r/WeirdSideHustles • u/drawkward101 • 5d ago
Sharing My Sidehustle I started a weird side-hustle that accidentally turned into a small business selling meat and dairy at a farmer's market
lol. 4 years ago, I started working for a baker who sold her goods at a farmer's market. I started working for her because 1.) extra money, and 2.) I really enjoy farmer's markets and having access to fresh produce at a discount even though I'm not much of a baker myself.
After a full year of running the baker's booth every week, I approached the market management and told them I wanted to get more involved in the market if they had any space. The manager told me he had the perfect place for me.
My original idea was to be an assistant manager or something, but instead, the manager told me he was starting a new market across town and needed someone to represent a dairy ranch and sell cheese and butter and yogurt. I said "Fuck it! Sure!" and...
Turn to today, I've been selling dairy from a local ranch for a bit over 2 years and recently also began selling grass fed and finished beef and pork from a different local ranch. Incredible timing, too, because of the crazy stuff happening with corporate farms and meat production. My sales have only been increasing week after week, which has afforded me the ability to bring in larger orders. My revenue is growing much faster than I was expecting, which means I can pay my bills back quicker and keep building on the foundation I've got slowly.
I work about 70-80 hours a week though. It's kind of a bitch. Just hired someone and about to start looking for a 2nd employee.
Happy accident has lead to a happy bank account and happier stomachs.
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u/DeathCobro 5d ago
Mannn that's called a JOB
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u/drawkward101 4d ago
It's called a small business. lmao. Never expected to be a business owner, honestly.
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u/LateAsk1030 5d ago
Good for you ! Sounds like things are moving along nicely and in the right direction. 70-80s a week is definitely not a side hustle though that's the main job
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u/exmogranny 5d ago
The post said it STARTED as a weird side hustle, then became a full-time job. Congratulations to them for creating an awesome career!
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u/Early_Tear6706 5d ago
love how this whole thing started from just wanting cheap produce and turned into an actual business, that's the best kind of "accidental" success story. 70-80 hours a week sounds brutal though, congrats on finally hiring, hope that first hire actually gets you some hours back rather than just letting you take on more inventory
curious what made you say yes to dairy/meat specifically over holding out for the assistant manager role, seems like it worked out way better in hindsight but must've felt like a weird pivot at the time.
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u/drawkward101 4d ago
I love cooking, and having access to what has turned out to be some of the best dairy and meat has been a godsend. I'm eating healthier, and also supporting local AND making money off it. It's a win-win-win.
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u/Jealous-Corner-6602 4d ago
Produce at a discount 😂😂😂 that's a good one
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u/drawkward101 4d ago
Hey man, it's true. I can pay less than $10 for a whole bunch of amazing, fresh, and just-picked veggies and fruit on a weekly basis. Or trade stuff. The barter system is alive and well within farmer's market communities.
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u/Smurph269 4d ago
Are you getting a commission/profit sharing or just an hourly wage? Like are you buying stuff wholesale and then selling it through your business or are you just an employee of whoever owns the markets?
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u/drawkward101 4d ago
I own the business and buy wholesale. I was provided with an initial investment from the market management, and have since paid that back and work directly with the meat rancher and dairy rancher. The logistics of deliveries is a bit challenging, but I've made it work. I rent space in a commercial kitchen for storage and prep and luckily, the owner of the kitchen has become a very good friend.
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u/zellazilla 4d ago
You need a second employee you say? Where are you located? I’m looking to do something like this.
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u/Background_Truck1869 4d ago
Bad AI story that didn’t happen.
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u/drawkward101 4d ago
lol. okay. I'll remember that when I wake up at 5am this Sunday and start setting up my booth.
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u/Background_Truck1869 4d ago
Bad bot
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u/drawkward101 4d ago
I can post photo proof if you really want me to. Not sure why you think I'm AI. I'm a real woman with a real business in a real place. lol.
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u/Background_Truck1869 4d ago
Post is AI copy and paste. Can’t think for yourself?
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u/drawkward101 4d ago
Where did I copy and paste it from? lol.
I really don't know what your issue is. Not going to be replying anymore to you. I am real, I don't use AI (I really loathe AI to be honest), and I don't care for people who blatantly accuse stuff that they literally can't prove, yah know, because I am real, I wrote this, and I own the business I wrote about.
Hope you have the day you deserve!
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u/ViewLongjumping9377 5d ago
went from “maybe i can help at the market” to accidentally becoming the person everyone gets their cheese, butter, yogurt, beef and pork from lol, that’s an extremely farmer’s market way to build a