Most founders blow ₹10L on Figma mockups then wonder why traffic ghosts. Wrong order. Week 1: DM 100 strangers from competitor Instagram comments. “What’s your biggest frustration with [yoga mats/coffee rituals/home office chairs]?” Priya says, “They smell like chemicals.” Rohan gripes, “My desk looks like a student’s dorm.” Validate there. Week 2: Shopify Basic ($29/month), Dawn theme, 3 SKUs priced 2.8x COGS ($22 mat sells $62). Source prototypes via Alibaba samples ($200 total), Indian printers for packaging that screams “I care” (handwritten notes, recycled kraft with seed paper inserts). Legal? GST number, trademark via IndiaFilings (₹8K), Shopify’s built-in compliance. Day 1: Klaviyo popup—”15% off, no spam promise.” Test pricing: $59 bundle vs $79 premium (winner takes 70% share). Packaging ritual: unboxing videos hit 10x engagement—make yours therapy (open to scent ritual, affirmation card, QR playlist). MVP launch: ₹5K Meta test targeting “yoga + remote work.” Iterate weekly from reviews. My second brand hit ₹50L Month 6 because we listened first. Foundation weak? Traffic’s wasted gunpowder. Smart founders hire the best lifestyle marketing agency to pressure-test this before launch—they spot leaks you miss.















