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Happy Halloween. Today's listener bakes something spooky, and she'd happily do it for free. But butter is expensive.
I've been making a hobby of "people pot pies": cherry or blueberry pies with a crust made to look like a dead person. I know it's a bit jarring, which is why I have to wait for Halloween season. I'd love to see if this passion could pay for more than butter. How would you recommend I market it? Social media, like a charcuterie board business would, or coffee shops and restaurants, selling wholesale?
This is a hyper-local product, so think about how to reach people in one specific area. Social media can work, but it needs a local focus. Nextdoor is one option. It's a social app that connects neighbors, and it's available in Canada as well as the US. Then try traditional media. Ottawa is a smaller city, so local TV and newspaper reporters may be open to a quirky story. Take good photos and tell them why you make these pies and where the idea came from.
For a model, check out episode 1646, “Side Hustle Bread” Insta Account Sells $100,000. That seller uses social media to sell something hyper-local. The differences: the seller was on Long Island, New York, a bigger market, and also sold at farmers markets. The combination of markets and social media worked together. There's still something to learn from it. If this year is too late, plan ahead for next Halloween and cover that butter bill. Then some.
Have a question? Visit SideHustleSchool.com/questions.
