Side project: pency.app

Challenge

Small and medium-sized merchants faced significant barriers in the e-commerce market, lacking the resources and expertise to set up their own online stores. Our goal was to create an accessible, mobile-first solution that integrated seamlessly with WhatsApp, making online ordering simple for both merchants and customers during the pandemic. We aimed to build a self-sustaining product with low maintenance costs, offering a free solution to small business owners during this challenging time. The project launched on May 1, 2020.

Approach

I led extensive research, interviewing over 30 business owners to gather key insights and feedback. This helped us deeply understand their needs and challenges, especially regarding mobile usability. We focused on designing an intuitive product that prioritized user experience, enabling merchants to set up their online stores quickly and easily on their phones, without any technical knowledge.

We tapped into entrepreneurial communities to drive organic growth, targeting small and medium-sized merchants as our core audience. By leveraging WhatsApp's popularity and offering a seamless integration, we positioned Pency as a go-to mobile solution for merchants entering the e-commerce space.

Results

Pency grew rapidly, with over 30,000 merchants signing up and generating over 650,000 monthly visits within 16 months. The project was bootstrapped and generated enough revenue to support a team of five, alongside my co-founder and me. The platform's success led to its sale in September 2021. Pency's growth demonstrates the impact of a well-designed product, user-focused research, and a mobile-centric strategy, making e-commerce accessible for small and medium-sized merchants.