Murfreesboro Nissan

Estimated read time: 5 minutes

From $25K to $60K in Online Sales (and Climbing)

When Ian Bellamy first launched Murfreesboro Nissan’s RevolutionParts web store in October 2024, he was doing a respectable $25k in monthly sales. Little did he know, that was the start of something much bigger.

Fast-forward to today, and Ian’s online operation is truly firing on all cylinders. His monthly revenue has more than doubled, now comfortably cruising in the $50k to $60k range. Now, Ian has his sights set even higher — he’s on track to reaching a $100k monthly milestone.

How does one take an online parts business from solid start to booming eCommerce powerhouse in the span of just a year? For Ian, it was a combination of willingness to learn, improving his processes, and using his tools to their full potential.

Finding his footing online

Ian’s first attempt at selling parts online wasn’t what he was hoping for. Years ago, he had launched a SimplePart web store, which resulted in not much more than customer issues and shipping headaches. 

“The shipping part was the hardest at first. There weren’t real-time estimates. So someone might place an order, and then I’d have to email them saying, ‘Hey, it’s actually $60 to ship, not $25,” Ian said.

Instead of getting discouraged, Ian switched to a better eCommerce partner. He kept improving his process and let RevolutionParts handle the techy stuff.

“Once we got through the first couple months [with RevolutionParts], orders started climbing. It didn’t happen overnight, but it felt good to check the numbers and see they were moving in the right direction,” Ian said.

Steady growth with a side of hustle

These days, things run a lot smoother. Ian uses RevolutionParts’ ShipStation integration to simplify shipping. Many orders from his RevolutionParts store go straight from the warehouse to the customer without him having to touch them. He’s even automated his most common customer email replies, saving valuable time.

For Ian, a one-man parts department, every second counts, so these time and money saving tools help him make doing-it-all looking easy!

“There’s definitely still room to grow. But I’m about at capacity as far as what one person can handle,” he said.

Since last October, Ian’s online parts business went from 20 orders a month to a steady stream that keeps Ian busy daily. In fact, things got so busy he hit pause on Amazon sales just to keep up. That kind of momentum is a good problem to have.

Favorite tools that keep things moving

When it comes to RevolutionParts features, Ian’s a big fan of the flexibility.

“I love that I can edit the website pages myself. I added a blog section and sometimes upload posts. I also update product photos and tweak descriptions. With SimplePart, we couldn’t do any of that,” Ian said. 

He also appreciates how easy it is to manage orders from one screen. “I can capture payments, see all the customer info, and generate an invoice right there. It’s all laid out clean.”

Other favorites include the quoting tool, which lets him send out quick estimates or even take payments over the phone. He’s still exploring things like abandoned cart savers and shipping protection, but says they’re next on his list.

Momentum that pays off

With sales growing and systems running smoothly, Ian is now seeing the payoff.

“We’re just starting to turn a real profit. After covering ad spend, subscriptions, and shipping, we’re bringing in a few thousand dollars in gross profit each month,” Ian said.

Not bad for a one-man operation.

But Ian’s not done yet. He’s tracking abandoned carts, testing new promos, and looking ahead to when he might add staff. He’s also keeping a close eye on pricing strategies to stay competitive, and profitable.

“We’re in a good place,” he said. “Now it’s about continuing to build on that.”

Advice for new dealers

Ian knows getting started can be intimidating. “A lot of managers get turned off by the idea of discounting parts online. But the volume makes up for it, if you’re willing to stick with it.”

But he recommends keeping pricing consistent across the board to avoid confusion. “If your website shows one price and your walk-in customers see another, your service team’s the one that gets the heat,” Ian said.

At his store, everyone’s on the same page. “When they hear ‘online order,’ they know it’s me,” Ian said.

He’s also big on the idea of delayed payoff. 

“It’s a slow build at first. But if you stay consistent and work through the early stuff: returns, shipping kinks, all that…it’s worth it.”

The most rewarding part

You might think the thrill of a big sales month or a happy customer email would top the list, but for Ian, it’s something else entirely.

“Honestly, just knowing we made money off something that never even came through our doors. I didn’t have to touch it, just processed the order and the PDC shipped out,” said Ian.

As someone who excels on routines, Ian finds satisfaction in the flow. “I’ve got my morning set: process orders, check emails, handle invoices. Then the afternoon is for meetings or helping up front.”

He admits things might shift once volume increases even more, but for now, he’s got it under control.

What’s next: A six-figure month and more automation

Ian’s got a clear goal: break $100K a month in online sales. “That’s the number I’ve had in mind since day one,” he said.

With tools like RevolutionParts, maybe a new hire, and a system that’s already proven itself, he’s confident it’s only a matter of time.

“I like building systems. And now that this one’s running smoothly, I’m excited to see where it can go,” said Ian.

If you’re a dealer wondering if online parts sales are worth it, take it from Ian: “Give it time, build your process, and the rest will follow.”

Give it time, give it effort

If you’re a Nissan parts manager who hasn’t seen this kind of online performance yet, take a look at Murfreesboro Nissan and see what’s truly possible in just one year. Like many dealers, Ian started small: just a few orders a month. Now, he’s seeing steady daily sales, dummy-proof shipping, and real growth from his online store.