The Side Hustle Show 649: This Firefighter’s Side Hustle Grew to $1M in Sales
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Jan 2, 2025 Mike Ettenberg, founder of Frontline Optics and firefighter, shares his inspiring journey of creating durable sunglasses for first responders. He reveals how personal frustrations sparked his million-dollar side hustle. Learn about sourcing manufacturers, leveraging micro-influencers, and the pivotal role of social media in his success. Mike also discusses the challenges of transitioning from firefighting to entrepreneurship and offers insights on effective marketing strategies to engage customers and build brand loyalty.
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Origin of Frontline Optics
- Mike Ettenberg, a firefighter, repeatedly damaged his expensive sunglasses on duty.
- This frustration led him to explore creating durable, affordable sunglasses specifically for first responders.
Finding Business Ideas
- Identify personal pain points or expensive recurring purchases.
- Explore if a better, more affordable solution can be created, even if similar products exist.
Finding a Manufacturer
- When searching for manufacturers, don't limit yourself to the first page of Google results or Alibaba.
- Smaller, lesser-known manufacturers may be more willing to work with startups and smaller order volumes.