Full-Time Uber Employee’s Side Hustle Made $10K in 48 Hours

This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Nicole Glabman, 30, a New York Metropolis-based entrepreneur. Glabman at present works full-time at Uber in promoting whereas constructing her protein and prebiotic sauce model She’s The Sauce. She attracts on an expert background in retail and meals, beginning her profession at Jet.com/Walmart as a purchaser, adopted by a stint at Gopuff in advertising and marketing. Responses have been edited for size and readability. 

When did you begin your aspect hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it? The thought for She’s The Sauce and motivation to start out it as a aspect hustle got here from a really actual frustration. I’ve all the time liked sauce, however as I grew to become extra well being acutely aware whereas coping with hormonal imbalances (PCOS) and weight fluctuations, I stored listening to the identical factor: “skip the sauce, it’s empty energy.” That by no means sat proper with me. I didn’t wish to minimize one thing I liked, I needed to make it higher. So I created sauces that truly do one thing for you — with protein, fiber and elements you be ok with. 

Earlier than protein grew to become the pattern it’s right this moment, I used to be already desirous about find out how to make condiments extra useful — not simply decrease energy, however really additive. Protein and fiber weren’t a advertising and marketing angle. They have been a part of fixing the issue from the beginning. Because the broader market began to catch up and protein grew to become an even bigger focus, it solely strengthened that I used to be onto one thing. However for me, it was by no means about chasing a pattern, it was about rethinking what sauce might be. 

Beginning a scrappy, hands-on aspect hustle

What have been a few of the first steps you took to get your aspect hustle off the bottom?The primary steps to launch the aspect hustle have been scrappy and really hands-on. On the finish of 2023, I began in my very own kitchen, testing find out how to incorporate protein and fiber into sauce with out compromising style or texture. On the similar time, I used to be doing loads of analysis on analysis and growth (R&D) consultants who may assist take the product past a kitchen prototype and into one thing that might really be produced at scale. From there, I moved into sourcing, discovering a producer and constructing the visible identification of the model. I’ve bootstrapped the enterprise and began with about $20,000 of my very own cash.

Are there any free or paid sources which were particularly useful for you in beginning and operating this enterprise? A mixture of each, however the greatest unlock has been individuals. Truthfully, one of the useful sources has simply been different founders. Having individuals you possibly can textual content when one thing breaks, while you’re caught on a choice, or while you want a intestine examine, has been invaluable. 

I additionally labored with Kelly Bennett, a shopper packaged items (CPG) model strategist, who helped me map out the model early on, together with positioning, messaging and the way I needed She’s The Sauce to point out up. That gave me a a lot clearer basis. 

On the finish of the day, this can be a very “be taught as you go” business, so being surrounded by people who find themselves just a few steps forward makes an enormous distinction. Honorable mentions to communities and sources like Startup CPG, Categorical Checkout and Snaxshot, which have been nice for studying and staying near what’s taking place within the house. 

Bringing in manufacturing companions early on

For those who may return in what you are promoting journey and alter one course of or method, what wouldn’t it be, and the way do you would like you’d carried out it in another way? I feel the largest factor I’d change is how I approached manufacturing early on.

I used to be making a product that doesn’t actually exist available in the market, so there wasn’t a transparent playbook. Due to that, I bumped into loads of surprising manufacturing challenges. There have been moments the place even skilled companions didn’t totally know what it might take to supply our product constantly. 

If I may do it once more, I’d spend extra time upfront stress testing the formulation particularly for scale, not only for style. I’d additionally contain manufacturing companions earlier within the course of as a substitute of attempting to good every little thing by myself first. 

I realized that what works in a kitchen or a small batch doesn’t all the time translate to manufacturing — and bridging that hole is the place loads of time, vitality and cash can go in case you’re not cautious. That mentioned, it’s additionally a part of constructing one thing new. While you’re creating a brand new class, you need to be prepared to determine issues out the onerous method a bit. 

A profitable aspect hustle requires greater than a good suggestion

In terms of this particular enterprise, what’s one thing you’ve discovered significantly difficult and/or shocking that individuals who get into this sort of work must be ready for, however seemingly aren’t? How operationally intense it’s and the way a lot of it’s utterly out of your management. 

From the skin, CPG can look very brand- and marketing-driven. And whereas that’s vital, the fact is that a large a part of the enterprise is operations, manufacturing timelines, ingredient sourcing, packaging delays and logistics. 

What shocked me most is that even while you do every little thing proper, issues can nonetheless go unsuitable. A delay from one provider can push every little thing again weeks. A small formulation change can affect manufacturing in methods you didn’t count on. 

I’ve needed to be taught endurance in a method I by no means had earlier than, understanding that some issues simply take time, and you’ll’t power velocity in a system that doesn’t assist it. 

It’s not nearly having a good suggestion. It’s about having the ability to navigate fixed friction, keep affected person and hold transferring ahead anyway.

The aspect hustle hit $10k in simply 48 hours with two SKUs

Are you able to recall a selected occasion when one thing went very unsuitable — how did you repair it? One of many greatest issues that went unsuitable really began as seemingly an enormous win. 

In September, our pre-order went reside and did about $10,000 in income in simply 48 hours throughout two SKUs (Honey Mustard and Ranch). It was an unbelievable second, however it rapidly uncovered a significant challenge. Our producer wasn’t in a position to produce the product on the scale we would have liked, which meant we had demand we couldn’t fulfill. 

I needed to pause, discover a new co-manufacturer and primarily rebuild our provide chain whereas managing buyer expectations. It took about three months to resolve. Throughout that point, I centered on being extraordinarily clear with prospects and sustaining belief. 

We relaunched this previous January, fulfilled pre-orders, and are at present working with solely Honey Mustard whereas the Ranch and some new flavors are being finalized. 

The aspect hustle now generates about $10k a month

What does progress and income appear to be now? We’re now producing round $10,000 per 30 days in income for our Honey Mustard alone, primarily via direct-to-consumer. And to date, all of our progress has been utterly natural; we haven’t used paid media. It’s been pushed by content material, phrase of mouth and constructing in public. 

For me, the largest takeaway was that the preliminary launch validated actual demand. Now, I’m centered on rebuilding in a method that’s really scalable and repeatable. 

Balancing the aspect hustle with a full-time position at Uber

How do you stability the aspect hustle along with your full-time position; what does a typical week of labor appear to be for you?I’m constructing She’s The Sauce outdoors of my full-time position, so most of my time goes into early mornings, evenings and weekends. 

On weekdays, I sometimes spend just a few hours at night time centered on key priorities, whether or not that’s operations, content material or strategic planning. Weekends are extra versatile however often contain longer blocks of time for issues like product growth, logistics and outreach.

I attempt to be very intentional with how I exploit that point. Throughout the week, it’s about sustaining momentum and dealing with what’s pressing. On weekends, I focus extra on bigger-picture work and something that requires deeper considering. 

Balancing each has undoubtedly required self-discipline, however it’s additionally compelled me to be extraordinarily environment friendly and centered with each hour I put into the enterprise. 

Leaning into buyer connection and suggestions

What do you take pleasure in most about operating this enterprise? The group, no doubt. 

Getting messages from individuals saying the sauce has genuinely modified the way in which they eat, or that they used to really feel like that they had to surrender sauce altogether — that’s every little thing to me. 

I really like speaking to prospects, listening to their suggestions and studying how they’re really utilizing the product of their day-to-day lives. It makes the model really feel like a two-way dialog, not simply one thing I’m constructing in isolation. 

And actually, they’re shaping it simply as a lot as I’m, from suggestions to taste concepts to how we take into consideration innovation. It’s not simply my model: It looks like ours. 

That connection is what retains me going. It turns this from only a product into one thing individuals really really feel part of. 

“Progress comes from momentum, not perfection”

What’s your greatest piece of particular, actionable enterprise recommendation? It sounds easy, however the very best recommendation I can provide is: Simply begin. 

It is a very execution-driven enterprise. You’ll be able to spend months researching, planning and chatting with different builders however, sooner or later, the one factor that strikes you ahead is definitely doing the work. 

There’ll all the time be people who find themselves extra skilled or extra educated. The distinction is that most individuals don’t act.

So as a substitute of attempting to determine every little thing out upfront, do one thing tangible: Speak to actual prospects. Get a model of your product into individuals’s fingers. Ask for suggestions and iterate.  Progress comes from momentum, not perfection. 

And one of many greatest mindset shifts is studying to not over-index on what different individuals suppose. For those who’re constructing one thing new, not everybody goes to know it immediately — and that’s okay.

This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Nicole Glabman, 30, a New York Metropolis-based entrepreneur. Glabman at present works full-time at Uber in promoting whereas constructing her protein and prebiotic sauce model She’s The Sauce. She attracts on an expert background in retail and meals, beginning her profession at Jet.com/Walmart as a purchaser, adopted by a stint at Gopuff in advertising and marketing. Responses have been edited for size and readability. 

When did you begin your aspect hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it? The thought for She’s The Sauce and motivation to start out it as a aspect hustle got here from a really actual frustration. I’ve all the time liked sauce, however as I grew to become extra well being acutely aware whereas coping with hormonal imbalances (PCOS) and weight fluctuations, I stored listening to the identical factor: “skip the sauce, it’s empty energy.” That by no means sat proper with me. I didn’t wish to minimize one thing I liked, I needed to make it higher. So I created sauces that truly do one thing for you — with protein, fiber and elements you be ok with. 

Earlier than protein grew to become the pattern it’s right this moment, I used to be already desirous about find out how to make condiments extra useful — not simply decrease energy, however really additive. Protein and fiber weren’t a advertising and marketing angle. They have been a part of fixing the issue from the beginning. Because the broader market began to catch up and protein grew to become an even bigger focus, it solely strengthened that I used to be onto one thing. However for me, it was by no means about chasing a pattern, it was about rethinking what sauce might be.