Tag: Unique Ideas

Star Wars Fan Forges Lightsaber Empire

What It’s About

In a galaxy not so far away, a repairman fights the Empire equipping fans with battle-ready tools.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

If Justin had to do something differently, he would have been smarter with his capital. He said he had more of a “hobby-mind” than a “business-mind” and made purchases that weren’t strategic. He’s now contemplating whether or not to leave Etsy because of the fees.

As far as advice, he says to pay attention to what other people want because if they want it, it means that someone is not offering it. “Enter that negative space and make a profit.”

Fun Fact

The original lightsabers were made from 1930’s-era Graflex camera flash handle, and the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum in Hollywood purchased the saber hilt (handle) for a whopping $450,000 in 2017.

Notes from Chris

Episode 933

If you were a fan of Star Wars as a kid, you may have owned a toy lightsaber to duel with friends or annoy your siblings. Back then, they were just telescoping plastic tubes. But now, grown-up Star Wars fans can have grown-up lightsabers thanks to a small community of “sabersmiths” that are making lightsaber dreams come true.

Collectors spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to buy unique sword handle designs, changing color blades, gyroscopic sensors, programmable audio, and more. And thanks to Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012, we’ve entered a new era of explosive Star Wars enthusiasm.

Justin Marshall started his Star Wars collection long ago in a galaxy far away when he got hand-me-down toys from his cousins. He always gravitated to lightsabers. Then, as an adult, Justin began to build custom lightsabers for friends. He started while he was working fulltime as an appliance service technician in the San Francisco Bay Area. These bespoke projects were time-consuming. He invested in many tools for his workshop, including machining equipment, a powder coater, and 3D printer to make custom parts.

The lightsaber market is an active community—easy to find and market to, but very competitive. Justin got more traction when a critical website in that community, the FX Saber Forum, made him an approved seller. This success gave him exposure and credibility with the cosplay fans and collectors that frequent it. The force was with him!

There are many things that Justin enjoys about running SaberBay. He likes being able to call his own shots. While employed as a technician, he wanted to provide customers with a high level of service. But someone else’s decision sometimes kept that from happening.

He feels fortunate that he was able to turn his hobby into a business, and he likes helping people do something that they enjoy. Also, he is never bored as there is always something new, bigger, and better to bring to the market. Much to learn, he still has.

If he had to do something differently, he would have been smarter with his capital. He said he had more of a “hobby-mind” than a “business-mind” and made purchases that weren’t strategic. He’s now contemplating whether or not to leave Etsy because of the fees.

As far as advice, he says to pay attention to what other people want because if they want it, it means that someone is not offering it. “Enter that negative space and make a profit.”

Congratulations to Justin on taking his side hustle to the next level. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. “Now, Witness The Power Of This Fully Operational Battle Station.”

 

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • SaberBay: No traps here—learn more about this epic side hustle over on Justin’s website, and check out his Etsy page while you’re at it!
  • FX-Sabers.com: The Star Wars community that helped Justin gain some momentum for SaberBay

 

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
"Pay attention to what other people want because if they want it and aren’t getting it, odds are there’s a side hustle opportunity in that market. Enter that negative space, make a profit, and enjoy yourself!"
—Justin Marshall #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

The Great Escape! Video Game Maker Creates Real-Life Puzzle Rooms

What It’s About

The first American escape room company… and it started as a side hustle!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

The escape room market is a little crowded now, but it’s crowded in a similar way that podcasting is crowded … a lot of people still don’t listen to podcasts, and likewise, a lot of people don’t know about escape rooms!

If this is a side hustle concept that interests you, figure out what is already out there and see what kind of added value you can bring to the table.

Fun Fact

Nate Martin has gained some notoriety having been dubbed the “Father of Escape Rooms” in a television appearance several years ago. It seems his budding business operation kicked off an entertainment revolution—it was the first ever American escape room company!

Notes from Chris

Episode 927
Nate Martin loves video games. Growing up, they were his favorite form of entertainment and played a massive role in his life. He loved games so much, he decided to learn all about them in school, earning a Bachelor of Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation and Computer Science.

This eventually led to a career at Microsoft, followed by a stint running the online services division at Electronic Arts (EA), one of the largest video game companies in the world.

While there, he worked on several well-known games—Battlefield 4, Plants vs. Zombies, and Dragon Age among others. But he wanted to have even more of an impact… and after doing some math, realizing he’d have to work until he was at least 200 years old before becoming the CEO, Nate started thinking about other ways he could make his mark.

It was while working as a senior project manager at EA that he learned about escape rooms. The concept was already quite popular in Japan, where it originated, and Europe, but nobody was really doing it in the U.S. In a typical escape room, a group of 6-10 people are locked in a themed room for an hour. To “break out,” you have to work together to solve a series of puzzles. There’s often a guide or attendant in the room who can help if you get stuck, and it can be a lot of fun to do it with people you know.

The way Nate saw it, real-life escape rooms were the direct, physical manifestation of adventure games that he’d known and loved for decades. It was the next level of gaming!

The more he and his co-founder, Lindsay Morse, got to talking about the escape room concept, the more they wanted to do it. “Someone should bring this to Seattle,” they thought. So, they decided to do just that.

Nate took a “shoot first, ask questions later” approach to getting Puzzle Break off the ground. He held a sincere belief that they should just figure it out as they went. If they succeeded, they could expand. And if they failed, they could do something else.

He and Lindsay also avoided traditional first-steps taken by startups, like market research, saying they had neither the experience nor the patience for it.

Instead, Nate drew inspiration from some of those video games he adored growing up as well as the ones he encountered in adulthood: games like Myst, The Room, and The Legend of Kyrandia. He focused on creating something centered around finding clues, solving puzzles, and joining forces with real people in real life.

And business has grown. Since launching in August 2013, Puzzle Break has gone on to boast seven-figure revenue, five locations, multiple portable experiences for corporate clients, and over a dozen experiences across the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

When attracting customers’ attention these days, Nate said they’ve adopted a more traditional approach in the form of Google Ads. Facebook is too far removed from a purchasing decision in his sector and so he doesn’t use it.

Nate left his day job with Electronic Arts to man the helm at Puzzle Break just three months after opening its doors.

He plans to keep cranking out the maximum amount of enjoyment for the maximum amount of people. He’s got several new Puzzle Break locations and experiences in development.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Puzzle Break: Break on through to the other side—learn more about this adventurous side hustle over on Nate’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

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
"Scaling is nothing more complicated than ‘one step at a time.’ We know where we want to go. We just have to figure out the path to get there and walk it!"
—Nate Martin #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

Lather, Rinse, Recycle: Soapy Problem Leads to Clean Solution

What It’s About

A sudsy side hustle that cleans up in more than one way.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For anyone selling a product as part of a side hustle, Tristan recommends asking lots of questions. Why is this product important to you? Where will you get your materials? To whom will you sell it? These questions will support you in getting started and taking action.

Fun Fact

Over 2 million bars of soap are thrown away every day in the United States. In order to combat this, Tristan and The One Gallon Soap Company partner with hotels to change that. They collect, clean, and sterilize used bars of soap from hotels, and then they manufacture it into their 100% recycled liquid hand soap.

Notes from Chris

Episode 920
Have you ever stayed up at night wondering what happens to used soap in hotel rooms? Like after a bar is only used once? For Account Manager Tristan Corriveau, this question kept him awake in his hotel one night about three years ago.

Rather than letting this question simply wash away, Tristan decided to spend time researching this probing question. As he researched, he learned that something like two million used bars of soap are thrown away every single day. This figure completely blew his mind—and before it slipped down the drain, he decided to do something about it.

His first thought was to collect the used soap and see if he could make something entirely different out of it. But why make something new when you can just use it for how it’s intended? He contacted the hotel where he was staying in Portland, Maine and asked if they would be interested in donating all of their used soap to him for a project. To his surprise, he discovered that the hotel had been wanting to do something with the soap … but didn’t have a great idea.

So Tristan began by working with local university students to run experiments alongside their professors. Together they began to develop a process for sterilizing partially used bars of soap and turning them into liquid hand soap. For this process, they use an autoclave— a strong heated container that uses steam sterilization. Once the soap is sterilized, it is repurposed into liquid soap and packed into 16oz glass bottles. Why glass? Every year over eight million tons of plastic finds its way into the ocean, and Tristan wanted to change that. So in addition to repurposing soap, he’s also improving the environment by cutting down on plastic use.

The testing process was a little slippery at first … it took months of trial and error. They landed on a simple product made from the bars of soap, water, and baking soda. Finally, Tristan had his concoction, and The One Gallon Soap Company was officially born.

Tristan started small in the beginning by testing the product with his community. He then built a website, which is now the main source of sales.

The One Gallon Soap Company is now profitable at a low but sustainable level. He utilizes his website, Instagram, and word of mouth for sales. As he grows, he’s been able to add additional hotels to his roster of soap suppliers.

Tristan utilized many resources for getting this product out of the trash and into the bottle. He partnered with the hotels to collect soap, worked with local university students to create a sterilization process, and relied upon early customers for feedback on what they liked and disliked about the product as it was being developed.

He plans to continue to partner with more hotels and hopes that The One Gallon Soap Company will bubble up all over the world.

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

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
"Just keep asking questions. Ask potential customers what they like or dislike about the product they’re using that yours will replace. Ask yourself where you’ll get your materials, who you’ll sell to, how you’ll make it. If you keep asking those questions, eventually you’re going to act."
—Tristan Corriveau #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

Nomad Scripts “Stories that Matter” for B Corps

What It’s About

A journalism school graduate helps organizations share their brand story through a new medium.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For anyone wanting to launch a similar side hustle, Quinn recommends using the resources in front of you before investing in equipment since gear has lots of upfront costs. And when it comes to ensuring that what you’re producing is in line with what your client is looking for, she says you should, “Ask story-driven questions so that you can create something that resonates with their target audience. Figure out what their values are and who the people are behind the company.”

Fun Fact

While at the “Stop Question Frisk” program rally, Quinn learned that she was the only journalist there. She caught some video footage and followed one of the cases into the courtroom. She created a short documentary film that ended up gaining more than 8 million online views in an age before Instagram. This was the moment that Quinn knew she was pretty good at editing and producing video footage to tell compelling stories.

Notes from Chris

Episode 916

From a young age, Oregon native, Quinn Rose Schneider, has been a visionary, storyteller, and dreamer. As a child, she would watch 60 Minutes with her parents and imagine becoming a journalist, documenting meaningful stories all over the world.

Her love for storytelling later led her to attend NYU to study journalism. While there, she navigated living in a busy, bustling city while juggling academic studies. But, midway through her degree, she decided to take a year off to wander and film her way through India.

With camera in hand, she was becoming the storyteller she always wanted to be. It may not have been on 60 Minutes, but for Quinn, it was just as exciting! She even began swapping her guerrilla video skills for room and board at various Ashrams. It was her first taste into bartering a life in exotic places.

Although she eventually headed back to New York City to finish her degree, her time in India showed her that she wanted to make a bigger impact in this world. One of her professors encouraged her to go to a rally against the “Stop Question Frisk” program which was a program that allows police to stop, question, and frisk anyone they felt was carrying a weapon or seen as a threat to others, even without any evidence—a program that research showed disproportionately targeted minorities.

Quinn made a short documentary film that ended up gaining more than 8 million online views in an age before Instagram. This was the moment that she knew she was pretty good at editing and producing video footage to tell compelling stories.

Upon graduation, she resumed traveling, sometimes freelancing by helping businesses with copywriting and email marketing. But her video production work was where her real passion lay. In Brazil, she stumbled across an opportunity on LinkedIn that led to her shooting courtside as a beach volleyball reporter during the Rio Olympics.

It was an exciting life, but as they say, “all roads lead back home,” and Quinn’s path was no different. She decided that she wanted to work for a “B Corporation”—a growing trend in business that actively works to balance purpose and profit. She continued to do her freelance work as a copywriter, but over time, her new video-focused digital content business, Story Based Brands, began to take shape.

After her first major, corporate client, Quinn was able to purchase her own video and editing equipment. She built a simple website using WordPress to highlight her work, and eventually weaned herself out of freelance work to pursue Story Based Brands full-time. Since launching July 25th, 2019, she’s worked with over a dozen clients.

While Quinn’s childhood dream of being a reporter on 60 Minutes may not have come true, her dream of being a visionary behind the lens has scripted itself into one promising story.

 

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Story Based Brands: Learn more about Quinn’s impactful, story based media company over on her website!
  • WordPress: Quinn used WordPress to set up her site for Story Based Brands, 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

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
"Ask story-driven questions so that you can create something that resonates with their target audience. Figure out what their values are and who the people are behind the company."
—Quinn Schneider #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

“MOMBOX” Subscription Offers Postpartum Recovery Products

What It’s About

A self-care box to save new moms awkward trips to Target.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

According to Kate, you should make a list of the first five things you need to do and go do them—they don’t have to look glamorous or polished! Wake up the next day and repeat. Eventually, after you put one foot in front of the other for long enough, you’ll have your side hustle.

Fun Fact

Kate gave birth to MOMBOX right after she gave birth to her son. When her trip to Target turned up a limited selection of postpartum recovery products, she knew there was something wrong. In a time where Amazon can deliver toothbrushes and groceries to your doorstep, it was absurd that women who needed the convenience most couldn’t get any help.

Notes from Chris

Episode 915

When Kate Westervelt gave birth to her son in 2016, she thought that the most painful part of pregnancy was over. But what she didn’t realize was that the postpartum recovery period for moms can be just as difficult as well…

Just 72 hours after delivering her son, Kate found herself headed to Target alongside her husband. Nobody had told her that so many things were required for her own self-care, and she only found out from the nurse that she would need things like pads, creams, bath soaks, and nursing aids. Kate had prepared the nursery but failed to prepare anything for herself.

Rather than risk sending her husband into the store to figure out which nipple palm was best, Kate decided to go itself. In pain and with an ice pack stuffed in her underwear, she found herself wandering the aisles of Target. To her dismay, the store had an underwhelming selection.

By the time she was done shopping, she was so exhausted and upset that she snapped at the in-store barista simply for not leaving room for milk in her coffee. That was when Kate realized that she was under far too much stress. The entire experience was too much for her, and something had to be done.

In the age of convenience where Amazon can deliver anything from groceries to razors to our doorsteps, Kate knew there had to be a better way for moms to get their postpartum products. After all, they were the ones who needed the convenience the most. But her research in the online space turned up few results—and there was no serious conversation happening around the topic. This was an opportunity that she knew she could take advantage of.

With that in mind, Kate decided to build MOMBOX, which would provide a range of quality care products in packages.

To determine which products to include in each box, Kate first relied on her personal experience during her postpartum recovery. But as she expanded, she started testing the products herself. One memory she will never forget is wearing different maternity pads around her house for an entire year just so that she could figure out which one was the most durable.

She also did more homework in the form of customer surveys and market research. This led to several findings, one of which was that over one-third of women giving birth in America will have a cesarean section, and these mothers would have very different needs from those who had just given birth to their child vaginally. This guided her in deciding the type of products that she should offer.

The first sale that Kate made came through a social media post. Her friends who noticed her new business idea supported her, and eventually, news of MOMBOX spread through word of mouth. This customer acquisition strategy was cheap, and Kate could just focus on building a product so good that women would talk about on their own. It also aligned with something she found in her research: women are innately social and 60% of them would look around social media before making a purchase decision around motherhood.

With a strategy that focused on keeping costs low, Kate managed to grow MOMBOX into a profitable business. Fast forward to today, and MOMBOX now generates over $5,000 a month in profit. She typically sells 100 – 200 MOMBOXs each month, with 60 – 70% of boxes being purchased as gifts.

She’s now exploring paid advertising as a customer acquisition channel, and working on improving her inventory management. To that end, Kate is in the midst of hiring a fulfillment manager to handle her shipping. The ability to get additional help has given her the flexibility and freedom to spend her time as she pleases, which is what she calls the best part of growing MOMBOX.

 

  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • MOMBOX: Learn more about this sanity saving side hustle over on Kate’s website!

 

SEE ALSO:

  • Lawyer Creates Online Course for Mothers Returning to Work: For her first side hustle, a Washington, DC attorney creates an online course for new mothers returning to the world of work—and then finds a way to get employers to pay for it
  • New Mom Uses Pinterest to Launch Parenting Blog: With a goal of avoiding “fluffy” content, a new mom launches a parenting blog that provides lots of detailed, practical info. In one recent month, she earned more than $1,500 from advertising and referral fees
  • Canadian Moms Invent Baby Monitors for Active Toddlers: This Canadian mom woke up to find her son cuddling a sprinkler she’d left on the porch the night before. The realization her son had left the house in the middle of the night prompted her and a friend to create the next stage of baby monitors

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
"What’s been the best part of starting a side hustle? The freedom. I wake up when I want, work as late as I want, and every single gain is directly attributed to my own hustle. MOMBOX has given me a more flexible working mom life."
—Kate Westervelt #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

A Packed Closet Leads to Secondhand Subscription Boxes

What It’s About

A professional organizer takes stock of her closet … then sells it to others.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

In addition to all of the business principles that Liz runs And We Evolve by, she also has a “happy policy” for herself. After she gets a new order or subscriber, Liz stops what she’s doing and jumps up and down to celebrate! Hustling can be exhausting and a lot of hard work, so Liz says that it is vital to celebrate those moments of success.

Fun Fact

One of Liz’s favorite things to do is assign an evening to work on a batch of boxes. She’ll pick out the clothes for six or ten boxes and then binge-listen to a podcast while steaming, folding, and packing each order. While that may sound tedious to some, it’s a cherished routine for Liz and a big part of why she does this—it’s fun!

Notes from Chris

Episode 913
Liz Funk spent her college years picking through the tiny vintage shops tucked away in little corners of New York City. She loved combing through the racks in search of hidden treasures. To this day, she lovingly looks back on her major scores, like the time when she found a beautiful black dress in the East Village for just $2 or a pair of Aldo yellow heels for $5.

But Liz lived in a small Brooklyn apartment, and that meant that when it came to her closet space, the struggle was >u>real. One day as she was staring into that closet, she realized that she had a lot of clothes she just didn’t wear anymore (and of course, she wanted to buy more!).

This got her thinking. She knew that she wasn’t the only woman struggling with this problem. There were piles of clothes just laying dormant in closets across the country, and Liz wished that there was a better way to get them from Woman A to Woman B. Although she loved sifting through consignment shops, she knew that a lot of people didn’t.

Plus, so many vintage shops were becoming selective about the clothes they would take. Even GoodWill, a place known for taking just about anything, only sells about 20% of the textiles they receive. The other 80% is sold to recycling companies, which turns the garments into carpet padding or house insulation.

So for a while, Liz shoved her big ideas for secondhand clothing into the back of her closet. But, she still loved shopping until she dropped for vintage clothing, so that’s what she kept doing. Soon, she had a huge inventory full of amazing pieces, even in sizes that didn’t fit! She started giving her treasures away to friends. As Liz says, it became her “odd love language.”

The frequent gifting led her to start working on an online store, where she could upload pictures of the pieces she found … and then sell them for a higher rate than she bought them. She called it And We Evolve.

To her delight, she started making a small amount of money each month from reselling the clothes. But Liz wasn’t ready to hang up her hat—or list it for sale—just yet. She knew she could make it even bigger and better.

Sometimes, side hustles aren’t always about building a business bigger and bigger. In Liz’s case, And We Evolve provided a way to make a little extra money every month from something that she’s passionate about.

Each month she keeps around $500 to use for whatever she wants and reinvests another $400-$1000 back into the business. This extra income provides added support to her day to day life, all while having the added bonus of being something that contributes to a cause that she’s passionate about: reducing the negative effects of textile production.

In the future, Liz hopes to continue ironing out her business so she can provide the most interesting and affordable secondhand fashion business she can … all without running herself ragged.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • And We Evolve: Learn more about this secondhand subscription box service over on Liz’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

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
"It’s so fulfilling to actually do the thing you’ve been saying you want to do—so just start! Even when it’s challenging—and it will be challenging—you learn so much."
—Liz Funk #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

Philadelphia Foodie Toasts Competition with Sweet Treat

What It’s About

Foodie takes a bite out of the Philly food scene with her bite-sized French toast.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Some advice Charisse offers to entrepreneurs wanting to get into the food vending arena: Never run out of product—it’s better to give left-overs away to employees at the end of the night than to disappoint your customers. Make your product affordable. Open in a timely manner—never keep your customers waiting. Word will spread if you fail to take your business seriously.

Fun Fact

It’s a myth that French toast originated in France. The dish now known as French toast existed in the age of the Roman Empire, according to a collection of recipes from the early 5th century AD.

Notes from Chris

Episode 900
Having worked in the hospitality industry for 16 years, Charisse McGill knows a thing or two about customer service. But it wasn’t until she witnessed her 13-year-old daughter make over $6,000 in four Saturdays selling lemonade that she knew she needed to start her own business.

As the manager of the Lansdale Farmers Market, Charisse knew there was money to be made in being a food vendor. This is where her daughter sold her specialty lemonade infused with local fruits and herbs. Working there for the past seven years, Charisse had watched how selling food products could be a major source of income for many vendors. And she knew that someday she, too, would have a product of her own.

Up until the end of 2018, Charisse not only managed the Farmers Market, she also worked as the full-time director of Special Events for Valley Forge Military Academy and College. She also taught classes on becoming a food vendor as an adjunct instructor at a local Community College.

After seeing her daughter’s success selling lemonade, Charisse decided the time had come to sell her own concoction. She just needed to figure out what it would be! She knew that to be successful in an open-air food market, she had to have something unique, and something that smells good.

It was thinking through different ideas that Charisse settled on French toast bites—a made-to-order treat that is simple, focused, and easy to replicate. Charisse’s French toast bites are made like traditional French toast, but in bite-size cubes and fried. Customers can pick from various toppings such as maple syrup, fresh strawberries, chocolate, whipped cream, or powdered sugar. The mouth-watering goodies are made on-site, so customers can watch the food being prepared. Charisse sells the bites in a sharable package, much like a serving of fries, for $7.

She called her sweet endeavor Lokal Artisan Foods, and those French toast bites are her signature product. She also makes French toast seasoning, which is for sale both virtually and on local grocery store shelves.

Within a few short months, Charisse was making 60% of her yearly salary (from her full-time job). It was after this that she realized she wanted to leave that job and go all-in with her own business. However, Charisse still believes the best time to start a company is when you are guaranteed a paycheck. She advises using that time to cut your personal bills and prepare for being a full-time business owner.

You’re welcome to chew it over, but we think it’s some pretty sweet advice!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Lokal Artisan Foods: Learn more about this sweet, crunchy side hustle over on Charisse’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
"Whatever you do, don’t quit your day job to start a business. The best time to start is when you are guaranteed a paycheck every two weeks."
—Charisse McGill #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

Delaware College Students Place Ads on 450,000 Cars

What It’s About

Two college students turn cars into moving billboards.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Marketing in one form or another is necessary for any growing business, and Greg has been lucky enough to be in the room with prospective clients as they gear up for big marketing pushes.

His recommendations for creating a strong campaign are: 1) take out your personal bias, 2) keep it simple, 3) create a buzz, 4) tell a story, and 5) the more data, the better.

Fun Fact

Greg and Mac named their first company PenguinAds. As you can imagine, nobody could tell what they did. They then changed their name to Carvertise after realizing that it was short, catchy, and could even become a verb in itself.

Notes from Chris

Episode 892
When University of Delaware student Greg Star signed up for an entrepreneurship class, he wasn’t expecting to walk away with a business idea. But when he heard a fellow student, Mac Nagaswami, bring up an idea for mobile advertising, Greg jumped. This was an opportunity he thought was too good to be missed.

The idea was simple and can be explained in four words: put ads on cars. Greg and Mac were inspired by how U-haul had managed to build up such great brand recognition even though they did no advertising, except on those trucks that they owned. To them, cars were an overlooked medium of advertising. They were able to get into areas that buses and billboards just couldn’t.

Why hadn’t anyone done this before? As they found out, it was a simple idea, but one that was difficult to execute. They even had a name in mind: Carvertise.

They started by printing and distributing flyers on campus to see if there were people who were interested in putting ads on their cars for money. The reaction was mixed at first. Cars, like clothing, are usually seen as a reflection of the individual’s style and personality. But Greg and Mac soldiered on and started to get community institutions such as schools and hospitals on board as advertisers. Although this provided initial proof of concept, it was still doubtful if they could turn it into a full-scale business.

Their break came later when they received a reply after emailing the Head of Economic Development in Delaware. Greg had made a list of “people to know” by looking at the boards of universities, non-profit organizations, and government officials and sent them notes. This yielded results when the cabinet secretary for economic development put them in touch with the local Shoprite CEO.

It was the first big deal that Greg and Mac struck after 1.5 years of hard work and they were elated. But it was also time for them to prove that the advertisers were right to place their trust in the two of them. They’d never run a full-on campaign and were extremely nervous. With hard work and some luck, they managed to pull it off.

The next few early deals followed the same pattern. They would reach out to prospects, play the numbers game, and hope to get a favorable response. Although it was exhausting getting rejections and worse, ignored, the strategy yielded enough results to continue. But along the way, something else also happened. Word had gotten out, and soon enough, Greg and Mac were getting referrals. It also helped when the duo switched their recruitment plan from handing out flyers to digital advertising. This significantly increased their reach and allowed them to onboard new drivers for new campaigns.

Next, they made a decision that had immediate positive results. Greg noticed that Uber and Lyft drivers were already driving all day, and so it would be especially useful to have rideshare drivers spread the word about their advertisers. When they decided to market to these drivers in 2018, the size of their company tripled. This year, the number of drivers with Carvertise is set to double again, and the company is also set to make $5 million in revenue.

As they say, “We’re living in a time now where if you own a car, you can own your company.” They’ve certainly contributed to that statement as they typically pay drivers an additional $100-150/month, and sometimes even up to $500 a month for bigger campaigns. As of now, they’ve paid out over $1.5 million to everyday people for just having an advertisement on a car.

From handing out flyers as university students to now having brand names such as EA Sports and 7 Eleven, it’s been quite the ride for Greg and Mac.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Carvertise: Learn more about this “ad-on-the-go” side hustle over on Greg’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

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
"We’re living in a time now where if you own a car, you can own your company. It’s never been easier to create your own freedom and security!"
—Greg Star #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

Designer Performs Magic, Turns Dream Into Reality

What It’s About

A magician sets aside the magician’s code to share the secret behind his magical side hustle.

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

For aspiring magicians, David has been happy to share some advice—there is no magician’s code stopping him here. Start by having solid routines that you can perform blindfolded. Put together a showreel, no matter how small and limited it might be. Magic is ultimately a sensory experience, and you need to make sure that people are as intrigued as you are. Once you have the basics down, you can start expanding your repertoire and catering your performances to different audiences.

Fun Fact

A deck of cards generally does not last much more than a single gig. There are several reasons for this: 1) the audience generally likes to keep signed cards as souvenirs, 2) there’s an abundance of heavy-handed shuffling techniques, and 3) drink-soaked surfaces often result in the speedy destruction of a deck.

Notes from Chris

Episode 886
Ever since he was given a magic book of simple tricks as a child, David Nolan—not to be confused with David Copperfield—has been enthralled by magic. But while he enjoyed his tricks in private and performed occasionally at a friend or relative’s birthday party, he never sought to practice his art in public.

To David, magic was not just about performance; it was about the theory and history behind every trick. Mastery was his priority, not the spotlight that came with performing.

But later in life, when David heard that a magic-themed bar in his area was holding auditions for magicians, he jumped at the opportunity. A British graphic designer by day, David was happy with his work and never considered performing magic for strangers, but he realized that this was a challenge that he just had to take up.

So even though the idea of performing was terrifying, he auditioned for the role. His years of practice would pay off as the bar hired him as their resident magician!

This gig would lay the foundation on which David would build his new creative outlet. Six weeks after landing the role at the magic bar, he performed his first show. It was during this first act that he realized how much he loved the adrenaline he felt as he performed every part of his carefully rehearsed set. Even though doing three stand-up shows each night was more challenging than he had anticipated, he knew that there would be no better reward than amazing others.

It was also a good complement to his day job: Life as a designer meant a lot of work in isolation, and performing magic gave him an opportunity for creative expression and meeting new people.

Determined to accelerate his magic career, David decided that he needed to build a name for himself beyond the Houdini bar. He would give out his business cards to spectators who came to watch him at the bar, which sometimes turned into bookings for him months down the road.

He also resolved to build up his social media pages—this turned into another avenue for potential clients to get in touch after watching his showreels. It wasn’t quite as easy as pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but these efforts turned into opportunities to perform at corporate events, private parties, and even at weddings. Quite the sleight of hand for someone who not too long ago had never performed publicly!

Although he initially had no intention of making money from performing magic, he’s now managed to generate enough profit in year one to cover his share of his mortgage. With stronger branding, marketing efforts, and an increased skill set, he’s confident that he will do even better in his second year.

Like David, you too can turn your dream into reality. It might take more than a wave of the wand, but the reveal is worth the effort.

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
"When you’re spreading the word about your side hustle, remember that the key point is to focus your approach so that it’s about them and why hiring you will benefit them."
—David Nolan #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

High School Teacher Spins His Way to Profits

What It’s About

In-person record cutting spins sweet sounding profits!

[podcast_details]

Words of Wisdom

Michael recommends finding something that you are passionate about that nobody else does. If you see something coming that is interesting to you and has a steep barrier to entry that you are willing to overcome, then you could be on the right path. If it’s easy and popular already, you’ve probably missed out.

Fun Fact

Record sales nearly died in the 2000s, but last year, vinyl record sales grew by 12% to 9.7 million sold. One company in the UK even offers the option to have your ashes or those of a loved one pressed into a working album!

Notes from Chris

Episode 882

Michael Dixon has more of a side hustle theme than one specific service or product. He runs several projects, all based—in one way or another—around vinyl records. Why records? Well, Mike became obsessed with his parents’ old vinyl records as a kid. He believes there’s value in a tangible product that is not mass produced, unlike streaming digital audio files.

Since he was 15, Mike has been in the music industry, playing in bands, promoting festivals, running record labels… and the list goes on. About a decade ago, he was working a full-time job as a high school teacher when he began his first vinyl related business. He would order small batches of records from New Zealand, from one of the only lathe cut record makers in the world at that time.

Cutting a record using a lathe means that sound waves are focused into a needle tip. As the needle vibrates, it etches grooves into the record disc. The grooves are the physical equivalent to the sound waves. And voila! You have yourself a record.

Lathe cut records are made one at a time, so small orders can be easily handled. Vinyl records made at a pressing plant are mass produced and require large minimum orders.

But when Mike’s orders from New Zealand started taking too long to fill, he wondered if he could learn to cut the records himself. He began buying old, broken lathe machines that were built in the 1940s and 50s. It took him a year, but he figured out the process. This led to Mike’s second business: vintage record lathe repair, restoration, and parts sales. He runs this business with the help of a business partner named Kris.

Mike got started with his live record cutting booths at museums and small festivals, doing the work just for fun. One day, the Converse Shoe Company took notice. They contacted him about cutting records for Coachella, where the majority of their party guests were in the marketing and entertainment industry. Captivated with the process, people started hiring Mike and Kris for corporate parties, festivals, and other events. It hasn’t slowed down since. Just being at the events is their best form of advertising.

Mike’s average monthly profits are approximately $3,500. He admits there are feast and famine periods. Being employed in a super-niche business is often a struggle—paychecks are unsteady and work comes and goes. More important to him than the monetary profit is what he calls “Standard of Living Profitability,” which he has in spades. He gets to go on company-sponsored work trips all over the world and spends his time hustling music, art, and vinyl—which he loves. He also gets to meet and work with artists he’s admired for years.

He doesn’t know anyone who has half as much fun doing their job as he does. Turning Mobile Vinyl Recorders into his full-time job has dramatically improved Mike’s quality of life.

Next on the turnstile for Mike is more of the same. He has some events in the US and Europe this summer and a Southwest tour for his science of sound presentation. He’s also developing new equipment for record cutting and working with some of his favorite artists who are recording with his record label.

 

 

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

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
"I make some decisions with the bottom line in mind, but I’ve also realized that the BEST decisions I ever made, are the ones that put me where I am today. The ones that I would have NEVER made with a profit motive in mind."
—Michael Dixon #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