Behind the Scenes: Running an Online K-pop Shop

When I tell people that I run an online K-pop shop, their first reaction is "That sounds like so much fun!" And honestly, they’re not wrong. Running Reepop has definitely been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life. But there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes - things that most people don’t get to see. So, let me take you inside the world of running an online K-pop store, where fan interactions and customer reviews are just as important as the products I sell.

The Beginning: What am I doing?!

Reepop was something that didn’t happen overnight. It came from a deep passion for K-pop and a turning point in my life. Leaving a stable career to jump into the unpredictable world of running my own business was very daunting. But I genuinely believed in the incredible music, culture and fan community of K-pop and with many supportive friends and family around me, I was able to launch Reepop and connect other fans with the music and merchandise that they love.

Challenges: More Than Just Views, Clicks & Orders

It may seem straightforward on the surface, but there is much more that goes into running an online store than just posting products and sending out orders. For every comeback, (and we all know how many of those there are), there's the scramble to source albums and products, coordinate with suppliers in South Korea, and making sure everything arrives to me in Ireland safely and on time.

I would say, managing these logistics is definitely one of the trickiest parts. Internal shipping, customs delays, inventory issues and products arriving damaged are all causes of a headache but being as transparent with customers as possible is really important to me. Whenever I come across a delay or issue with a delivery, I make sure to reach out to customers straight away and explain the situation. Honesty and openness has helped build trust, and I’ve found that people really appreciate me being real with them.

Looking to the future

I’ve been running Reepop for just over 18 months now and can’t believe how much the business has grown in such a short space of time. I am so grateful for the loyal customers and friends who always choose Reepop for their k-pop merch. The future of Reepop is looking very bright and I can assure you, I have a lot of exciting things planned for the future.

Follow this blog for a glimpse into the world of Reepop, the latest K-pop news and much, much more!