Stoic Store UK

After I launched my Memento Mori coin just over a couple of weeks ago, sales have been steady but unspectacular. This is unsurprising given the current economic climate amidst the global pandemic.

Despite intending to wait a while to produce my next one, I thought "why wait?" Especially with the message so poignant and applicable to the situation we are now in. So it is now in production.

The message on one side of the coin is 'Amor Fati' which translates as 'Love Your Fate' and is another key message from Stoicism. The back of the coin says 'A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it'.

A lot of things are getting thrown at us right now, and we can choose to be that blazing fire. That's why the production of these couldn't wait!

Expect them to be on sale in the UK in around 6 weeks time!

I received the coins that I purchased only a few days ago. After I bought the packaging, the stamps, drafted my product description and took some novice photographs (but still decent looking) photos of my product, I uploaded it to Etsy.

I have decided to make Etsy my testing ground for this first product. It is a site that specialises in handmade/custom products and has seen over 50 purchases of a product similar to mine in a short time frame. If all goes well with this 'testing period', I will certainly look at more coin designs as well as potentially setting up an entire website dedicated to more Stoic-based merchandise.

After setting up my Etsy store, I used both word of mouth and my own personal platform Danielriley.blog to officially launch the products. Within a few hours, I had received 4 orders on the coins. From thinking up the idea, to design, to production and now to my first few sales, I am delighted to have begun this journey and to be able to sell an amazing product that I truly believe will give value to the lives of others.

More updates to follow in terms of sales, marketing and whatever is next for the Stoic Store UK.

After I had the design more or less finalised, it was time for me to find somewhere that I could get this idea realised and produced.

I have absolutely no experience with product creation so this was all completely new to me. However, looking back I don't have too many regrets about what I did, which was as follows:

1. Realised that I would probably need a private mint or custom coin manufacturer with the equipment to help me produce these.

2. Sent over my design specifications and quantity demanded to ten of the best that I found.

3. Received quotes from the various companies. This was probably by most important step as quotes ranged from ~£300 for 50 coins to over £1500 which was crazy!

4. I asked for samples of various sizes and materials from my top 3 companies.

5. Once I received the samples of similar coins that they had already produced, I opted for one company.

6. I sent over my design spec, their professionals polished it up and within a few days, my coins were ordered, paid for and on their way!

SIDE NOTE: Production coincided with the Coronavirus outbreak in China so there was an extra 4-week delay to the coin production whilst the factory was on lockdown! Nothing I could do but wait and practice some of the Stoic values that I am trying to preach!

As soon as I had the idea, I got to work designing and producing the coin. I wanted the coin to be as simplistic as possible whilst also having enough detail for the coin to look attractive and the message to be conveyed with ease.

Memento Mori is the first Stoic message that I focused on as this has had the biggest impact on my own life. It translates as 'Remember That You Must Die' and is a stark reminder to us about how we spend our moments and days. It is a message of not fretting the small stuff, doing meaningful work and holding loved ones that little bit closer.

I drafted the coin's initial design on Canva and it was polished off by my old university housemate who has a degree in Graphic Design (very useful!). The Front pictures a pencil-drawn skull as well as the message itself 'Memento Mori'. The Back features an hour-glass as well as a quote from Marcus Aurelius that further explains the idea of Memento Mori:

"You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think."

The design looked good and it was time to find somewhere that could produce it.

I have long been a fan of the philosophy of Stoicism and have been reading The Daily Stoic for over a couple of years now. Every time I read a passage or digest an article, my mind is content and refocused for a short while before being sucked back into whatever life is throwing at me.

This is when I realised that a 'portable mental reset' was necessary. Something with a great message that I could see and be constantly reminded of. A physical product that I could carry in my pocket, have next to me at my desk or on my bedside table that would remind me of the message.

I live in the UK and was already a fan of the Daily Stoic Website and the incredible merchandise that they have there. However, in my opinion much of what they sell is overpriced and shipping is very expensive to anywhere outside of the US.

So I decided that I would create my own Stoicism Store that is focused on UK customers. Something more affordable and more accessible. I could create a product that I could use on a daily basis, while also create something that many others will also find valuable too.

This is how the Stoic Store UK and its first product - Memento Mori Stoic Challenge Coin - came into fruition.