Sell phone cases online without mixing up models

1. 01

   Make the phone model an option

   One product per design, with each phone model as an option and its own stock. Buyers pick their phone from a list, and you never have to keep twenty copies of the same design in sync.

2. 02

   Name models exactly

   Standard, Plus, Pro and Pro Max versions differ in size, buttons and camera layout. Use the maker’s exact model names in the option list, and test each case on that phone.

3. 03

   Plan around phone launches

   New iPhones are usually announced in September and Samsung’s Galaxy S phones early in the year. Have designs ready for the new models, and add them as options as soon as you have stock.

4. 04

   Show the case on a real phone

   Photograph the case on the phone from the back, the sides and the camera end, and show the thickness. Buyers want to see the cutouts and how the buttons sit.

5. 05

   Be careful with protection claims

   Don’t claim drop protection or “military grade” unless the case has been tested and you can show it. Say what the case is made of and how it feels in the hand instead.

6. 06

   Clear older models

   Keep stock low for older phones and clear the rest with a discount code before the next launch. A case for a phone nobody buys anymore only takes up space.

• Brand names and logos

  Use phone makers’ model names only to say which phone a case fits, and keep their logos off your designs and photos. Don’t use characters, teams or brand art you haven’t licensed.

• Battery cases and power banks

  Cases with batteries contain lithium cells, which carriers treat as dangerous goods and which need electrical safety marking in Europe. Check both before you add them to your range.

General information to help you get started, not legal advice. Rules differ by country, state and product, so check the ones that apply to you.