I connected an ESP32 to my online store so it notifies me in real time every time I make a sale
So I run a small online store (3D-printed cat toys) and I got tired of constantly checking my phone to see if anything sold. So I built a little gadget to solve it.
Basically, I hooked up an ESP32 (a tiny board with built-in WiFi) to my store. Here’s how it works at a high level:
Whenever someone buys something, the store sends out a little signal over the internet. My ESP32 is listening for that signal, and the moment it arrives, the device reacts — it lets me know a sale just happened. No app, no refreshing, no staring at my phone. The hardware just tells me.
Right now it’s pretty basic, but I’m adding some upgrades:
A small screen to display the sale info at a glance
A speaker that plays a sound with every sale
A proper 3D-printed case so it doesn’t look like a pile of wires
The fun part is I print my own products AND built the thing that tells me when they sell. Full loop, all done by me.
Happy to answer questions if anyone’s curious about the setup!