Back in 2018, I was just a student in Bangladesh. But something set me apart—I loved stickers, posters, and anything with cool graphics. I knew a bit about graphic design and digital illustrations, so I decided to jazz up my laptop with some awesome stickers.

The trouble started when I couldn’t find the right stickers in Bangladesh. Either the options were too limited or the quality wasn’t up to the mark. Frustrated, I turned to AliExpress, and there, I struck gold. The stickers were not only top-notch, but they were also a hit with people around me. That’s when the idea of turning my love for stickers into a small business started to blossom.

That initial batch from AliExpress ended up being more than I initially intended to use, but, surprisingly, it turned into a unexpected opportunity. Without hesitation, I decided to put the excess stickers up for sale on Facebook Marketplace. To my amazement, they became an instant hit! The response was overwhelmingly positive, with people expressing genuine love for the stickers. The stream of positive feedback got me thinking—perhaps there was untapped potential in this venture.

The only hiccup was that ordering from China took a whopping 60 days to reach Bangladesh. That’s a long wait! Determined to find a better way, I spent almost a year figuring out how to make my own stickers. It wasn’t easy, but eventually, I cracked the code. Not only did I reduce costs, but I also gained the freedom to create custom stickers, even just one piece at a time. I found a local printing shop to help with the process, and every week, I’d stack up orders and print them out.

During this period, life was on an upward trend, and my sticker business was flourishing. While I continued to make sales on Facebook platforms, my aspirations were reaching greater heights. In the year 2020, I decided to take a bold step and joined Daraz, the largest e-commerce platform in Bangladesh. This decision proved to be a game-changer for my business. Almost instantly, I gained increased visibility and attracted a larger customer base. Things were looking up, and the opportunities seemed boundless.

Then came the unforeseen plot twist: the global COVID-19 pandemic struck. As people found themselves confined indoors, online shopping swiftly emerged as the norm. And guess who turned out to be an unexpected beneficiary? That’s right, my sticker business. Sales rocketed to unprecedented heights. Recognizing the immense potential, I made a decision to elevate my operations. I invested in essential equipment—a printer, a plotter, and a laminator. This strategic move marked a significant shift; no more outsourcing, as everything was now taking place in-house, giving me greater control over the production process.

For an impressive three-year span, I rode the wave of success on Daraz. The numbers reflected the incredible journey – I managed to sell over 30,000 units, a testament to the growing popularity of my sticker business. The store itself gained more than 4,000 reviews, a remarkable achievement for me. What added a sweet touch to this success story was the fact that over 3,000 of those reviews were stellar 5-star ratings, contributing to an outstanding overall average of 4.8. Life was undeniably sweet, and my business was not just surviving; it was thriving in the digital marketplace.

However, another unexpected turn of events surfaced—a  opportunity to move to Finland and pursue a business study program at Proakatemia. It was a dream come true, but it came at the cost of bidding farewell to my thriving business. Operating it single-handedly demanded a diverse skill set, and finding a suitable successor proved to be challenging. Ultimately, I had to make the tough decision to let go, sell all my equipment, and embark on a new and exciting adventure in pursuit of personal and academic growth.

Presently, I find myself in Finland, embracing new opportunities for learning and personal growth. Although the business chapter may be temporarily closed, the dream that fueled it continues to live on within me. I harbor the sincere hope that someday, whether it’s me or another aspiring entrepreneur, the vibrant sticker business will resurface, bringing with it the same passion and success that defined its earlier chapters.

In conclusion, my journey from a mere passion, armed with a laptop and a multitude of dreams, to a successful e-commerce entrepreneur has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. This expedition has been a great teacher, guiding me to adapt to challenges, dream ambitiously, and seize unexpected opportunities. From the initial struggle of finding the perfect stickers to the eventual establishment of a flourishing online store, this adventure has been undeniably real, and the lessons learned along the way have proven to be nothing short of priceless.