Discover how Yannis, a digital marketer from Greece, transformed a simple frustration into PrintPigeon, a thriving micro-SaaS solution built in just three days using Lovable. Learn how he turned ideas into reality with minimal technical expertise and crafted a strategy for growth and success.
Introduction
S: Thank you for joining us today, Yannis. To start, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Y: Thanks for hosting me. My name is Yannis, and I’m originally from Greece. Over the past 15-16 years, I’ve worked in digital marketing for consumer brands. After years of nonstop work, I took a break last April and embarked on a one-way trip to Asia, initially planning for a few weeks, but ended up staying for three months.
During my travels, I encountered many digital nomads and solo entrepreneurs running online businesses. Their lifestyle inspired me. I’ve always been someone who enjoys side projects, even though I wouldn’t call myself a developer. I often had ideas but lacked the technical skills to bring them to life. That’s when I stumbled upon Lovable.
S: How did you first come across Lovable, and what drew you to the platform?
Y: It was during my travels that I came across Lovable. I was experimenting with various AI tools, and Lovable stood out. It filled the technical gaps I faced and made my ideas achievable. Initially, I wasn’t sure what to build. I started experimenting, hopping between ideas to familiarize myself with the platform.
Eventually, necessity led me to a project. While living in the UK, I had to exchange letters with the tax office. They required me to print, sign, and send forms by post—a tedious process without a printer or a nearby post office. I googled solutions but found none that met my needs. That frustration became the foundation for my project, Print Pigeon.
Lovable Projects
S: That’s such a relatable problem. How did you go about building PrintPigeon using Lovable?
Y: I started by identifying the core problem: no printer and no accessible post office. Then I envisioned a solution where users could upload files, input recipient details, and have their documents sent at an affordable cost.
The development process began with designing the homepage. I find it’s the easiest way to articulate a value proposition and get feedback quickly. I iterated the UI/UX several times, using Lovable to refine elements like the hero section, navigation, and fonts. Once I was satisfied, I shared it with friends for feedback.
After the homepage, I tackled the application itself. Lovable made it seamless. By using simple prompts, I integrated APIs, set up backend systems with Supabase, configured transactional emails with Resend, and even linked Stripe for payments. The entire process, including learning as I went, took me about three days and cost just $38 in Lovable credits.
*S: That’s incredible—three days for a working product! What was your go-to-market strategy for PrintPigeon?*
Y: I started with Google Ads to validate demand. I spent £100 to see if people would use the service. The initial response was positive but not sustainable solely through ads. I pivoted to focus on organic traffic by leveraging programmatic SEO.
Using Lovable, I created localized landing pages targeting long-tail keywords like “send a letter from [origin] to [destination].” The platform automated much of this process, saving me days of manual work. This strategy brought in traffic from expats and remote users worldwide.
S: Did you face any unexpected challenges or surprises along the way?
Y: Definitely. I initially thought my audience would be UK-based, but nearly 50% of my users turned out to be expats. They found PrintPigeon faster and cheaper than alternatives for sending letters to the UK.
Another surprise was seasonal trends. For example, during Christmas, I saw high demand for Santa letters. I quickly created a Santa letter service with Lovable, which included a custom certificate for kids. It was a hit and brought in traffic I hadn’t anticipated.
S: What advice would you give to someone starting their journey with Lovable?
Y: First, focus on crafting clear prompts. The quality of your prompts determines the quality of the AI’s output.
Second, don’t shy away from integrations. They might seem daunting initially, but they unlock powerful capabilities.
Third, solve a real problem. If your project doesn’t address a need, it won’t succeed.
Finally, embrace competition—it’s a sign there’s a market for your idea.
S: You eventually joined the Lovable team. How did that happen?
Y: While using Lovable, I became so enthusiastic about the platform’s potential that I decided to reach out. I emailed the team, expressing my love for the product and how I thought I could contribute. To my surprise, they responded positively, and here I am.
S: Any exciting projects in the pipeline?
Y: Yes! Inspired by PrintPigeon, I’m working on a global parcel delivery service. It’ll compare prices across carriers and allow users to schedule pickups seamlessly. I’m also setting a personal challenge to launch one project a month using Lovable.
Conclusion
S: Any closing thoughts?
Y: Lovable has empowered me to bring ideas to life with minimal technical expertise. It’s a game-changer for creators like me. I’m excited about what’s ahead, both for myself and the platform.
S: Thank you, Yannis, for sharing your inspiring journey. We can’t wait to see what you build next!
Y: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure.
