Indiana Wesleyan University DeVoe Division of Business alum Collin Foote ’18 recently celebrated the two-year anniversary of his Indianapolis-based e-commerce business, which earned an impressive annual revenue of $1.5 million in 2021. The business partners with brands and distributors to connect customers with products through Amazon’s platform.
After graduating from IWU, Foote worked in sales for a technology research company before deciding to take a risk and become a full-time entrepreneur. Foote founded his company in 2019 in partnership with his wife, Tristen (Gonzalez) Foote ’18, and his parents.
“Since I was a little kid, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mind,” said Foote, an IWU Marketing graduate. “Quitting my corporate job to start this e-commerce business was nerve-wracking, but it felt like the right step for my career and skillset.”
The business started as a small operation out of Foote’s apartment, and quickly began to take off during the early stages of COVID-19 lockdowns when more people were turning to the internet for their purchases. The business has continued to grow immensely and now operates out of a small warehouse, has seven employees on payroll and sells more than 500 products on Amazon. Products include a wide variety of items in the categories of grocery, health, pet supplies, baby products, beauty and more.
Day-to-day tasks for Foote and his team include forging new relationships with brands and wholesale distributors; accumulating and packaging products; shipping products into Amazon warehouses; determining and adjusting pricing on products; logging inventory; sourcing new products; and more.
Foote’s business has earned a 100% positive rating as an “Amazon seller” with over 650 reviews from around the world. To pour into others who are interested in becoming successful sellers on Amazon, Foote decided to begin offering virtual training. The course is a four-week class packed with valuable tips and lessons he has accumulated as a full-time Amazon seller—and is yet another way he has expanded his business.
Foote credits IWU with equipping him with tools for success.
“The fundamentals I learned in the business division gave me a great foundation for what I’m doing today,” said Foote. “My classes also taught me how to be resourceful, creative and tenacious—qualities I use every single day as a business owner.”
Over the next two years, Foote and his team have set big goals. They hope to increase the business’ annual revenue to $5 million, hire several additional full-time employees, and purchase a larger warehouse in which to work.
“Being my own boss has always been my dream,” said Foote. “We’re excited to see what the future holds.”
For more information about the DeVoe Division of Business, visit www.indwes.edu/undergraduate/division-of-business/.
