<p><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/607873074206150018175b72-2400/image4.jpeg" border="0" alt="Vivian Nguyen - Popshop Live seller and influencer" data-mce-source="Courtesy of Vivian Nguyen"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Vivian Nguyen smiles radiantly, welcoming people by their names as they join her "Kawaii Friday Show" livestream. </p><p>"You guys have been eyeing the plushies," the 21-year-old says. "I got you." She unwraps a stuffed animal that looks like a bunny with its ears pulled back in a blue bow. The character's name is <a href="https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m19020499208/'gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12272857572&utm_content=t0&adgroup=116244884846&network=g&device=c&merchant_id=199188828&product_id=m19020499208&product_id=696733477812&gclid=CjwKCAjw9r-DBhBxEiwA9qYUpX6paI9OXEvfQClDdCHq0zgu9qMOiOTfaIydafuXdCDJ0dp8lLE0VRoCQYIQAvD_BwE">Pochacco</a> and it's made by Sanrio, the creators behind the popular cartoon "Hello Kitty."</p><p>"Do you want me to list pre-orders for these'" she asks viewers. "I have two or three coming directly from Japan. These are $45 each and I only have one on hand." Viewers react with colorful lighting bolts that ascend across the screen. </p><p>"So I'm gonna list this one." She holds the stuffed animal up to her camera, captures a photo, and with a few taps the item is posted. "Going up in 3, 2, 1...oh my gosh, Zara, congratulations you got it!" The batch of pre-orders sells out within seconds.</p><p><img style="float:right;" src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/6081aeb1354dde0018c06ab8-698/IMG0407.PNG" border="0" alt="Vivian Nguyen seller on Popshop Live livestream shopping app" style="color: #222222;" data-mce-source="Screenshot/Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins" data-mce-caption="Vivian Nguyen shows viewers a &quotsquishy&quot that looks like a cronut dipped in chocolate."></p><p>Nguyen, who's based in San Francisco, was one of the first sellers on the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sell-popular-livestream-shopping-apps-popshop-live-whatot-2021-4">livestream shopping</a> app Popshop Live when it launched two years ago. As <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sell-popular-livestream-shopping-apps-popshop-live-whatot-2021-4">more small businesses and resellers are using livestream shows</a> to grow their businesses and personally connect with customers, livestream shopping is estimated to become a $25 billion market by 2023. </p><p>Before joining the app, Nguyen was an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTCla99IA562qwW4LamD9PQ">influencer on YouTube</a> selling "squishies," or foam toys with a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/squishy/">viral following</a> that are addictively satisfying to squeeze in your hands. She also sells stuffed animals known as "plushies," Kawaii accessories, and Japanese snacks. </p><p>In 2020, Nguyen's business, <a href="https://www.cyndercake.com/">Cyndercake</a>, made more than $60,000 in sales on Popshop Live, which Insider verified with documentation. It's helping her pay for college and her rapid growth led her to open her first ecommerce site this year. "When I was starting to sell, it kind of felt like a garage sale," she said. "I figured that an online shop would be a good step to officially make my mark as a business owner."</p><p>Popshop Live founder and CEO Dan Dan Li told Insider that part of Nguyen's success has come from engaging with her customers. "The sellers who are successful with this format are the sellers that really spend time on building those relationships with customers," Li said. "She cares about our customers and really pays attention to what they want." </p><p>Nguyen gave Insider her tips for other small business owners who want to start livestreaming on the app. </p><h2><strong>Use the livestream format to show the details up close</strong></h2><p>Before joining Popshop Live, Nguyen sold her products on marketplaces like eBay and Mercari, as well as on Instagram. But she's learned it can be difficult to stand out on these heavily saturated platforms with static images. Nguyen said she's made more money since switching to Popshop Live, because of its interactive nature.</p><p>"With livestreaming apps, most buyers purchase impulsively, so it kind of helps the seller as well," she said. </p><p>It's also an effective way to sell highly visual products like Nguyen's pastry shop of squishies. From foam donuts and cronuts to the French dessert mille-feuille, the food-themed toys look so realistic, viewers comment that they make them hungry. </p><p>And Nguyen can demonstrate how "squishy" each one is by squeezing it in its package for viewers to see how long it takes to decompress before it returns to its original shape. (This is an important quality to squishy collectors, as some prefer slow-rising and others prefer fast-rising.)</p><p><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/607875534206150018175b7e-2400/image6.jpeg" border="0" alt="Vivian Nguyen - Popshop Live seller and influencer" data-mce-source="Courtesy of Vivian Nguyen" data-mce-caption="Vivian Nguyen designed her own characters for merchandise in addition to the squishy and plushy toys she sells on Popshop Live."></p><h2><strong>Have lively conversations with customers</strong></h2><p>During one of her Friday afternoon shows, Nguyen listed plum-flavored Japanese Kit Kat bars. The novelty candy led viewers to debate new flavors in the comments scrolling up the screentomato, garlic, miso soup, baked potato and butter. She laughed as the suggestions got more bizarre. </p><p>Sometimes viewers ask her what it's like to run her business. "I love packaging orders," she told one viewer during a show. "I have a very small area to work with," she continued, explaining how she has to walk between two different rooms where she stores products in her home. </p><p>The format also gives customers the opportunity to ask questions about the products, like how long a squishy will last before it gets worn out. To which Nguyen answers, "They won't break apart unless you rip them. They're very durable. I have been collecting them for almost 10 years and most of the squishies I have are still in good condition."</p><h2><strong>Survey viewers to get real-time feedback </strong></h2><p>Instead of relying on trends, livestream sellers can survey their customers in real-time. If a particular product sells out quickly during a show, the seller knows it's a hot-ticket item and they should restock it as soon as possible.</p><p>Another good way to predict demand are pre-orders a tool Nguyen uses often on Popshop Live. She shows viewers a product she plans to get in a couple weeks and gives them the chance to order the item ahead of time. She also might ask her viewers if they want more of a particular product or what else they want to see.</p><p>"Their comments have been really helpful," she said. "I usually ask whenever I'm unsure and I don't want to risk spending the money to produce the products."</p><p><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/607f51b674da0300181e2d89-1383/Copy of BI Wide Thumbnail - Template.png" border="0" alt="Cyndercake on Popshop Live" data-mce-source="Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins/Insider" data-mce-caption="Screenshots of Vivian Nguyen's Friday livestream show on Popshop Live"></p><h2><strong>Tell the story behind your products</strong></h2><p>Nguyen recommends any business owner who wants to start livestreaming should get comfortable in front of the camera and let their personalities shine. The more authentic you are, the more your customers will connect with you and your products. </p><p>"Sell yourself and your products in a way where people would be interested in supporting you and purchasing the products, not just for the item, but also because of who you are as a person," she said. </p><p>When Nguyen introduced an original set of characters for stickers and keychains, she told her viewers the story of how she designed them and where she got the inspiration. "That's what made my viewers more in love with my brand," she said. She said she sold out of the merch within seconds. </p><h2><strong>Stay active and promote your livestreams on other platforms</strong></h2><p>Nguyen uses her following on YouTube and Instagram to promote the days she goes live on Popshop. She said it's important to stay active on other platforms to reach the widest audience. Many of her followers tune in to her livestreams, but not all of them know about Popshop Live, so a major part of her marketing includes introducing new customers to the app. </p><p>Nguyen said Cyndercake has about 1,187 followers on Popshop Live and she's recorded an average of $1,000 to $2,000 in sales per livestream. The most sales she made in one stream was nearly $5,000.</p><p>Sticking to a consistent livestream schedule will ensure viewers come back. "Always be consistent and active because your followers will notice," Nguyen said. "If they see you disappear for a couple of months, they kind of start to forget about you and wonder where you've been."</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/popshop-live-seller-gives-her-tips-for-livestream-shopping-2021-4#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hm-zara-uniqlo-fast-fashion-spend-money-clothes-2019-1">Sneaky ways stores like H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo get you to spend more money on clothes</a></p>
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