Tag: Niche Ideas

Prank Potato Parcels Produce Promising Profits

What It’s About

Proof that a personalized message via mailed potato is not a half-baked idea after all.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

As simple as it is to write a message on a potato, it takes forever!

Fun Fact

The average American eats about 124 pounds of potatoes per year while Germans eat about twice as much.

Notes from Chris

Episode 984

From an early age, Texas-based Alex Craig had big entrepreneurial dreams. As a college student, he had been part of several startups with promise, but they never took off. Post-college, he did what millions of graduates do every year: he went and got a 9-5 job.

Like many of us, Alex didn’t actually have his nose to the grindstone nonstop for eight hours a day. He spent a fair amount of time checking in on social media and browsing the internet.

One of his daily visits was to Reddit—and on one particular day, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, the top post of the day was an image of a potato with a stamp on it. The image titled “I delivered a potato today.”

The post had over 2 million views in less than 4 hours. And while the vast majority of those people simply saw a potato….Alex saw an opportunity!

He thought, “What if mailing potatoes to your friends through the mail could become the next internet trend?”

Alex’s idea was simple: for $9.99, he would send potatoes complete with a handwritten, anonymous message to the person of the customers choice. If all went well, Potatoes by Mail could have its moment of fame and bring fortune to him.

Alex didn’t disagree that it was a stupid idea but he was undeterred. He started working on his website that same evening. Twenty four hours later, Potato Parcel, was online and open for business.

He immediately went back to the original Reddit post, still popular, and posted his new project. On the second day that the project was live, Alex got $2,000 in orders … maybe it wasn’t such a stupid idea after all.

The orders continue to come in and Alex would leave work and spend his evenings inscribing, packing and mailing his potato parcels.

Profits were growing, peaking at around $10,000 per month, but he also knew that fads could have a short shelf life. He thought that the idea had the opportunity to be a viral sensation but knew that the window was narrow.

So that’s when he leveled up by sending cold-emails to all of the local TV stations. One responded, and said their correspondent would be there that evening for an interview.

The local news story also caught the attention of national media and Alex and Potato Parcel were featured shows including Ellen, The Steve Harvey Show, and Good Morning America.

Not surprisingly, Potato Parcel was inundated with orders. Over the next six months, Alex would sell thousands of potatoes and earn $40,000 in profit, one potato at a time. But that’s not all … he was thinking about his exit strategy and how to sell the business from the very beginning.

He’s since launched a digital agency to help companies with their viral marketing and his clients include NBA teams and huge brands like Sony. He’s also written an ebook, The Potato Playbook, about creating an idea that goes viral.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Just start! Even if you fail, you’ll learn."
—Alex Craig #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Sisters Find Puppy Love After Launching Dating App

What It’s About

Two sisters develop a dating app to help dog lovers fall in love.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Gather as much advice as you’re comfortable with, but don’t take too much advice. It’s incredibly important to surround yourself with people who will give you mentorship and counsel, but make sure you follow through with only the advice that aligns with your gut and convictions.

Fun Fact

50 million Americans have tried dating apps. 200 million people have tried dating apps internationally. Of those people, each use on average 3-4 apps at a time. Add to that, there are 25 million single dog-owners in the US ages 25+. Combine all that data and a successful dog owner dating app was inevitable.

Notes from Chris

Episode 983
Leigh Isaacson and her sister Casey are dog people through and through. They join the estimated eighty-five million households in the U.S. who call their canine friends “family.” On top of their love for all things dogs, until a few years ago, they both had very demanding careers. Casey skews more creative as an Art Director and was in New York City. Leigh’s background is in TV news reporting and homeland security and is still based out of New Orleans.

Their pupners in crime help them relax and unwind from their busy lives. If you’ve ever come home to an enthusiastic dog who acts like your return is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to them, you know the feeling of unconditional love they give.

But, finding love of another sort proved difficult—for Casey in particular. A few years ago, she was dating a guy who wasn’t really a dog person. He tried at first, always allowing her pup to come over when they were hanging out. But, quite quickly, things began to change and, toward the end of the relationship he didn’t want the dog in his apartment.

The pangs of heartbreak followed. Before too long, Casey found herself single again, crying on her sister Leigh’s shoulder. “‘I wish I knew from the start that this wasn’t going to work because of my dog,” she said.

But every cloud has a silver lining … and out that sadness came the bark of an idea.

Leigh and Casey, like everyone else their age, had seen the recent rise of dating apps like Tinder. They also knew that there’d been a corresponding rise in popularity of niche dating apps for those looking for a specific type of partner.

Together they decided to launch a dating app, specifically targeting dog lovers. They figured they could overlap the enormous pet industry, with the rapidly growing online dating industry. It seemed like the perfect idea with only one problem: neither of the sisters knew how to create an app… Doggonit!

With time to dedicate to their idea they applied to IDEAx, a local tech incubator and training ground for new businesses. They were accepted and received a hands on developer who’d help them turn their idea into reality over the next four months. The time flew by, and soon they were ready to launch their creation. They called it Dig. It all happened around Valentine’s Day 2018.

As far as apps go, Dig is on a path to success. Over a hundred and ten thousand people have downloaded it and are searching for their perfect puppy-loving partner. They’ve already received stories of couples getting together … and in some cases, even a couple’s dogs falling in love first.

0

The sisters have a very specific plan to start monetizing their users directly once they reach certain milestones. That will include monthly subscriptions and additional features for rabid fans of the app, with pricing starting from just a few dollars a month.

Even though the Dig app has only been around for one and a half years—that’s around 10 dog years—so their track record is impressive. They’ve proven that combining the pet industry with online dating is indeed quite fetching.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Dig: Check out Leigh and Casey’s app. Maybe you’ll find that special dog lover you’ve always been looking for.

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

WEB HOSTING @ $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for many websites. It's cheap, flexible, and offers support 24-7.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Gather as much advice as you’re comfortable with, but don’t take too much advice. It’s incredibly important to surround yourself with people who will give you mentorship and counsel, but make sure you follow through with only the advice that aligns with your gut and convictions. "
—Leigh Isaacson #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try ShipStation for 60 Days FREE!

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by ShipStation, the #1 choice of online sellers. 📦

To get a 30-day trial AND an additional month free, click the microphone at the top of their page and enter the word HUSTLE.
Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

3D Printing Brings Cosplay Into 21st Century

What It’s About

An engineer takes customized cosplay to the next level with a 3D printer.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

A self-described nerd, Nikko has a good sense of what others in the community will like. But no one can get it right all of the time. For example, he felt certain that a figurine of a popular female cosplayer and a Batman design would sell like crazy … but in fact, they proved unpopular sellers. It goes to show that it’s important to test. Sometimes your most confident assumptions could be incorrect.

Fun Fact

Nikko swears that the applications for 3D printing are endless. As a matter of fact, he’s even used his printer to create custom shelving and a velociraptor shower head for his kids!

Notes from Chris

Episode 977

For his day job, Nikko Mendoza controls natural gas lines to make sure they’re safe. And like a lot of parents who work long hours, he’s always looking for a way to make the time he had to spend with his kids really count. Two years ago, this desire converged with another goal of his: to earn a substantial income apart from his day job.

His two young children loved dressing up in costumes, superheroes being a particular favorite. Iron Man was one of their favorites, so he wanted to build an Iron Man suit.

And he did. His first full suit was crafted from foam floor mats. It looked okay for an initial attempt, but he wanted to improve. When he found an Instagram post showing an Iron Man suit with incredible detail, Nikko was intrigued. He reached out to the creator who told him the suit was 3D printed. This led to better costumes for his kids … and what he called Nikko Industries in December 2017.

It started by reselling designs for others to purchase and use to print out their own costumes and props. He made a website using Wix and ran a Facebook group where he promoted his designs. Costs were a little over $1,000, including $800 for the 3D printer itself. He used a pre-order method for his designs so there was no out of pocket expense.

On his website, Nikko Industries, he sells digital files that buyers can print themselves. But realizing that not many people own 3D printers, Nikko also decided to print out the designs and sell them through an Etsy store. The designs cost Nikko between $13-$20 to print, and they sell for $75-$100.

When Nikko opened the store, he set his goals low, hoping to bring in around $200 in the first month. But he underestimated his customer’s desire for a costume that would blow typical cosplay outfits out of the water. He brought in $2,000 that first month. He actually had to halt the growth of the store as it was summer and he wanted to spend more time with his kids while they were on break.

In his first year, he had revenue of $50,000 but reinvested earnings back into the business. This year, he is on track for a revenue of $100,000, doubled sales in a year without spending a dime on advertising. After paying expenses and continuing to reinvest, he’s now taking home a profit of $3,000 or more each month.

This additional income is allowing Nikko to pay off debt incurred by a previously failed side hustle, a fitness bootcamp which saw him lose more than $100,000. (Lesson: don’t do that!) He’s also using the money to take his kids on vacations and save for a new home.

You can’t manufacture money using a 3D printer … but this is the next best thing.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Nikko Industries: Learn more about what Nikko is printing up over on his website! And if you’d like to support his cosplaying efforts, head on over to his Patreon page
  • NikkoIndustries: Check out Nikko’s lineup over on his Etsy page!
  • 3D Printed Profits: Interested in learning more but think you may need a little extra help? Nikko has launched a course to help you start a 3D printing biz of your own!
  • 3D Printed Armor and Weapon Props: If you’re interested in the world of 3D printed cosplay, head on over to Nikko’s Facebook group

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Find your niche—they aren’t lying when they say that there are riches are in niches! From there, produce quality products and content, and be engaged in whatever market you’re in."
—Nikko Mendoza #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Raver Turns LED-Powered Gloves Into Bright Future

What It’s About

Raver capitalizes on an underground scene.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Subcultures have their own terminology, practices, and means of recognition. And they attract people who want to belong to something. This is true for fans of indie music, anyone who enjoys a certain activity, sports fans—especially if you’re a fan of a less popular team, or perhaps a team in a different area than the one you live in.

A while back we had a story (Ep. 667) about a guy who was a Seattle Seahawks fan and moved to a part of the country where few other people were. He created an app that allowed displaced fans to find a bar or other venue that would show their games. So in other words, he found a way to capitalize on an opportunity no one else was paying attention to.

Fun Fact

It is generally agreed that gloving first emerged in the mid-2000’s at raves parties as a form of drug enhancement. Many of these party-goers would be high on ecstasy, and they found that gazing at bright lights intensified the pleasure that they felt on the drug. The first lightshows were done using glowsticks or handheld lights to dance in rhythm to the music for onlookers.

Eventually, someone had the idea of taking gloves and putting a small LED light in each finger. Suddenly, this opened up an entirely new world of possibilities for moves, as having the freedom of using every finger individually created limitless potential for movements.

Notes from Chris

Episode 973

Twenty-seven-year-old sales executive Andrew Zhao fell in love at a rave. But it wasn’t with a person, it was with an artform called gloving. Gloving involved performers, called “glovers,” wearing gloves with LED microlights and using them to share their own light show.

The artform first emerged in the underground rave scene in the mid-2000’s when performers would use glow sticks to create art. Then someone had the idea of taking gloves and putting a small LED light in each finger, which opened up an entirely new world of possibilities for moves.

Andrew was entranced. He immediately spent much of his free time studying and practicing the artform. Online message boards were popular at the time, and he would spend hours on forums dedicated to the rave culture. However, rivalry and bullying on the message boards would soon push Andrew into his first side hustle. You see, the “glow stickers” outnumbered “glovers” at both the raves and also on the message boards, and the larger group was hostile to the smaller one.

Fed up with the negative vibes, Andrew started Throw Life, a new forum dedicated to “glovers.” The website grew quickly, attracting thousands from around the world who created an online community that was active 24 hours a day. But like many love stories, Andrew’s relationship with gloving would not be without its difficulties. The quick success of his new forum and the responsibility of managing it became too much for the then 19-year old and he decided to shut it down.

While this project didn’t work out, Andrew was excelling professionally. Now working in enterprise sales for a large, multinational telecom company, he was soon earning $80,000/year selling fiber optics.

But his love of gloving was never far from his mind. Andrew continued to spend most weekends at large raves. He also still believed that the niche artform would one day be a billion-dollar industry like street art or skateboarding. Andrew didn’t know what he could do, or how he could do it, but he wanted to be part of the industry’s future.

That’s when he decided to relaunch as an e-commerce brand. This time, Andrew started small … really small. His first product was the tiny batteries that power the colorful gloves.

He went on Alibaba and found a supplier. Soon he had thousands of batteries on the way to his door. While waiting for the delivery, he set up a simple Shopify store. The new venture, now called Throwlights, cost less than $1,000 to get off the ground.

He consistently worked to expand his product line, which is sold exclusively on his website, and he soon began offering gloves, bulbs, t-shirts and other accessories that became popular in the gloving community.

Since then, Andrew has raised $150,000 for his venture, and he recently left his sales job to focus on it full time. But of course, it all started with a side hustle that enabled him to turn his dreams into reality.

He says that the best part of the experience has been the phenomenal relationships he’s made with people along the way, plus the opportunity to be around an artform that he loves. Through all of the ups and downs, he credits his success to his mindset. Before what he learned through experience, Andrew didn’t have the skills or the habits he needed. He became much more conscientious about building a strong community to surround himself with and he became more intentional about what information he consumed.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Throwlights: Learn more about this rave-worthy side hustle over on Andrew’s website!
  • Shopify: Andrew used Shopify to set up his site for Throwlights, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
  • Alibaba: The marketplace Andrew used to find a manufacturer for Throwlights
  • Game on! Seahawks Fan Kicks Off Six-Figure Sports App: When faced with the possibility of not being able to enjoy his favorite football games, this sports fan creates an app to solve the problem. Four years in, it earns him a full-time income in exchange for 30 minutes of work each week

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

RELIABLE WEBHOST FOR $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for my past 5 websites. It's cheap, flexible, and you can get support 24 hours a day.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Start somewhere. It’s a cliche, but the journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step. That’s true—don’t be afraid! Along the way, you WILL mess up and that’s okay. You might also wildly succeed, so just go for it."
—Andrew Zhao #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Marine Goes “Under Cover” To Create Eyewear Protector

What It’s About

This under cover clip keeps Marines looking slick with well-protected eyewear.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Someone once said that “if you build it, they will come,” but who exactly are “they” and how do you find them? This is why I suggest creating an “Ideal Customer” in my book, Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days. Write up a short, summary about who this person is, what their goals and interests are, and then figure out where they spend their time. Put together a pitch just for them, go to where they are, and start hustling!

Fun Fact

Victor normally carries a few of his clips around when he travels to different Marine bases. He’ll approach other Marines and simply talk to them, or ask the young Marines knowledge questions. Afterward, he hands them a clip and thanks them for their service.

Notes from Chris

Episode 968

It was a glaringly sunny day on base when Victor de la Flor, a United States marine, put on his brand new sunglasses. It’s common for military personnel to carry glasses with them everywhere they go. Unlike office workers, they spend long stretches training outside.

Later that day, when the glare had died down, Victor placed his sunglasses into the pocket of his uniform, safely squared away. It wasn’t until the next morning that he realized the mistake he’d made. The lenses were scratched by some loose particles in there, and his glasses were ruined beyond repair!

Beyond being upset, Victor was intrigued. He knew there had to be a better way to carry around prescription eyewear or sunglasses. Something that kept them safe and secure but also neat. Marines take great pride in wearing their uniform, so simply hooking them on the shirt somehow wasn’t an option.

It became a battle between Victor and the problem of scratched sunglasses … one in which he was determined to emerge victoriously.

He spent the next year brainstorming solutions and eventually came up with a novel one. You see, Marines wear their ‘covers’—military talk for hats—when out in public at all times. He noticed there was plenty of space underneath the cover, enough to safely stash away his glasses.

He devised a small clip. It would sit inside the hat and hold the glasses when he wasn’t wearing them. A simple solution, right? Well, that simple solution actually took over a year and a half to create. He came up with seven different prototypes in that time, all with varying degrees of success.

Part of the problem was when it came to prototyping, Victor was no seasoned veteran. In fact, he had no experience at all. He knew he’d have to create a 3D model but wasn’t quite sure how to go about it.

It became trench warfare. Every time Victor came up with a concept, he was hit with counterfire that made it impossible for him to progress. As a last-ditch effort, he utilized the services of a designer to help him convert his drawings to a model that could be used on a 3D printer. He took the models and made use of a 3D printer at his local library to turn the designs into reality.

When he finally had a version that fit his requirements, he called it the Under Cover Clip.

Months went by and today, Victor has sold hundreds of clips to military personnel all over the country. In less than a year, he’s now nearly matched his salary as a Marine.

For the rest of 2019, he’s working on deals to get in several more military shops all over the country. He still plans on doing this while being the sole employee and maintaining his work and training in the military. What else would he do? He’s a U.S. Marine.

Victor, thank you for your service … and Semper Fi!

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Under Cover Clip: Clip on over to Victor’s website to learn more about this lens-saving side hustle!
  • American Dream U: A non-profit organization dedicated to helping our military get the education and access to resources they need to find their dream job or start a business of their own

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

WEB HOSTING @ $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for many websites. It's cheap, flexible, and offers support 24-7.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

Quote of the Day
"In the beginning, try advertising to your friends or Facebook groups you are a part of. After launching the FB advertisements and reaching a Marine Corps and Navy-specific audience, it began to spread like wildfire. Friends of friends began to share the ad and the page, and before I knew it, I was getting orders coming in repeatedly during the first few weeks."
—Victor de la Flor #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Best Friends Ink Profits By Covering Up Scars

What It’s About

Temporary tattoos help women feel confident in swimwear after surgeries.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When we talked to Denise, she had some fantastic advice for new side hustlers:

“Many experts talk about the necessity of having a good business plan, but sometimes the planning prevents you from doing. Just go out there and start. Start small, but start. Once you’ve gotten your toes wet, you can do a bit more planning. Also, really research and decide if your side-hustle is viable. Too many people have bad ideas and don’t know it.”

Fun Fact

Denise and Amanda state that their biggest clients at the moment for TuckTats are tummy tuck patients, but they’re also discovering a large market for their products with those who have had breast reconstruction. Apparently, certain procedures take tissue from the abdomen to reconstruct the breast, and their temporary tattoos help hide this as well.

Notes from Chris

Episode 965

People often make New Year’s resolutions at the start of the year, only to have them fade away shortly thereafter. But not these two friends. In 2014, Denise O’Connell and Amanda Hudson were making plans for the rest of the year and realized that they weren’t interested in working for “The Man” any longer. Although they each had a side hustle of their own, it wasn’t enough for them to leave their day jobs.

This was when they stumbled on a problem that they both faced. Having recently undergone stomach surgery, Denise had a large scar across her belly and was wondering how she could go about disguising it when wearing a bathing suit. Amanda had previously had surgeries that left her with the same issue.

Denise realized that there were two options in front of her:

Option #1: She could wear a “grandma suit” and cover everything up—but that was far from the most fashionable option.

Option #2: As crazy as it sounded, she could get a tattoo to cover it up. But a tattoo was also out of the question since the surgery area was still tender. It made Denise cringe just imagining them scraping across her scar with a tattoo needle. Plus, what if she hated the results? She’d be stuck with it forever…

Amanda felt the same way about her body. Together, they decided that they would come up with their own line of temporary tattoos. TuckTats became the colorful, inky solution to their problems!

As their tattoos were targeted at women who had gone through surgery, Denise started by joining Facebook groups for people who had plastic surgery or were contemplating it. She contacted the administrators of these groups and asked nicely if she could post stories of how she covered up her scars—no links or sales pitch included.

With her request was okay-ed by the administrators, her posts started to garner personal messages from members who wanted to learn more. These members turned into TuckTats’ first customers. Since then, she has remained active on Facebook groups and has even identified brand champions who talk about the product without any prompting. Word of mouth has since became a secondary channel in which TuckTats would get customers—no paid advertising needed!

Amanda and Denise have since started to become profitable with over $15,000 in net income so far. As they continue to expand and serve different market segments, they’re leaving their mark (and ink) on a lot of people. Even though they still work for “the man”—Denise as a multimedia producer for a bank and Amanda as a communications professional)—they no longer complain about it. They say that the side hustle makes it a lot more tolerable.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • TuckTats: Interested in learning more about this decorative, side hustle solution? Tuck on over to Denise and Amanda’s website!
  • Shopify: Denise and Amanda used Shopify to set up their site for TuckTats, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

RELIABLE WEBHOST FOR $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for my past 5 websites. It's cheap, flexible, and you can get support 24 hours a day.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

Quote of the Day
"If you have a partner, do a partnership agreement. No one thinks that the business will fall apart, but it’s like a prenup. Spell it out so the breakup is easier if necessary."
—Denise O’Connell & Amanda Hudson #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

All Boxed In: Knoxville Man Rents Reusable Packing Totes

What It’s About

Plastic moving boxes stack up monthly profits.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Because moving is stressful, what are some other problems associated with it that could be solved? Here we’re talking about boxes, but I think other challenges include getting people to help, saying farewell to a place you’ve lived for a while, and just making decisions in general.

There could be some others as well! Whenever there’s a problem, consider what the potential solution could be.

Fun Fact

Frank has discovered that there is a deep-seated hatred of cardboard boxes. Between the weird cardboard smell, putting the boxes together, trying to find the end of the roll of packing tape, having to break down the boxes, and then figuring out what to do with them once they’ve been unpacked (and no, no one on Craig’s List or Nextdoor wants them!), lots of people are fed up. Even if you never minded cardboard boxes, here’s something that might change your mind. Bed bugs love cardboard. Ugh!

Notes from Chris

Episode 964

We all have to do it at least once in our lives, and no matter what advances technology brings, moving can still be stressful and expensive. For anyone who has ever spent hours shoving all of their earthly possessions into a U-Haul, you know the struggle is real!

For the most part, we take Moving Day challenges in stride and consider them a necessary evil. But as Frank Ramey of Knoxville, Tennessee listened to the lamentations of his sister and brother-in-law regarding their recent hellish move, an idea began to take shape… in the form of a box.

Because that was one of their biggest complaints: cardboard boxes. No move was complete without an abundance of flimsy and expensive cardboard boxes and rolls of sticky packing tape. To them, the whole process just felt so wasteful—what do you do with those boxes once you’re done? You can store them for later, but you never know if they’ll hold up over time.

Like most of us, Frank never really gave the moving business a thought unless he needed to move. He happily ran an online marketing company, but he knew that there had to be a stress-free and eco-friendly solution to these cardboard box woes.

In his mind, the solution would be made of something sturdy and reusable like plastic. Something that movers could rent on an as-needed basis so that storage wasn’t an issue.

Before running with what he thought was a great idea, Frank did some research. As he put it, “Your idea might be a good one, but you have to ask yourself if you’re in the right area for it.” Since this was something that he was planning on starting out locally, Frank wanted to learn how many people move into the Knoxville area each year and how many of those moves were local. Only when the numbers looked good, he knew it was time to unbox his idea for real!

These were the beginnings of Rent Plastic Moving Boxes, or RPM Boxes for short. Frank planned on delivering sturdy, waterproof, and reusable plastic totes for people to pack their belongings in. When the client’s move is complete, Frank would pick up the boxes, sanitize them, and then get them ready for the next customer. Ideally, he wanted each tote to be sturdy enough to use more than 400 times each and capable of being responsibly recycled once they had served their purpose.

In the beginning, Frank was spending 10 to 15 hours per week on his hustle. He built the website, spent time networking, delivering totes, picking them up, and sanitizing. Currently, the business requires just 2 to 5 hours per week—most of which is spent cleaning the boxes. Frank’s home has a large detached workshop where the totes are cleaned and stored, but he has long term plans to rent a small warehouse with a storefront that would allow customers to pick up and return the totes themselves for a discount.

Frank began this hustle in June 2018. In that time, the business has averaged $600 a month in income. Most of his small startup cost went to purchasing the totes which cost about $15 each. He already had the truck he uses to deliver and pick up, a holdover from his lawn mowing side hustle which really helped reduce his start-up costs.

As word of mouth spreads about RPM Boxes, Frank is trying to find a balance between keeping inventory lean while keeping up with customer demand. For the future, Frank’s looking to expand outside of the Knoxville area, and he’s even toying with the idea of turning RPM Boxes into a micro-storage business as a way to produce passive income.

Clearly, there’s more than one business idea still to be unboxed!

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Don’t be afraid to be profitable out of the gate. If you’re bringing a product or service to market that people really want, you need to charge accordingly for it. This way you can quickly figure out if there seems to be enough profit to be had."
—Frank Ramey #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Adventurous Couple Turns Travel Itineraries Into Cash

What It’s About

An adventurous couple turns Romanian travel itineraries into cash.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Sometimes it takes a while to get up and running. At the same time, in this story, we can identify a few things they would do differently if starting now that might save them some of that time (e.g. – fewer packages, track what’s working, focus on lead generation). Start small, pay attention to what works, and then use that knowledge to expand your offerings!

Fun Fact

There are a ton of reasons to visit Romania, but road trip enthusiasts would be remiss if they didn’t check out the beautiful, 56 mile stretch of road known as the Transfagarasan Highway. Built between 1970 and 1974 by military forces following the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviets, it was considered a strategic military route to cross the mountains in the event the Soviets attempted a similar move into Romania.

Notes from Chris

Episode 959

Besides packing, many consider the return trip home one of the worst parts of travel. The return trip signals the end of an adventure, sometimes a return to a less exciting routine. For others, the journey—lacking the anticipation that comes with starting a new adventure—just seems like it takes far too long.

Returning from a weekend trip to the mountains, Bucharest, Romania-based Corina Preda and her husband, Florin, shared some of these thoughts.

Driving back to the city meant a return to the hustle and bustle of their busy schedules and jobs in human resources and the pharmaceutical field. While they had little to complain about, they would have loved a few more days away.

Driving along the country Romanian roads, they were already looking forward to their next adventure and discussed ideas for what they wanted to do next. They both immediately said “traveling,” which is not surprising since it’s something they’ve both loved since they were kids.

But then one of them suggested, “Wouldn’t it be great to have a business in travel?” Excitement filled the car, and soon they decided on starting a travel agency offering guided trips and custom experiences of their beloved Romania.

Corina loved researching and planning itineraries, and Florin loved sharing cool places and things with people, so the idea was perfect! Not only did they love showing off their home country, but a travel business could earn extra money and allow them to travel more themselves. It was a win all around … or at least it might be.

They quickly discovered that travel agencies in Romania require licenses and training. These education requirements for licensing took several months, and Corina and Florin used this time wisely. Whatever time wasn’t spent at work or in class was spent developing their new business.

Finally, their training was complete—and Secret Romania was officially open for business.

Things, in the beginning, were slow to start, but today, in Secret Romania’s fourth year, this duo are consistently bringing in €1,300 euros per month, roughly $17,000 per year in US dollars … and also known as “a lot of money” in Romania.

These extra funds allowed Corina and Florin to save money and to take more trips of their own. The bonus income from their side hustle also gives Florin more flexibility to reduce his work schedule, which he loves.

The work continues. Corina and Florin are excitedly looking ahead, refining their marketing efforts and optimizing their website to showcase their homeland. Most of all, they never stop learning and never stop thinking about their next adventure.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Secret Romania: Learn more about the secret wonders of Romania over on Corina & Florin’s website!
  • WordPress: Corina and Florin used WordPress to set up their site, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL

Earn 50,000 travel rewards points (enough for 2 round-trip plane tickets or $625 in travel credit). You'll also earn 2x points on all travel and dining spend, with zero foreign transaction fees.

I use this card every day all over the world! ✈️ Learn More

RELIABLE WEBHOST FOR $2.49/MONTH

Want to build any kind of website for your hustle? If so, you'll need somewhere to host it! This is the reliable company I've used for my past 5 websites. It's cheap, flexible, and you can get support 24 hours a day.

Get your own hosting plan for just $2.49 a month!
Learn More

Quote of the Day
"Finding time and motivation to work after you get home from your full-time job can be challenging. To help, set a long-term goal and visualize it every time you find yourself ‘not in the mood’ to work."
—Corina & Florin Preda #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

British Family Sells Political Tea Towels

What It’s About

Tea towels that highlight your values and dry your dishes.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Luke recommends starting with an MVP (minimum viable product) to prove your concept: a basic Shopify store, one or two products, and some simple marketing initiatives to get your product in front of the right customer. Spend 10% of your time on admin, 20% on product, and 70% on marketing and getting the word out!

Fun Fact

When Luke was visiting Philadelphia to expand their business in the U.S., he had lunch with a group of progressive Catholic women who were totally on board with Radical Tea Towel and its mission. They gave a whole list of people to feature from Frederick Douglas, to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Susan B. Anthony.

Notes from Chris

Episode 956
When you’re going to a dinner party, there are three main table topics to avoid: politics, religion, and money. So, what happens when you take those topics and use them to create a tea towel based business with your family? For Luke Pearce and his mom and dad, it created radical change.

It all started at the kitchen table eight years ago when Luke and his parents were having dinner.

Luke’s mom, Bea, had recently lost her own mother, Pat, to cancer. Pat was a teacher, feminist, and socialist who spent her life living her values rather than preaching them. After she passed, Bea wanted to find a birthday present for Pat’s surviving partner, David, that embodied all that Pat stood for.

Tea towels or “dish towels” (as we often call them in the U.S.) are very popular in the UK. So Bea thought it would be fun to get David a tea towel with a political message on it that embodied Pat and added a little inspiration to the kitchen. That evening, Bea had dinner with her husband, Tim, and son, Luke. She told them she’d spent an hour searching on Google but hadn’t found any political tea towels.

Luke looked at his mom and said, “So why don’t you create your own?”

Neither Bea, Tim, nor Luke had experience running their own business but figured if they combined their skills, they could figure this out. At the time Luke was a mid-level manager for the metro system in London, so he took on the role of operations and marketing. Tim is a designer and took on the role of—you guessed it, design—and Bea spent her time searching for a local manufacturer who would print some test products for them.

Together the three of them came up with 10 designs to start. They found a manufacturer in the UK who agreed to print 100 of each design. They started with names and quotes from well-known change-leaders like Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. At the time, screen-printing was the rage so digital printing and ordering smaller quantities was not an option, so it was go BIG or throw in the tea towel. They took a chance, and Radical Tea Towel was officially activated. They invested about £3,000 ($3,600 USD) in the process.

When their orders arrived, they were excited and believed they had something new and different to offer their market. Luke and his dad created a website to list the products and began referring family and friends to it. They began averaging about 1 to 2 orders per week.

Their big break came after being featured in the “What You Like” column in The Guardian’s popular weekend magazine. Luke asked a friend to submit a write-up about Radical Tea Towels and how unique the concept is. Several weeks later, that write-up had been featured, and they received 70 orders in one day and then 70 the next. Orders were pouring in like a hot Earl Grey. That’s when they knew they were onto something bigger than what they had dreamed up at the kitchen table.

Sales have tripled since coming to the U.S. and they were able to hire additional marketing and PR support. Last year, they hit the £500,000 (or ~$650,000 USD) mark and profited £35,000 (~$43,000 USD) after paying their own salaries as well as their staff’s. They’ve also increased their product selection to include aprons, tote bags, and more. This year they are on track to hitting the 7-figure mark and will be expanding to other markets like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Radical Tea Towels is on the right track to expand into a full-fledged international brand that educates customers on radical history, highlights empowering shapeshifters … and also dries the dishes.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Radical Tea Towel: Learn more about this political powerhouse over on Luke’s website!

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"No one understands your business quite as well as you, so filter out the noise and ask yourself what is useful and what you should ignore."
—Luke Pearce #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Try ShipStation for 60 Days FREE!

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by ShipStation, the #1 choice of online sellers. 📦

To get a 30-day trial AND an additional month free, click the microphone at the top of their page and enter the word HUSTLE.
Get it Here

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau

Vegan Food Lovers Sprout Plant-Based Festivals

What It’s About

Vegan food events become a big dill in the Garden State.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Kendra and Marisa spent hours listening to people’s insights regarding what they didn’t like about their event. And Kendra said that listening to this feedback and making changes based on what they had to say has made their events so much better.

As Kendra put it, “It turns out that people who are taking the time to complain have good ideas, you just have to take the time to really listen. It really pains me when I see other businesses deleting comments or having kneejerk reactions because I think they are missing out on some really amazing feedback.”

Fun Fact

The number of U.S. consumers identifying as vegan grew from 1% to 6% between 2014 and 2017, a 600% increase, according to GlobalData. That’s still a pretty small portion of the total, but other data reveal a growing interest in plant-based foods by consumers who don’t consider themselves vegetarian or vegan.

Sales of plant-based alternatives to animal-based foods including meat, cheese, milk, and eggs grew 17% over the past year, while overall U.S. food sales rose only 2%, according to data from Nielsen and the Good Food Institute. The market for such foods totaled more than $3.7 billion. [Source]

Notes from Chris

Episode 950

When New Jersey native Kendra Arnold switched over to a vegan lifestyle in the early 2000s, it became painfully obvious that food options for her new diet were rather scarce. Together with her vegan spouse, she began to host Meatless Monday bike rides with her group of omnivore-inclined friends, hitting up the downtown area in pursuit of falafel and hummus. But beyond that, there was little else that made eating exciting. Food had become sustenance, and nothing more…

But all of that changed one day thanks to a single Facebook post.

Another friend of Kendra’s had just attended a vegan food festival, and posted about her adventures on Facebook. For Kendra, it was the answer to her tempeh-fueled prayers.

She set off to see what it was all about. On the way there, though, serendipity struck! She ran into Marisa Sweeney—one of the only other vegans she knew—and fielded the idea of putting together a vegan festival. Marisa was on board—the only question she had was whether it should be for the town or the whole county.

Kendra, on the other hand, was thinking much bigger than that—she envisaged a festival large enough for the entire state that would give restaurants and shops an opportunity to test out the demand for vegan food. Both Kendra and Marisa had some experience running nonprofit events, so they put their skills to work and began sourcing potential venues and vendors.

That festival, VegFest, was announced in 2015—and Kendra and Marisa spent the next year and a half getting the word out via non-profit organizations, Facebook groups, and restaurants. And, in the midst of their marketing efforts, they discovered that there were a whole lot of people out there keen to be part of what they were putting together!

At the very least, it certainly proved that people were willing to eat plant-based foods on days other than Monday.

Building on the community that had sprouted up overnight following the festival, Kendra and Marisa started to organize other events. They stepped up their social media marketing efforts and started sending out more postcards. Simple though it may seem, the postcards proved to be so effective that the team still sends them out today.

These days, Kendra and Marisa throw roughly seven vegan-themed festivals on an annual basis, with their biggest events bringing in up to 7,000 attendees and boasting over 100-150 vendors!

Moving forward, Sprout Everywhere Events have been consulting with more vegan food festivals around the country and are starting to branch out to other events too. Kendra isn’t just content with merely growing a business—she wants to grow a movement as well.

 

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Sprout Everywhere Events: Learn more about this growing side hustle over on Kendra and Marisa’s website!
  • WordPress: Kendra and Marisa used WordPress to set up their site, and here you can learn how to install your own WordPress site in 5 minutes

 

SHS EPISODES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

SEE ALSO:

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

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter

Resources

CREATE YOUR ONLINE STORE

Create your online store with Shopify using an exclusive discount for Side Hustle School listeners. For a limited time, get a free 21-day trial and a 10% discount for a whole year.

Many Side Hustle School listeners are building sites using Shopify's easy-to-learn platform. Try it free today! Learn More

GET YOUR FIRST 1,000 EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

Social media is nice, but building an email list is still the single best way to get customers and clients for your hustle. It's not hard to get started—sign up for a 30-day trial and join the list-building challenge! You’ll be up and running in no time. Learn More

Quote of the Day
"If there’s too much noise, plan the event that you want to go to and ignore everything else."
—Kendra Arnold & Marisa Sweeney #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Don't Do Business Without It

Side Hustle School is brought to you by American Express.

No matter what you do in business, from working nine-to-five to working five-to-nine, it’s easier when you don’t go it alone. Get the powerful backing of American Express—don't do business without it! 💳 Visit American Express

Like the Show? Leave a Rating!

Side Hustle School is for you! If you’re enjoying it, please take a quick moment to leave a rating or write a quick review. It's really easy and it makes a difference! ✅

It also makes a huge difference when you tell your friends about the show. Remember, it's 100% free and listener-supported.
Here's How

Keep in Touch

There’s a new story every single day on Side Hustle School. Episodes are produced to be short and to the point—I know you’re busy. Be sure you subscribe to get instant notification of the day’s broadcast!


To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau