We’re officially 10 days into my AI Shopify Challenge, and I’ve made some serious progress! For those just tuning in, I’m using AI tools like ChatGPT to build a Shopify store from scratch and make my first sale within 30 days. The goal? To see if AI can truly simplify and accelerate the e-commerce journey.

In this blog, I’ll recap my key milestones, biggest takeaways, and what’s coming next. Whether you’re a Shopify veteran or just starting out, I hope you find inspiration and actionable tips in this journey.

📥 Want to follow along with me? Click HERE to grab my free Shopify AI Challenge Starter Guide

Progress Update: What I’ve Accomplished So Far

1. Setting Up My Shopify Store

I started by choosing my target audience with the help of AI-powered tools. This step was critical to creating focused marketing strategies.

Shopify’s interface made store setup relatively easy, but AI really shined when it came to creating foundational content like my “About Us” page. ChatGPT provided a clear, engaging draft in minutes.  As I shared earlier, I had a Shopify store a few years ago and it took me 6 whole months to get my first Shopify store up and running.  I was writing all the product descriptions, getting products shipped from China..  Whew!  It was a lot.  But with AI, I streamlined the process and let it do a lot of the heavy-lifting

2. Choosing and Creating Products

Since AI is creating the product, a physical product is out of the question. This is hard for me because I really like creating physical products. I love designing the product, the packaging, seeing the first samples, etc.  So this is going to be weird for me.  But with AI’s help, I brainstormed product ideas and ultimately decided to focus on print-on-demand mugs. AI helped me research trends and come up with designs tailored to my audience.

Using Canva and DALL-E, I created 10-15 product variations with unique, humorous designs. I’m testing whether these designs resonate with my target audience.

3. Writing Product Descriptions

Product descriptions are critical to convincing customers to buy, so I used ChatGPT to craft engaging, funny, and SEO-friendly descriptions for my mugs. This saved me hours of work and gave my store a polished, professional feel.

4. Creating Marketing Content

I worked on abandoned cart, abandoned browse and purchase confirmation emails.  These emails are super important because we want to target those people who leave the site without buying.  Shopify has basic email notifications built in.  It is not as robust as other email service providers but it gets the job done without having to pay extra money.  I used AI (of course!) to write fun, snazzy text for these emails.

I used ChatGPT to generate Facebook ad copy, focusing on attention-grabbing headlines and relatable messaging. What normally takes me days to complete only took about 45 minutes!

For visuals, I combined product images from Printify with Canva’s design tools to create cohesive, eye-catching ads.

Lessons Learned

  1. AI Streamlines the Process: Tasks like writing product descriptions and ad copy, which used to take me hours or even days, were completed in minutes with AI.
  2. Creativity Still Matters: While AI provides a strong foundation, adding your personal touch is what makes the final output unique and engaging.
  3. Focus is Key: It’s easy to get sidetracked with endless design tweaks or additional product ideas. Staying focused on the challenge’s goal—getting to the first sale—has kept me moving forward.
 

What’s Next?

In the next phase of the challenge, I’ll focus on:

  • Uploading my Facebook ads and running my first campaign.
  • Analyzing ad performance and making adjustments based on results.
  • Working on backend Shopify stuff like maybe creating bundles, coupon codes, etc. to entice people to buy.

Follow Along!

If you’ve found this recap helpful, make sure to stay tuned for more updates! Here’s how you can follow the journey:

  • YouTube Playlist: Watch the full challenge step-by-step here.
  • Instagram: Follow me for daily insights and behind-the-scenes content here.
  • Email Updates: Subscribe to get exclusive tips and updates directly to your inbox.

What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to starting or growing a Shopify store? Drop your questions or comments below—I’d love to hear from you!

– Dr. Marcella Wilson