Marketplace Seller Side Hustles
62 episodes track people who built businesses on top of existing marketplaces — Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Fiverr, and others. Marketplaces provide built-in traffic, but they also come with risks. These stories are honest about both the upside and the trap of platform dependency.
- TBT: The Accountant Who Sold Spreadsheets to Etsy Sellers
Accountant Janet LeBlanc built a six-figure business selling spreadsheet templates to Etsy sellers. Side Hustle School Ep. 3330.
- Q&A: “How do I transition from Etsy to Shopify?”
Moving your Etsy shop to Shopify: setup tips, avoiding decision fatigue, and when to make the leap. Side Hustle School Ep. 3315.
- Accountant Earns Six-Figures Selling Spreadsheets to Etsy Sellers
Accountant earns six figures selling Etsy seller spreadsheets. Financial expertise meets creative side hustle. Side Hustle School Ep. 3259.
- Civil Engineer Sells Hooded Baby Robes on Amazon
Civil engineer sells hooded baby robes on Amazon, then builds app for product research. Now serves 100,000 sellers. Side Hustle School Ep. 3154.
- Q&A: “‘Love spells’ for sale on Etsy … is this real??”
Are love spells and hex removals a real business or internet fad? What works in digital magic services. Side Hustle School Ep. 3153.
- TBT: How My Print-on-Demand Shop Landed a Licensing Deal
Print-on-demand artist lands licensing deal with major retail brand. How a side hustle evolved into a partnership opportunity. Side Hustle School Ep. 3141.
- TBT: Print-on-Demand Store Crushes It Without Ads
Print-on-demand store thrives with niche products like "retired paramedic" mugs—no ads needed. Side Hustle School Ep. 3085.
- TBT: From DIY Pet Tributes to Six-Figure Etsy Shop
Custom pet memorials on Etsy: from side hustle to six-figure shop. Helping grieving pet owners honor their companions. Side Hustle School Ep. 3071.
- First $1,000: Turning Personal Photos into Custom Jigsaw Puzzles
How a side hustler earned their first $1,000 selling custom photo jigsaw puzzles on Etsy. Side Hustle School Ep. 2879.
- TBT: Acupressure Mats Are a Big Seller on Amazon!
Amazon FBA seller shares her acupressure mat strategy and what's changed since we first featured her. Side Hustle School Ep. 2854.
- Q&A: “How to handle negative reviews on Etsy?”
How to handle negative reviews on your Etsy shop and maintain customer satisfaction. Side Hustle School Ep. 2752.
- Q&A: “Getting started with Fulfillment by Amazon…”
Amazon FBA essentials for beginners: what you need to know before getting started. Side Hustle School Ep. 2572.
- TBT: Print-on-Demand Seller Earns $30,000 in Passive Income
Print-on-demand seller earns $30,000 in passive income using JungleScout to find profitable products. Where are they now? Side Hustle School Ep. 2455.
- Q&A: “Should I sell on eBay, Etsy, or Shopify?”
Choosing between Etsy, eBay, or Shopify for handmade woodworking products. Which platform maximizes sales for online sellers? Side Hustle School Ep. 2409.
- Q&A: “Handmade pottery sales have plateaued…”
How to break through a pottery sales plateau on Etsy. Strategies for marketing handmade goods and reaching more customers. Side Hustle School Ep. 2320.
- Q&A: “Ebay selling feels less personal now…”
Has eBay changed for sellers? Why the platform feels less personal now and what that means for your side hustle. Side Hustle School Ep. 2216.
- First $1,000: “I was over the moon with my first sale…”
Etsy seller Jenny shares how she hit her first $1,000 with handmade products and served 1,500+ customers. Side Hustle School Ep. 2207.
- First $1,000: “I had no idea Hula Hoops were a seasonal business…”
How Holly earned her first $1,000 selling hula hoops on Amazon and found a seasonal business. Side Hustle School Ep. 2179.
- TBT: “Amazon Merch” Seller Moves 7,000 T-Shirts (& more!)
How Lisa Sansouci sold 7,000+ t-shirts on Amazon Merch with personalized designs. Side Hustle School Ep. 2147.
- First $1,000: “I sell pots and other plant holders on Amazon…”
Amazon FBA seller Morgan researches and finds the perfect plant pot product for resale. Side Hustle School Ep. 2109.
- Q&A: “Selling a user’s guide to Shopify conversion…”
How to sell a Shopify conversion guide to 2M+ users—earning $2,800/month without platform permission. Side Hustle School Ep. 2107.
- First $1,000: “I sell t-shirts for pug lovers on Amazon…”
Amazon Merch on Demand seller earns $1,000+ selling pug-themed t-shirts. Dog lover designs are consistently top performers. Side Hustle School Ep. 2088.
- First $1,000: “You can’t sell anything until you list it”
Etsy shop owner earns first $1,000 selling vintage décor. Lesson: you can't sell anything until you list it. Side Hustle School Ep. 2074.
- Q&A: “How can I compete with unfair Etsy sellers?”
How Etsy sellers compete with mass manufacturers breaking handmade rules. Strategies to fight unfair competition. Side Hustle School Ep. 2073.
- Failure Friday: “This is super embarrassing looking back…”
Atlanta stationary designer's Amazon gamble cost her six figures. Lucky Dog Design's costly mistake. Side Hustle School Ep. 2064.
- TBT: Baseball Training School Slides Into Growth
Baseball training academy expands with Amazon gear sales. Grady's Pitching School founder shares growth update. Side Hustle School Ep. 2063.
- Q&A: “How do I transition from Etsy to Shopify?”
Move your Etsy store to Shopify: transition strategy, avoiding decision fatigue, and why it's worth the switch. Side Hustle School Ep. 2058.
- Failure Friday: “Amazon permanently banned my seller account…”
How a six-figure Amazon reseller got permanently banned over a supplier problem. What went wrong and why it matters. Side Hustle School Ep. 2015.
- First $1,000: “I didn’t think of myself as an expert…”
Bamboo baby product seller pivots to Amazon coaching after getting swamped with selling questions. Side Hustle School Ep. 1927.
- First $1,000: “I succeeded by following contradictory advice…”
Vintage book seller earned her first $1,000 on Etsy by pivoting her business model. How Jess Dollar built Pretty Old Books. Side Hustle School Ep. 1850.
- Q&A: How do you ‘build your platform’ if you’re selling on Amazon?
Building your platform while selling on Amazon: strategies for FBA sellers to own their customer relationships. Side Hustle School Ep. 1731.
- Q&A: Is it still a good idea to sell Merch by Amazon?
Is Merch by Amazon still viable? One seller made $17,000 in profit from t-shirts. Side Hustle School Ep. 1726.
- Accountant Sells $20,000 in Knitting Kits
Accountant sells $20,000 in knitting kits on Etsy. She spent under $50 to start RamsGirl Design. Side Hustle School Ep. 1702.
- Management Consultants Create Travel-Themed Digital Art
How two management consultants earn $750/month selling travel-themed digital art prints. They bonded over a semester abroad. Side Hustle School Ep. 1681.
- Monogrammed Blanket Etsy Shop Measures Up
Military spouse built six-figure Etsy blanket shop with $100 machine, sold 20,000+ items. Side Hustle School Ep. 1613.
- Q&A: Should I use Etsy’s new platform or build my own website?
Etsy shop owner wants a separate website: should she use Etsy's Pattern platform or build elsewhere? Side Hustle School Ep. 1596.
- Photo Retoucher Strikes Gold with Etsy Shop
Personalized foil-press stationery shop on Etsy grows to five figures. Patrina's Paperie featured in USA Today and HGTV. Side Hustle School Ep. 1515.
- Q&A: My product is selling on Amazon … but how can I get more attention?
How to get more visibility for a new Amazon product: biodegradable party cups. Advice for growing sales with limited reviews. Side Hustle School Ep. 1386.
- TBT: The Accountant Who Sold Spreadsheets to Etsy Sellers
Accountant Janet LeBlanc sells spreadsheet templates to Etsy sellers, earning $3,500/month. Side Hustle School Ep. 1370.
- Office Manager Cleans Up With Etsy Soap Store
Office manager launches Etsy soap business after taking a soap-making course in China. Handmade bath products sold online. Side Hustle School Ep. 1284.
- Q&A: How should I launch a gift box service for new moms?
Gift box service for new moms: Should you launch on Etsy, build your own website, or do both? Side Hustle School Ep. 1283.
- Q&A: How to get customers to leave reviews on Etsy?
How to get Etsy customers to leave reviews on your shop. Susan earns $35,000/year selling grammar joke greeting cards. Side Hustle School Ep. 1257.
- Q&A: Someone left me a bad review! What should I do??
How to handle a bad review on Etsy and protect your six-figure business. What to do when Etsy won't remove unfair ratings. Side Hustle School Ep. 1224.
- Car Parts Employee Finds Shocking Surplus Suspension
Car suspension reseller builds million-dollar eBay business from niche market. Shock absorbers with high profit margins. Side Hustle School Ep. 1140.
- Event Planner Writes Her Way Into Custom Calligraphy Shop
Event planner turns calligraphy hobby into Etsy shop and published book. Turns mistakes into confetti. Side Hustle School Ep. 1047.
- Fire in the Hole! Handcrafted Drumsticks Ignite Into Profits
Wood-burned custom drumsticks on Etsy attract celebrity musicians. Pyrography artist uses time-lapse videos to boost sales. Side Hustle School Ep. 784.
- CPA Earns Six-Figures Selling Spreadsheets to Etsy Sellers
CPA earns six-figures selling Excel spreadsheets to Etsy sellers. Her husband retired because of it. Side Hustle School Ep. 611.
- Gamer Levels Up Life With eBay Side Hustle
Video game flipping on eBay earns $500-800/month. Reselling classic games by timing releases. Side Hustle School Ep. 564.
- Communications Teacher Turns Love of Journaling Into Etsy Shop
Communications teacher builds Etsy journal shop with custom manufacturing overseas. Travel journal keeper turned entrepreneur. Side Hustle School Ep. 494.
- Canadian Sports Enthusiast Earns $1,000/Month Selling Quirky Apparel
How a Canadian skateboarder earns $1,000/month selling custom t-shirt and onesie sets on Etsy. Side Hustle School Ep. 455.
- Graphic Designer Profits from Print on Demand; Quits Job to Hike New Zealand
Graphic designer earns $20,000 from print-on-demand designs, quits job to hike New Zealand's Te Araroa trail. Side Hustle School Ep. 385.
- Listener Discovers Astronomical Success in Astrological Gifts
Etsy seller transforms vintage shop into replicable astrological gift line. From single mug to thriving product line. Side Hustle School Ep. 374.
- Make Extra Money Using Merch by Amazon
How Lisa earns passive income selling t-shirt designs on Merch by Amazon. Her "Covfefe" design sold 17 times in one week. Side Hustle School Ep. 371.
- Philadelphia Lover Maps Out $35,000/Year Side Hustle
How a neurosurgeon earns $35,000/year selling papercut maps on Etsy. Side Hustle School Ep. 347.
- Tea Sommelier Turns Leaves Into Million-Dollar Business
Tea sommelier builds $1M+ business selling specialty blends on Amazon, starting with just $500. Side Hustle School Ep. 240.
- Holiday Body Butters Become $1,000/Month Side Hustle
Body butter side hustle earns $1,000/month on Etsy and craft shows. Holiday gifts spark thriving business. Side Hustle School Ep. 213.
- Full-Time Mom Ships $35,000/Month in Frozen Bread on Amazon
Full-time mom ships $35,000/month in allergen-free frozen bread on Amazon. Serves parents with dietary restrictions. Side Hustle School Ep. 177.
- IT Manager Unlocks the Secrets to a Successful Etsy Shop
IT manager builds vintage Etsy shop earning $1,000-2,000/month through consistent product photos and SEO optimization. Side Hustle School Ep. 153.
- Social Worker Turns De-stressing Hobby Into $2k/Month Hustle
How a social worker turned jewelry-making into a $2,000/month Etsy hustle. Her pieces landed on major TV shows. Side Hustle School Ep. 110.
- Florida Man Earns $100,000 Selling T-Shirts with No Inventory
How a Florida designer earns $100,000+ selling print-on-demand t-shirts via Teespring with targeted Facebook ads. Side Hustle School Ep. 73.
- T-Shirts on Amazon Make $17,000 in a Month
How an Ireland-based former corporate employee earns $17,000/month selling t-shirt designs on Amazon with zero inventory. Side Hustle School Ep. 55.
- How to make an extra $15,000/year on Etsy from one week's worth of work
Astrology calendars designed on Etsy generate $15,000 yearly with minimal ongoing work. Side Hustle School Ep. 6.