48: Carve Out This Side Hustle

When you’re working in a family business and you want more money but there isn’t more to go around, what do you do? You start a side hustle of course! That’s what pushed today’s guests Jennifer Cornelius and David Swojanovski to launch Rubble Road Soapstone Carving Kits. They’ve gone from selling 30 of these soapstone pieces a month, to selling thousands per month. Where once the saw that cuts the silhouette pieces ran just 4 hours a week, now it needs to run at least 12 hours a day. Is developing a business teaching students and adults soapstone carving using these kits something you’d be interested in doing as a side hustle? Then you’ll want to reach out to Jennifer and David. But first, for inspiration in whatever your current or future side hustle might be, check out today's episode.  What You’ll Hear: 05:20 Want more money? You’ll need to figure out a side hustle. 06:20 Being encouraged to teach carving in the schools 07:08 What the lesson looks like 08:50 Expanded from 6 shapes to offering 26 shapes in 3 different sizes 09:15 The overwhelming response at trade shows made them realize they were on to something 11:31 Statue of David: How did Michelangelo know he was in there? 13:20 Why all their stone comes from Brazil 14:38 Listening to customers has shapes their product line 15:48 Teacher’s conventions gave Rubble Road great exposure 16:20 Piggybacking her sister’s tradeshow proved lucrative for them, but not so much for her sister! 17:25 Go to where your ideal client is 17:50 40% of revenues come from other companies using their kits to teach in schools 18:53 Profit margins on kits 20:10 Potluck carving nights! 21:21 Teaching carving remotely 22:20 Remote teaching has given remote schools access to this program 26:02 Another income source: the “traveling jewelry classroom” 27:40 The biggest challenge in growing Rubble Road 30:13 Next steps for the business 32:38 Jennifer & David’s best tip 35:06 The value asking questions 35:10 Being open to learning something from everyone you meet   Connect with Jennifer & David: https://www.rubble-road.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@rubbleroadsoapstone https://www.instagram.com/rubbleroadsoapstone/ https://www.facebook.com/rubbleroadsoapstone Connect with Joan: https://www.instagram.com/joanposivy/ https://www.facebook.com/posivy/ https://www.joanposivy.com/ Check out Joan's #1 success course! https://courses.joanposivy.com/p/turn-your-thoughts-into-wanted-things The Way Success Works Book http://thewaysuccessworks.com/ Be on the show! https://www.joanposivy.com/be-our-guest.html