This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
A British university student builds custom computers, selling them to gamers looking for an edge in the form of faster performance. That's what today's episode is about. Welcome to "Slide of Soul School." My name is Chris Guillebeau, and this episode is part of a feature we call your first $1,000. Now, if you've been listening for a while, or even if you just tuned in today for the first time, you might know it's all about how someone made their first $1,000 so crazy, so meta. We just like to be really direct here, not very subtle.
How did they get to that point? How did they make it happen? What were the lessons learned? How did they identify a market? How did they go to market?
How did they, well, pretty much everything from idea to income. And different segments focus on different points. We try to keep things really short and actionable and interesting so that you can learn something and go on with the rest of your day. But throughout the process of all these different segments, hopefully hearing stories that inspire you to take action for yourself. That is the number one goal.
So as mentioned today, we're gonna hear from this British student who is navigating Brexit, among other things. He'll talk about that in his business of building custom computers for gamers. Pretty cool. His name is Sam. Let's hear about it from him.
I'll come back at the end with a quick wrap-up. [Music]
Hello there, I'm Sam. And I'd turn my passion for gaming and knack for tech into a profitable side hustle. I assemble and sell high-performance gaming computers to dedicated gamers, providing them with machines that pack a serious punch without breaking the bank. Being an avid gamer myself, I knew all too well the frustration of trying to play resource-intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2 on a less than ideal rig.
It was like trying to run a marathon in sandals. And while big brands offered powerful machines, they often came with hefty price tags that made them inaccessible for many gamers. I saw a gap in the market for bespoke gaming computers that delivered on performance, but didn't require you to sell a kidney. So I set out to build a gaming rig, leveraging my tech skills and vast knowledge of components to build a machine capable of running the latest game smoothly. My first build was a labor of love, a machine equipped with a powerful processor, a high-performance graphics card, and enough RAM to ensure smooth gameplay.
It wasn't the cheapest on the market, but it offered performance to rival big brand rigs for a good bit less than they charged. I advertised my custom gaming rig on a local online marketplace, marketing it specifically towards gamers who wanted high-end performance without the brand name price tag. The response was enthusiastic. Within a week, I sold it to a local gamer who was tired of games crashing on his previous PC. The profits I made from that one sale was my first $1,000 from this venture.
The success of my first sale and the positive feedback from the buyer inspired me. I started buying components in bulk, negotiating prices with local suppliers. I set up a small workshop in my garage, spending my three hours assembling rigs and perfecting builds. Here's what I've learned so far. First, understanding your customer is key.
I knew what gamers needed because I was my own target audience. I knew the pain points, the games that needed high-performing machines, and the deterrence when buying a new rig. This insight allowed me to create a product that catered to those specific needs. Second, you don't have to compete with big brands. Instead, find your niche.
Mine was delivering high performance at a mid-range price. Gaming computers will never be available at the lowest of budgets, and that's okay. Lastly, don't underestimate the power of a well-placed ad. I targeted my marketing to local gamers who were likely to be interested in what I was offering, and it paid off. So what's been hard?
One word, Brexit. Before the UK officially left the EU, many of the computer components I used were ordered from European suppliers. The free trade among EU countries meant I could get these parts at relatively low costs, which was key to keeping my rigs affordable. Once Brexit came into effect, though, things got a bit trickier. New tariffs and customs checks meant my once-smooth supply chain was hit with extra costs and delays.
It became more expensive and took longer to get components from Europe. In terms of my customer base, selling to EU customers also became more complex. They now had to pay customs charges on products ordered from the UK, which increased the overall cost of my gaming rigs for them. The Brexit changes made me more resilient and adaptable. I had to think on my feet, find new suppliers, and adjust my pricing and communication.
It was a learning curve, but it's also become part of my narrative, a UK-based, gamer-turned-builder navigating post-Brexit business, one gaming rig at a time. Today, I continue building gaming PCs, sticking to my niche, and not working too much. This side hustle has become more than just a source of extra income. It's a way to connect with my passion for gaming and tech while helping fellow gamers get their best out of their gaming experience. - Awesome, Sam, thanks so much for telling us about your first thousand dollars, thousand pounds, thousand euros.
Yes, dealing with Brexit definitely been a challenge for lots of business owners over that way, but I really respect how Sam is able to kind of take it on and say, "That's frustrating, but I can't change much about it, so what do I do? Like, what can I change about myself or my business to accommodate this difficulty?" Rather than just complaining about it, I mean, I think it's okay to complain as well, just to be clear, but you always have to think, like, what do I have control over, right? So, good job, Sam. Listeners, I hope you found it encouraging. If you have a question or an update for us about your hustle, sidehustleschool.com/questions.
This has been episode 2,417, 2417. And, you know, most of all, I hope you take action on something that you really believe in, a goal you're working towards, a side hustle of business, something else, whatever it is, you know, life is too short, right? So, do something for yourself today, and I hope you listen tomorrow. My name's Chris Guillebeau. This is Side Hustle School.
[Music]
from The Onward Project.
