HOW IT STARTED
2017: Amazon customer return pallets from a local bulk reseller
I began selling Amazon customer returns after my best friend suggested it to me. We bought one pallet each at a time, with prices varying from $360 to $900. My budget was $500. Whenever I made enough sales to purchase another pallet, I would go for it. I primarily sold items locally on Offer Up and managed to complete over 200 sales before transitioning to other ventures.
Late 2018: Customer return pallets from liquidation.com
In late 2018, I made the decision to start purchasing my customer return pallets online. This change came about because I was frustrated with buying pallets without knowing their contents or the quality of the merchandise (some were broken, missing parts). By switching to online purchases, I gained greater control over the items I was buying.
Jan 2019: Started a T-Shirt business
In January 2019, I came up with the idea of starting a T-shirt business after watching a YouTube video by Reyes The Entrepreneur about making money in that industry. The video inspired me to reach out to my brother, a talented artist, and ask if he would be interested in collaborating on a T-shirt business. I believed his art would make for fantastic designs, and he was immediately excited about the idea.
Late 2019: Retail Arbitrage
By late 2019, I decided to stop selling Amazon customer returns. The profits were not substantial, and the time required to test, clean, and repackage the items made the return on investment unworthy of the effort. I transitioned to retail arbitrage instead. Similar to buying Amazon returns online, retail arbitrage allowed me complete control over my purchases for resale. I was able to calculate profit margins and determine whether an item was worth buying. As of mid-2021, I still sell items acquired through retail arbitrage on eBay, although sales declined significantly after the pandemic struck. UPDATE: I discontinued reselling electronics. The pandemic severely diminished my sales. I decided to focus solely on my clothing line.
Late 2020: Side Hustles Brand Is Born
In September 2020, "I launched my clothing line, ‘Side Hustles Build Empires,’ to empower individuals who are pursuing their passions and creating their own paths.
In a world where conventional career paths can sometimes be limiting, I believe in the power of side hustles as a way to express creativity, build skills, and ultimately establish personal empires. My clothing line symbolizes this journey, offering symbolic and inspiring apparel that motivates wearers to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit. Each piece serves as a reminder that with hard work and determination, anyone can turn their dreams into a reality."
