Ryan Hogue, a driven entrepreneur, took a leap of faith and quit his full-time job as a web developer to pursue a side hustle selling t-shirts on Amazon. It turned out to be a life-changing decision. What started as a small venture quickly blossomed into a thriving business, earning him a remarkable $175,000 per year – more than double his previous salary – while only working one hour each day.
Hogue’s journey began with a simple idea sparked by a Reddit post about making money online. He embraced the world of print-on-demand, a business model that allowed him to outsource the physical aspects like printing, packaging, and shipping, leaving him free to focus on the creative side. He found a unique way to navigate the design aspect, choosing to utilize online platforms that offered commercially licensed illustrations, eliminating the need for him to have any design experience. This allowed him to quickly create eye-catching designs without needing to master complex software like Adobe Photoshop.
He spends the majority of his time coming up with fresh design ideas, often inspired by keyword research, pop culture trends, and upcoming events. A significant portion of his success stems from Amazon’s Merch on Demand platform, which proved to be a game-changer. This platform simplified the process for Hogue by allowing him to easily upload his artwork, select product types, and generate product listings automatically. Amazon handles all aspects of production, shipping, and even customer service, making it a highly convenient and efficient solution.
Hogue’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop at t-shirts. He expanded his product line to include sweatshirts, hats, and accessories like mugs, phone cases, and stickers. With an average monthly income of almost $15,000, his business has become a testament to the power of creative entrepreneurship and the potential of leveraging online platforms.
Hogue’s story is an inspiration to anyone looking to create a fulfilling career path. He proves that a lack of design experience shouldn’t be a barrier to success. All you need is a bit of creativity, a lot of drive, and the willingness to embrace the opportunities offered by the online marketplace.
This story is part of a new series on the subject of success, Benzinga Inspire.
