I Sold 100 Garlic Presses Before They Even Existed

You don’t need a big ad budget to have a big launch. You need a hungry crowd—and a smart way to rally them.

📖 Let me tell you a story about garlic presses—yes, garlic presses.

Not glamorous. Not exciting. But this humble kitchen gadget became my secret weapon for cracking the Amazon code.

Years ago, I was gearing up to launch my first private label product. I had $2,500 to my name, a family to feed, and a truckload of doubts. If you’ve ever hit "order" on a batch of inventory with sweaty palms and a prayer, you know the feeling. 😅

Here’s what I didn’t have:

• Reviews

• Rankings

• Sales history

But here’s what I did have: a pre-launch waitlist of 118 people ready to buy.

And get this: by day 3 of my listing going live, 100 units were gone—before I’d even touched an ad.

So how’d I do it?

Let me break it down…

🔢 The 5-Step Strategy I Used to Build a Pre-Launch Buyer List

1. Started with a story, not a product

I didn’t just say “Hey, here’s a garlic press.”

Instead, I posted in 3 foodie Facebook groups about my frustration with crappy kitchen tools that couldn’t handle real cooking. I asked: “If you could redesign one tool in your kitchen, what would it be?”

The comments flooded in. Boom 💥—market validation and early interest.

2. Built a dead-simple landing page

I slapped together a free landing page using MailerLite (you can use ConvertKit or even Google Forms if you’re scrappy). It had:

• One photo

• One headline: “Finally, a Garlic Press That Doesn’t Suck.”

• One call to action: “Join the VIP List to Get It First (and 30% Off)”

No fluff. Just facts and a promise.

3. Used curiosity posts (not salesy spam)

I posted updates weekly in those same Facebook groups.

“Just got the sample. It crushed garlic with one hand.”

“Testing begins. Should we make it dishwasher-safe or hand-wash only?”

“Only 200 will be available in the first run. Want in?”

Each post ended with: “Drop your email if you want early access.”

People loved being part of the journey. It felt like a behind-the-scenes peek—because it was.

4. Sent warm-up emails before launch

The week before launch, I dripped out a 3-part email series:

• Story behind the product

• Sneak peek + unboxing photos

• “It’s almost here” countdown with the launch date

By the time the product landed, people weren’t thinking about buying—they were ready.

5. Made the first 100 feel like insiders

I gave the first 100 customers:

• A handwritten thank-you note

• A 30% discount

• A secret code for future launches

That one gesture sparked 9 organic reviews in the first week.

🎯 The Big Lesson

You don’t need to wait until your product arrives to start selling.

You need to start marketing the moment your idea takes shape.

Because the truth is…

🚫 Most sellers wait until launch day and pray for momentum.

✅ Smart sellers build the momentum first—then launch into it.

You’ve got to be the storm, not wait for one.

💬 Proverb to Remember

“Don’t sell the product. Sell the party before the doors open.”

🙋‍♂️ Want to build your own waitlist?

Start here:

1. Pick 3 niche Facebook groups where your buyers hang out

2. Start posting stories, not sales pitches

3. Collect emails like gold

Then launch with confidence, not guesswork.

✅ No reviews? No problem.
✅ No ads? No stress.
✅ No money? Even better—you’ll hustle smarter.

You got this, seller.
Make each click (and email) count 😉

—

Cleverly yours,
Andy Splichal
Founder & Managing Partner of True Online Presence & Author of the Make Each Click Count Book Series

P.S. Want to scale your sales without scaling your stress? I manage PPC for sellers who are serious about growth.

🎯 Book a free strategy call here — we’ll map out a winning game plan.

P.S. Want a fast way to increase your Amazon sales? Take a look at my new software, Persona Factor, that uses your product reviews to optimize your product titles and descriptions.

Start For Free Today.