What It's About
Organic skin products made in urban Oregon.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
This is another great example of the "Power of Observation". Great side hustle ideas often come from something that's missing in our world that you believe should exist. But it also requires action. Though Emily determined that organic skin care for her baby was important she took the steps to research and figure out how to make her own.
Fun Fact
Twenty-six seconds is all it takes for the ingredients in your personal products to enter your bloodstream.
Notes from Chris
Episode 1061
When Emily Silverstein was pregnant with her first child, she was just like any other expectant mother. She scoured the internet for nursery rhymes, baby names, and tips about how to stay healthy during pregnancy. What she wasn’t expecting to find was a magic number: twenty-six. This, she learned, was the number of seconds that it took for ingredients in personal care products to get into the bloodstream. With a baby sharing her body, Emily immediately realized she needed to be more careful with what she was putting on her skin. That provided the spark for her to learn more about the different types of ingredients used in personal care. Hopping onto Pinterest, Emily began to learn how to make her own vegan skincare products. Through trial and error, she became well versed over the next couple of months. This went on even after Emily gave birth to her child. Then, as her maternity leave came to an end and she had to return to work, she thought she could try selling the products she made. After all, she wasn’t the only concerned mother out there. Her hunch was proven right very quickly. On December 24th, 2013, she listed five products on Etsy and posted on Facebook that she had launched Urban Oreganics (Oregon + organics). That same day, she received an order from a total stranger. It was a pleasant surprise, and with a product already prepared, all she had to do was ship it out. Startup costs were just $300. Emily purchased ingredients and used baby food jars from friends and family to package her products. As she went along and sales grew, she’d invest much of the profits back into the project. Working on her hustle part-time, Emily gradually built up an email list and developed a presence on Pinterest and Instagram. A year and a half later, she hit a new milestone. Still working her own full-time job, she started to hire part-time help for the business. That was when she realized it no longer made sense for her to work this way. She was in a position to double down on Urban Oreganics … if only she had more time. She called it her other baby, and Emily knew it was high time she gave it the attention that it deserved. Today, Urban Oreganics brings in anywhere from $30-40,000 in sales a month. With over twenty products on offer, including some seasonal ones, Emily has seen her business grow slowly but surely.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Urban Oreganics: Check out Emily's full organic skin care lineup on her website.
- Holiday Body Butters Become $1,000/Month Side Hustle: An entertainment industry professional transforms her body butter holiday gifts into a quickly growing Etsy store and craft show side hustle.
- Natural Deodorant That Actually Works Brings In $5,500/Month: A former venture capitalist starts a scent-sational side hustle selling her own natural, floral-based deodorant.
- Brand Strategist and Dentist Team Up To Sell Coconut Oil Mouthwash: Two friends draw on their combined skills and understanding of an ancient Ayurvedic practice to launch a natural mouthwash product, building a $7,000/month side hustle.
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Resources
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