Emily Odio-Sutton began her Etsy side hustle while watching television in December 2022, leading to over $236,000 in revenue so far this year. The idea for her print-on-demand shop, which focuses on hyper-specific gifts, came from YouTube videos about the e-commerce method. The success of her shop allowed her to scale back to a part-time role at her day job as an internal operations manager at a children’s book publishing company, and she has used the profits to pay off student loans and fund family vacations.
In her best month, Odio-Sutton’s side hustle brought in $54,900, with about a third of the revenue being profit. Initially, she tried a different online side hustle, “Amazon FBA,” but found the time commitment and unpredictability challenging. The appeal of print-on-demand was the simplicity and ease of creating designs to sell on platforms like Etsy, without needing extensive business or design experience. By focusing on gift-friendly products and niche themes, such as specific jobs or hobbies, she was able to find success.
Using tools like Google and ChatGPT, Odio-Sutton creates simple, text-based designs on Canva targeted at specific interests like podcasting or speech pathology. After finding what works, she replicates successful designs with different themes to maximize sales. She has also diversified her income streams by selling event templates on a second Etsy store and doing coaching and contract work for other business owners. Despite the financial success of her side hustle, she values her time with her daughters and prioritizes a flexible schedule to spend time with them.
With a workweek split between her publishing job and Etsy shop, Odio-Sutton has found a balance that allows her to invest in stocks, save for her daughters’ college educations, and pay off bills like student loans. She has also benefited from the expertise of a financial advisor and continues to explore other revenue opportunities, such as managing Pinterest accounts for business owners. While some may choose to pursue their side hustles full-time, Odio-Sutton remains committed to maintaining a schedule that allows her to be actively involved in her daughters’ activities and experiences.
Overall, Odio-Sutton’s journey into the world of print-on-demand and e-commerce has proven to be highly successful, providing both financial stability and the flexibility to prioritize her family and personal life. Her story serves as inspiration for others looking to start a side hustle or explore alternative income streams, showcasing the potential for significant earnings and personal fulfillment through innovative and strategic entrepreneurship.
