Business Series 1 : Why start one?

I have been selling online on Etsy since 2010 and I can honestly say it's been an extremely rewarding experience , albeit a very challenging one. In all my years of being a shop keeper I would do it all over again. Why?

Well, that's what this post is about.

The reason I started selling online was because I couldn't work in a regular 9-5 job. I tried and I failed miserably. Now let's get a bit real here. I was lucky. Lucky that I had options others did not. I was married and lived comfortably. I had no debt. I had no kids back then so I had a lot of time to myself. And thus out of sheer privileged boredom was born Zazuta. My little shop.

I named my shop after my dog and it brought me comfort and a sense of purpose. It gave me something to do with my life. It gave me self confidence. I could earn! So I took a small loan from my then Husband and I went to Old Delhi, India. In the narrow alleyways and amidst decrepit buildings, I found the thing that was going to make me money for the next 10 years. Beautifully embroidered Indian trims and silks. I went home, laden with goodies and with my point and shoot camera I took some pictures. There was no good lighting, no editing. Within the first 24 hours, I had made my first ever $5! I was ecstatic. I felt such a sense of accomplishment. I could't really believe that someone sitting on the other side of the world bought something from my little shop .

So those were my reasons to start an Online shop. And I haven't looked back since. It is for each of us to question our circumstances in life and whether we can really afford it. We have to be able to look at our finances and do thorough research into what the online portals like Etsy cost. This takes a lot of time and is a good reality check. I do not advise quitting your day job to follow your passion. That is a privilege and a luxury few can afford from the get go. My advice would be to dip your toe into it and see how it feels. Many things sound good if we say it often enough, but it is work. A lot of work.

My aim in this business series is not to encourage a heady euphoria of suddenly seeing $$$, nor is it to demoralise someone who is seriously considering a side hustle. It is to provide a realistic scenario of things as they are. By all means, start a side hustle, but understand that until it starts showing good returns it is just what the name says... SIDE hustle.

In my next post, we will discuss the benefits of a side hustle and how it can help you.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment below and I will get back to you.

I wish you loads of success in your life!

Next Tuesday's topic : Benefits of a side Hustle