When Michelle Hensley, now founder and CEO of luxury gift basket and wrapping company Nifty Package Co., lost her husband, a pastor, to cancer in 2014, she was 50 years old and “had a complete identity crisis,” she says. Image Credit: Courtesy of Nifty Package Co. Hensley’s husband had handled their finances while she ran...
Irene Chen and Matthew Grenby, co-founders of functional luxury handbag and accessories brand Parker Thatch, are no strangers to well-timed pivots — having used them to build a business that’s been profitable since day one and will hit eight figures in revenue this year. Image Credit: Courtesy of Parker Thatch Drawing inspiration from Chen’s background...
In 1996, a retirement ad told of a terrible future: “They say in thirty years a burger & fries could cost $16, a vacation $12,500, and a basic car $65,000.” Now we’re living in the world that ad predicted — and as a result, it has gone repeatedly viral on Reddit and LinkedIn, and scored...
For small and large businesses alike, the holidays can be an extremely lucrative season. Consumer spending is expected to be higher this year compared to last year, with an average spend of $1,778, up 8% from 2023, according to a report from Deloitte. Despite the shopping frenzy, many brands grapple with the challenge of standing...
This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Carlos Ugalde, 52, of Las Vegas, Nevada. Ugalde is the founder of print-on-demand apparel brand House of Chingasos. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. Image Credit: Courtesy of House of Chingasos What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?I was a...
This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Justin Soleimani, 34, and Zach Dannett, 35. The duo met as classmates at Emory University and then went on to co-found Tumble. Their Los Angeles-based company sells machine-washable, spill-proof rugs and scaled from zero to $20 million in revenue within 2.5 years. Today, Tumble boasts a team of 10...
Liz Dee, co-president of American candy company Smarties with her sister Jessica Dee Sawyer and cousin Sarah Dee, didn’t always know she wanted to join the family business, which was founded by her grandfather Edward Dee in Bloomfield, New Jersey in 1949. However, Dee continued “responding to the call,” working on copy for Smarties’ first...
Mandana Dayani and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Iran as refugees when she was six years old. The move allowed her to “live the American Dream,” Dayani tells Entrepreneur — and left her with a “profound sense of patriotism” for the country that “saved [her] life.” Dayani says her gratitude is part of...
This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Karen Frederick, 43, founder of Kole Jax Designs, an online brand selling personalized jewelry and accessories. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. Image Credit: Courtesy of Kole Jax Designs. Karen Frederick. What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle? I was...
“We are coffee-obsessed in Australia,” Tom Baker, co-founder of Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, tells Entrepreneur. “It’s like a religion. It’s a point of national identity.” Image Credit: Courtesy of Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur. Tom Baker. After World War II, Italians immigrated to the country and brought espresso machines and European cafe...