Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast

#223 Can These WIERD Ideas Turn Into Million-Dollar Businesses?

Jul 15, 2025

Explore the quirky intersection of passion and profit as the hosts dive into unique businesses, from running an online store for Magic: The Gathering to cultivating mushrooms and farming ants. Discover how niche interests can turn into lucrative ventures, with insights on balancing multiple income streams and the economics behind unconventional markets. Laugh along as they share personal stories and examine fascinating possibilities like ski wax brands and marinas, all while aligning business with lifestyle goals.

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ANECDOTE

John Wilson's Magic Passion

John Wilson shares his personal passion for Magic: The Gathering and how it leads to community and fun social events.
He uses this nerdy interest to bond and engage with others outside of typical trades topics.

ANECDOTE

Jack Carr's Niche Hobbies

Jack Carr and his son cultivate ant farms and grow mushrooms as playful, niche hobbies.
This illustrates that different types of nerdiness can foster strong connections and lifestyle balances.

INSIGHT

Collectibles as High-Margin Businesses

High-margin niche collectibles can generate surprising cash flow with relatively low overhead.
John Wilson explored buying an established Magic: The Gathering collectible business with $750,000 cash in flow.

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In this episode of Owned and Operated, John and Jack explore the wild and unconventional world of lifestyle businesses—where personal passion meets profit.

From running an online Magic: The Gathering store to launching a ski wax brand, buying a marina, or even farming ants and mushrooms, the duo dives into how niche interests can evolve into sustainable, revenue-generating ventures. They discuss the lifestyle advantages of owning passion-driven businesses, the economics of niche markets, and how to balance multiple income streams while having fun doing it.

Whether you're curious about collectibles, concierge services, or the idea of turning hobbies into scalable side hustles, this episode is packed with insight, laughter, and unexpected ideas.

🔹 In This Episode, We Cover:

Building a business around Magic: The Gathering
Running a niche eCommerce store
Monetizing hobbies like ant farming and mushroom cultivation
Exploring the economics of ski wax and seasonal products
What it takes to own and operate a marina
Concierge services for high-end travel
Revisiting Bitcoin mining and its business model
How to align business with your lifestyle goals

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

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