This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
Welcome to Throwback Thursday. This is our weekly segment here on Side Hustle School, where we take a look at someone who's story has evolved since we first featured them. My name's Chris Guillebeau, by the way. Glad you're here. We do this show every single day.
Now, last week in this segment, we heard from a pottery maker who sells her dishes and bowls using fulfillment by Amazon. Now, that service is usually for mass manufactured items, so her product and process is a bit different. Now, in this week's Throwback Thursday, Where Are They Now? segment, we're gonna hear from a seller of adult toys and other items for sexual wellness. This might be a good time to point out that this episode includes the mention of such items, because it's hard to talk about selling them without saying what they are, so just so you're aware.
Now, what has happened since? Let's hear it directly from Susan. I'll be back at the end with a very quick wrap up. Let's hand the microphone over to her. [Music]
Hey there, my name is Susan, and I run a little online adult toy store that focuses on sexual wellness.
Two years ago, I had this wild idea to start my own business, helping folks spice up their love lives and explore their sexuality. I know it's not the most convenient career path, but hear me out. I'll be honest, when I first started, I was a bundle of nerves. I didn't know much about the industry, and I was worried about what people might think of me. But I took a deep breath and dove in head first.
Let me tell you, it's been one hell of a ride. First things first, I did my research. I wanted to know what products were in high demand and which suppliers and manufacturers were the real deal. Safety and quality were my top priorities. Once I had that figured out, I set up an e-commerce website and started getting the word out through social media and my own blog.
I quickly realized that people were really interested in learning more about sexual wellness, and they were grateful to find a business that was open and honest about it. That's where I knew I was on to something. As my business grew, I learned a lot of valuable lessons. One of the biggest being that customer service is key. If people felt like I was trustworthy and responsive to their needs, they were more likely to buy from me and recommend me to their friends.
Another thing I learned since a variety is a spice of life. People have different preferences and it's important to cater to as many of them as possible. I had always dreamed of having a brick and mortar store where people could come in and see their products in person, and they could ask me questions face to face. I haven't accomplished that dream yet, but in some ways the e-commerce model might be a lot better. No overhead, or at least not much.
I'm proud to say that I now earn $3,500 a month in affiliate commissions from the business. It hasn't always been easy, but it's definitely been worth it. If you're thinking about starting this kind of business, my advice would be to be passionate about it and be willing to learn. The market is constantly changing and there are always new products and trends to keep up with. Also, don't let anyone's judgmentology back.
You're providing a service that can help people. I've met some truly amazing people and I've learned so much about myself and human sexuality. I've been able to help people improve their sex lives and that's something I'm truly proud of. Plus, I get to make dad jokes about adult toys all day and nuts and bolts. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me next.
[Music]
Susan, well done. $3,500 a month from affiliate commissions. That is fantastic. Listeners, let me know what you think and who you'd like to see featured from our archives of more than 1,000 stories. We go all the way back to 2017, so we've got a lot of people to pull from.
Also, if you've got a question or an update for us about your hustle, www.sidehustleschool.com/questions. Thanks for tuning in today. Thanks for being out there. Do one thing to get closer toward a goal you believe in. Got a new episode for you tomorrow.
Once again, my name's Chris Guillebeau. This is "Side Hustle School." [Music]
From the Onward Project.
