Notes from Chris

Episode 1851

Today’s side hustler has made their nonbinary identity into part of their business.

  In 2019, conservation scientist Sam Davis started making machine-generated art with a now-defunct program. When you make machine-generated art (or when you tell the machine to make it!), it tends to be cool … but not perfect.

Naturally, that art needed some improvements by a real person, so Sam veered off into learning how to make their own cartoon characters. From their, the process evolved into designing and selling stickers of their nerdy, queer, and wild art—as they call it.

For instance, there’s a magnet of a praying mantis that says “strong female role models” and a sticker of a raccoon in front of a rainbow that says “no gender, only trash.” Sam calls these animals “trash creatures.” They figured it’s a small enough niche that they could get some sales even without much marketing.

To get started, Sam spent about $200 on paper, ink, and a machine for cutting out stickers. Then, they headed out for their first foray into sales, a local Pride event. The tent was in an awful location, Sam felt unprepared, and admits to being TERRIBLE at face-to-face customer service.

The first event was not a moneymaker, but it inspired Sam to keep going and start selling online. Nonbeenary Designs (a play on the word nonbinary) launched as an Etsy shop in December 2019. The shop sells stickers, pins, and magnets.

During 2020, Sam grossed about $4,000 from all sales channels: their website, Etsy, Facebook, and other social media platforms; custom orders; friends, etc. The business was on hold a bit as they moved twice during that time. However, extra money from the side hustle also made it possible to move two adults and all their animals—Sam has 10 cats and 3 dogs—during the pandemic. 

For 2021, the income doubled, with a quarter of that coming from Etsy.

They look forward to growing the business more in 2022. As we’ve seen in other stories, one way Sam is doing that is by building up their own direct customer base to circumvent Etsy fees. You get a free sticker offer with every Etsy order if the customers sign up for emails on their website (the email is appropriately called the Bee’s Knees).

Sam is deep into this journey right now, but plans to stick with (get it?) both their day job and the side hustle. The more they can automate, the more time they can focus on doing what they really love: creating new art.

 

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  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Learn more about Sam and check out their awesome art at, Nonbeenary.com and at their Etsy shop.

SEE ALSO:

• Graphic Designer Paints a Picture Worth $8,000/Month: This designer is the picture of success with a side hustle that draws in a full-time income.
• Successful Artist Adds $1,000/Month to His Income: An artist uses his love of whimsical drawing to create a side hustle selling everything from autographed prints to coffee mugs with his designs on them.
• Auto Employee Earns $100,000 Selling Stickers on Instagram: On a trip to Tokyo, a serial side hustler discovers popular stickers in Tokyo. He comes home, learns to produce his own, and earns six-figures in the first year of operation.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

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