Kiwi Sizing
About the Company
Kiwi Sizing is a software company that offers an e-commerce plugin to help online clothing retailers manage their size charts and improve the customer experience. The company was founded by Sam Chuang in 2018 and initially launched on Shopify, before expanding to other platforms like BigCommerce and WooCommerce. The core product helps merchants create and manage sizing charts and includes advanced features like fit recommenders powered by machine learning. The app is particularly useful for businesses that sell products with varying sizing systems, such as dropshipping companies.
Idea Behind Company
The idea for Kiwi Sizing arose from Sam Chuang’s personal experience running a dropshipping business selling dog clothing. Frustrated by the time-consuming task of manually converting size charts from centimeters to inches for each new product, Chuang identified a gap in the market. The existing size chart apps on Shopify didn’t solve this problem, leading him to develop a solution. Initially, Kiwi Sizing was a simple tool to convert units, but over time, it expanded to include more advanced features like customizable size charts and fit recommendations tailored to customer measurements.
Creating the Company
Kiwi Sizing started as a side project in December 2017, with Chuang working on it part-time while employed as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. He spent 10-15 hours per week developing the tool, which was simple at first, focusing on automatic unit conversion for size charts. The initial version was launched in early 2018 on the Shopify app store. Despite a slow start, the app gained traction through continuous product updates and Chuang’s focus on delivering a great user experience. By the end of 2018, the app was generating around $10,000 in revenue.
Launching the Business
The launch of Kiwi Sizing was relatively low-key. Chuang didn’t have a comprehensive marketing strategy at first, relying instead on word-of-mouth and some online promotion in Facebook groups and forums. Early growth was slow, with installs averaging just 2-3 per day. However, Chuang’s efforts to optimize the app’s store listing, offer a free plan, and invest in customer support helped the app gain traction. Within a few months, installs began to rise significantly, and the app became the #1 sizing solution on the Shopify app store. The customer base grew through organic growth and direct feedback, which also informed ongoing product improvements.
Earnings
Kiwi Sizing currently generates over $36,000 in monthly revenue, with a gross margin of around 75%. The company has expanded beyond Shopify to platforms like BigCommerce and WooCommerce, though Shopify still makes up the majority of revenue. Approximately 25% of the active stores are paying customers, with the app averaging 400 new installs each month. Chuang focuses on growing the business organically through customer support, SEO, and strategic partnerships, while experimenting with pricing changes and new features to boost revenue. Despite challenges in expanding beyond Shopify, the company’s steady month-over-month growth shows promising signs of continued success.
