The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia How Sophia Amoruso Turned a Side Hustle Into a $350M Brand (Nasty Gal)
Oct 16, 2025
Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal and author of Girlboss, shares her incredible journey from thrift store seller to CEO. She candidly discusses the meteoric rise and fall of her brand, detailing lessons learned through bankruptcy and recovery. Sophia emphasizes the importance of empathy in leadership and how failure can be a powerful teacher. Now, as an investor with Trust Fund, she redefines success and champions the entrepreneurial spirit, offering invaluable insights on resilience, risk, and making meaningful connections.
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From eBay Side Hustle To Sold-Out Launch
- Sophia Amoruso started Nasty Gal by selling thrifted vintage on eBay and launched her own website after rapid early growth.
- The website sold out day one, proving demand beyond the marketplace and enabling scaling into curated inventory.
First Hire Via Craigslist
- Sophia found her first hire on Craigslist and trained her on exact product standards like calling glitter "glitter" not "sparkles."
- She paid the employee more than she paid herself and hired when demand outpaced her capacity.
Build Processes Before Scale
- Do create processes early so teams can run with them when you scale.
- Retroactive process building is harder and slows growth when complexity already exists.
