Reginald and Tania Jennings ECom Family Academy Review: 3 Print-On-Demand Pitfalls

July 28, 2024

ECom Family Academy is a POD dropshipping training program by Reginald and Tania Jennings. It teaches you how to start a POD business using platforms like Shopify. The program includes comprehensive modules and live training sessions. You also get access to the private Facebook group for support. One-on-one training is available for those looking for more hands-on mentorship.

ECom Family Academy reviews are negative with a 1.5/5 rating on BBB. The program is praised for having valuable information. However, students point out that the information can be found online for free. Complaints also mention upsells, outdated resources, and over-packed live sessions.

ecom family academy review

Todd complained about the lack of transparency regarding the costs of this business. He also explained that the live sessions were packed with too many students that he couldn't ask any questions. They just kept referring him to previous recordings which were outdated. He also said that many of the recordings were incomplete.

Another user complained that the program was only useful for beginners. They also said that you were pushed to get expensive 1-on-1 coaching. Users have also complained about the refund policy not being honored.

In this article, you will discover the 3 POD pitfalls and what ECom Family Academy teaches. You will also learn exactly what you get with ECom Family Academy. I will also tell you about who Reginald and Tania Jennings are.

ECom Family Academy Pros and Cons

Pros

Provides a detailed outline of everything you will be needing, such as tools, software, marketing strategies, and many others.

Reggie Jennings has a lot of experience in the eCommerce space.

Cons

There are little to no objective reviews, which makes it difficult to get a glimpse of how successful or unsuccessful the course is.

The refund policy is not guaranteed unless you spend $1,000, even if the program does not work.

Price

ECom Family Academy costs $1,495. The Masterclass Preparation Kit costs $27. There is a 1-on-1 8-week coaching for $7,500.

Refund Policy

30 day money-back guarantee (as long as you went through the entire course, took actionable steps to apply the strategies and techniques inside the course, and spent a minimum of $1,000 on ad spend)

Origin

2021

Reputation

Lots of positive reviews but very little negative or objective reviews.

August 2, 2024

Hello, this was very helpful. When I did not respond to move forward after watching their first introduction video, he started sending me emails that were disrespectful. I noticed some of the emails I received what say the program course was free, then when I clicked on it there was link for me to put my credit card information in and pay. Their is definitely false advertising be practice. I just unsubscribed to receive any more information from them, and decided to find out some reviews about these people.

Emily
July 28, 2024

Don’t take this course. What they teach will get you banned.

Tyler

1.0
1.0 out of 5 stars (based on 2 reviews)

3 Pitfalls of Running a Print-On-Demand Business

  • 1. You Have No Control Over the Quality of Your Products
    You have no control over product quality, relying entirely on suppliers. It is inevitable to encounter suppliers that are more concerned with making money. This could lead to low-quality or even counterfeit products. You also have to keep in mind that you can only dropship products that a supplier sells. A good way to counter to this is to spend time researching and finding the best suppliers. Trying their product for yourself is a good start.
  • 2. Customer Service Is Almost Non-existent
    The dropshipping model limits customer interaction. This leads to poor customer retention and lack of feedback. Without direct engagement, improving your service is challenging. Customer retention is crucial to long-term success. Having regular and loyal customers will help your business grow.
  • 3. Shipping Times and Deliveries Will Be Inconsistent
    There is no guarantee of shipping times in a POD or dropshipping business. You will have to rely on the schedule of your suppliers. This can be a huge downside as fash shipping is what most customers look for. A Voxware study shows that approximately 69% of customers are less likely to buy from the same store if their product does not arrive within two days of the promised delivery time.

These are only some of the few pitfalls that Ecom Family Academy fails to mention.

ECom Family Academy Overview

Mr. ECom gives 4 basic steps to help you start your own print-on-demand business:

  • 1. Identify Competitors
    Find out who your competitors are and understand consumer patterns using online tools. Google Trends helps you see what’s trending. SimilarWeb allows you to analyze eCommerce websites, their ranking, monthly visits, and more. CommerceInspector goes further by letting you see the products added by competitors' stores. It also shows when they were added, and other crucial details. These tools give you a comprehensive view, enabling you to make informed decisions.
  • 2. Create an eCommerce Platform
    Shopify is recommended for this purpose due to its user-friendly interface. It also has robust features tailored for eCommerce. Setting up your store involves selecting a niche, designing the storefront, and listing your products. Make sure you use detailed descriptions and high-quality images.
  • 3. Market Your Products
    Use various methods to attract customers. This includes search engine advertising through Google Ads, Bing Ads, and Yahoo Ads. Leveraging social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok also increases reach. Using SEO techniques, such as keyword research and internal linking, will help improve your website’s visibility. This will help attract organic traffic.
  • 4. Source, Pack, and Ship
    Source products from suppliers like AliExpress, which caters to individual buyers. ShineOn offers personalized gifts with factories in the US and Europe. CustomCat and GearBubble provide print-on-demand fulfillment services. Pillow Profits caters to Shopify users, offering a range of print-on-demand services. InterestPrint provides services for over 700 products with fulfillment centers in multiple countries. Managing the logistics is crucial to ensure customer satisfaction and repeat business.

What Do You Get With ECom Family Academy?

Before you can sign up for ECom Family Academy, you need to go through their masterclass. To get access to the masterclass, you have to purchase the Masterclass Preparation Kit. The full program is offered after the masterclass.

  • 2022 A-Z POD Online Course ($5,000 value)
  • Daily Zoom Classes with a Success Mentor ($5,000 value)
  • Weekly Q&A Zoom Call with Mr. & Mrs. Ecom ($1,500 value)
  • Lifetime Access to Exclusive Private Facebook Group ($997 value)
  • Access to All Previous Live Q&A Recordings ($997 value)
  • 2022 Ad Strategies To Keep You Winning ($997 value)

ECom Family GTO Program Focus

  • This business model does not require experience.
  • No inventory will be stored in your house or any warehouse.
  • You can run the business from anywhere
  • ECommerce is always in demand.
  • There are “better profit margins” here than anywhere else.
  • You do not have to touch the product at all.

Why Is It Better to Do It as a Family With EFA?

  • Community support via FB group
  • 3+ live classes via Zoom everyday from Monday-Friday
  • Winning products and trends (Weekly)
  • Learn how to run your own ads
  • Self-paced course
  • How to be “under control” (mastering mindset)

What Do I Need to Get Started?

  • A working computer / laptop
  • Internet connection
  • Cellphone with a working camera
  • Time

How Much Capital Do You Need to Start?

  • Domain: $2 to $10 yearly
  • Shopify Plan: $0.00 monthly for first 4 months
  • Product samples for ad creatives: $50 to $100
  • Ad budget: $250 to $1000
  • Other costs: Registering your company, P.O. Box, etc.

ECom Family Academy Modules

Course introduction

This module serves as an overview and introduction to the entire course:

  • Welcome to the Family
  • Getting Started
  • Getting Started Updated, Reviewing the Course & Support

Mindset

Having the right mindset before you begin your eCommerce journey is the first and most important step:

  • What’s Required: Setting the Stage
  • Asking Questions Cashes Checks

The Fundamentals

Knowing the fundamentals of eCommerce is extremely crucial in ensuring the success of your store:

  • Overview
  • Getting Started: The Entire Process

Product Research

This module tackles everything you need to know when it comes to searching for the winning product:

  • Lesson 1: The Bird’s Eye View
  • Lesson 2: Product Research with Etsy
  • Lesson 3: Product Research with Facebook
  • Lesson 4: Product Research with Pinterest and eBay.

Let’s Start Designing My Product

Once you've identified a product to focus on, you can begin designing your product:

  • Designing 101 Using Canva
  • Designing the Perfect Card + TikTok Ad

Building My Store: Shopify Store Setup and Build

How else are you going to sell your product without a store? This module teaches you how to build an online Shopify store from scratch:

  • Setting Up My Shopify Store
  • Setting Up My Shopify Store Part 2 (STEP BY STEP)
  • Build Your Store Live Part 1
  • Build Your Store Live part 2
  • Student Shopify Store Reviews

Uploading Products and Creating My First Ad Creative

This module walks you through the basics of using ShineOn, which is a print-on-demand service:

  • Setting Up on ShineOn App
  • Adding the Products To My Store
  • ShineOn Resources + Getting Samples

CustomCat

CustomCat is another leading eCommerce platform that provides users with powerful tools to accelerate their print-on-demand business:

  • “The Whole Process” Masterclass

TikTok Ads

This module outlines the importance of using TikTok ads and how they can be beneficial to your print-on-demand business:

  • Why TikTok?
  • Setting Up The TikTok SHopify App
  • Warming Up My TikTok Account (MUST DO FIRST)
  • Warming Up Your TikTok Ad Account + Launching Your FIrst Ad (MUST DO FIRST)
  • Warming Up Your Account Reviewing Data
  • Launching Your First Ad
  • TikTok Ad Strategy
  • Reviewing Your Data
  • Scaling Your Ads

TikTok Creative Dump + Weekly Niches

  • Video from April 6, 2022 to July 30, 2022

Who are Mr. and Mrs. ECom?

Before he became Mr. Ecom, Reginald “Reggie” Jennings Jr. was an IT professional who worked for a company named IT Direct. Even at a young age, he has always had a passion for computers and programming. When he reached the age of 13, he was already building websites for the National Guard of the United States. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University back in 2009. He has a degree in Management of Information Systems.

Mrs. ECom, also known as Tania Jennings, is Mr. Ecom’s highschool sweetheart. She initially wanted to take up culinary arts. Her father wanted her to become involved in computers and the tech industry. He met Reggie back in the early 2000s and the rest is history.

How Did Reginald Jenning End up in eCommerce?

According to Reggie, he has been in the eCommerce space since 1998. For his first eCommerce business, he and his mom paid $5000 for a store that was already setup on eBay. Once he reached college, he went dumpster diving to find broken down computers. He fixed those computers and sold them on Craigslist

After graduation, he became an SEO marketer for local companies and helped them generate traffic. In 2016, Reggie joined a program called Alpha eCom, which was founded by Justin Taylor. Eventually, he left his six-figure job to become a virtual assistant. He worked for one of the 18-year-olds there that made $30k a day, just so he could learn how to do the same. He realized he could make $500,000 in sales in less than 2 months. Reggie left his job as a VA and started on his own eCommerce store.

He struggled to make even a single dollar during the first few months and was over $60k in debt. To keep their family afloat, the couple started cleaning offices at night just to make ends meet. Fortunately, Reggie met his second mentor, Manny Amari. Reggie became a VA for Manny to learn the basics of print-on-demand, such as following trends and identifying markets. If it wasn’t for Manny Amari and the couple’s hunger and passion to learn, they wouldn’t be where they are today.

Is Running a Print-On-Demand Business Worth It?

Running a print-on-demand business can be rewarding if you dedicate a lot of time and effort. However, you’ll face plenty of challenges and risks. There is intense competition, product saturation, and lack of customer interaction in a POD business.

Quality control is a major issue, as POD businesses often rely on third-party suppliers. This can lead to inconsistencies in product quality. Pricing instability is also a common problem, as costs can fluctuate between orders. Effective marketing and strong branding are critical for success. Choosing the right niche to avoid oversaturation is crucial.

Is Print-On-Demand Profitable?

Print-on-demand is profitable if done right. Success depends on the right niche, high-demand products, and working with reliable suppliers. POD businesses typically earn a profit margin of 20-30%. According to Dropshipping.com, about 3.8% of POD stores generate over $50,000 in monthly revenue. Some sellers make substantial profits, such as Brittany Lewis, who earned over $600,000 in three years on Etsy. However, the market is competitive, and success requires effective marketing and niche targeting.

POD is low-risk with minimal upfront costs, as products are made to order, reducing inventory expenses. But you will still need to spend a fortune on marketing. The average conversion rate for a POD store is 1.7%, which translates to approximately 1.7 purchases for every 100 visitors. Ineffective ad campaigns will see you lose money.

Print-On-Demand Success Rate

The success rate for print-on-demand businesses is about 24%. A successful POD business requires good marketing, unique products, and strong online presence. You will constantly need to monitor which products are trending. Product research will likely take most of your time. You also need to create effective marketing campaigns. This includes a lot of ad testing and optimizing. It will take a lot of time, work, and patience to succeed in POD. Expect to lose money before you start making profits.

Create Sustainable Passive Income With Local Lead Generation

A POD business relies on effective marketing and sales, which is costly and challenging to maintain consistently. The heavy reliance on your supplier is also a risk. If they stop selling, then you will lose products to sell. In the long-run, a POD business is often unsustainable.

A local lead generation business creates passive income by renting out your digital property. It works by ranking your site on Google, which will generate traffic. Local business will rent your site to benefit from the organic leads. As long as your site is ranked and rented, you will earn a stable monthly income. You don't need to run any marketing ads or sell any products. This makes the starting and maintaining costs very low.

conclusion-lead-gen-maps

In a POD business, you will be competing with hundreds or thousands of other sellers. With local lead generation, you only need to outrank a handful of sites. It is also highly scalable. To scale, you only need to repeat the rank and rent process. You can earn $500 to $3,000 a month from each site. Check out local lead generation for the best sustainable business model to create financial freedom.

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  1. I don't believe they are a scam, but their teaching practice is riddled with ethical issues. They teach you to 'steal' other marketers images and videos and use them in your own marketing.

    I attended several live trainings that they were specific about this. When I called them out on it, they ignored my messages.

    If you read the terms and conditions on both Facebook and Etsy, they are very clear that you can not use anothers images or videos in your listings or ads.

    And when I asked for a refund, all I got was 'corporate speak' that stated they do not advicate 'stealing other peoples' images or videos.

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