1. Top Shopify Success Stories: Numbers & Tactics
The following stores are among the 35 most inspiring Shopify brands highlighted by Oberlo. They span multiple niches—fashion, beauty, tech, and more. We’ll examine how they grew, specific revenue milestones, and how 3PL or dropshipping frameworks could apply.
1.1 Fashion & Accessories
-
Negative Underwear
- Focus: Women’s underwear without uncomfortable push-up padding.
- Growth: Founded in 2014; exponential revenue each year.
- Media Coverage: Featured in Forbes, Vogue, WSJ.
- 3PL Perspective: A brand with consistent monthly stock turnover, perfect for a local 3PL to handle returns, exchanges, and fast restocks.
-
Ugmonk
- Founder: Jeff Sheldon started it as a side project.
- Reach: Tens of thousands of products shipped to 60+ countries.
- Expansion: T-shirts became so well-known they appeared in TV shows.
- Scaling Tip: Could benefit from dropshipping 3PL in Europe to reduce shipping costs for overseas fans.
-
Taylor Stitch
- Initial Concept: Custom men’s apparel, launched in 2010.
- Revenue: Hit $1.5M in sales by year three; tripled yearly early on.
- Marketing: Customer-driven content on Instagram.
- Fulfillment Strategy: Their high growth suggests a multi-warehouse approach (e.g., US + Europe) to handle global orders efficiently.
-
HELM Boots
- USP: Handmade boots, 100% made in the USA.
- Celebrity Use: Ben Affleck is a known fan.
- Potential: As a premium brand, 3PL and dedicated shipping channels help maintain top-tier customer experience.
- Revenue: Not publicly disclosed, but major media presence indicates strong sales.
-
Marc Wenn
- Focus: London-designed shoes, watches, and bags.
- Tip for Beginners: Founder personally emailed the first 100 buyers.
- Scalability: A local 3PL in Europe would handle last-mile shipping to fans globally, especially if sales surge through influencer push.
-
Triangl
- Product: Stylish neoprene bikinis.
- Revenue: ~$5M in the first year (2013), jumped to ~$25M the next year.
- Influencer Ties: Bikinis often showcased by Instagram models.
- 3PL Dropshipping: With massive volume, storing inventory across multiple warehouses (US, Europe, Australia) ensures fast local delivery.
-
Bremont
- Niche: Luxury British-made watches, 8k–10k pieces sold yearly.
- 3PL or not? High-value items often require specialized inventory management for insurance and swift shipping.
-
Whipping Post
- Highlight: Won the Shopify Design Award in 2013.
- Core: Leather goods with premium craftsmanship.
- Growth: This design-focused brand scaled quickly, benefiting from editorial coverage.
-
Khara Kapas
- Meaning: “Algodón puro” in Hindi; minimalistic clothing brand.
- Revenue: ~$1,500 daily = ~$45k monthly.
- Potential: Already shipping worldwide; a local 3PL in Europe can slash shipping costs for EU customers.
-
Minaal
- Model: High-quality travel gear for digital nomads.
- Crowdfunding: Campaign raised ~$707k vs. a $10k goal, with 2,400+ backers.
- Perfect Case: Using a 3PL for crowdfunding to fulfill large pledge volumes smoothly.
-
Watch Outfitter
- Founder: A 17-year-old watch enthusiast.
- Monthly Revenue: ~$13.5k after first year.
- Sourcing: Multi-region suppliers in US, Europe, and Asia.
- Learning: A prime dropshipping example for multi-supplier setups.
-
SoYoung Inc
- Product: Bags for moms and children.
- Percentage: ~25% of revenue from its Shopify store.
- Profit Booster: Direct-to-consumer margins, especially if they store locally in big markets.
-
THINX
- Concept: “Period-proof” underwear.
- Crowdfunding: ~$130k raised in 2014, then 23x growth overall.
- Stellar Example: High-volume expansions—3PL dropshipping suits them for distributing globally.
-
Sunday Somewhere
- Category: Premium sunglasses brand since 2010.
- Strategy: Strong brand identity with minimalistic design, invests in lifestyle marketing.
- Potential: Could employ a 3PL SFP model for Amazon listings, ensuring 2-day shipping in major EU countries.
-
Gymshark
- Origin: 2012, by teenage founder Ben Francis in a garage.
- Reach: Operates in 131 countries, 3 million+ social followers.
- Revenue: Well into 7 or 8 figures, rumored 2021 valuation near $1B.
- Influencer: Core marketing approach; invests heavily in fitness personalities.
- 3PL: High shipping volumes would benefit from country-specific warehouses.
1.2 Health & Beauty Stores
-
KKW Beauty
- Founder: Kim Kardashian West, sells out products in minutes.
- Revenue: Millions of dollars, rapid expansions with each drop.
- Marketing: Social media dominance.
- Fulfillment: With flash sales, robust 3PL systems needed for quick packing.
-
Flex
- Product: Alternative to tampons, $4.6M in 6 months.
- Growth: Surged by addressing a unique women’s health niche.
- Shipping: Large volume of small items—dropshipping 3PL can handle repetitive B2C shipments.
-
SkinnyMe Tea
- Stats: 9 months after launch → $600k monthly revenue.
- Focus: Detox teas, riding the wave of Instagram “wellness” marketing.
- Logistics: Lightweight shipments, perfect for a local 3PL with cheap domestic rates.
-
Bootea
- Market: Similar detox tea brand, 1M+ customers.
- Strategy: Heavy Instagram promotion.
- Fulfillment: Shipped globally, needs multi-warehouse approach.
-
Kylie Cosmetics
- Founder: Kylie Jenner, sells out new lines in minutes.
- Value: Company famously pegged at hundreds of millions.
- Fulfillment: High volume flash sales—3PL must handle surge orders.
-
Nerdwax
- Revenue: > $1M total.
- Unique: A beeswax product to keep glasses from slipping.
- Tip: Good example for small but high-demand products, ideal for dropshipping 3PL.
-
Little Sparrow Tea
- Strategy: London-based brand invests in content marketing.
- Growth: Gains steady traction among niche tea lovers; small, lightweight goods.
- Fulfillment: Storing in local 3PL to ship across Europe cost-effectively.
-
Jeffree Star Cosmetics
- Shipping: Free over $100 in the US. In the EU, a local 3PL drastically cuts shipping from the States.
- Revenue: Known to do $10M+ in major launches.
- Media: Jeffree Star’s personal brand drives massive traffic.
-
Beardbrand
- Monthly Sales: $120k after just one year.
- Approach: Email marketing + brand story.
- Potential: If they wanted to expand across EU barbers, they’d need a specialized 3PL for frequent B2B shipments.
-
Concrete Minerals
- Niche: Vegan, cruelty-free cosmetics.
- Expansion: Worldwide shipping, free if over $50.
- 3PL: Great for consolidated local deliveries, especially to big cosmetics markets like France or Spain.
-
Skinny Teatox
- Momentum: Earned big following with a Shopify design showcased for its success.
- Growth: Over $600k monthly at times, echoing SkinnyMe Tea’s numbers.
- 3PL: Perfect for bundling small tea pouches, shipping in quick 2–3 day windows.
-
Press London
- Founders: Georgie & Ed; cold-pressed juices.
- Fulfillment Complexity: Freshness demands fast shipping, might require a specialized 3PL with temperature control.
-
Nutriseed
- Daily Sales: ~200 items/day.
- Marketing: Instagram success stories.
- Fulfillment: With consistent volume, a local 3PL in each major market helps minimize shipping times.
2.3 Tech & Gadgets
-
Master and Dynamic
- High-End Headphones: Premium price point.
- Potential: If shipping from Asia, local 3PL keeps margins high by cutting €15+ shipping down to €5–€8 domestically.
-
Studio Neat
- Crowdfunding: Up to $210k in 30 days for new product lines.
- 3PL for Crowdfunding: A prime candidate for storing big post-Kickstarter inventory and shipping to backers.
2.4 Other Sectors (Food, Lifestyle, Sports, etc.)
-
Sugarfina
- Growth: $120k in first month → $3M by second year.
- Highlight: Bulk B2B gifts, plus direct eCommerce.
- 3PL: Perfect for shipping candy across Europe.
-
Pipsnacks
- Shark Tank: $200k investment, soared to $800k revenue next year.
- Logistics: Snack foods with consistent reorders, ideal for a multi-warehouse dropshipping 3PL approach.
-
Pure Cycle
- CyIndustry: $6B market in the US alone.
- Sales: ~2,000 bikes in 2012 → ~$4M in that year.
- Scaling: Large items need local 3PL to reduce shipping from a central hub.
-
Tattly
- Volume: ~2.6M temporary tattoos shipped in a year.
- Strategy: Quirky brand + social media virality.
- 3PL: High volume, lightweight items → extremely cheap to store and dispatch.
-
Gymshark (reiterated)
- Explosive: Possibly $1B valuation, massive influencer marketing.
- Blueprint: If you run a sports brand, note how Gymshark invests in personal connections with ambassadors and runs global 3PL networks.
Putting It All Together: Key Numbers & Strategies in a Table
The following table summarizes selected success metrics from these top Shopify stores, plus insights on how a 3PL dropshipping model could enhance their operations if they target European markets.
Store | Niche | Main Achievement / Revenue | Marketing / Growth Tactic | 3PL Angle |
---|---|---|---|---|
Negative Underwear | Women’s Underwear | Exponential yearly growth since 2014 | PR features (Vogue, WSJ), comfort-focused brand | Local 3PL to handle global distribution + returns |
Ugmonk | Minimalist Apparel | Ships tens of thousands of items to 60+ countries | Personal founder story, social engagement | Store in multiple regions to cut shipping times |
Taylor Stitch | Custom Men’s Apparel | ~$1.5M by year 3, tripled annual revenues early on | High user-generated content on socials | Scalable 3PL SFP for Amazon + 3PL dropshipping for direct store |
HELM Boots | Handmade Boots | Celebrity fan: Ben Affleck | “Made in the USA” brand ethos | Premium items benefit from specialized 3PL handling & shipping |
Marc Wenn | Shoes, Watches, Bags | Founder-led designs, personal emails to first 100 customers | Authentic, small-batch approach | 3PL dropshipping for Euro markets, building a brand presence |
Triangl | Neoprene Swimwear | $5M year 1 → $25M year 2 | Instagram influencer campaigns | Perfect for “flash shipping” from local 3PL in each major market |
Bremont | Luxury British Watches | 8k–10k units yearly, handmade | High-end press coverage | 3PL for niche luxury distribution, possibly a custom fulfillment approach |
Whipping Post | Leather Goods | Won 2013 Shopify Design Award | Vintage aesthetic + quality design | Local warehouse to handle surges in gift orders |
Khara Kapas | Handcrafted Clothing | $45k/mo | Earthy minimalism, Indian cotton focus | Dropshipping 3PL to reduce int’l shipping from India |
Minaal | Travel Gear | $707k crowdfunded (vs. $10k goal), thousands of backers | 3PL for crowdfunding scenario post-Kickstarter | Allows large reward fulfillment in EU or US quickly |
Watch Outfitter | Watches & Accessories | $13.5k monthly in first year, founder was 17 | Multi-supplier from US/EU/Asia | Dropshipping 3PL to unify picks & shipping in various geos |
SoYoung Inc | Bags & Lunch Accessories | 25% of revenue from Shopify store | Direct-to-consumer margins | Gains from a local warehouse, short shipments, less overhead |
THINX | Period-Proof Underwear | Crowdfunded $130k in 2014, grew 23x overall | Bold branding, social activism | 3PL dropshipping approach to scale global deliveries quickly |
Sunday Somewhere | Premium Sunglasses | Global recognition since 2010, minimalistic designs | Lifestyle branding, curated Instagram feed | 3PL dropshipping in major hubs for 1–3 day shipping |
Gymshark | Fitness Apparel | From a UK garage in 2012 → multi-million brand in 131 countries | Heavy influencer marketing, brand ambassadors | 3PL SFP for Amazon + local 3PLs dropshipping across multiple warehouses |
KKW Beauty | Kim Kardashian’s Brand | Sells out product lines in minutes, multi-million revenues | Celebrity & influencer power, social mania | High-volume “flash” shipments → local 3PL ensures timely dispatch |
Flex | Alternative Feminine Care | ~$4.6M in 6 months | Focused on uniqueness of product + social proof | Dropshipping 3PL helps with small high-volume packages to thousands of addresses |
SkinnyMe Tea | Detox Tea | ~$600k monthly by 9th month | Instagram influencer marketing, wellness wave | 3PL for easy shipping of tea pouches across EU & beyond |
Bootea | Detox Tea | 1M+ customers worldwide, B2C & retail | IG presence, diet culture hype | Dropshipping 3PL to handle repetitive orders + multi-country deliveries |
Kylie Cosmetics | Kylie Jenner’s Beauty | Sells out new lines in minutes, valued in multi-millions | Flash sales, social star’s brand effect | 3PL SFP or local 3PL for EU expansions (no reliance on FBA only) |
Nerdwax | Beeswax for Glasses | $1M+ total revenue | Shark Tank boost, unique niche | Perfect for dropshipping 3PL approach—lightweight orders worldwide |
Jeffree Star | Bold Cosmetics | Notable for $10M+ in major launches | YouTube & brand personality | 3PL dropshipping or 3PL SFP if they expand to Amazon EU quickly |
Beardbrand | Beard Care Products | ~$120k monthly in under 1 year | Email marketing success story | Could localize across multiple EU hubs for men’s grooming items |
Concrete Minerals | Vegan Cosmetics | 100% cruelty-free, no gluten | “Less is more” approach + shipping worldwide | 3PLs dropshipping to handle small product SKUs with custom labeling |
Skinny Teatox | Detox Tea | Over $600k monthly at times, similar approach to SkinnyMe | Attractive Shopify design, big IG push | Low shipping weight → easy to handle with local 3PL in big markets |
Press London | Cold-Pressed Juices | Founded by Georgie & Ed, scale in UK | Niche healthy-living brand | Possibly needs a “sanitary warehouse” if shipping fresh products (temp control) |
Nutriseed | Natural Foods | ~200 orders daily, soared via Instagram | Transparent manufacturing approach | 3PL for easy daily pick & pack across the UK/EU |
Master & Dynamic | High-End Headphones | Premium price points, direct competition to Beats, etc. | Lifestyle marketing, audio press features | 3PL dropshipping ensures quick replacements & returns in local markets |
Studio Neat | Design Gadgets | Crowdfunded $210k in 30 days | Kickstarter track record | 3PL for crowdfunding after each new product campaign |
Sugarfina | Gourmet Candies & Gifts | $120k in 1st month → $3M by year 2 | B2B + direct eCommerce, curated sweet boxes | Local 3PL in multiple countries for corporate gifting seasons |
Pipsnacks | Healthy Snacks | $200k from Shark Tank → $800k next year | Food brand synergy, retailer & direct sales | Dropshipping 3PL approach for small snack items across EU, big volumes |
Pure Cycle | Bicycles | 2,000 bikes in 2012 → ~$4M that year | Rapid scaling in a $6B cycling market | Large-item shipping → local 3PL drastically lowers cross-border costs |
Tattly | Temporary Tattoos | 2.6M units in 2015 alone | Fun brand approach, social media virality | Extremely low shipping weight → perfect for multi-warehouse dropshipping 3PL |
UPPERCASE | Independent Publishing | Founded 2009, one of earliest Shopify stores (#83) | Loyal global audience, design awards | 3PL for shipping magazines & books to various global subscriber bases |
GoldieBlox | STEM Toys for Girls | ~$300k monthly revenue around 2013+ | Tech toy with a strong mission, big social presence | If targeting EU retailers, a local 3PL handles distribution to multiple channels |
Leather Head Sports | Handcrafted Sports Gear | Migrated from Etsy to Shopify, higher scale now | Premium leather baseballs, footballs, etc. | 3PL dropshipping for large US/EU buyer segments |
Craft and Mason | Artisanal Coffee | Founded with minimal capital, sells ~200 daily | Email marketing & authenticity | Could leverage a sanitary or standard warehouse for roasted coffee distribution |
Hem | Modern Furniture & Decor | Known for a sleek Shopify theme design | Large product images, in-depth product pages | Storing bulky items in multiple EU hubs for cheap, fast shipping |
Optimize Your Shopify Dropshipping Store Today!
Ready to optimize your Shopify logistics in europe to the next level? Contact us for expert strategies and 3PL solutions tailored to your business needs.