Have you ever thought of turning a hobby or interest you’re passionate about into a way to make some extra money? Whether you’re looking to start a side job or find a new main income, there are a variety of ways you can reach willing customers online.
Eric Jong and Adam Sayner of GroCycle in Devon post informative videos on YouTube about their low-tech mushroom growing business.
They’ve started using YouTube Shopping on Shopify, which allows merchants to sell their products through live streams and videos, among other things.
(Eric Jong/PA)
For example, viewers can go to a “product shelf” below videos to learn more about products.
“Finally, when the first video came out in September 2019, the goal was to get 1,000 subscribers – a big moment,” says Jong. “Now, with 3.6 million views, we love posting monthly mushroom growing videos and love serving the tight-knit community of growers who share our fascination with all things mushroom.”
He says people can find a wealth of free information about mushrooms on both the GroCycle website and YouTube channel.
Colleague Gabriella Lindley, who founded Brighton-based online home accessories and stationery store Juniper Moon, says: “Growing up I always had a strong interest in art and when the pandemic hit I decided to go back to my roots and take up art as a hobby to pass the time. It very quickly grew into something I wanted to do as a career and I thought about my small business, Juniper Moon.
It quickly became something I wanted to do professionally
Gabriella Lindley, Juniper Moon
“I opened a storefront with Shopify and designed art prints, stickers, enamel pins and so many more products to sell.
“Being able to now link my shop to my videos allows my audience to shop pretty much instantly as well. So when they see a new launch, they love to buy it right there.”
Aspiring sellers also have a number of other options when selling their products online, with sites like Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, and eBay.
If you only want to bring in small sums of money from your business, it’s also worth noting the trade allowance – a tax exemption of up to £1,000 a year for people with trading income from self-employment or casual services, such as babysitting or gardening.
You can find more information on whether this might apply on the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) website (gov.uk/guidance/tax-free-allowances-on-property-and-trading-income).
