phone cases were not aesthetically pleasing.
He saw a need “where fashion-conscious individuals might be looking for a unique iPhone case.” Think of a woman carrying a handbag that costs a thousand dollars who probably doesn’t want a cheap mall case or a bulky protective case. So Andrew chose stylish cases that also provide protection in case the phone falls.
Creating a Business Plan
Your entire business plan steers the creation of your own phone case business. It can help clarify your strategy, identify obstacles, understand what you’ll need in terms of resources, and evaluate your business idea before launching it.
Ask yourself: What is the ultimate goal of this product? Do you want to design your own phone case to be a brand sold at Nordstrom or Urban Outfitters? Do you want to create a luxury brand sold in small fashion boutiques? Do you wish to start an online store and sell to your own audience? Perhaps you want to donate a portion of your sales to a reputable charity; as a business owner, you ultimately have control.
Define your business goals and keep them in mind while building your phone case brand.
Identifying Your Target Audience
Identifying a target audience is essential for successfully selling products online. Your aim is not only to identify a phone case or accessory that should exist, but also to find a target market for the product. After all, your work in design and planning won’t be useful if there are no buyers for your product.
Useful data points to understand before designing custom phone cases include:
- Age group
- Occupation
- Spending habits
- Interests
- Lifestyle
- Habits and routines
How to gather this information is up to you. Many new businesses turn to social media and use tools like Facebook Audience Insights to reach new audiences. Some might go directly to their customers and conduct surveys. Knowing how to build an email list can also be very beneficial for marketing and gaining customer insights.
Review the pros and cons of targeting specific age groups. For example, younger individuals tend to be trendier and more amenable to viral marketing and word-of-mouth recommendations. They also have limited funds. Middle-aged buyers may have the ability to purchase more expensive phone cases, but they might not be interested in staying fashion-forward and prefer certain styles.
Starting the Design
Design will be the biggest factor that differentiates your products when selling custom phone cases online. It’s also where you can innovate and let your creativity shine. The first batch you launch to the public will speak volumes about your brand, so make sure to create something great to make your mark in the market.
There are
two methods to design your phone cases:
- Working with designers and artists. Design communities like Dribbble are great places to shop for designers based on the aesthetic you’re looking for. Or, if you’re looking for low-cost designs, you can always find them on Fiverr. Try to search for designers who do custom designs to help you create your own phone cases.
- Designing your own phone cases. You can also create phone cases online using your design templates in Photoshop or Photopea, and many on-demand phone case printing services like CaseApp and Printful have tools to create templates for phone cases you can use. In addition to designing the phone case, consider using unique fonts to showcase your brand name or logo. Materials like acrylic can also be used to make your custom phone designs stand out.
Be careful, not all phone case suppliers will print the sides of the case. Many may only print the back, so make sure to pay attention to that during the design stage and when looking for a supplier.
Try to get several different designs so you’re not relying on just one idea, and get feedback as soon as possible: Post your designs on image-focused social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and use engagement (likes, shares, and comments) as an interest indicator. You can even spend some money on promoting your designs to a wider and more relevant audience to see which ones perform best. Ask friends and family for opinions. Reddit is a great place to get feedback if you’re selling to a specific niche. Post your designs in a relevant subreddit (e.g., r/pugs if you are selling cases for pug dog owners). Ignoring in Reddit helps gather good opinions.
When you talk to a target market, which is a group of people who are passionate about a specific interest, when designing your phone cases, you’ll have an edge in garnering attention. After all, accessories like phone cases are for many people just a way to show the world who they are.
Getting Phone Cases
Once you have designs you’re comfortable with, it’s time to make your custom phone cases and bring them to life. Unless you’re ready to invest thousands in your own printing equipment to make your phone cases, you have three main options when it comes to making your phone cases.
- Finding a manufacturer
- Using
- Print-on-Demand Service
- Drop Shipping Existing Phone Cases
Finding a manufacturer to create your phone cases is the route you’ll want to go to maximize profits. Alibaba offers a guide to manufacturers in China who make a variety of high-quality phone case types, from slim to wallet to battery.
Although you will have to buy in bulk with a minimum of 10 to 200 or more, you’ll have the potential to offer better prices and achieve larger profits from each sale when the cost of each case is around one dollar.
You may also choose to partner with a local manufacturer to appeal to consumers who care about supporting businesses in their country. In any case, make sure to request a sample first before placing a bulk order.
It’s important to know that you don’t need to have inventory on hand to make sales. Sales can be used to determine which phone cases are actually in demand so you don’t find yourself with hundreds of cases that won’t sell.
Since inventory won’t take up much space, if you’re confident in your phone cases, you can invest in having an offline sales presence by setting up a cart or booth in a high-traffic area like a mall.
Printful and Printify are just two of the many services that allow you to print phone cases on demand. Although selling on demand will affect your margins a bit more, it also takes shipping and fulfillment off your plate so you don’t have to hold any phone cases or even order them in bulk.
If you’re selling these phone cases on your Shopify store, print-on-demand services can integrate with your online store, handle order fulfillment and customer support, so you can focus solely on making sales.
Whether it’s T-shirts, pins, jewelry, or phone cases, print-on-demand services can be a low-risk way to test ideas for your own phone case designs, especially for slim phone cases.
Instead of creating custom phone cases, you can use a drop shipping model so you don’t have to make your own phone cases. All you need to do is build a website and sell the products.
The only main downsides are that you will have less control over the product and lower margins, but in return, the product, shipping, and fulfillment are handled for you.
It’s as simple as using an app like DSers to import phone cases from Aliexpress to your Shopify store.
Choosing a Brand Name and Logo
If you can manufacture phone cases at a reasonable cost, you’re ready to establish your public image. This starts with choosing a brand name and logo.
You can use a free design tool like the Shopify Logo Maker to help create a logo and build your brand. You’ll have to answer some questions about your business, and then the logo creator tool will suggest a logo from among hundreds of available templates.
The best part? You don’t have to stop at your logo. You can download visual assets for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to create a consistent identity across all your channels.
Customers love brands with a good story, so try to incorporate that into your brand name, logo, and website. If you’re manufacturing phone cases, you’ll want to have that ready before completing your first batch. Then you can start selling your phone cases right away.
Choosing a Price Point
Pricing phone cases is one of the key decisions you need to make. It affects every aspect of your business, from cash flow to profit margins to determining what expenses you can afford.
Your pricing strategy is tied to understanding your audience. Choose a price point that covers manufacturing costs, but doesn’t alienate the customers you’ll need to start a successful phone case business. Remember, you want to aim for margins
Source: https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-make-phone-cases
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