Tag: Reselling

University Director Turns Draining Problem Into Profitable Power-Up

What It’s About

A side hustle with real power-up potential!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

There are a lot of these little chargers out there, and there are millions and millions of phones. So I am not surprised that someone who takes an interesting approach to them is able to sell a lot. This is definitely a market with room for a lot of sellers.

Too bad about Amazon, but I’m glad he recovered in the true spirit of forging ahead in the face of obstacles!

Fun Fact

Chris has one of the best About pages I’ve ever read. Some of the highlights from his experience are:

1. He once piloted the TGV, the French bullet train, and got it up to 300 kph. 2. He’s trained Yemeni freedom fighters on the “proper” use of social media 3. In Moscow, he had a gun pointed straight at him. The guy didn’t shoot him, but he did knee him in the balls. Someone also tried to sell him a wife, and he spent several hours in a Russian jail.

Notes from Chris

Episode 593

Chris Reimer’s job means he spends a lot of time on his phone. As the associate director of new media at Maryville University, Chris is constantly swapping between both his personal and professional iPhones. If you’ve ever used an iPhone yourself for more than, say, thirty seconds, you’ll be aware of the problem which drained much of his energy.

Just a few hours into his workday, Chris would find his phones were running out of power and in quick need of a recharge. Unwilling to tether himself to a plug socket two to three times a day, Chris began to invest in power banks so he could charge on the go. Simply connect your phone to the battery pack and you’re free to use it in the way it was intended—mobile.

At first, he was totally enamored with those little power banks. They removed the stress of his phone dying and missing important calls or updates which the University expected him to answer. But as time went on he grew more and more frustrated with them. Although there were some good power banks on the market, there were none he considered great and didn’t seem to have the right features he wanted, especially for the money he was paying for them.

Thus began the search for a truly great power bank. And this being Side Hustle School, it means it was a search for him to learn to sell them. That’s right, Chris realized it was up to him to create the power bank he wanted to see in the world. After years of fumbling around, it was time to charge-down this industry and power-up the options for power bank users like himself.

The first step was to develop his idea of what the perfect power bank would be. So, he created a list with all of the features he wanted to see. He wanted a product that was lightweight, could connect with up-to-date cables and would start charging phones instantly, without the annoying little power button he almost always forgot to press.

When he finally released his first Boosa Tech product to the world, Chris ended up generating $5,000 in his first month, mostly to people in his network, and their extended networks. Many of these people were local, so Chris decided to jump in his car and hand deliver the power banks himself. When he arrived at the door, he took a picture with the happy customer and posted it on his Instagram feed. This created social proof and began to spread some word-of-mouth marketing to people on the platform.

Chris’s biggest achievement, he said, is getting his first “stranger sale.” This is a sale from someone who you don’t know and doesn’t know anyone in your network. There’s no favor or reciprocity, just a clear sign your marketing and outreach is working.

Looking to the future, Chris is looking to capture more of these stranger sales, by using the income he’s generated to venture into paid marketing strategies. Chris also loves his job and has no intentions of quitting, but he’s open to whatever opportunities come powering through in the future.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Boosa Tech: Need a power up? Head on over to Chris’ website and snag a power bank!

 

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
"To receive, you must give. Over the years, I’ve made free speeches, guest lectures at colleges, mentored job seekers, let other marketers and up-and-comers pick my brain over coffee, and connected people to jobs. I like teaching and helping, and many of those people ended up buying power banks."
—Chris Reimer #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

The Coffee Grinder That Made $300,000

What It’s About

A basic, everyday item grinds out huge profits and creates loyal customers.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Raj says his success has largely been due to his customer-driven approach and deeper messaging. From the post-purchase emails, to the way his team responds to support requests, to the written content on the website, to the social media giveaways—all of it builds an ecosystem of value, care, and passion that encourages customers to use their coffee routine to appreciate the little things in life.

Fun Fact

Legend has it that 9th-century goat herders (circa 800 A.D.) noticed the effect caffeine had on their goats, who appeared to “dance” after eating coffee berries. A local monk then made a drink with coffee berries and found that it kept him awake at night, thus the original cup of coffee was born.

Notes from Chris

Episode 591

Raj Jana was just like a lot of us. He was knee-deep in student debt to the tune of $50,000, helping out his parents, and he working hard to climb the corporate ladder as a petroleum engineer at Chevron. Trying to please the corporate overlords day-after-day was exhausting, and Raj dreamed of stepping out of the rat race. He wanted to work for himself, move back to Houston to be with his long-distance girlfriend, and stop sacrificing his happiness for the sake of an MNC.

Raj began reading books and going through courses on internet businesses. He dabbled with a few ideas but eventually landed on private labeling products to sell on Amazon after meeting someone who’d had success in the area.

Making coffee by hand was one way Raj centered himself each morning. He was passionate about good coffee, and wondered if he could capitalize on the growing specialty coffee movement for his hustle. He researched possibilities on Kickstarter, Amazon, and other platforms to see what kinds of devices were selling really well, and the answer was clear: coffee grinders. Not the big, bulky automatic ones, but a small, handheld, manual one.

It would be small, lightweight, used frequently, and sell in the $20-30 range. It could also act as a gateway product to selling something else in the future. And it was perfect for selling on Amazon.

At the time, there was a generic coffee grinder that was selling well on Amazon, and it had zero branding on it. The company that sold it had no website. When Raj saw the same design on Alibaba, the idea clicked: he would use that existing design to create his own grinder that he would promote with creative, passionate branding.

After a couple weeks of confusing emails and a few phone calls, Raj found a manufacturer that would make 200 units to start off—just a $1,000 investment on Raj’s end.

And thus, JavaPresse sprang to life with the turn of a sharp steel blade.

Continually waking up at 5 AM to work on his hustle was rough, but his morning routine of making coffee, writing a gratitude list, and making a plan for the day helped him through. This routine set Raj up for success each day by keeping him focused and centered.

A few weeks after Raj placed his order, his grinders arrived at Amazon’s warehouse. It was go time.

A lot’s happened since then. JavaPresse now has three additional coffee products and a monthly coffee subscription. He’s still selling over one hundred grinders on Amazon per month, has fulfilled two wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation with donations, and generated over $300,000 in profit last year.

He’s brewed up a business, a lifestyle, and a mission all in one… and it hasn’t felt like a grind. Pour us another cup, Raj! Here’s to your hustle.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • JavaPresse: If your morning routine could use a little less drag and more grind, head on over to Raj’s website to pick up one of his coffee grinders!
  • Alibaba: The platform that Raj used to locate a manufacturer for his coffee grinders

 

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

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

Quote of the Day
"Build habits and routines that allow you to work on your side hustle consistently, and consistently invest in books/reading/audio that help you grow your mindset from employee to entrepreneur. Changing your internal identity is one of the biggest drivers for my past and continued success."
—Raj Jana #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

Online Bike Store Owner Gears Up for Hands-Off Profits

What It’s About

A refresher course in dropshipping a niche product!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

When John decided to focus on being more deliberate about the products he was going to sell, he started with 100 random products and began to eliminate them one by one with a list of criteria based on a product’s weight, price, number of suppliers, niche and dropshipping compatibility, and market competition.

Fun Fact

John got his first eBike sale two weeks after he opened up his store. The people in his life had little confidence in his abilities to make money from dropshipping, so he immediately screenshotted the sale and sent it to all his friends and family. Soon after, he found out that it had been purchased off of a stolen credit card.

Notes from Chris

Episode 579

Irishman John Murphy dreamed of a job that he could do from anywhere in the world. His wife was Italian, and they moved around Italy for her career. Each time, John had to quit his job and look for another. With another move on the horizon, this time with a less than ideal job market, John decided to ask his current boss if he could work remotely instead.

His boss said yes! But this victory came with a no-going-back realization: as soon as John started working from home, he knew he never wanted to stop.

With his interest piqued, John started looking into other ways he could make money online. While looking online for ideas, he came across a business model called “dropshipping.” If you’re not familiar with dropshipping, it’s when someone sets up an online store to sell other people’s products. In exchange for marketing the items and running the online store, the dropshipper gets a percentage of the profit. The dropshipper doesn’t have to deal with producing, handling, or mailing what they sell.

Not only that, but some dropshippers were making thousands of dollars a month by doing this! To John, it seemed too good to be true… but it was true.

He was ready for the cash. Where was the “free money” button on the internet? He’d heard people talk about using the Shopify platform, so he made an account and linked products from a big retail website called AliExpress. Then John waited for his bank account to inflate.

Unfortunately, John was startled to discover that he hadn’t hit the “free money” button after all. After spending $300 on marketing, he had made just $50 in sales, resulting in a $250 loss.

This only made John more determined. He knew that dropshipping was a successful business model—the proof was all over the internet—he just had to figure out what he was missing.

It was time for more research.

He picked a more specific niche to target this time—people who were afraid of an impending apocalypse… although, in recent years that niche has probably expanded a bit. Either way, John found more success this time with his survival kit store, but it still wasn’t what he was looking for. He knew he could do better.

Ultimately, John chose to start selling eBikes, which he hoped would break him out of his old cycle. There was already an online presence for them, so John knew people would be willing to purchase them online. Plus, the average cost of the eBikes John was selling was roughly $2000. This meant John had to sell less products to make money. If he sold anywhere from 2-4 bikes a month, he’d be making anywhere between an extra $1000 – $4,000.

He launched his eBike store, eBike Generation, July 31st, 2017. Over the next 6 months, John only made two sales. Just as he was giving up hope, the store that dominated the eBike niche shut down. The owner had decided to pursue a career in coaching instead, it would seem. John set up a one-hour phone call with him and has been making up to $25K a month from his store ever since.

John is now making more money from his side hustle than he ever could have anticipated, but the most rewarding part for him was finally breaking his cycle and mastering the skill of dropshipping.

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • eBike Generation: If you’d like to learn more about the ebikes John is flipping, head on over to his website!
  • Shopify: John used Shopify to set up his site for eBike Generation, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
  • Dropship Lifestyle: An online drop ship course that taught John the basics of the business

 

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
"The best part of the whole experience for me has to be the realization that it can work, and it’s possible to start a business from nothing, learn a set of new skills and make money without a huge upfront investment."
—John Murphy #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
Get Started 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

Six-Figure Sneakers: College Grad Earns $10,000/Month Reselling Shoes

What It’s About

A college grad makes bank flipping sneakers!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

The first step is to educate yourself as much as possible on the sneaker market. Then go out and buy a pair of shoes you think are in high demand. It can be a new release or an older used model. Sell it for profit or, even to break even, just to get a feel for the market, the lingo, and the platforms like eBay, GOAT, and StockX that people use to buy and sell shoes.

Fun Fact

The global sneaker resale market is currently valued at around $1 billion. While much of this revenue is generated by the larger players such as StockX and KLEKT there is still plenty of room left for independent resellers to make a substantial income. eBay has a thriving community of both buyers and sellers and estimates are that around $400 million worth of sneakers are sold through the site each year.

Notes from Chris

Episode 577

When most people leave college, they have a career in mind. After completing their degree, they head out into the ‘real world’ and look for work in their chosen field. But JV Ortiz isn’t like most people. When college was over, he was only certain of one thing—he wanted to make money on his own terms! But he just wasn’t quite how to do it.

While searching for an answer, he got a job waiting tables to pay the bills. The plan was to work until he could come up with something better to get the dollars rolling in. He started researching what others were doing to make money. Since there’s no shortage of advice on the internet, this led to trying a whole bunch of things that didn’t work.

He tried selling umbrellas, hoverboards, and other random items through Amazon. He tried affiliate marketing. He made some money on those ventures, but it was nothing to write home about.

Then, one day, he read a story in a magazine that changed his perspective on things. It outlined how a teenager was making six figures a year by flipping—that is, buying and reselling for profit high-end watches.

It sounded like a great way to make a living, but JV had a problem. High-end watches were expensive! Watches like the ones mentioned in the article cost upwards of five figures, not exactly the kind of money a waiter has lying around.

Still, the business model intrigued him. He explored other markets where he might be able to apply the same business model. For inspiration, JV turned to one of the biggest marketplaces on the planet… eBay!

He scoured the recently sold clothing items on eBay looking for ones with a high price point. Why clothing? Well, he chose it over watches or electronics or anything else because it seemed low-risk. Amongst the high priced fashion brands, a strange item jumped out at him. A pair of 2015 Nike Air Jordans was selling for $800 above retail. After researching a bit more, he noticed it wasn’t a fluke! They were consistently selling for that price.

This was JV’s first introduction to sneaker collectors, known as Sneakerheads:. You see, there are millions of people out there that love sneakers. They converse about them all day long and are always on the lookout for the hottest new releases. For some reason, sneakers have a way of consuming the sole of those who covet them.

After about a year of doing this, JV was able to quit his restaurant job and go full-time. How much money does he make? While the money isn’t always consistent, he’s managed to earn a six-figure salary for the last two years. In his more successful months, he has earned over $10,000 reselling sneakers.

JV plans to travel while working over the coming year. And, like sneakers, he realizes the only way that works is with a pair. He now has a business partner who’ll handle the physical sourcing and shipping of the shoes while he’s traveling the world.

Throughout the process, JV has learned about marketing, customer service, negotiating, and everything it takes to have a successful side hustle. He’s also launched a website to teach others how to be successful reselling sneakers. With all his knowledge, it seems like additional success is a shoe in!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Sneakerheads: JV’s website that goes further into the process of flipping high-end sneakers
  • eBay, GOAT, & StockX: The platforms that JV used to flip the sneakers he bought

 

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

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

Quote of the Day
"The first step is to educate yourself as much as possible then buy a pair of shoes once you know it can be sold for a profit. Then sell it for profit or even to break even just to get a feel for the market, the lingo, and the platforms that people use to buy and sell shoes."
—JV Ortiz #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
Get Started 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

Resistance Is Futile! Brooklyn Fitness Fanatics Sell “No Days Off” Exercise Bands

What It’s About

Resistance bands for the person who likes to take their fitness on the go!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Steve has some advice for anyone who wants to start a similar side hustle. First, do your research and don’t rush to go with a supplier just because it’s easy. It’s crucial to get a reliable supplier that ships high-quality product every time. Second, never reinvent the wheel. There is always a proven method, strategy, or practice for everything, start by following it before trying to create your own way. This saves you time, money, and of course, tons of headaches and sleepless nights.

Fun Fact

James, Steve’s business partner, used to train Justin Combs, the son of Sean Combs. One day, Justin said it would be cool to send some NDObands over. So that night, Steve was up until 4 in the morning designing unique COMBS Enterprises and REVOLT NDObands for Diddy and Justin. How often do you get to send your product to Diddy’s house!?

Notes from Chris

Episode 567

Steve Clair has been a real estate broker in Brooklyn for close to a decade. Running around to all of those properties means that he’s putting in quite a workout on a daily basis, so naturally, fitness ranks high on his list of priorities. But when you’re as busy as Steve is, you get in a workout whenever you can and you find ways to maximize your efforts without much fuss. And that’s where our story begins…

In 2017, Steve and his workout buddy, Max, were training for the Brooklyn Marathon. That meant that a large chunk of their weeks were spent pounding the pavement, but as any good runner knows, building up your distance running alone is a rookie mistake. New marathon runners also switch up their food and water intake, sleep habits, and consider the role of strength training in their plan. Strength training not only targets the muscles needed to keep you going the distance, it’s also great at correcting any muscle imbalances and improves your running form.

When you’re the kind of guy who is always on the go like Steve, resistance bands are your best friend. They’re far more portable than a home gym, and you can bust them out in the office, on your daily commute, or pretty much anywhere you can find a 2-3 ft radius. They’re also good to use following a run, and Steve and Max got into the habit of wrapping these resistance bands around their wrists, bringing their post-run workouts with them on the go.

They just had one complaint: they wanted more color options to choose from! Since they clearly weren’t busy enough with working full-time jobs and engaging in rigorous pre-marathon training, they decided to source them themselves and try to sell them. Their goal? Produce and sell high-grade latex rubber resistance bands that could double as a wristband and come in a multitude of snazzy colors.

They called their side hustle NDOband (or No Days Off band) because when the gym is right there on your wrist, there’s really no excuse.

The first big jump in sales and brand awareness came when Steve received an email from an editor at POPSUGAR, at the end of 2017. She’d stumbled on his Instagram posts and wanted to be the first to write about the product. Naturally, Steve and Max were thrilled! Once the POPSUGAR article went live on January this year, Steve’s website traffic went up to around 500 visitors a day for almost a solid week, and the site had about 80 sales over the course of a single weekend. Talk about a sprint! That was when they felt that people were finally starting to notice the brand.

The NDOband team is now looking to expand into corporate wellness in the fall by providing lunchtime stretch sessions for companies and supplying NDObands for employees. Their goal is to help making the sedentary office worker a thing of the past. At the same time, the team is also developing smaller bands that focus on lower body workouts. They might call it the NDO booty band!

To date, sales from NDOband have been bringing in roughly $1,200 a month, and now that they’ve launched bootcamps, that brings in an additional $1,500 every month. What excites them the most is that both of these revenue streams are growing from month to month.

The most rewarding aspect of the side hustle for Steve is the experience of building his own brand from the bottom up. It means a lot because he was able to combine fitness and fashion into a business. Furthermore, seeing so many people, including many well-known influencers, adopt his movement fuels Steve to hustle harder every single day.

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
"Check your ego at the door and understand that building a side hustle takes time, and it’s usually longer than you think."
—Steve Clair #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

Gamer Levels Up Life With eBay Side Hustle

What It’s About

Video game flipping earns an extra $500-800/month!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Rodney pays close attention to video game news to help him get the best price for the games he flips. If there is a new release of a classic coming up, or a sequel to a long-awaited title, Rodney will often hold onto a game until closer to the release date to take advantage of the hype.

For example, when the new Crash Bandicoot game was released for PlayStation 4 in 2017, the price of the original from 1996 shot up to almost the same price as the brand new game!

Fun Fact

As I’m sure you know, playing video games is an extremely popular pastime all over the world! And in the U.S. alone, 65% of households have some kind of a device for playing video games. There’s no doubt about it, we love playing video games, but which video game do we like playing the most?

Why the 1984 classic, Tetris, of course! It’s sold over 170 million copies to date which is more than the number of copies sold of Skyrim, Super Mario Bros., Pokémon Red/Blue, and Mario Kart Wii combined. (Whoa!)

Notes from Chris

Episode 564

For Rodney Wittenhagen, video games have always been a passion. Ever since he was a little kid, he’s loved nothing more than spending an afternoon, or sometimes the entire weekend, being transported to another universe. And now he’s found a way to turn his “love of the game” into a profitable side hustle.

It all started when Rodney was on the hunt for some classic Pokemon games. He’d played them as a child and was itching for a trip down memory lane. After searching, he came across the games in great condition on eBay, bought them, and played them through to completion as soon as they were delivered.

Rodney enjoyed the ease of the process and began to wonder if it was something he could use to earn some gold coins on the side. He’d already amassed a collection of video games and had some extra money to invest. So, he figured he’d test the idea.

He took the Pokemon games he’d bought and uploaded them to eBay. He set the price a little higher than what he’d originally paid for them, took pictures to show the quality of the cartridges, and wrote a quick description. He didn’t think much would happen, so he went about his day job as a production supervisor. But, much to his surprise, the games sold within a few hours! He’d made a few dollars from each game.

Rodney says the first sale was exciting, but he didn’t really do anything to celebrate. He just accepted his next quest: to grow his inventory and make more money from flipping his favorite games. To accomplish the first part, Rodney set himself a limit of $200. He felt this was enough money to get a good return on his investment, but if he couldn’t replicate his success, he wouldn’t be upset to lose it. If nothing else, he’d have some games he loved to show for it!

Rodney hopes to refine the system as the business grows, but right now it’s simple enough for him to deal with around his day-job and allows him to invest more of his $500 to $800 a month profit back into the business.

Looking to the future, Rodney wants to expand what he sells and create a larger inventory of games. He’s already started selling consoles and bundles through his website and wants to be able to cover more types of games and accessories. And, eventually, move his venture entirely away from eBay and create an online Pixel Warehouse empire! If he does that, he’ll be playing on expert mode.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Pixel Warehouse: Take a trip down memory lane—pick up some of your old favorites over on Rodney’s website
  • Shopify: Rodney used Shopify to set up his site for Pixel Warehouse, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
  • Facebook Marketplace, eBay, & Craigslist: The three platforms that Rodney uses to source the video games he flips

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
"Start slow, make sure to create a plan, and take the correct steps to stick to your plan."
—Rodney Wittenhagen #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Move Forward With Uber!

Side Hustle School is brought to you by Uber—the company determined to improve the ridesharing experience for both riders and drivers.

I've seen a lot of these improvements firsthand, but don't just take my word on it! Read more about all of the ways Uber is moving forward—head on over to Uber.com.🚘 Learn More

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

IT Guy Earns Extra $50,000/Year Restoring Vintage Radios

What It’s About

Gorgeous vintage radios find their second wind!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

With the resurging interest in the phonograph, Allen figured using analog radio or Bluetooth to play MP3/MP4 made sense. He figured out a way to add Bluetooth to make these radios play modern music formats MP3, MP4, Bluetooth or Wifi. For many people, these old radios are just shelf art unless they can listen to their music on iTunes, iPhone, or iPad.

Offering this option opens up his market to a whole new niche of vintage enthusiasts!

Fun Fact

Often for Allen, the satisfaction is in the thrill of the hunt. He remembers one collector who had so many of these old radios in his garage that they were even propping up the falling structure and lying around in piles in his yard! Another collector had so many radios in his attic that there wasn’t enough room for anyone to walk around. He ended up dropping them out of the attic windows while Allen caught them in his driveway below!

Notes from Chris

Episode 535

For IT Professional Allen Chiang, it was a trip to the flea market in 2012 that gave him the inspiration for his side hustle. Despite not being a regular at the flea market, Allen found himself enjoying a leisurely stroll through the stalls looking at the items on offer. He’d been selling random stuff on eBay on the side for years and was hoping he might stumble across something else he could sell.

On one of the tables, he happened across two original, 1950s radios. They looked a little worse for wear and weren’t functional. But they were bright, colorful, and bursting with nostalgia.

If he could restore them, he thought, he might be able to sell them online. For $15 per radio, it wasn’t a massive investment, and he figured he could put his electrical engineering degree to good use trying to fix them.

Allen spent the next few days researching the radios. He looked for answers in blog posts and asked questions in forums, like antiqueradios.com, about anything he couldn’t find a solution to.

Much of the technology in older radios isn’t used today, and there was a steep learning curve. But Allen enjoyed the labor of love, and still to this day says he’d be refurbishing radios even if nobody bought them. Fortunately, that’s not our story—Side Hustle School isn’t about hobbies, it’s about making money!

When he completed work on the first two radios, he listed them on eBay. He looked at the prices of other similar radios that had sold, and he priced his similarly. Much to his delight, the radios sold within a few days, one for $50 and one for $200 to a buyer in the UK. That’s when Allen realized he had a business on his hands, and he decided to look to grow it.

The first step was to find more radios because just like your grandparents told you, radios do not grow on trees. To do this Allen began attending regular flea markets and garage sales, but quickly found this to be too time intensive. He has a 50-60 hour work week and a young family, so he needed to be more efficient in how he spent his time.

So he decided to buy them online, then resell them online on his website, Retro Radio Farm.

Since starting the business, Allen estimates that he’s bought, sold and repaired more than 1,000 radios and $50,000 a year from his side hustle for five to ten hours work a week. He takes 50% of that as his earnings and invests the other 50% back into the business to help it grow.. He’s currently exploring options to sell his radios in a standalone physical store. He also wants to incorporate new technology such as voice activation with these old style radios. Clearly, he’s on the right frequency… tune in to his broadcast to see how it goes!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Retro Radio Farm: Check out all of the radios in Allen’s well cared for collection over on his website!
  • Shopify: Allen used Shopify to set up his store for Retro Radio Farm, and they’re offering a 21-day trial and exclusive discount for all Side Hustle School listeners!
  • Google AdWords: Google’s online advertising platform that places your ad in the ‘Sponsored Links’ section next to search results to boost website traffic and sales

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

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

Quote of the Day
"Each radio repair and restoration project is different and each has a hidden story to tell. When I fix a radio, and it plays again, I feel like I’ve solved a puzzle. And it’s fitting, like from a Stephen King story, when a 50’s song is the first thing that plays after decades of silence."
—Allen Chiang #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

Curated Gift Boxes for Breakups and Baby Bumps

What It’s About

Two sisters team up to create a gift box service for millennials!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Happy Box Store is centered on two retail trends: customization and convenience. Gifting has become a 130 billion dollar industry in the U.S., so there is no shortage of need in the marketplace. But that also means that customers are looking for a unique and custom solution. Nobody wants to give their friend something they already have, so they’re looking for something that is unexpected. That unexpected something also needs free shipping. For convenience’ sake!

Fun Fact

The postal service has an interesting delivery history, like the time a baby was put in the mail. Apparently it was legal to mail a baby by the U.S. postal service until 1915. In 1914, to save money on a train ticket, May Pierstorff’s parents paid the 53 cents postage to mail their 5-year old child to her grandparents for a visit. She rode the whole way in the mail car and was delivered to her grandparents’ house by the mail clerk on duty. That puts a new spin on ‘going postal.’

Notes from Chris

Episode 531

They say that when one door closes, another door opens. That tends to be the case for many things in life, including side hustles. In this particular story, the closing door was Ariel Redmond’s breakup. The opening door? All the inspiration needed for a new side hustle to blossom.

Hannah Redmond wanted to be there for her sister, Ariel, during her break up, but they were separated by distance. You see, at the time, both 20-somethings were away for college (Ariel in NYC, and Hannah in Maryland), and since Hannah lived too far away to be there, armed with pints of ice cream and boxes of tissue in person, she had to settle for the next best thing. Hannah ran all over the city to find fun little things to send to Ariel to cheer her up. Kind of like an adult care package… because not all heroes wear capes.

Halfway through her adventures in curating, with a full box of goodies ready to mail to Ariel, Hannah felt like there had to be a better way to do this. She couldn’t be the only caring friend or sister who wanted to make a tough week a little less hard. Curating a box of goodies was fun, but running around to get everything? Much less so. And Hannah hadn’t even been to the post office yet. She knew that it would be worth it when Ariel opened the box, but Hannah still wished she cut out, or at least minimize the legwork.

There had to be a better way. And if there wasn’t, Hannah decided that she would certainly make it happen herself.

Luckily, she didn’t have to go it alone. Ariel loved her care package, and Hannah’s idea, so much that when the side hustle concept was floated she jumped at the chance. Happy Box Store was the happy result.

The idea was simple yet innovative. Hannah and Ariel wanted to create the modern day gift basket that would suit any occasion in a millennial life. Each box is both personalized and convenient, which ticks some very important boxes.

The customer picks their box, which cover every life event from the Breakup, Cheer Up, Birthday, and Housewarming boxes, fill their chosen box with fun gifts, and selects a card to send along with it. Then, Hannah and Ariel pack up the box, includes a handwritten note from the customer, and ships it to the lucky recipient.

Happy Box is centered on two retail trends: customization and convenience. Gifting has become a 130 billion dollar industry in the U.S., so there is no shortage of need in the marketplace. But that also means that customers are looking for a unique and custom solution. Nobody wants to give their friend something they already have, so they’re looking for something that is unexpected. That unexpected something also needs free shipping. For convenience’ sake, of course.

Hannah and Ariel invested a combined $5000 of their savings into Happy Box so they could build a website and purchase their first stocks of inventory. Everything they’ve made to date is put directly back into the business to cover additional inventory purchases and help them source even more products to include in the next boxes.

Their investment has really paid off! These days, Hannah and Ariel send out hundreds of customized and curated boxes on a monthly basis, and at $40-60 a pop, those numbers really start to add up. And the customer testimonials are equally rewarding. Ariel told us that each testimonial makes them “feel like what we’re doing truly has a well-deserved space and purpose. Balancing our work lives and side hustle lives can be challenging with demanding jobs, but each happy customer makes it worth it.”

While they continually learn how to scale their side hustle, they’re also focused on making site improvements, choosing new products to offer, and they’re even testing out corporate gifts as well. Whatever happens next, it’s sure to pack a punch!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Happy Box Store: No matter the occasion, Hannah and Ariel have what you need—check out the boxes and products that they offer over on their website!
  • Shopify: Hannah and Ariel used Shopify to set up their store for Happy Box, 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

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
"When we’re not working at our day jobs, or spending our weekends working on our side hustle together, we’re doing pro-bono work for an independent filmmaker—who also happens to be our mom. I guess you could say we like businesses that run in the family!"
—Hannah & Ariel Redmond #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
Get Started 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

Wanderlust Inspires $3,000/Month Side Hustle

What It’s About

A travel inspired online shop that brings in passive income for a traveling couple!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

In today’s episode, Rolando said, “If you are going to create a new side hustle, make sure you’re more motivated by your vision than you are by the money. That vision is what’s gonna keep you going through the rough patches.”

And I agree, but I would also add that it’s okay to be motivated by the money too. I talk a lot about freedom, and in this story, it’s one of the primary values of Rolando and Jenn. The extra income is bringing them freedom, just as it can for you!

Fun Fact

The first woman to be licensed to fly an airplane in the U.S. was Harriet Quimby, in 1911. While she was also the first woman to fly across the English Channel, Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. They’re both just plane amazing!

Notes from Chris

Episode 528

Strategy and innovation is the name of the game for Rolando Archila, a Guatemalan globetrotter slash strategy and innovation consultant. It’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about both strategy and travel, so it was natural for him to put the two together after being inspired by reading The Art of Non-Conformity. I’m not bragging, he actually said that. But back to the story!

Rolando was on a bit of a book kick when he picked up his copy of The Art of Non-Conformity a few years ago. He looks back on that first reading as a time that “blew his mind” and inspired him to live a more unconventional life. He and his wife took the book to heart as they sold half of their possessions, ended the lease on their apartment, and set off to travel the world—hitting 15 countries on 5 continents, all in 8 months.

Needless to say, it was a transformative experience for Rolando Archilla and his wife, Jenn. When they got back from their travels, and even as they thought about their return to “real life” during their trip, they knew that going back to a 9-to-5 job was not going to be fulfilling in the long-term. They knew they needed more than a commute, a desk, and that feeling of living for the weekend.

On their trip, they had started to brainstorm ways to make money outside of their jobs, and the more they thought about it, the more they realized that they were motivated by the idea of helping inspire others to travel and live adventurously. And, after 8 months of travel across 5 continents, they knew that there was an art to their process. An art to… wanderlust.

So, in September 2017, Rolando and Jenn created their side hustle as a way to bring that art to life (and an airplane near you). The Art of Wanderlust had taken off.

Rolando and Jennifer were hooked on their side hustle from their first sale in January. They began to tick off accomplishments on the paper where they had written their goals and pinned to the wall and watched as the sales came in. They sold nearly $6,000 in their first six weeks. They weren’t expecting that response at all (they were hoping for something like $1,000!), and they ended up running out of inventory for a month until they could restock.

This location independent income helps Rolando and Jennifer do something they love while measuring their lives according to two metrics: freedom and impact. Art of Wanderlust helps them accomplish both because the additional income enables them to be location independent, while helping them inspire others to travel more, which is something they believe can make the world a better place.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • The Art of Wanderlust: Discover new products to fuel your wanderlust—check out Rolando and Jenn’s website!
  • The Art of Non-Conformity: The book that helped Rolando and Jenn realize that they needed to live a more unconventional life
  • Jungle Scout & Helium10: Two of the tools that Rolando and Jenn used to scout out their competition and help them figure out which products would do well on Amazon

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

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

Quote of the Day
"If you are going to create a new side hustle, make sure you’re more motivated by your vision than you are by the money. That vision is what’s gonna keep you going through the rough patches. Because there will be rough patches. But it’s always worth it to see your vision come to life."
—Rolando Archila #SideHustleSchool

Sponsors & Gratitude

Create a Stunning Website With Wordpress

Today’s episode of Side Hustle School is brought to you by Wordpress.com! Whether you’re looking to create a personal blog, business site, or both—you’ll make a big impact, when you build your website on WordPress.com. 💻

Get 15% off when you build your website with Wordpress.com—use promo code PODCAST when you check out.
Get Started 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

Civil Engineer Sells Everything but Kitchen Sink, Moves to Bali, Employs 100 People

What It’s About

A Chrome extension and online app that helps resellers make better product choices!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Greg likes to say his success has been due to his humble start. He made something that solved a problem, he continued to improve that product according to his customers’ feedback, and he grew organically. No outside funding, no big startup budget—just a grand idea that was fundamentally sound.

Fun Fact

Jungle Scout’s in-depth case study series has become the #1 source of new users. By demonstrating to newcomers how they can get started, he’s build authority, generated trust, and even donated over $50,000 to non-profits.

Notes from Chris

Episode 520

Greg Mercer has always been a tinkerer with a good head for business, and at 10 years old, he painted and sold acorns. As you might guess, that side hustle was not highly profitable, but the next one got more traction. At age 14, Greg launched Pedkey, a working key for motorized scooters, and he received enough traffic to his website that he proudly received a “Cease and Desist” letter from GoPed, a giant in the industry.

The shutdown didn’t damper Greg’s spirits for long, though. He continued to learn after school and experimented when he could, but, as with many of us, the draw of a “regular job” eventually started to overshadow Greg’s entrepreneurial spirit. So when he graduated from college, he settled in as a corporate civil engineer in Pensacola, Florida.

And for a while, he was happy. He had a reliable salary. He was working with talented professionals, and he even got to go out to the oil rigs every now and then. But it didn’t last for long. Greg quickly found himself dreaming of side hustles after work. Then it even started to happen during work…

So in 2013, Greg started selling wholesale items, like hooded baby robes, on Amazon.com. Why baby robes? Well, he would browse various subcategories on Amazon, look for strong sales rankings to determine if a niche was hot, and see if there was a gap in the available products that he could fill with imported items to generate sales. It became all he could think about, and he knew he couldn’t stay at his corporate job for long.

As expected, their business grew and grew. But it wasn’t very efficient… and that little business, as interesting as it is, isn’t what our story is about.

Scrolling through pages on Amazon, creating complex Excel sheets, doing a bunch of math—gathering the data to find products to sell was very difficult and confusing. There had to be a better way.

Greg dreamed of creating an app that could help him organize and analyze the data that was already available across Amazon.com. He figured that if he could crawl and digest that data onto a single page, he could speed up his product discovery time dramatically. It would also likely come in handy for others like him looking to flip products.

So in January of 2015, Greg drew up his plan and found a freelance developer on a gig-for-hire site.

One month later, the Jungle Scout extension for Google Chrome was released, and Greg set the price at $67. His goal was to simply sell ten copies to help make up the cost of development. And he did—on the first day!

But the sales didn’t keep up the next couple days. Greg tried Facebook ads—and they didn’t work. He tried blogging—but writing just wasn’t his strong suit. Then one of his initial customers asked Greg to demo the product for a Facebook group. He did a webinar for 100 folks and got ten more sales. It was clear: webinars were the most effective method for getting sales.

Greg’s idea was validated, but it wasn’t finished yet. He got in touch with his users for feedback, built out more features in the Chrome extension, and saw sales continue to climb as he released more webinars.

Fast forward to early 2018: Jungle Scout has 80 employees, 100,000 users, and aims to open 5 schools through Pencils of Promise and the Million Dollar Case Study. Greg and Elizabeth now live in Austin for most of the year, but still travel a lot and work remotely.

Their goal moving forward is to just keep doing what they’re doing. Entrepreneurship has enabled them to live a life that works for them—and they want to help as many people as possible achieve that sense of accomplishment and personal freedom!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Jungle Scout: Demystify which products will be the best to flip using Fulfilled by Amazon—crack the code and learn more on Greg’s website!
  • Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA): The model that Greg used to flip products that allowed him to pass on the responsibility of keeping stock and shipping out orders
  • Reddit: The “front page of the internet” where Greg ended up building his launch list

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
"Looking back, if I were to give advice to myself two-and-a-half years ago, it would be to get in front of other people’s audiences as much as possible. It’s a great way to get your product and brand out there when you’re just starting out and lack an audience or email list of your own."
—Greg Mercer #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