In contrast to our 7.6 billion population, there are 8.5 billion mobile device connections worldwide. There are a lot of smartphones there!

If you wish to design your phone cover and accessories to sell online, even if this seems like the beginning of a sci-fi horror movie, it’s really a positive indicator.

Particularly easy to find and appealing to consumers who want to personalise or add functionality to the one gadget they can’t live without are bespoke mobile phone cases.

There are several advantages to creating and selling your own phone covers as a company, including:

• Because of their tiny size, it is simple to store goods and ship.
• Their production is quite inexpensive.
• You may sell them offline at a kiosk or online.
• You may buy in bulk for higher profits or print on demand to get started with less risk.
• The 44 percent of smartphone consumers who update every two years present a new opportunity with each new phone model.

Competition is inevitable in any industry where entry barriers are minimal. But all you really need to succeed is a share of this large market.

A guide that addresses typical queries regarding beginning a business selling phone cases is provided below.

• What variations of phone cases exist?
• Where can I find phone covers with original artwork?
• How can I predict the most popular phone covers and designs?
• Where can I get phone covers to sell?

You’ve come to the correct spot if creating and selling phone covers seems like an intriguing internet business concept but you don’t know where to begin. To get started, consult our how-to guide on starting a business.

Is a business making phone cases profitable?

A lucrative internet business opportunity is selling phone cases. An individually designed phone cover will presumably never go out of vogue.

According to MarketWatch, the “Mobile Phone Cases Market”Size is projected to increase from 6572 million USD in 2020 to 9926.2 Million USD by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 5.4 percent. It is obvious that your phone case business will always have clients.

From a management standpoint, phone situations are similarly simple to handle. There are fewer returns to deal with because they don’t break frequently. They frequently offer respectable profit margins and are usually lightweight and inexpensive to ship. On dropshipping websites, you can purchase phone covers for as low as $5 and resell them for $10 or more, making a simple 50% profit.

What’s best? Starting a business selling phone cases doesn’t require a large initial investment. A dropshipping app may be connected to an online business in a matter of minutes, and it can be live within a few hours.

Considerations to make before launching a phone case company

There are a few things you’ll need to know before you start making your own phone covers, such as the different sorts of phone cases available and which phones you should support.

Type of phone cases

While some phone covers are more aesthetically pleasing than others, some are more functional. Some provide defence, whilst others serve more as a second “skin” than a case. Some phone case manufacturers aim to address all of the aforementioned issues.

There are many choices, but to get you started, here are some of the more popular kinds.

Slim and gel cases

Slim cases, which tend to be on the thinner side, let you to add a striking design and more grip to a phone, frequently by using a flexible, rubbery silicone gel material.

When it comes to creating and designing your own phone cover, these are some of the most affordable alternatives you have, especially if you plan to print them as needed (more on that later). Keep in mind that not every buyer looking for a phone cover needs a particularly large, “safe” case.

Bumper cases

These cases, which are typically made of a harder, shock-resistant material to protect your phone from dings and scratches, are different from slim phone cases in that they typically only cover the sides or border of your phone. They can also include an additional piece to protect the back from scratches.

Folio or wallet cases

Folio covers give your phone the look of a little notebook by having a cover that folds over the front to shield the screen from dirt and scratches.

Some may even be used as a holder for your phone, while others include wallet-like capabilities including the capacity to store cash or credit cards.

These are often made of a leather-like material, costing more than small cases but appealing to buyers who are more practical.

Tough cases

Many individuals view owning a phone cover as a method to safeguard the hundreds of dollars they spent on their phone should they ever drop it, rather than primarily as an aesthetic option.

Tough cases provide consumers better protection but are thicker and heavier than standard cases.

It’s critical to keep this in mind when writing product descriptions and web listings for durable phone covers since everything from drop testing to information on water resistance may make shoppers feel more at ease.

Battery cases

These days, battery life appears to be an issue with all smartphones.

Battery cases are incredibly useful and give a lot of usefulness for those times when we wish we had a little bit more energy, despite being more pricey than most phone cases.

Battery cases are an excellent accessory for phone models where battery life is a common concern since they not only protect your phone but also provide it a little additional power.

Silicone cases

Another affordable material for phone case manufacturing is silicone. Silicone casings are flexible, strong, and efficient in hot environments. Customers benefit from the softer feel of silicone phone cases. These are available on dropshipping websites at around $2 per case.

Deciding which devices to prioritise

Making a decision on the types of phones you want to support is just as important as choosing the types of phone covers you desire.

This may, however, provide a chance to explore particular phone model-based niches. There may also be a chance there if you can predict a need for cases for forthcoming phones or identify some smartphone varieties that are underserved.

Before creating or designing a personalised phone cover, you might want to take into account the following devices:

iPhone versions

• Apple Inc.
• iPad Pro
• iPad Pro
• X iPhone
• iPhone X
• iPad 12
• Max iPhone 12 Pro
• Mini iPhone 13
• iOS 13 Pro
• Max iPhone 13 Pro

versions of Samsung Galaxy

• a Galaxy S
• A Galaxy
• F Galaxy
• M Galaxy

Xiaomi products

• Mi
• Poco
• Redmi

Start by conducting some simple keyword research in Google’s Keyword Planner or KWFinder to see how many searches there are for cases for particular phone models. Before arguing for a phone, it would be wise to look into this if you intended to sell your wares via Google Ads.

How to start a phone case company

The most successful phone case businesses didn’t emerge overnight. These businesses adhered to a business strategy and expanded at a sustainable rate, despite some trial and error. To build your own business plan and launch your own phone case company, follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Decide on a market need.
2. Construct a business strategy.
3. Determine your market segment
4. Start the design
5. You should buy phone covers.
6. Select a company name and logo.
7. Pick a pricing range.
8. Make an internet store.
9. Promote your company

1. Determine a market need

Based just on effort, you won’t be able to properly design your own phone case. Consider a market segment that has not yet been filled. Is this a case best suited for outdoor activities? Is it a collection of carrying cases created by regional artists in your area? Determine the categories that large companies should be offering, and then make online phone cases to cover those gaps. There is still lots of chance to take a piece of the market, even though many people are even attempting to make their own DIY cases.

In a Shopify Masters interview, Andrew Moore, the company’s creator, claims that he “recognised a need in the iPhone case industry” when he first started his phone case business. At the time, they offered the standard carrying cases that are quite affordable and can be purchased at Dollarama, the Dollar Store, or a kiosk in a mall.

Andrew’s study revealed that costly, protective iPhone covers made up the other side of the market. However, neither of the phone cases had an appealing appearance.

Where “more fashion-conscious consumers could be seeking for an iPhone cover, something distinctive,” he perceived a need. Consider that a woman with a $1,000 purse generally won’t want a big protective cover or an inexpensive case from the mall. So Andrew chose stylish cases that also provided protection in case a phone was dropped.

2. Create a business strategy.

When starting your own phone case company, a business plan will serve as your roadmap for the whole process. Clarifying your approach, seeing obstacles, figuring out what resources you’ll need, and evaluating your company concept before you launch it may all be aided by this.

What is the ultimate objective of this product, you could ask? Do you want to create your own phone cover brand to sell at Urban Outfitters or Nordstrom? Would you like to develop a premium brand for boutique stores? Do you want to open an online business and market to your own audience? As the owner of the firm, you are ultimately in command. You may wish to contribute a part of your sales to a reputable charity.

As you develop your phone case brand, decide on your company objectives and keep them in mind.

3. Determine who your target market is.

The secret to effectively selling things online is identifying your target market. Not only should there be a phone cover or accessory, but you also need to determine who the product is intended for. After all, if there are no customers for your product, all of your planning and design efforts will be for naught.

Before creating bespoke phone covers, it might be helpful to grasp the following information:

• the ages;
• Occupation;
• spending habits
• Interest;
• Lifestyle;
• routines and habits.

It’s up to you how you gather this knowledge. To attract new audiences, new businesses frequently utilise tools like Facebook Audience Insights on social media. Others could conduct surveys of their clients directly. Building an email list may be quite beneficial for marketing and gathering customer information.

Consider the benefits and drawbacks of focusing on particular populations. For instance, young individuals have a tendency to be fashionable and are more open to word-of-mouth and viral marketing. They also have a constrained budget. In addition to being able to purchase more costly phone covers, middle-aged customers could also be less concerned with following trends and prefer certain styles.

4. Commence the design

Your major point of differentiation when selling personalised phone covers online will be the design phase of case creation. You may also express your creativity there. Make sure you create something outstanding for your first batch that you distribute to the world since it will represent your brand.

You may create your phone covers in one of two ways:

1. Work with artists and designers. The best locations to seek for designers that fit your aesthetic are design groups like Dribbble. Or, you can always search Fiverr for designs that are reasonably priced. To assist you in making your own phone cover, try to browse especially for designers that produce bespoke designs.

2. Create custom phone cases. Additionally, several print-on-demand providers for phone covers, such CaseApp and Printful, feature phone case mock-up generators you can use to produce phone cases online using your own design mock-ups created in Photoshop or Photopea. Beyond the style of the phone case, think about employing distinctive typefaces to highlight your company name or emblem. Your personalised phone designs might also stand out by utilising materials like acrylic.

Be aware that not all manufacturers of phone cases will print on the case’s sides. When looking for a provider and throughout the design phase, be mindful of the fact that many will only print on the reverse.

In order to avoid placing all your eggs in one design’s basket, try to source multiple diverse options, and receive feedback as soon as you can:

• Use engagement (likes, shares, and comments) as a gauge of interest by posting your designs on social media platforms that prioritise visual content, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. You may even invest some cash in advertising your designs to a larger, more targeted audience to see which ones perform the best.
• Ask your friends and relatives for advice.
• If you’re selling to a specific niche, Reddit is great for getting feedback. If you’re selling cases for pug owners, post your designs on the appropriate subreddit, such as r/pugs. Reddit’s anonymity will make it easier for you to get useful feedback.

When you create your own phone cover, you will have an advantage in attracting interest by speaking to a niche market, a group of individuals who are enthusiastic about a certain subject. After all, for many people, accessories like phone covers are just a means to flaunt who they are to the outside world.

5. Find phone covers online

Once you’ve come up with ideas you like, it’s time to create your personalised phone covers and give them life. You have three major alternatives when it comes to having your phone covers printed, unless you’re ready to spend thousands on your own printing equipment.

1. Track down a producer

In order to make the most money, you should probably find a manufacturer to make your own phone case. Alibaba provides a list of Chinese manufacturers who provide several high-quality phone case styles, including thin, folio, and battery cases.

Even though you will need to purchase in bulk with a minimum order quantity of at least 200, you will be able to offer lower rates and profit more from each sale if each case is only likely to cost you $1.

To appeal to customers that are eager to patronise local companies, you might also decide to collaborate with a local manufacturer. In any case, make sure to order a sample before placing a larger order.

It’s important to remember that you don’t always need product on hand to generate sales. To avoid being left with hundreds of phone covers that are just not selling, you may utilise sales to choose which phone cases you really purchase.

If you’re confident in your phone cases, you may invest in an offline sales presence by putting up a cart or kiosk in a busy place like a mall as inventory won’t take up much space.

2. Employ a print-on-demand solution.

There are several services that enable you to print phone cases on demand, Printful and Printify being just two of them. While selling on demand will reduce your profit margins slightly, it also frees you up from handling shipping and fulfilment, meaning you won’t need to stock up on phone covers or even buy them in large quantities.

Print-on-demand services may be integrated with your online shop if you’re selling these phone covers through your own Shopify store, taking care of order fulfilment and customer support so all you have to worry about is generating sales.

It might be challenging to determine which designs people like, whether they are for a phone case, an enamel pin, jewellery, or a t-shirt. Particularly for compact phone cases, these print-on-demand services provide a low-risk approach to explore design concepts.

3. Dropship used phone case products

Use a dropshipping model instead of creating your own custom phone cases so that all you have to worry about is creating a website and generating revenue.

The goods, shipping, and fulfilment are all handled for you in exchange for the fact that you will have far less control over the product and smaller profits.

Adding phone covers from Aliexpress to your Shopify store is as simple as utilising an app like DSers.

6. Pick a company name and logo.

You may start building your public image if it appears that you can produce and develop bespoke phone covers at a fair price. First things first: select a company name and logo.

You may create a logo and develop your brand with a free design tool like Hatchful. After asking you a few questions about your company, Hatchful will select a logo for you from from the thousands of available templates.

What’s best? You’re not limited to your logo. Additionally, Hatchful offers complete brand design packages. For a unified brand across all your networks, you may get graphic assets for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Try incorporating your story into your company name, logo, and website since customers choose companies with compelling narratives. You should have this prepared before the first batch of phone cases is produced, if you are producing phone cases. Then you may immediately begin selling your cases.

Resources:

Shopify’s Hatchful (free logo maker)

Generate a free business name

7. Select a pricing range

One of the most important choices you must make is how much to charge for your phone covers. It has an effect on practically every aspect of your firm, including cash flow, profit margins, and the choice of spending you can bear.

Understanding your audience is important to your pricing approach. Pick a pricing that covers your production expenses without scaring away the potential clients you’ll need to grow your phone case company. Keep in mind that you should aim for profit margins that will allow you to scale up easily if your designs are successful. Here, experimentation is your friend.

8.  Start an online shop.

Where can you sell phone covers now that you know how to build them? Creating an online store is an excellent place to start.

Compared to listing your items on internet selling platforms, this task appears difficult. In the beginning, these marketplaces can aid in raising brand exposure, but eventually you’ll want your own online space. It will support keeping more earnings and control over your brand.

Andrew suggests concentrating on your website before moving on to internet markets for the Felony Case. The two main sources of traffic and sales, according to him, have been our website and stores. He has seen that when customers discover a Felony phone case on Etsy or Amazon, they Google the company to determine whether it is a reputable one. “They want to immediately access your website to verify the brand and ensure that it appears legitimate.”

Customers will probably look at your social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to see whether you are active there as well. According to Andrew, “I believe all these touchpoints complement one another and provide your business a complete 360-degree online view.”

Shopify is the simplest method to get started when it comes to building your online business. You don’t need a huge budget or any coding experience to get started. You may obtain your own website, SSL certificates, fast web servers, cart abandonment recovery, and other beginner-friendly marketing tools for just $29 per month. Custom phone covers may be sold on Amazon, eBay, and other online marketplaces, and inventory can be managed in your Shopify admin.