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From the studio

Practical guides, independent brands, and the details that make a store yours.

7 October 2026

How do I split margin between a customer discount and a creator commission?

A creator code usually pays the customer and the creator out of the same margin, so work out both on one order before you agree to a number.

7 October 2026

Returns and complaints when selling DIY craft kits online, and how to reduce them

Most craft kit complaints come from missing pieces and unclear instructions. Here is how to set expectations in the listing so fewer of them reach you.

7 October 2026

Courier selection criteria for fragile or high-value orders

For glass, ceramics, decor and valuable pieces, ask about handling practices, damage claims and proof requirements before you trust a courier with the parcel.

7 October 2026

How do I set a minimum order value for a Rs 100 coupon?

A flat coupon takes the same rupees from every order, so a minimum basket size protects your margin, and here is how to calculate the smallest safe order.

7 October 2026

Coupon codes or marked-down prices, which is cleaner to run?

A coupon code gives you control and a clear record while a lower marked price is simple but harder to undo, so here is how each behaves in your store.

7 October 2026

How do I budget a coupon campaign before I launch it?

Estimate how many people will redeem a code, multiply by the discount, and compare that bill with the extra profit those orders bring.

7 October 2026

How to work out the cost price of a handmade product

A worked candle example showing materials plus your own time adding up to a real cost price of Rs 140.

7 October 2026

What does one refused COD parcel actually cost me?

A refused COD parcel costs you shipping in both directions plus packaging you cannot reuse, and the real loss grows once you count the ad that brought the customer.

7 October 2026

How do I calculate the full cost of a customer return?

A return costs you shipping both ways, repacking and any stock you cannot resell, and all of that sits on top of the money you refund.

7 October 2026

What does a damaged parcel cost me and how much can I recover?

A single broken parcel can wipe out the profit of several good orders, so here is the arithmetic of one damaged shipment with and without a partial claim.

7 October 2026

Why copying supplier product descriptions hurts your store

Pasting a supplier's text is quick, but it leaves your store looking identical to others, can be inaccurate and weakens trust. Here is what to do instead.

7 October 2026

How to convert a markup percentage into a margin percentage

One short formula turns markup into margin, with examples at 25 percent and 100 percent markup.

7 October 2026

If I want a 40 percent margin, what markup should I add?

A 40 percent margin needs a 66.7 percent markup on cost. Here is the formula and a Rs 60 example.

7 October 2026

How do I calculate how much each order actually contributes?

Contribution per order is what is left of one sale after the costs that only exist because that order happened, and this worked example shows the exact steps.

7 October 2026

How do I connect Google Analytics to my online store?

Where the Google Analytics 4 field lives, what the Connect with Google button does when you see it, and how to read the Connected pill.

7 October 2026

How to confirm a COD order before you ship it

A short confirmation message or call before dispatch catches wrong numbers, changed minds and address gaps while the parcel is still on your table. Here is a routine you can run in minutes.

7 October 2026

How to communicate festival and weather delays in advance

Festival rushes and heavy weather can slow deliveries, and customers take it far better when they are warned early. Here is how to use banners, product notes and messages to tell them.

7 October 2026

Common pincode mistakes that delay or return orders

Wrong digits, outdated pincodes and look-alike areas are quiet causes of delayed and returned parcels, and a few simple checks catch most of them.

7 October 2026

What do I write in a collaboration message to a creator?

A short, polite and specific DM template for reaching out to a small creator, plus what to include and what to leave out so the message is easy to say yes or no to.

7 October 2026

COD or prepaid: which should you offer when you launch?

Offering COD builds trust for new stores but adds returns and cash handling, so a sensible launch tests both and watches the results.

7 October 2026

How much more does a COD order cost me than a prepaid order?

A COD order usually costs more than a prepaid one through handling charges and delayed cash, and this example puts illustrative numbers on that gap.

7 October 2026

How to nudge customers toward prepaid without losing them

Some buyers will happily pay online if you make it easy and explain the benefit honestly. Here is polite wording and fair incentive ideas, with no pressure and no big promises.

7 October 2026

How much cash gets stuck while I wait for COD payouts?

Multiply your daily COD sales by the payout delay in days, and you will see how much of your money is always on its way to you.

7 October 2026

How big should a COD fee be on a small order?

A flat cash on delivery fee weighs very differently on a Rs 500 order and a Rs 1,000 order, and this example shows how to size one from handling and refusal risk.