What started as a simple side hustle for Emily Odio-Sutton has transformed into a lucrative business, generating an impressive Rs 45 lakh (approximately $54,900) monthly. This journey began in December 2022 while she was multitasking between her remote job and family responsibilities. Seeking a flexible work-life balance , Emily discovered the potential of print-on-demand services , which allowed her to create personalized products without holding inventory.
Early on, Emily's designs were fairly generic and failed to garner much attention. But all of that changed once she focused on customised candles and journals. The approach resulted in a dramatic sale that allowed her to rake in profits, making $5,000 (approximately Rs 4.22 lakh) in profit by October 2023, nearly equal to her full-time salary as an operations manager for a children's book publishing company.
Emily explained to CNBC that, "I couldn't leave my 9-to-5 in the middle of the day for school pickups or gymnastics practices. I needed something that worked around my schedule." This flexibility and necessity encouraged her to research print-on-demand, which is a model where products are only printed once an order has been received from a customer.
To really optimise her success, Emily canvassed particular niches using online platforms like Etsy. She focused on certain professions and passions in which she tailored designs. She researched ideas using tools like Google and brainstormed those using ChatGPT. "It was about finding those hyper-specific jobs or hobbies that people could relate to," she said.
With her store growing in popularity, she was earning a pretty penny. She reported in some of the peak months up to $54,900 (Rs 46.32 lakh), and profits comprised about one-third of that amount.
In addition to running a main Etsy store , Emily opened a secondary store peddling downloadable event templates and managed Pinterest accounts on behalf of other businesses. "I wanted to make sure I wasn't putting all my eggs in one basket," she said. It also stabilized her income and helped manage expenses like student loans and family vacations while keeping savings in reserve for the daughters' future.
Despite the financial success, Emily remains grounded in her approach to spending. She intertwines enjoyment with responsibility, so fun activities, such as vacations, will not control most of the expenses, like loan repayment.
Emily's side hustle has provided her with much-needed flexibility. With young two daughters, she values time with family above everything else. "My goal has always been to live on my schedule," she explained. Picking up her daughter from the bus stop or attending their practices is a huge benefit to her entrepreneurial journey .
Even though Emily has toned down her publishing work to only part-time, she is still not ready to throw everything into her business. "I would probably go full-time with my business if I could still be there for my daughters as much as possible," she added.
Emily Odio-Sutton's story shows how a relatively simple side hustle could morph into a high-growing business with the power of innovation and strong commitment. In terms of money, Emily has accomplished a work-life balance besides living a life that is very rewarding and value-bound.
Early on, Emily's designs were fairly generic and failed to garner much attention. But all of that changed once she focused on customised candles and journals. The approach resulted in a dramatic sale that allowed her to rake in profits, making $5,000 (approximately Rs 4.22 lakh) in profit by October 2023, nearly equal to her full-time salary as an operations manager for a children's book publishing company.
Emily explained to CNBC that, "I couldn't leave my 9-to-5 in the middle of the day for school pickups or gymnastics practices. I needed something that worked around my schedule." This flexibility and necessity encouraged her to research print-on-demand, which is a model where products are only printed once an order has been received from a customer.
To really optimise her success, Emily canvassed particular niches using online platforms like Etsy. She focused on certain professions and passions in which she tailored designs. She researched ideas using tools like Google and brainstormed those using ChatGPT. "It was about finding those hyper-specific jobs or hobbies that people could relate to," she said.
With her store growing in popularity, she was earning a pretty penny. She reported in some of the peak months up to $54,900 (Rs 46.32 lakh), and profits comprised about one-third of that amount.
In addition to running a main Etsy store , Emily opened a secondary store peddling downloadable event templates and managed Pinterest accounts on behalf of other businesses. "I wanted to make sure I wasn't putting all my eggs in one basket," she said. It also stabilized her income and helped manage expenses like student loans and family vacations while keeping savings in reserve for the daughters' future.
Despite the financial success, Emily remains grounded in her approach to spending. She intertwines enjoyment with responsibility, so fun activities, such as vacations, will not control most of the expenses, like loan repayment.
Emily's side hustle has provided her with much-needed flexibility. With young two daughters, she values time with family above everything else. "My goal has always been to live on my schedule," she explained. Picking up her daughter from the bus stop or attending their practices is a huge benefit to her entrepreneurial journey .
Even though Emily has toned down her publishing work to only part-time, she is still not ready to throw everything into her business. "I would probably go full-time with my business if I could still be there for my daughters as much as possible," she added.
Emily Odio-Sutton's story shows how a relatively simple side hustle could morph into a high-growing business with the power of innovation and strong commitment. In terms of money, Emily has accomplished a work-life balance besides living a life that is very rewarding and value-bound.
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