This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Michael Satterlee, 17, of Clifton Park, New York. Satterlee is a full-time highschool scholar and the founding father of Solefullya six-figure enterprise that designs and 3D prints distinctive equipment for Crocs. Responses have been edited for size and readability.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Solefully. Michael Satterlee.
What was your day job or main occupation if you began your aspect hustle?
Once I began my aspect hustle, I used to be working as a dishwasher and likewise a full-time highschool scholar. I balanced work, faculty and enterprise.
When did you begin your aspect hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
I began in 2023 after studying 3D printing in my design and drawing for manufacturing (DDP) class. I made a decision to purchase a 3D printer and began researching product concepts. I got here throughout a narrative about somebody making some huge cash promoting snow plow attachments for crocs and realized there was an enormous alternative. I jumped on it and constructed a whole retailer round that area of interest.
Associated: ‘Instantaneous Success’: Her Seaside-Impressed Facet Hustle Did Over $100,000 in Gross sales in Month 1 — Now It is Surpassed $2 Million
What have been among the first steps you took to get your aspect hustle off the bottom?
The very first thing I did was discover a profitable product. That took lots of analysis; a profitable product must be straightforward to make or purchase, straightforward to market and never oversaturated available in the market. After that, I centered on content material. I posted three artistic TikToks and Instagram Reels a day. It was all about consistency. Even when development was gradual at first, staying constant paid off. Visitors picked up, and shortly the orders began rolling in.
Are there any free or paid sources which have been particularly useful for you in beginning and working this enterprise?
The perfect instruments in enterprise are free. TikTok and Instagram have been all the pieces for me — that is the place all my advertising occurs. I common round 50 million month-to-month impressions, and it is 100% natural. I’ve by no means run paid advertisements, simply constant, artistic content material.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Solefully
Should you might return in what you are promoting journey and alter one course of or method, what wouldn’t it be, and the way do you want you’d executed it otherwise?
I want I had moved right into a warehouse sooner. For some time, the enterprise fully took over my complete home. There have been printers in my bed room, bins within the hallway and packaging supplies within the kitchen. It was chaotic, and it made it arduous to remain organized or focus. As soon as I received right into a devoted warehouse house, all the pieces turned extra environment friendly. I used to be extra productive, extra centered and eventually had room to scale correctly. If I had made that transfer earlier, I might’ve saved a ton of stress.
On the subject of this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you have discovered notably difficult and/or shocking that individuals who get into this sort of work ought to be ready for, however doubtless aren’t?
It is actually arduous to construct a social media presence. Individuals suppose one viral video is all it takes, however the reality is, your first 100 movies would possibly flop. It is lots of trial and error. It’s important to preserve testing content material, throwing stuff on the wall and staying constant even when it appears like nobody’s watching.
Associated: What is the High Facet Hustle in Your Metropolis? The Quickest-Rising Gig within the U.S. May Shock You.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Solefully
Are you able to recall a selected occasion when one thing went very flawed? How did you repair it?
One time, a TikTok video blew up in a single day and introduced in far more orders than I used to be ready to deal with. On the time, I used to be nonetheless printing all the pieces out of my home, with no actual methods in place. I ran out of filament, packing supplies and was barely maintaining with buyer messages. Some orders have been delayed, and folks began emailing asking the place their stuff was. I stayed up for days printing nonstop, restocked supplies as quick as I might and personally responded to each buyer. After that, I discovered the significance of getting ready for viral moments. I constructed higher methods, stocked up forward of launches and even introduced on assist so I would not be caught off guard once more.
How lengthy did it take you to see constant month-to-month income? How a lot did the aspect hustle earn?
It took a few yr to see constant month-to-month income. However now, we’re doing round $20,000 a month in gross sales throughout all platforms.
What does development and income appear like now?
Progress is gradual however constant. I am not dashing it. I am constructing brick by brick, ensuring all the pieces is scalable and stable. Final yr, we did $250,000 in gross sales, and this yr we’re on monitor for $300,000.
Associated: This 54-12 months-Outdated’s Juicy Facet Hustle — Which She Calls a ‘Literal ATM’ — Pulls As much as $50,000 a Month and Was Worthwhile Inside 1 Week
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Solefully
What do you take pleasure in most about working this enterprise?
I like the artistic freedom. I can give you a loopy product concept, mannequin it, print it and publish a video all in sooner or later. I additionally love seeing folks react to one thing I made, whether or not they’re laughing, tagging buddies or putting an order. It is essentially the most rewarding factor.
Associated: She’s a Former 911 Dispatcher Who Began a Facet Hustle Dominated By Males — and It Makes Her About $4,500 a Month: ‘Hustle Paid Off’
What’s your finest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation?
Begin with content material, not only a product. Earlier than you make investments tons of cash into perfecting a design or constructing out a model, publish content material to see if folks even care. If you cannot get strangers to cease scrolling, you do not have product-market match but. Use free platforms like TikTok and Instagram to check quick, fail quick and double down on what works.
Need to learn extra tales like this? Subscribe to Cash Makers, our free publication full of artistic aspect hustle concepts and profitable methods. Enroll right here.
