Side Hustle School Ep. 3070 - STORY: High School Student Earns $20,000 Making Wooden Bow Ties
May 28, 2025
A high school student transforms an unimpressive gift into a thriving business by crafting wooden bow ties. He capitalizes on his woodworking hobby, showcasing how passion can lead to profitability. Through challenges and successes, he learns about the importance of quality and standing out in the market. Remarkably, he earns $20,000 in just a year, proving that young entrepreneurs can make big waves with creativity and determination.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Paul's Early Woodworking Journey
- Paul Castor started woodworking at age 12 inspired by YouTube woodworkers and developed skills by experimenting and learning online.
- His first sales were small items to family and friends, with his mom as his first customer.
Creating the Perfect Wooden Bow Tie
- Paul received a wooden bow tie as a gift but disliked its chunky design, prompting him to create his own better version.
- He researched Etsy and made a refined wooden bow tie that resembled a fabric tie but was neither too chunky nor flat.
Scaling with Kickstarter and Branding
- Paul used Kickstarter to raise $1,500 to buy machinery and scale his wooden bow tie production.
- He rebranded to Crooked Branch Studios and built his own website, boosting sales significantly beyond Etsy.