17 online business success stories will blow your mind:

1.Warby Parker: Warby Parker is an online eyewear retailer that disrupted the traditional eyewear industry. The company was founded by four friends who were frustrated by the high cost of prescription eyeglasses. They developed a direct-to-consumer model, allowing customers to try on glasses at home before purchasing. Warby Parker’s innovative approach to online retailing quickly gained popularity, and the company is now valued at over $1 billion.

2.Chubbies Shorts: Chubbies Shorts is an online clothing retailer that specializes in men’s shorts. The company was started by four friends who wanted to bring back the retro-style short shorts. They launched their business online and quickly gained a cult following. By utilizing social media marketing and creating a strong brand identity, Chubbies Shorts experienced rapid growth and now offers a wide range of clothing items for men.

3.Dollar Shave Club: Dollar Shave Club disrupted the razor industry by offering affordable, high-quality razors through a subscription-based model. The company was founded by Michael Dubin, who created a humorous and engaging viral video to promote the service. The video went viral, and within 48 hours, Dollar Shave Club had received over 12,000 orders. The company grew rapidly and was eventually acquired by Unilever for $1 billion.

4.Glossier: Glossier is a beauty and skincare brand that gained popularity through its online presence and strong community engagement. The company was founded by Emily Weiss, who initially started a beauty blog called Into the Gloss. Leveraging the blog’s audience, Weiss launched Glossier as a direct-to-consumer brand, focusing on minimalistic skincare and makeup products. Glossier’s success is attributed to its strong online presence, user-generated content, and focus on customer feedback.

5.Zappos: Zappos is an online shoe and clothing retailer known for its exceptional customer service. The company was founded by Nick Swinmurn, who wanted to create an online store that offered a wide selection of shoes. Zappos differentiated itself by providing free shipping, a generous return policy, and 24/7 customer support. The company’s commitment to customer satisfaction led to rapid growth, and it was acquired by Amazon in 2009 for $1.2 billion.

6.Beardbrand: Beardbrand is an online grooming and lifestyle brand for men that was started by Eric Bandholz. Initially, Eric began with a YouTube channel to document his own beard journey and provide grooming tips. The channel gained popularity, leading him to launch an e-commerce store offering beard care products. Today, Beardbrand has a significant online presence and a wide range of products, including grooming tools, beard oils, and clothing.

7.Nasty Gal: Nasty Gal was founded by Sophia Amoruso as an eBay store selling vintage clothing. Through her unique sense of style and savvy marketing, the business grew rapidly. Amoruso then launched an independent website and expanded the brand, eventually becoming a well-known online fashion retailer. The success of Nasty Gal led to a book deal and a Netflix series based on Amoruso’s journey.

8.Gymshark: Gymshark is a fitness apparel brand founded by Ben Francis and a group of his friends. They started by creating fitness videos on social media platforms, primarily YouTube and Instagram. Alongside their content, they promoted their own brand of fitness clothing. Gymshark gained a massive following and quickly expanded into a full-fledged e-commerce business, catering to gym enthusiasts worldwide. The company is now valued at over $1 billion.

9.MVMT Watches: MVMT Watches was launched by two college dropouts, Jake Kassan and Kramer LaPlante, with a vision to create stylish and affordable watches. They started by selling their watches online through a successful crowdfunding campaign. Through influencer marketing and a strong online presence, MVMT Watches gained significant traction, attracting customers globally. The brand has since expanded its product range to include sunglasses and other accessories.

10.Allbirds: Allbirds is a sustainable footwear brand co-founded by Tim Brown and Joey Zwillinger. They combined their expertise in renewable materials and design to create comfortable, eco-friendly shoes. Allbirds gained attention through word-of-mouth and online marketing, targeting environmentally conscious consumers. The brand’s commitment to sustainability and comfortable footwear resonated with customers, leading to rapid growth and global recognition.

11.ThriftBooks: Started by two entrepreneurs, Daryl Butcher and Jason Meyer, ThriftBooks is an online bookstore that specializes in selling used books at affordable prices. By leveraging technology and partnerships with various book suppliers, ThriftBooks has become one of the largest online sellers of used books in the United States.

12.Everlane: Everlane is an online fashion retailer that prioritizes ethical manufacturing, transparency, and affordable pricing. By leveraging direct-to-consumer sales and building a strong brand identity, Everlane has been able to establish itself as a successful online clothing company.

13.ColourPop Cosmetics: ColourPop Cosmetics is a digitally native makeup brand that gained a massive following through its high-quality yet affordable products. By leveraging social media platforms, collaborating with influencers, and offering limited-edition collections, ColourPop successfully carved out a niche in the beauty industry.

14.Canva: Launched in 2013, Canva is an online graphic design tool that allows users to create professional-looking designs for various purposes, including social media graphics, presentations, and marketing materials. The platform gained popularity for its user-friendly interface and extensive library of templates and graphics. Canva has experienced rapid growth and was valued at $15 billion in 2021.

15.Blue Apron: Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that provides customers with pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to cook meals at home. Founded in 2012, Blue Apron quickly gained traction and became one of the leading meal kit companies, serving millions of customers across the United States.

16.Shopify: Shopify is an e-commerce platform that enables individuals and businesses to create online stores. It was founded in 2006 and has since grown to become one of the most successful e-commerce platforms globally, powering hundreds of thousands of online businesses.

17.Patagonia: Patagonia is an outdoor clothing and gear company that has embraced e-commerce to expand its reach. Despite being an established brand, they have effectively leveraged online sales and marketing strategies to grow their business and reach a wider audience.