The Dropship Unlocked Podcast

👉 Ready to start your own online store? Start here → https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep164-the-overlooked-business-model-thats-quietly-printing-income 🗣 In this episode, ecommerce business owners Lewis Smith and James Eardley lift the lid on the “unsexy” business model that’s quietly generating consistent income for everyday people – without them needing a big social media following, massive capital, or advanced tech skills.They unpack why most online businesses fail, what makes their high-ticket, supplier-partnered Shopify model different, and how it can create genuine lifestyle freedom whether you’re a parent with school runs or a remote worker travelling the world.🎥 Prefer to watch instead? Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/o0yRpQL0XM0🧭 Topics Discussed★ Why Most Online Businesses Fail • The three big reasons people crash and burn online: treating it like a hobby, unrealistic expectations, and trying to figure everything out alone.★ The Overlooked Business Model Explained • Why selling high-ticket physical products on Shopify stacks the odds in your favour from day one.★ Asset Building vs Short-Term Hustling • The difference between a fragile side hustle and a sellable ecommerce asset.★ Why This Model Is Still Largely Unknown • What happens when you mention “ecommerce” or “dropshipping” to people outside our niche.🛠 Links & Resources MentionedLewis’s Book → htabook.comShopify £1-for-3-months Offer → https://dropshipunlocked.com/shopifyFree Trial of a Professional Phone Line → https://dropshipunlocked.com/circle💡 Key Takeaways★ Treat It Like a Real Business, Not a HobbyMost people fail not because they’re incapable, but because they dabble, expect overnight results, and try to do everything alone.★ You’re Building an Asset, Not Just a PaychequeDone properly, this isn’t just side income – it’s a real asset you can grow, optimise, and potentially sell, or keep as a long-term “cash-printing” machine.★ Recurring Revenue Is the Next Level – Not Step OneThe core model is high-ticket sales. Once that’s working, adding subscriptions or recurring offers on top can create very healthy, stable month-on-month revenue.📲 Follow UsInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/dropshipunlocked/X / Twitter → https://twitter.com/DropshipUnlockdLinkedIn → https://uk.linkedin.com/company/dropship-unlockedYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/dropshipunlockedlewissmithWebsite → https://www.dropshipunlocked.com🚀 Free Training🌏 Want to create location, time, and financial freedom? Watch our free training → https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep164-the-overlooked-business-model-thats-quietly-printing-inc

 👉 Ready to start your own online store? Start here: https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep163-why-most-online-business-ideas-fail-but-this-one-works🗣 In this episode, Lewis Smith and James Eardley break down why most online business ideas never get off the ground — and why their UK-based high-ticket e-commerce model continues to work in 2025 and beyond.They unpack the real reasons people stall out (half-hearted effort, chasing trends, “YouTube University”, and relying on AI alone) and show how treating your business like a serious asset changes everything.🎥 Prefer to watch instead? Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BFwrD-40qMM🧭 Topics Discussed★ Shiny-Object Syndrome & Unrealistic Expectations — How TikTok/Instagram “side hustle” culture sells overnight success, and why real businesses require front-loaded effort and a long-term vision.★ The Limits of YouTube & AI as Your Only Mentors — Why free videos and generic AI advice can’t give you context, accountability, or clear direction when you hit real-world roadblocks.★ The Power of Proven Systems & Community — How a step-by-step roadmap, live Q&A support and a room full of people doing the same thing removes 90% of the guesswork.★ Why the Home Turf Advantage Model Works — Building a brand-first UK store with domestic suppliers, strong margins, and a long-term asset you can grow, automate and eventually sell.🛠 Links & Resources Mentioned 📘 Lewis’s Book → htabook.com🛒 Shopify £1-for-3-months Offer → https://dropshipunlocked.com/shopify📞 Free Trial of a Professional Phone Line → https://dropshipunlocked.com/circle💡 Key Takeaways ★ Treat It Like a Business, Not a Hobby — If you only “dabble”, you’ll protect your ego but sacrifice your results.★ Failure ≠ You’re Broken — Often it’s the model (low margins, bad suppliers, flawed strategy) that’s stacked against you — not your work ethic or potential.★ Front-Loaded Effort, Long-Term Leverage — Build the systems, then let VAs, automation and a dialled-in niche turn your store into a cash-flowing asset that gives you time freedom.📲 Follow Us Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/dropshipunlocked/X / Twitter → https://twitter.com/DropshipUnlockdLinkedIn → https://uk.linkedin.com/company/dropship-unlockedYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/dropshipunlockedlewissmithWebsite → https://www.dropshipunlocked.com🚀 Free Training 🌏 Want to create location, time, and financial freedom? Watch our free training: https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep163-why-most-online-business-ideas-fail-but-this-one-works

 👉 Ready to start your own online store? Start here → https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep162-this-business-model-will-make-you-1m-zero-employees🗣 In this episode, Lewis Smith and James Eardley reveal the exact business model that’s helping everyday people scale to £1M+ in revenue — without hiring a single employee.They break down how high-ticket e-commerce creates leverage, how to find products that consistently generate £1,000+ profit weeks, and why traditional side hustles and social media “grind” models can’t compete with this approach.🎥 Prefer to watch instead? Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/w2pnYGAYhLI🧭 Topics Discussed★ The £1M Business Model — Why high-ticket e-commerce remains the most scalable, low-overhead business in 2025.★ Leverage from Day One — How to build systems, SOPs, and automation so your store runs without you.★ No Employees, No Problem — The smart way to use virtual assistants and AI to scale while keeping lean.★ The Power of Domestic Suppliers — How UK-based supply partners give you next-day delivery, better margins, and less risk.★ The Fastest Route to £1M — The three principles Lewis used to go from £0 to seven figures: high-ticket products, local suppliers, and data-driven decisions.★ The CEO Mindset Shift — Why thinking like a founder (not a freelancer) is the key to seven-figure growth.🛠 Links & Resources MentionedLewis’s Book → htabook.comShopify £1-for-3-months Offer → https://dropshipunlocked.com/shopifyFree Trial of a Professional Phone Line → https://dropshipunlocked.com/circle💡 Key Takeaways★ Think Big, Start Lean — You don’t need employees to scale; you need leverage through systems, VAs, and automation.★ High Ticket Wins — Fewer orders, higher margins, and faster path to profit — that’s how the £1M stores are built.★ Low Risk, High Control — Selling from UK suppliers to UK customers creates fast delivery, happy customers, and a business that compounds in value.★ Build a Brand, Not a Store — The real money is made by building equity in a branded, sellable asset — not just generating short-term cash.★ Momentum Over Perfection — The biggest wins come from taking action now, not waiting for the “perfect” time.📲 Follow UsInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/dropshipunlocked/X / Twitter → https://twitter.com/DropshipUnlockdLinkedIn → https://uk.linkedin.com/company/dropship-unlockedYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/dropshipunlockedlewissmithWebsite → https://www.dropshipunlocked.com🚀 Free Training🌏 Want to create location, time, and financial freedom? Watch our free training → https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep162-this-business-mode

 👉 Ready to start your own online store? Start here: https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep161-build-scalable-online-asset🗣 In this episode, Lewis Smith and James Eardley discuss how to turn idle savings into a scalable online asset—one that produces real cashflow and grows in value over time.If you’ve ever thought about starting an online business but hesitated because of risk, this episode explains why building your own high-ticket, UK-based e-commerce store might be one of the smartest and safest capital investments you can make.They cover everything from why inflation is eating your savings to how to build an asset that generates income and equity — without creating another job for yourself.👉 Prefer to watch this on YouTube? Check it out here ➡️ https://youtu.be/-SzjrBpuzNcTopics Discussed:★ Inflation and Idle Capital: Why letting cash sit in a bank is one of the biggest risks in today’s economy.★ The Smartest Way to Deploy Capital: Why high-ticket e-commerce offers better returns and control than property, stocks, or crypto.★ Building a Real Asset: How to create a business that generates both cashflow and equity—something you truly own and can sell.★ The De-Risked Business Model: Why UK-based suppliers and immediate cashflow make this model more stable than other ventures.★ Systemising for Scale: How to build your e-commerce business like an investor—turning it into a scalable asset, not another job.★ The Six-Week Execution Plan: The fast, focused roadmap to go from idea to cashflow within weeks.Links and Resources Mentioned:Pick up a copy of Lewis’ book: htabook.comGet Shopify for £1 a month for 3 months: https://dropshipunlocked.com/shopifyGet a free trial with a professional phone line: https://dropshipunlocked.com/circleKey Takeaways:★ Cash sitting idle is losing value: Inflation is eroding your savings daily — invest it into something that grows.★ Control equals confidence: With UK suppliers, you own your brand, your margins, and your customer data — no middlemen.★ Low risk, high reward: You don’t need to gamble on trends or pour tens of thousands into stock to start.★ Leverage through systems: Hire VAs and build automation early to create time freedom and scale without burnout.FOLLOW:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dropshipunlocked/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DropshipUnlockdLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/dropship-unlockedYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dropshipunlockedlewissmithWebsite: https://www.dropshipunlocked.com/★★★ Dropship Unlocked - Lewis Smith ★★★🌏 Want to create location, time, and financial freedom? Watch Our Free Training ➽ https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep161-bu

👉 Ready to start your own online store? Start here: https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep160-we-failed-then-scaled-to-7m🗣 In this episode, ecommerce founders Lewis Smith and James Eardley get brutally honest about their early failures in dropshipping - what went wrong, why low-ticket “trend chasing” burned cash, and the exact shifts that helped them scale to £7M+ in combined online sales. 👉 Prefer to watch this on YouTube? Check it out here ➡️ https://youtu.be/GbtpGhyIEUITopics Discussed★ Why the first stores failed: Low-ticket products, wafer-thin margins, angry customers, slow shipping, no brand or positioning.★ The turning point: Ditching “everything store” thinking and validating niches with demand data, supplier readiness, price points, and seasonality.★ High-ticket math that works: Fewer orders, bigger profits, manageable ops—why one £2k–£5k order beats 50 cheap ones.★ UK supplier partnerships: Next-day delivery, fewer support headaches, real relationships, and consistent customer experience.★ From plan to profit: A step-by-step launch path—store setup → supplier signings → ads → systems & SOPs → removal from day-to-day.Links and Resources MentionedPick up a copy of Lewis’ book: htabook.comGet Shopify for £1 a month for 3 months: https://dropshipunlocked.com/shopifyGet a free trial with a professional phone line: https://dropshipunlocked.com/circleKey Takeaways★ Model > hustle: High-ticket products + domestic suppliers give you the margins and reliability low-ticket never will.★ Validate before you build: Check search demand, supplier availability, pricing, and seasonality to remove guesswork.★ Own a brand, not a gimmick: Positioning and relationships create a durable asset (and happier customers).★ Consistency compounds: Follow a proven plan, avoid trend chasing, and use systems/VAs to remove yourself from ops.FOLLOWInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dropshipunlocked/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DropshipUnlockdLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/dropship-unlockedYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dropshipunlockedlewissmithWebsite: https://www.dropshipunlocked.com/Thank you for listening to the Dropship Unlocked Podcast! Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform.★★★ Dropship Unlocked – Lewis Smith ★★★ 🌏 Want to create location, time, and financial freedom? Watch Our Free Training ➽ https://dropshipunlocked.com/start?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep160-we-failed-then-scaled-to-7m