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“While I was physically present with my family, mentally I was absent”: why a laid-off Singapore mum of two tested an online store with a mentor

Fierra, 35, gave an online store a 3-month test with a mentor and kept job hunting as her fallback. Learn how she became a full-time entrepreneur who works 2 to 3 hours a day and spends more time with her kids.

By Ecomwarts·October 22, 2026·9 min read
Fierra on a work call at the dining table while her two children play behind her

Fierra's workday started before her kids were properly awake.

Teams and email were open first thing. The day's problems were already hers.

For 15 years as a project manager in Singapore, that was normal. So was packing the laptop for family holidays.

“Even on holidays, I had to bring my laptop to attend issue resolution calls with customers.” Her kids had their mum at the table. Her attention was with the client.

Then, after 15 years, her job ended

Fierra at her dining table holding a letter, looking toward the window

She worked about 40 hours a week, and the extra hours went unpaid. At 35, she was laid off.

She had two young kids, “liabilities and responsibilities”, and a small severance that would cover the basics for a few months.

“It was scary. I had a small severance payout... so time was of the essence.”

She had two options. Find another job, and accept the same trade. Or learn new skills and build the business she had always wanted.

She wasn't starting blind. She had tried dropshipping six or seven years earlier, so she knew the model was real.

So she set a limit: “I gave myself a timeframe of 1 to 3 months to test this business model...”

She kept job hunting as her fallback. Her husband backed the plan, even before the store had made anything.

What she tested: an online store, with someone checking her work

Fierra working on an online store page at her laptop

Dropshipping works like this: you run the online store and the ads, and a supplier holds the stock and ships each order.

No shop to rent. No boxes in the house. It could run from home, around school hours.

What she wouldn't do was piece it together alone. Time was the one thing she couldn't waste.

She wanted a mentor.

“...instead of wasting time searching through random YouTube videos or Reddit threads.”

She found Rayston Heem, founder of Ecomwarts, through his YouTube tutorials and his students' stories.

“Seeing testimonials from other successful students made me ask why I couldn't achieve the same results.”

AI tools now help with parts of the build. They don't make the decisions. She still had to learn the work and make the calls.

Even with her earlier attempt, it took her two weeks to a month to feel comfortable in Shopify and Facebook Ads Manager again. The early days took many hours. They got fewer as she gained experience.

The sacrifice she names is focus: “Dedicating full focus days to building the store was key.” Her first product got the store moving. She has since added a second.

Her numbers, and what she values more

Fierra in her July 2026 interview on Rayston Heem's YouTube channel

Thumbnail from Fierra's July 2026 interview on Rayston Heem's YouTube channel. The headline on it is the video's title. Her own figure and dates are below.

Fierra reports $318,000 USD in revenue between mid-March and July 8, 2026.

Fierra's figure is her own, from a video interview on July 8, 2026. It is revenue, not profit, and Ecomwarts has not checked it. Her result is not typical. The typical outcome is no income.

What she values more: today her mornings go to the business, and to herself. Her afternoons start at the school gate. The rest of the day is with her kids.

In June 2026, the family went to China. “I did not need to check my phone for work chats or emails, allowing me to be 100% present with my family.”

That is her experience, not a promise. The store still takes her work.

Fierra walking her two children home from the school gate

Is this right for someone like you?

Fierra had doubts too: “I thought it looked unrealistic at first as well.” What settled it for her was that she had tried the model years before.

Her story differs from most readers' in real ways. She had tried dropshipping before, she had severance to cover the basics, and her husband backed the test. It may suit you if:

✓
You have a job and very little spare time — Fierra planned her test with a time limit and a fallback.
✓
You want to build something for your family — Her reason was to be present for her kids.
✓
You have a budget for ads — Running a store means paying for ads while you test. Without that budget, it won't suit you yet.
✓
You're ready to do the work — Even with AI tools, it took her weeks of relearning and full-focus days. If you're hoping for results without the work, it won't suit you.
✓
You'd like to see the work before you decide anything — That's what the workshop is for. The paid program at the end is optional.

From product to launch, all with AI tools

Pick a product with AI tools Rayston Heem, teaching

1Pick a product with AI tools

In the One Store Away Workshop, Rayston walks you through, live on Zoom, exactly how he picks a product quickly with AI tools.
A laptop showing an online store's product page being built

2Build an entire store with AI tools in less than 60 minutes

In the workshop, you'll see exactly how Rayston builds an entire store, end to end, after picking the product, and how you can do the same.
A phone showing a product ad, with more product photos on the laptop behind it

3Make the ads with AI tools

Once the store is done, Rayston shows you how he builds the ads entirely with AI tools, so you don't need to film yourself or design anything by hand.
The finished store open on a phone and a laptop

4Launch, ready to sell

That's it. With your product, your store and your ads, you're ready to go live. You'll see exactly how Rayston launches the store, how he tests that it's working, and what the success metrics look like.
Your questions answered, live Rayston taking questions

5Your questions answered, live

After the build, Rayston answers your questions, so you leave clear on how to build the store yourself and confident to start.
Then, how to get the support to start your own store

6Then, how to get the support to start your own store

At the very end, Rayston introduces Ecomwarts, his mentorship program and the one Fierra went through, where you build your own store with a mentor by your side. It's paid, and it's optional: the workshop stands on its own.
Save my spot

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you save your spot.

Ecomwarts Group Private Limited, a company in Singapore. Fierra is an Ecomwarts student who told her story on camera in July 2026. Ecomwarts is rated 4.5 on Trustpilot (34 reviews).
There's no cost to attend. And yes, there is an offer: after the workshop, Ecomwarts offers a paid coaching program for people who want hands-on help. It's optional. The workshop stands on its own. The price is explained at the end, before you decide anything.
Rayston picks a product, builds the store and makes the ads with AI tools, live. Then he takes your questions. It's a 60-minute workshop on Zoom.
No. You can keep your job and watch, and there's nothing to pay to attend. If you later build a store, you'll need a budget for ads, as Fierra did. Rayston's own estimate of the time it takes is two to three hours a day.
It runs live on Zoom twice a week. You're booked into the next session, and the date shows right after you register. A replay may be shared with registered attendees, but live attendance is strongly encouraged. Questions are only answered live.

Watch the build live: your spot in the One Store Away Workshop

The One Store Away Workshop
Rayston Heem, founder of Ecomwarts, picks a product, builds the store and makes the ads with AI tools, live. Then he takes your questions.
Save my spot
No cost to attend · Live on Zoom · Twice a week, 60 minutes

This page is an advertisement by Ecomwarts Group Private Limited, Singapore. Fierra is an Ecomwarts student and shares her story with permission. Her figure is her own, from a video interview on July 8, 2026. It is revenue, not profit, and Ecomwarts has not checked it. Her result is not typical. The typical outcome is no income. These results are shown for illustrative purposes only and are based on the past experiences of individual students. Your results may vary depending on your effort, skill, capital, market conditions, and consistency. Running an e-commerce business involves financial risk. Please read the full disclaimer below.

Full disclaimer

This website is operated and maintained by Ecomwarts Group Private Limited, a company incorporated in Singapore. Use of this website and our programs is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. We use cookies to improve, promote, and protect our services. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. We collect, use, and disclose personal data in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (Singapore). THIRD-PARTY PLATFORMS: This site is not part of, affiliated with, or endorsed by Meta Platforms, Inc., Google LLC, TikTok, Shopify Inc., or any other platform, supplier, or payment provider mentioned in our content. All trademarks belong to their respective owners and are used for reference only. NOT MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING: Ecomwarts Group Private Limited does not operate a multi-level marketing or pyramid selling scheme within the meaning of the Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act 1973 (Singapore). Any referral or affiliate program we offer is optional, requires no purchase to join, and rewards are not based on recruiting other participants. NOT A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: We are an education and training company. We do not sell a business opportunity, franchise, "get rich quick" program, or guaranteed money-making system. We do not provide you with stores, customers, suppliers, or sales. Any business you build is owned and operated solely by you, and you are fully responsible for its decisions and outcomes. EARNINGS DISCLAIMER: While we make every effort to accurately represent our programs, Ecomwarts Group Private Limited makes no promise, guarantee, or representation that you will earn any specific amount of money, any money at all, or that you will not lose money. Any earnings or revenue figures shown, including those of our founders, coaches, or students, are not typical and should not be taken as an indication of what you will achieve. Revenue is not profit, and figures shown may not account for advertising costs, product costs, refunds, platform fees, taxes, and other business expenses. Past results do not guarantee future results. DROPSHIPPING RISKS: Operating an online store involves real risk, including the loss of money spent on advertising, inventory, software, and other costs. Risks also include supplier delays or failures, product quality issues, chargebacks and refunds, payment processor holds, and suspension of advertising or store accounts by third-party platforms. You should only invest money you can afford to lose. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES: You are solely responsible for ensuring your business complies with all laws that apply to you and your customers, including business registration, tax and GST obligations, consumer protection laws, product safety and import regulations, advertising standards, and intellectual property rights. You must not sell counterfeit, infringing, or prohibited products. We are not responsible for any product you choose to sell or any claim made against your business. NOT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: Our content is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult a qualified professional before making any business or financial decision. TESTIMONIALS: Testimonials and case studies reflect the individual opinions and experiences of people who have purchased our training. Results are not typical and depend on individual effort, time, skill, capital, and circumstances outside our control. We do not independently verify every figure shared by students. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: To the fullest extent permitted by Singapore law, Ecomwarts Group Private Limited, its directors, employees, coaches, and affiliates shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damage, including loss of profits, revenue, or data, arising from your use of our website, programs, or any information provided. THIRD-PARTY CONTENT: We may link to or recommend content, tools, or services provided by third parties. We do not control and are not responsible for such third parties, and some may share common interests or ownership with, or pay commissions to, Ecomwarts Group Private Limited. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: All course materials, videos, and content are the intellectual property of Ecomwarts Group Private Limited and are protected under the Copyright Act 2021 (Singapore). Any copying, reproduction, sharing, or distribution without written permission is strictly prohibited. GOVERNING LAW: This disclaimer is governed by the laws of Singapore, and any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Singapore courts. Ecomwarts Group Private Limited, Singapore. Contact: ecomwarts@gmail.com

The One Store Away Workshop
The One Store Away Workshop
Watch Rayston Heem build a store live
No cost to attend
Save my spot
A paid program is offered at the end. It's optional.
Save my spot
No cost to attend