Blind boxes, or mystery boxes, have become a familiar concept. A few years ago, they were extremely popular in our country, with many people both buying and selling them. A friend of mine made 30 million yuan in just six months selling blind boxes on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), which shows just how popular these products were.
However, as more people started playing with blind boxes, buyers became more familiar with the strategies involved. Nowadays, it’s tough for buyers to profit from blind boxes; the sellers are usually the ones making money. Over the past year, there’s been a noticeable decline in the number of people interested in blind boxes domestically.
Despite this trend, t in English, you can follow the steps in this article to create a successful blind box account on Twitter. This case study features a young girl from China who has managed to create a thriving business.
1. Choosing a Niche for Blind Boxes
Blind boxes come in various categories, so what kind of products are most popular on Twitter? Our Twitter case study focuses on a niche market: anime figure blind boxes.
Generally speaking, if you want to target male customers, electronic product blind boxes are a good choice. For female customers, anime figure blind boxes tend to be more appealing. Both product types are highly popular, attracting a large number of buyers, and they also have relatively high sales prices, leading to substantial profits.
Case Study: A Twitter Account
This account belongs to a young girl from China. She started it in 2019, and it now has over 3,000 followers with more than 60,000 tweets. Despite the seemingly modest data, the account generates substantial revenue, which is why the owner continues to tweet so frequently.
Niche Positioning: This account is dedicated to selling anime figure blind boxes and covers everything related to blind boxes, including styles and prices. The account primarily focuses on selling to customers in Thailand.
By focusing on Thailand, which is geographically close to China, she reduces shipping costs significantly. The product cost is also relatively low, so as long as the pricing isn’t excessively high, her products can maintain a competitive advantage.
2. Analyzing Profits from Anime Blind Boxes
The primary income source for this Twitter account is selling anime figure blind boxes. Prices vary according to the box’s style, ranging from 330 Thai Baht (approximately $9) to 3,590 Thai Baht (about $100).
The cost of a single anime blind box is roughly $1, even for premium-quality boxes, which cost about $5. As long as you price above your cost, there is room for profit.
The account owner completes transactions entirely through direct messaging, with no independent website or third-party platform, making it difficult to accurately calculate revenue. However, to earn $10,000 a month, she would need to sell about 22 orders per day at an average profit margin of $15 per box. While this may not be her current sales volume, increasing marketing efforts and expanding the market could help reach this target.
3. Analyzing Twitter Traffic for Blind Boxes
If you’re unfamiliar with the anime industry, you might not fully understand the audience characteristics. People who enjoy anime figures are typically aged 15 to 35, with roughly 60% male and 40% female.
Since the account owner is female, her followers are mostly women. These include high school and college students, office workers, and otaku (homebodies who often rely on family money or part-time jobs).
The account primarily targets Thai users, given the owner’s strategic positioning.
4. Practical Steps to Start a Twitter Anime Blind Box Business
Understanding the Anime Figure Market
There are many types of anime figures, mostly linked with popular anime series, though some are original designs without anime connections. You should analyze the market to determine which type of anime figures will attract more buyers.
Researching Anime Trends:
Use search engines to identify the most popular anime series, such as “Top Anime of 2024.” This will yield articles listing various anime titles, providing clues about which figures might be in demand.
Learning from Competitors:
Competitors’ tweets are valuable sources of information, as they are industry insiders who share blind box details. Keep track of their marketing content to gather material for your own sales and promotional efforts.
Setting Up a Twitter Account
Use your Google account to register on Twitter. Once registered, the account setup is crucial.
Username:
Ideally, choose a name that combines your brand with keywords, like “DD Blind Boxes.” This approach helps with branding, as users can easily remember and recommend your account, boosting traffic through Twitter’s search and recommendation features.
Profile Picture:
Consider using an anime figure as your profile picture so users immediately recognize your niche. Alternatively, create a unique brand logo for a more official appearance.
Bio:
Your bio should explain what you do, including conditions for selling anime figures, like working hours and payment terms. You can also link your independent site or third-party sales platform.
Finding Suppliers
Finding high-quality yet affordable suppliers is crucial to ensure profitability. Ideally, establish partnerships with local manufacturers. If that’s not possible, online platforms like Alibaba offer a wide range of options. Alibaba’s global site lists many anime figure suppliers, providing contact information for potential collaborations. Blind boxes on these platforms typically cost about $1 each, making them an excellent resource for sourcing.
Explore other platforms like AliExpress, Made-in-China, and Wholesale Central for additional supplier options.
Logistics and Shipping
Logistics is another vital component. Different shipping companies have varying rates, and some might seem reliable but pose issues like slow payment processing, lost packages, or failure to contact recipients. Research thoroughly to choose a reputable international shipping company, such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, Expeditors, C.H. Robinson, or SF Express. Compare pricing and customer reviews before deciding.
If you want to streamline shipping, consider renting warehouse space with a logistics company, allowing direct shipments from the warehouse to customers. Although costly, this option suits high-volume sales.
Expanding Revenue Streams
The account owner can diversify revenue by setting up an independent site where customers can order directly, increasing conversion rates. Building an independent site involves securing a domain, server, and appealing website theme, plus setting up payment systems and uploading product SKU details, which can be time-consuming.
If time is a constraint, consider platforms like Shopify, which offer comprehensive services, allowing you to focus on preparing a domain and launching your site quickly.
Additionally, sell related products like figure stands or protective cases for extra income. You might also offer custom figure design services, collaborating with manufacturers for unique customer requests.
5. Common Challenges and Solutions
Selecting Target Markets
Choosing the right market is crucial. For example, Japanese customers have easy access to local anime figures, making online purchases less appealing unless you offer a pricing advantage.
Start by targeting Asian countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia, which have large populations, robust economies, and lower shipping costs due to proximity to China. Then expand to European countries like the UK, France, Germany, Russia, Portugal, and Spain. These regions have wealthier populations who are willing to purchase figures despite higher logistics costs. You can adjust prices according to each market’s profile.
Handling Customer Service
Running an e-commerce business inevitably involves customer service, especially with international sales. Prepare to handle returns, rejections, and complaints effectively. Determine whether to keep returned products and establish protocols for addressing quality concerns.
The goal of customer service is to encourage repeat purchases, which become a primary revenue source over time. If product costs are low, consider writing off returns to minimize hassle.
Final Thoughts
Anime figure blind boxes represent a niche market with significant potential. As the anime industry continues to grow, more young people are becoming anime enthusiasts, creating a promising market for related products. By understanding anime trends, you can identify lucrative opportunities in this niche, where products can command high prices and offer substantial profit margins. Embracing the expanding world of anime IPs and brands can lead to success in this growing industry.