Introduction

1. Looking to pad out the Aardelia website with additional products

2. Original plan was to create Hemp Tote bags / shopping bags with a distinctive feature, so we would have had just one product to list

3. Affiliation and drop shipping has advantages, but also disadvantages

Summary in 3 Points:

1. Affiliation and drop shipping do have low cost overheads - sometimes zero apart from time invested to establish these B2B relationships.

2. Your product selection may be limited especially with drop shippers as their product range may be more 'main stream'

3. You may be able to form your own affiliation relationships with suppliers - if you meet their criteria

4. Definitely seriously worth a consideration, you could create a Blog type site with reviews and links to products

Conclusions

• I really don't like Amazon or anything big American Corp at the moment and personally I'm looking to avoid if possible.

• I would rather UK and Europe, Oz and India - but some things, software as an example, the US are market leaders

Main Content Body

Purpose

(What are we looking to achieve on this page and why?)

• To list suitable products for sale on our website

1. This will ‘Pad’ out our our website for a little more interest and look better - more accomplished, a little more choice

2. It will give potential Aardelia customers an idea of the type of products we are interested in and are looking to create under our own brand.

3. Will give some commission back hopefully, to help fund Aardelia

Examples

(Include similar examples and case studies where relevant)

• Having an affiliation with Amazon or using drop shipping platforms basically is just a more modern form of selling that has gone on for decades, shops etc buying wholesale to sell at an RRP and create a profit. Only with affiliation and drop shipping your profits are potentially lower, however one upside is you are not buying in stock, holding stock and shipping stock. The downside is it’s not going to carry our branding.

Notes

After checking out Amazon for what they need, this help article may be of use

Connecting to fulfillment services

Also on the same article check out Shipstation - this prints labels for fulfilment - not sure how this works as I’d presume Amazon or Syncee or possibly Spocket (Spocket is another drop shipper) would handle all of the shipping process.

READ THIS BEFORE APPLYING

Amazon.co.uk Associates Central

There are quite a few conditions on here re your site for approval. Established site, unique information, possibly around 10 posts, Socials should have followers, they are saying 500, looking for at least 3 sales in 180 days. And the BIG ONE it looks difficult or maybe not even possible to re-apply if you are rejected.

Some ChatGPT snippets taken around 15-04-2025

Amazon affiliate with my Squarespace eCommerce site. As I may only be starting with a limited number of my own designed products, Hemp grocery and tote bags the website is going to look pretty sparse. Now I am not planning on selling loads of products but if I were to find suitable, high end products that meet my cradle to cradle principles and I'd prefer that these are listed directly by the manufacturer then could I list these on my website, or the supplied link from Amazon for customers to potentially go and buy from Amazon? I haven't been able to see anything on the Squarespace help so far, but surely it can be done quite easily?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, you can absolutely integrate Amazon affiliate links into your Squarespace site. While Squarespace doesn’t have a built-in Amazon affiliate integration, you can do this manually in a few ways:

1. Direct Product Listings with Affiliate Links

   • Create product pages for the high-end cradle-to-cradle items you want to feature.

   • Instead of an "Add to Cart" button, use a custom button with your Amazon affiliate link, leading visitors directly to the product on Amazon.

   • You can still include product images, descriptions, and specs to make it feel like a natural part of your store.

2. Affiliate Links in a Blog/Journal Section

   • Since you’re already considering a "Journal" instead of a "Blog," you could write product recommendations, reviews, or sustainability insights and include affiliate links within the content.

3. Affiliate Product Collection Page

   • Instead of mixing them into your main product section, you could create a separate page like "Curated Sustainable Products" that lists items with Amazon affiliate links.

Since you’d only be linking to Amazon, not processing payments, it won’t interfere with your Squarespace eCommerce setup. Would you want these Amazon products to blend into your store seamlessly, or would you prefer to keep them clearly separate from your own products?

You said:

I would keep them separate so I'll have a think about that but perhaps a Curated Sustainable Page is a good shout, I would rather keep things transparent, and ideally over time I'd like to have my own product range, but I'll need to generate a income stream from Aardelia to start to fund this, unless I reach out to Kickstarter or something similar

ChatGPT said:

Memory Updated

That sounds like a solid plan—keeping transparency while using affiliate income as a stepping stone to grow your own product line. A "Curated Sustainable Products" page could also position Aardelia as a trusted source for well-designed, cradle-to-cradle items, even beyond your own products.

If you ever decide to explore Kickstarter or another crowdfunding route, you could tie it into your Journal or email marketing to build excitement around your product development. Let me know if you want to brainstorm how to structure the curated page or make the affiliate links feel natural within your site’s branding!

You said:

If you have any thoughts / best practice or design ideas on structuring the curated page to make the links feel natural then please share, I like the button idea, although it will need to be made clear that the viewer would be diverted to Amazon

ChatGPT said:

For a "Curated Sustainable Products" page, the key is making it feel intentional and aligned with your brand while being transparent about affiliate links. Here’s how you could structure it:

Page Structure & Design Ideas

1. Introduction Section (Clear & Trustworthy)

• A short, engaging intro explaining why these products were chosen.

• Example: "We believe in well-designed, sustainable products that align with our cradle-to-cradle philosophy. While we craft our own range, we also want to highlight thoughtfully made items from other brands we trust. These links take you to Amazon, where we may earn a small commission—helping us fund future Aardelia designs!"

• Consider adding a small disclaimer below (or in a footer) about Amazon affiliation for transparency.

2. Product Grid or List (Visually Consistent)

• Use large, high-quality images to match the aesthetic of your own products.

• Layout ideas:

  • Grid with 2–3 columns (masonry style if sizes vary)

  • Cards with images, short descriptions, and a button

  • Sections grouped by category (e.g., Kitchen, Storage, Everyday Carry)

• Example Layout:

  • Product Image (maintain aspect ratio for consistency)

  • Product Name (Bold, clean typography)

  • 1-2 sentence description (highlight sustainability, function, why it’s recommended)

  • Button: “View on Amazon” (styled like your main buttons but clearly states "Amazon")

3. Buttons & Link Transparency

• Use a contrasting button color to differentiate affiliate links from in-store products.

• Text could say:

  • ✅ View on Amazon

  • 🔗 Shop on Amazon

  • 🌍 Explore this Sustainable Find

• Add a small note below buttons like:

  • This link takes you to Amazon, where we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

4. Optional: Featured Picks or Aardelia Recommends

• A small highlighted section at the top for top-rated or personally tested products.

• Example:

  • “Our Favorite Zero-Waste Kitchen Tools”

  • “Best Sellers in Sustainable Homeware”

Additional Enhancements

✅ Filters or Categories: If you feature multiple products, consider category sections (e.g., Kitchenware, Reusable Bags, Zero-Waste Essentials).

✅ Minimalist Design: Stick to Aardelia’s color palette & clean layout for consistency.

✅ Testimonials/Quotes: If you've tested products yourself, a short note like “We’ve tried this and love it for...” could add authenticity.

Would this structure work with how you envision it? Let me know if you'd like a mockup or specific design tweaks!

You said:

On Squarespace I have seen an option on the Blog section to monetarise your blog. Not sure what this is, I guess it's another way of affiliation. As I am not that familiar with different ways that you can make an income stream from a website, other than hopefully having my own products to sell, and then hopefully if approved by Amazon a small selection of curated products which align with the businesses goals, links to products which may provide a kickback should someone actually buy to from Amazon as a result of taking a look via my website. So this particular site that I'm working on may not be the best vehicle for creating commissions / kickbacks from other sites. But for curiosity and possible future thoughts what kind of methods can you design in to a site. I have some experience of receiving Insurance commissions in the past, but a broad overview of potential ideas would be great. My interests are mainly around food, cooking, quality products, but I have friends who have interests and passions in home design, cars, sports, fashion etc so a pretty wide range

ChatGPT said:

You're absolutely on the right track—your site might start primarily with your own products and a small curated selection, but there are plenty of creative and ethical ways to build multiple income streams from a website. Here’s a broad, categorized overview, with ideas that could suit your interests or potentially those of friends if you collaborate or expand.

🔗 1. Affiliate Marketing (Commissions for Referrals)

You're already exploring this, but it goes beyond Amazon:

• Amazon Associates (what you're setting up now)

• Individual Brand Affiliate Programs (e.g., Le Creuset, Made In, GreenPan, etc.)

• Affiliate Networks like Awin, ShareASale, CJ Affiliate — these offer access to thousands of companies in home, fashion, tech, food, etc.

• Etsy or Not On The High Street affiliate links (via affiliate networks)

💡 Use blog posts or reviews to naturally integrate these—like “10 Beautifully Designed Reusable Products We Love” or “Best Cast Iron Pans for Zero-Waste Cooking.”

💼 2. Selling Your Own Products or Services

You’ve got this covered, but in the future you might also consider:

• Digital Products (PDF guides, cooking tips, eBooks, circular economy design philosophy pieces)

• Workshops or Courses (e.g., How to design cradle-to-cradle products, or cooking classes with sustainable ingredients)

• Consulting or 1:1 guidance (If you build a strong rep in your niche)

💰 3. Website Monetization Tools (Like Squarespace’s Blog Monetization)

Squarespace's “Monetize” option for Blogs often refers to:

• Google AdSense or other ad platforms

• Paywalls or Member-Only Content (like Substack or Patreon style)

• Paid Newsletter Access (you could do exclusive content for members interested in zero-waste living, design thinking, etc.)

Not all of these are suited for every brand (ads can dilute a premium brand feel), but they can work in the right context.

📬 4. Email Marketing Monetization

Once you build an audience:

• Affiliate links in email newsletters

• Sponsored mentions from aligned brands

• Early access or preorders for your products

• Upsell digital products or courses

🤝 5. Sponsorships or Brand Partnerships

Once your brand grows:

• Brands may pay to be featured in your Journal/Blog

• Sponsored blog posts or product placements

• Co-branded giveaways or social media collaborations

These work best when your values clearly align with the sponsoring brand.

🎥 6. Content Creation (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok)

Even if you don’t want to become an "influencer," content can:

• Drive traffic to your site (and affiliate links)

• Open sponsorship opportunities

• Let you repurpose blog content into reels, how-tos, or aesthetic visuals

📦 7. Dropshipping or White Label Products

Not always ideal for cradle-to-cradle thinking, but in very carefully curated cases:

• You could work with sustainable manufacturers to offer low-impact products without handling inventory

• Or collaborate on Aardelia-designed goods manufactured by partners (with full transparency)

🌿 Example Ideas Based on Your Interests

AreaExample IdeaFoodSustainable cooking gear reviews, organic pantry staples, affiliate boxes (like Oddbox or Abel & Cole)DesignZero-waste homeware reviews, ethical furniture roundups, mood boards with affiliate linksCarsEV chargers, solar panel kits, eco-driving courses (great for a partner site!)FashionCircular fashion brands, hemp/organic clothing, affiliate links to niche ethical designersHomePaints with no VOCs, bamboo flooring, smart energy systems

Would you like a tailored breakdown of which of these could fit most naturally into your current Squarespace setup and aesthetic, or maybe a rough roadmap to build these income streams over time?

Introduction

1. Selling Products via drop shipping - using a Fulfilment service

2. This is where you do not hold, stock or ship the physical product

3. You advertise the product and the sale goes via your website - but your fulfilment service ships the product - as a result you do NOT make the same kind of mark-up, but you are not having to maintain stock.

Summary in 3 Points:

1. When Financial resources are tight, this could be a useful avenue to try

Main Content Body

Purpose

(What are we looking to achieve on this page and why?)

• Syncee does drop shipping - check that they are in the UK, 99% sure that they are. Jungle Products sell, Coconut Bowls, Bamboo dish wash care, rattan serving trays can be accessed via Syncee. There are many companies on Syncee, but I did recognise Jungle Products.

Examples

(Include similar examples and case studies where relevant)

• If Practical this would make perfect sense for some of the smaller products like their bowls and dish care, ticks all the C2C boxes, some commission up to 25% can’t believe that, but no stock and no shipping

Notes

Eco-Friendly Dropshipping

Syncee Collective Dropshipping & Wholesale

Connecting to fulfillment services

Looks like Syncee is free to sign up to and view the wholesale prices and you can add favourites, but its around £30+ per month and that's for 1 supplier like Jungle., so cost considerations, Jungle do do wholesale and personalised branding, but then we would need to do the shipping.
Syncee is like a middle man wholesaler, we would choose a product and list off / via Syncee, so we are doing the advertising and paying them for the privilege, it’s free for Jungle to use and we would also pay a small commission on each sale.
Once an order is made via Squarespace this would route through Syncee and they would forward to Jungle for shipping!

There are plenty more drop shipping and fulfilment services to explore, and even Syncee could be worth re-visiting, terms could have changed.

I have seen some sites where you pay to be a member, but you need to approach the producer / manufacturer personally.

Also they can be quite mainstream and not niche products - C2C and Eco stuff is relatively niche. BUT if you do find a product that you would like to see, it could be worth exploring who actually makes it and if there are any fulfilment options or minimum quantities etc.

Another negative from Aardeli's perspective is the packaging and branding - you are probably not going to get that from a drop shipper.