Where Loyalty Starts
Behind every successful SaaS is often a deeply personal story. For Douglas Lim, the founder of Memberply, it started not with code, but with a crochet subscription box. What began as a simple online store soon evolved into something more, something powerful. Douglas and his wife noticed something striking: their customers weren’t just buying a product. They were forming connections, becoming a community, and coming back for more.
“We saw how much our customers who had become our community meant to us and to each other. Customers loved being members of our paid membership.”
This realization laid the groundwork for Memberply, a SaaS platform designed to help store owners create that same sense of connection.
Instead of chasing one-time purchases, Memberply empowers online stores to build loyalty through paid memberships.
The goal is simple but profound: shift from transactional selling to relational engagement.
From Personal Experience to Purpose
Memberply wasn’t built in a vacuum. Douglas built it from lived experience, from being in the shoes of the people he now serves.
“My wife and I had our own online store selling a crochet subscription box... We then wanted to help other store owners experience the same feeling, where customers become loyal, repeat members.”
This wasn't a theory; it was real. Douglas saw firsthand how meaningful customer relationships could transform a business. With that vision in mind, he set out to create a platform that could do the same for others.
Today, Memberply helps online store owners, whether they’re selling physical goods or digital downloads, grow thriving member communities. The software gives store owners the ability to offer paid memberships that create recurring revenue and deeper customer connections.
Challenges: From Feature Requests to Founding Lessons
As with any startup, the journey hasn’t been smooth. One of the biggest challenges Douglas currently faces is managing feature development. With customers actively engaged and excited about the product, requests come in fast, and the team has to stay focused.
“Learning to prioritize which new features to build based on customer feedback” is the balancing act they face every day.
Another, more painful challenge came from an earlier venture, and it left a lasting mark. Douglas learned the importance of choosing the right people to build with, something that doesn’t always come up in product roadmaps, but can be the difference between growth and disaster.
“We had an ex-cofounder who stole our code and made a competing product whilst being paid a full-time salary.”
That experience was a turning point. While incredibly difficult, it sharpened Douglas’s instincts and taught him a key lesson:
“Make sure you partner with the right founder! Take your time to vet properly.”
That wisdom now influences everything about how he builds, not just the product, but the company itself.
What Works: Being in the Trenches
While software is at the heart of Memberply, what’s driving its growth is something more human. Douglas has stayed close to his customers, answering questions, solving problems, and supporting users directly.
“Our founder being in the trenches with customer service and helping users personally” is a core part of their approach.
That closeness has helped Memberply grow not only in features but in trust. Customers know the team is listening, that their input matters, and that the product is being shaped in real time based on their needs.
It’s also allowed Douglas to see what counts, like watching users succeed with the platform.
“Seeing our users grow their membership numbers” is the metric that means the most to him.
Because Memberply isn’t just about software, it’s about helping store owners build something bigger than sales: a sense of belonging.
Looking Ahead
The road forward for Memberply is clear: keep listening, keep building, and keep helping online stores turn customers into loyal members. The product will continue to evolve, guided by the real needs of its users and the belief that relationships are the future of commerce.
If you run an online store, whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your customer engagement, Douglas Lim and the Memberply team are ready to help you build something meaningful.
You can learn more at memberply.com or connect with Douglas directly on LinkedIn.