Notes from Chris

Episode 314

Connecticut native Abby Roccapiore is no stranger to side hustles. After dropping out of college, Abby did all sorts of jobs to make money and support her family. One of the things was an eco-friendly cleaning business. While the business did well, Abby realized that this was too much for her to handle, which led her to selling her share of the business to her sister four years later.

Abby continued to work in various retail jobs as she took night classes, working towards her degree. Once she graduated, she was able to work as a substitute teacher. Working with kids was something that Abby truly enjoyed. She was able to keep doing that as she explored another business idea at the same time.

Here’s how it came about.

Her friend, Rachel, had noticed someone upload an artsy wooden sign she had made on Facebook. This got Rachel thinking that she could get do the same as well, who promptly began researching how to do the same before roping Abby in this venture as well. Rachel figured that they could make a business out of this. Abby had been reluctant, but Rachel was relentless. The materials had been purchased already, and there were clear steps they could take to make the wooden signs. With coaxing from her husband as well, Abby was in.

Abby made her startup money back within 6 weeks. Her first customer was her sister, who was ever so supportive of her side hustles. The next few sales came by selling signs in a local shop and holiday pop-up store in the outlet mall. She also participates in local trade and craft fairs, which really put her on the map. Through word-of-mouth and her Facebook page, Pinot & Pallets, she has been able to increase awareness of her brand.

Her business averages anywhere from $1,300 to $2000 per month, which is a figure Abby never expected when she first started out. Sometimes, the idea for a side hustle comes in all sorts of unexpected ways. The universe may not drop any signs, but you can always do what Abby did and make them yourself.

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Pinot & Pallets: Learn more about Abby's pallet sign hustle on her website!
• Budweiser: The unofficial currency of the pallet sign world
• PayPal: The online platform that Abby used to accept payments for Pinot & Pallet

SEE ALSO:

• 2 Ways to Make DIY Signs With a Silhouette: Interested in creating your own pallet signs? Here's a resource that walks you through the process
• Elementary School Teacher Pans for Gold in New Zealand: After changing continents multiple times, an elementary school teacher finds true love, settles down in NZ, goes panning for gold, and ends up making $40,000/year working mostly on the weekends
• High School Teacher Turns Woodworking Hobby Into a 5-Figure Side Hustle: A high-school teacher turns his love for woodworking and business into lessons for his students, making a solid second income along the way

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

Yours in the revolution,

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