The Playbook I Used to Launch a Thriving 8-Figure Business — and How You Can Too You don't need a big budget or breakthrough idea to launch a successful business. This article lays out a proven, step-by-step playbook to build a direct-to-consumer company from scratch — based on real results.
By John Murphy Edited by Maria Bailey
Key Takeaways
- A proven, step-by-step system for launching a direct-to-consumer business from scratch
- Real-world tips for sourcing, marketing, and scaling without a big budget
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
When I decided to launch a cold plunge company in Italy, I didn't have much to work with — no team, no warehouse and nowhere in my home to shoot product content. But I believed in the product and knew wellness was a booming category. I'd built companies before, including an e-bike brand that hit eight figures in sales. This time, I relied on a lean repeatable system — and it worked.
Here's the approach I used to get traction quickly without a massive ad budget or complicated launch strategy.
Pick a product people are already curious about
You don't need to invent something new. In fact, it's often better if you don't. I saw cold plunges picking up steam with athletes, biohackers and wellness creators, but the category hadn't gone fully mainstream yet. That meant there was room to stand out.
I looked at search trends, scrolled through niche subreddits, followed what health influencers were posting and paid attention to what products were crossing demographic lines — things like collagen for men or hormone tracking for women. The goal is to find something visual, results-driven and culturally relevant that solves a real problem.
Source simply, improve later
Finding a supplier doesn't need to be a bottleneck. I started with a Chinese manufacturer. The quality was solid but slow communication and long shipping times made me rethink things. Eventually, I moved production to Italy to improve logistics and offer better customer service.
In the early stages, don't obsess over perfecting every feature. Focus on sourcing a product that's reliable and good enough to start selling. Keep order quantities low and build systems that let you test, learn and iterate.
Use real people to build trust
Instead of burning cash on ads right away, I turned to influencers. I sent cold plunge units to athletes and fitness creators I respected. Some posted quickly; others waited until they had personal results. That authenticity worked in our favor.
Start with creators who already talk about your niche. It's not about follower count — it's about fit. Give them something worth sharing and let them speak in their own voice. One well-timed video or post can outperform a five-figure ad campaign.
Add credibility by aligning with experts
In wellness, consumers are skeptical — and rightly so. That's why I built an expert panel featuring doctors, physiotherapists and sports scientists who believe in the power of cold therapy. They contributed content and lent their names to the brand.
You can replicate this by reaching out to professionals who already talk about the benefits of your product type. Offer to feature them, link to their work and collaborate on educational content. It's a win-win: they get exposure and your brand earns instant trust and SEO value.
Launch fast with a simple store
When it came time to sell, I built a clean Shopify store with clear product descriptions, a few solid photos and no overthinking. The goal was to start taking orders and gather real feedback — not chase perfection.
Over time, I added customer reviews, expert endorsements and better visuals. But I didn't wait to launch. Starting fast, let me test pricing, messaging and demand in real-time.
Final thoughts
Launching a wellness brand doesn't have to be complicated. You don't need a groundbreaking product, a huge team or an investor-backed ad budget. What you do need is a product people care about, a smart sourcing plan, trust-building partnerships and a store that gets the job done.
This playbook helped me grow one business to eight figures — and it's now fueling the early success of another. Different product. Same system. Still works.
