This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
Oh, yeah, what's up, welcome to Side Hustle School. Chris Guillebeau here, your host. Welcome as well to Throwback Thursday. Throwback Thursday, where are they now? Or we take an in-depth look at someone whose story has evolved since we first featured them. I love making this podcast for
you every day. I love hearing your stories, knowing what you're up to, what you're working on, what's going well, what's not. And the whole point of the podcast is to give you ideas, to encourage you along the way, perhaps give you some motivation, some momentum, and then also practical tips. Okay, practical tips. So last week in this segment, we heard from a business coach in Minneapolis who helps female entrepreneurs optimize their websites.
She was a graduate of Marie Forleo's B-School program, actually found many of her clients through that program. And her business operates seasonally earning up to $6,000 a month when it's in motion. Now today in our latest feature, we'll hear from a freelance clothing designer who hunts down new clients on LinkedIn. What's happened since? Let's hear directly from them.
Her name is Rebecca, I believe. Let's hear from Rebecca. I'll come back at the end with a quick wrap up. Hi, my name is Rebecca Snyder. And ever since I can remember, the allure of the online fashion world has been irresistible. Late night scrolls through Pinterest boards and deep dives
into fashion influencer YouTube channels define my teenage years. So today, while my day job in marketing keeps me busy, my nights and weekends are consumed by my side hustle designing clothes. My journey from being a fashion enthusiast to earning a consistent $2,700 a month has been a blend of digital savviness, creativity and the inevitable learning curve. I've always been obsessed with the notion of day to night wear. The idea that one could wear a piece to work and then with a few tweaks, transition it for an evening out fascinated me. So I began crafting designs
that cater to this niche, versatile pieces for the modern woman. Initially, my sketches were just a passion project until a friend told me I should try to sell them commercially. Now while Instagram played a significant role in showcasing my designs, it was LinkedIn where I found an unexpected source of clients. Positioning myself as the designer for the day tonight professional woman, I shared not just images but stories, how a specific design evolved, the inspiration behind it and tips on transitioning outfits. In a platform teeming with professionals, my designs tailored to their lifestyle gained attention. However, achieving that steady income of two to three thousand a
month wasn't without its hurdles. My first struggle, authenticity. With the sea of online fashion maintaining originality was a challenge. It's one thing to be inspired and another to inadvertently echo existing designs. I learned the hard way when one of my pieces was pointed out as being eerily similar to another designer's work. Since then, I've made a conscious effort to
regularly engage with global fashion cultures keeping my work unique. Another lesson came from client communication. Often they'd want to modify designs to better fit their brand or audience. Learning to be flexible while still staying true to my design essence was crucial. For those wishing to embark on a similar journey, here are my nuggets of wisdom. Carve your niche. The fashion
world is vast. Find your specific corner. For me, it was day to night wear. Diversify inspiration. Continuously engage with fashion trends worldwide. This helps maintain originality in your designs.
Use social platforms innovatively. While Instagram is an obvious choice, platforms like LinkedIn can offer untapped potential. Be adaptable. Clients may want changes, so learn to adapt while maintaining your design integrity. As I wrap up another design, preparing it for a client who runs her online store, I'm reminded of the beauty of the digital age. The world is more connected.
Opportunities are vast, and for those willing to hustle, the digital runway awaits. Big thanks to Rebecca for sharing those updates with us. Rebecca, thank you so much. Listeners, let me know what you think, who you'd like to see featured from our archives of more than 1,000 stories. How about that? We're almost at episode 2,500. 1,000 stories,
1,500 additional episodes. If you have a question or an update for us about your hustle, sidehustleschool.com/questions or say hi on book tour. I'm still out on the road. I've been in a lot of cities. Still got a few more to go. chrisguillebeau.com/tour if you'd like to come and follow
along. Last but not least, today's notes, sidehustleschool.com/2448. Thank you so much for listening. Thanks for being out there. Take care of yourself. New episode tomorrow. My
name is ChrisGillibo. You're listening to Side Hustle School.
