Cost Transparency

💸 What You’re Actually Paying For

A breakdown from your favorite overcaffeinated small biz owner.

One of the most common questions small business owners get is:
“Why does this cost more than [Temu / AliExpress / Big Chain Store]?”

And honestly? Valid. I’d wonder too. And I DID before I had my own. 

So here’s what actually goes into the prices you see, because I hate gatekeeping, and you deserve to know where your money’s going.

💻 1. Shopify Shenanigans

Shopify does a goofy thing with currency conversions - sometimes adding $2–$3 to the price you see in non-AUD currencies.
This isn’t something I control. The AUD price stays the same, but Shopify fluctuates their conversions even when I don’t touch the listing.
To be clear: I don’t see that extra money. It just… vanishes into the void. I wish I could fix it.

🧾 2. Shopify Takes 23% of All Sales

Yup. Twenty-three percent.
Not of profit. Of total sales.
Why? Because I do a lot of preorders and international orders, Shopify sees that as “risky,” and they hold funds as insurance.

That 23% = fees, holdbacks, processing. It’s why my margins are tight. It’s also why you don’t see heaps of freebies in every order - which brings me to:

💳 3. Why I Love PayPal

When you checkout via PayPal, I get a bit more breathing room (aka: I keep more of your payment instead of handing it to the platform gods).
So what do I do with that extra margin? I give back - in the form of better freebies, better packaging, and surprise upgrades.

It’s not about pocketing more. It’s about sharing more.

🧵 4. Quality > Fast Fashion

Could I use a cheaper manufacturer? Sure.
Could I make things for half the price? Yep.
Would they fall apart in 2 weeks and make me cry? Also yes.

I don’t want to make products that end up in landfill after one use. I use reinforced stitching, custom zippers, better fabrics, and small ethical factories - which means each piece costs more to make, but lasts way longer.

Fast fashion pricing = fast fashion quality. I won’t do that to you. Or the planet.

📦 5. Small Business = Higher Costs

Unlike big brands, I can’t order 10,000 units for $1 each.
My minimums are usually 100–1000 units, and I don’t get bulk discounts like Target or JYP Shop. That means:

  • Higher cost per item

  • Warehousing fees to store stock

  • Packaging, printers, ink, loyalty cards, custom freebies

  • Customs, freight, B-grade replacements, damaged stock

  • Paying platforms like Shopify $12+ per app just to run international features

  • $1200+ to AusPost annually just to lower your shipping costs

Every little detail adds up, and most small shops don’t even pay themselves a wage for months.

🧵 6. Labor, Time & Creative Energy

Let’s break it down:
✔ Designing, testing, refining
✔ Product photography & content
✔ Managing preorders & timelines
✔ Packing every order by hand in my little Staytion
✔ Answering every email, DM, and customer support message
✔ Doing all this while running on iced almond lattes and sheer willpower

There’s no team. No intern. Just me- and a spreadsheet that’s probably crying.

🛑 PS: Even Cancelled Orders Cost Me

If you cancel, the platform still keeps its cut.
That’s why preorder items have a small non-refundable deposit - not to be mean, but to stop me from losing money when plans change.

🫶 Why I’m Telling You This

I’m not here to rip anyone off. I’m here to make beautiful, useful, heartfelt items, with full transparency and no exploitative pricing.

Every single order you place doesn’t just cover material costs.
It keeps this dream alive. It helps me create the next drop, pay my rent, and grow something truly special for this community.

Your support means everything, and I’ll never take that for granted.

With all my heart,
Gigi 🧡