A side hustle is the term used to describe an additional job someone takes on to make more money or pursue a life passion. With the cost of living crisis diminishing peoples’ incomes and savings, many are turning to side hustles to boost their finances in this challenging time. One former police detective spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk about how he took his side hustle and turned it into a six-figure salary-making business.
William Johnson is the co-founder of TORRO, a functional lifestyle accessories brand based in Newcastle.
The business came about after he spotted a gap in the market for luxury phone cases for an affordable price tag nearly a decade ago.
Despite only having £500 in start-up cash, Mr Johnson became an Amazon selling partner and left his full-time role as a detective to make six-figure a year.
On his success, Mr Johnson explained: “I started TORRO on the side of my job as a police detective, with just £500 in start-up capital, having spotted a gap in the market.
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“In our first year as a selling partner using Fulfilment by Amazon, TORRO went from being a hobby business to a company turning over six figures.
“This year, we’re on track to turnover £5million and we’re continuing to recruit and invest in the business.”
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, he added: “Back in 2013, I was looking to buy a phone case that was both premium quality and an affordable price point.
“Essentially, I found there was a gap in the market for just that, and given how much the smartphone industry was taking off, with people investing considerable sums into top technology, I thought it was worth doing a trial run of products and seeing how that went.
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“The first hundred prototypes sold out within a week, and I was able to reinvest the takings straight back into the venture.
“Fortunately, it was a flying success and the brand really took off.
“I was working as a full-time police detective at the time – a career I was in for fifteen years and genuinely loved.
“But this early success and the level of demand we were experiencing was incredibly exciting and encouraging.”
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“For others who may have fantastic ideas but not be in a position to take on a considerable financial risk in starting a company, I have two pieces of advice.
“The first – where possible, test your idea in a small, measured way to stress-test the idea along the journey and help in refining your proposition before ploughing in too much of your own finances or others’ capital.
“The second – think about ways to run the business the most leanly, at least in the first instance.
“Ultimately – if you are confident in your idea and your market, throw yourself into building and refining that idea, and don’t be afraid to lean on others’ expertise where you may have a gap in your skillset or knowledge-base.”
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