step by step from product idea to launch ✨ I ordered 1500 pens for my shop & this is how it went

 Hola Queriditos! 👋🏼🥰

I just had my biggest product launch EVER, and instead of doing my usual chaotic vlog, I wanted to take you behind the scenes of how I create products for my stationery shop, Quiero Prints!

If this is your first time here, I’m Reyna, and I run an online store full of what I like to call “cute cositas for the Spanglish fluent.” Today, I’ll walk you through how I come up with an idea for a product and take it all the way to launch day.

The Idea 💡

The first thing I always think about when brainstorming new products is YOU—my customers. What do you love? What resonates with your experiences? I actually have some rules for what makes a Quiero Prints product:

1. Spanglish: Every product must have that perfect mix of Spanglish, representing either Mexican-American or Latino-American culture.
2. Nostalgia: It has to remind you of your childhood, of the way you grew up. That warm, fuzzy feeling.
3. Cute & Fun: Obvi, it needs to be something you'd smile at.
4. Useful or In-Demand: I’m not about random stuff you don’t need—everything I create has to have a purpose or fill a gap.

These rules help guide me and keep things on-brand. Plus, it’s a lot like how Disney has rules for what makes a princess "official." (Yes, seriously. Look it up—it’s bonkers! 😆)

Deciding on the Product ✍️

For this launch, I landed on the ✨Échale Ganas Glitter Pen Set✨. Just by the name alone, you already know it checks all the boxes: Spanglish, nostalgic, cute, and super useful! I designed it with you in mind—students, office queens, and anyone obsessed with paper goods.

I went into Adobe Illustrator to create the design files and picked out the fonts and colors that would bring this idea to life. (Pro tip: Don’t worry if your files aren’t perfect yet—your final product might change a little during production. Flexibility is key!)

Finding a Manufacturer 🔍

Because I was looking for something more specific, I hit up Alibaba to find a supplier. I searched for "glitter pens" and filtered by "Trade Assurance" and "Verified Suppliers"—these features help protect you from getting scammed.

Once I found some solid options, I messaged them to get quotes. Keep in mind that many suppliers have minimum order quantities (MOQs) that are way higher than expected. For my pens, I needed to adjust my design to meet their MOQ—1500 pens later, we were ready to go!

Samples & Production 🖊️

Next, I requested samples to check the quality. It’s important to make sure the product is exactly how you want it—color, size, the whole vibe—before committing to a big order. For this launch, I didn’t actually need to order samples since I’ve worked with this manufacturer before, but for a new supplier, it's a must!

Once I was happy with everything, I gave them the green light for mass production. About a month later, the pens arrived at my doorstep!

Prepping for Launch 📸

Before the pens even arrived, I had already been talking about them all over Instagram. Showing behind-the-scenes mockups, unboxing samples, and getting my audience involved every step of the way helps build hype for the product before it even exists.

I designed an email campaign and created an Instagram reel with a trending sound for Instagram. Plus, I added a countdown so everyone could get notifications when the pens were ready to drop. 🔔

Quality Check & Packaging 📦

When the pens arrived, it wasn’t time to sell just yet! First, I did a full quality check and packaged them. My cousins helped me out with a little packing party 🥳—I checked for scratches, misprints, and anything else that might need to go into my seconds pile (which I later sell as mystery packs, btw).

After everything was packed and ready, I updated the stock on my site and set my final launch campaign in motion.

Launch Day 🚀

By the time the pens were live, my audience was READY! I sold about 30 pen sets in the first week—way better than my usual slower launches. Sharing every little detail of the product’s journey made a huge difference, and it felt like such a win! 🎉

Final Thoughts ✨

Launching a product is definitely a process, but keeping your audience involved and excited is the secret sauce to success. If you have any questions about the process or want to dive deeper into any of these steps, let me know in the comments!

And if you’re running a shop and want more tips like this, make sure to subscribe to my channel for more behind-the-scenes chaos and cafecito ☕️! (Don’t forget to hit the bell! 🔔)

Catch you next time, Queriditos! 💖