This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Damian Primis, a 45-year-old musician based mostly in Queens, New York. Throughout the pandemic, Primis began olive oil model Primis Imports as a aspect hustle; the enterprise has since grown to 6 figures. Responses have been edited for size and readability.
Picture Credit score: Matt Dine. Damian Primis.
What was your day job or major occupation once you began your side hustle?
For greater than 20 years, I’ve labored as a classically educated musician. My love for the humanities and music began at a younger age, which led me to New York, the place I graduated with bachelor’s and grasp’s levels in music efficiency from The Juilliard Faculty. My profession has taken me all around the globe, and I’ve had superb experiences working with among the biggest musicians of all time (and my private favorites), just like the jazz legend Joe Zawinful, The Who at Madison Sq. Backyard and a Tiny Desk concert with Josh Groban and the forged of Broadway’s Sweeney Todd.
When did you begin your aspect hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
When the pandemic struck, Broadway went darkish, and reside music got here to a halt. This meant that I might be out of a job for fairly some time, which was actually scary. Will issues return to regular quickly? It was the query that stored popping into my thoughts. It was at this pivotal second in my life that I began reflecting on what else introduced me pleasure outdoors of music and the way I might use this ardour to create a side hustle. I’ve all the time had an immense sense of satisfaction in my grandparents’ ancestral homeland in Evia, Greece. The wealthy tradition, the great thing about the lands and the delicacies actually impressed me. So, I referred to as a good friend of mine who produced nice olive oil, the form of further virgin olive oil that you may’t discover on the cabinets of American supermarkets, and Primis Imports was born.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Primis Imports
What had been among the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the bottom?
The primary steps weren’t very simple, however I feel it is a vital a part of what any startup or small business is like. You might want to expertise the “rising pains,” as I prefer to name it. Whereas nonetheless within the pandemic, most manufacturing and achievement had been both sluggish or at a halt. It took a while to have the primary 150 liters of additional virgin olive oil shipped to New York from my grandfather’s city, however when the product lastly arrived, I used to be in a position to expedite the method of hand-labeling each single bottle. I began promoting to family and friends who unfold the Primis Imports title by way of word of mouth, and the bottles bought out! It reassured me that there was a distinct segment that I might unlock within the U.S. market and boosted my confidence to proceed on this new journey.
What had been among the greatest challenges you confronted whereas constructing your aspect hustle, and the way did you navigate them?
There have been fairly a couple of challenges, I need to say. One of many greatest challenges I confronted was securing funding. With a restricted finances, I needed to depend on every cargo’s income to finance the following, which meant slower development. However looking back, it helped me keep away from making pricey errors and made me extra considerate about investments in manufacturing and packaging.
I used to be additionally fully unfamiliar with the importing course of. It was overwhelming as a result of advanced laws, paperwork and logistics. I sought recommendation from anybody who might provide perception and was persistent find the best contacts for steerage.
Moreover, ecommerce introduced its challenges. I needed to study new expertise like constructing a web site, establishing delivery and guaranteeing the protected supply of fragile merchandise like olive oil in glass bottles. Components like climate and temperature throughout cargo additionally turned key obstacles, however by way of persistence and trial and error, I used to be capable of finding options.
What does income and development seem like?
One factor to remember about Primis Imports is that we had been promoting a small-batch amount of olive oil that’s harvested yearly. When the product is gone, it is gone! In two to 3 months, we had been in a position to see constant income and finally bought out of our early harvest olive oil shortly afterward. This meant that we needed to pivot to search out extra product till Greece’s subsequent harvest. We sought out a southern hemisphere producer in Peru, which harvests olive oil on the reverse time of yr from the northern hemisphere. This helped us to maintain brand awareness out there and supplied constant funding and development for the enterprise month over month.
Primis Imports has persistently grown since we began in 2022. The primary yr, we had 200% development, and in 2023, we had 305% development from the earlier yr. DTC is the place we see most of our gross sales, with a small fraction coming from wholesale and smaller retailers. What makes Primis Imports distinctive is our continued mission of sourcing smaller producers with the very best high quality merchandise. In 2024, we began increasing our product line with two honeys from the islands of Milos and Thasos, and in 2025, we will probably be launching extra merchandise inside the snacking and cooking classes.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Primis Imports
What do you take pleasure in most about this aspect hustle?
I take pleasure in how this side hustle permits me to remain deeply related to my roots and heritage. Partnering with small Greek producers not solely strengthens native economies but additionally helps share their craftsmanship with a world viewers. I like the problem of reimagining conventional merchandise for the U.S. market, particularly by way of progressive branding that catches the patron’s eye. This enterprise additionally fuels my creativity — it is extremely rewarding to collaborate with proficient artists from throughout the nation to design packaging and storytelling that actually resonate. It is a mix of tradition, objective and artistry, and I could not ask for extra.
What’s your recommendation for others hoping to begin profitable aspect hustles of their very own?
My recommendation for anybody seeking to begin a profitable side hustle is to start small and prioritize high quality over amount. In right this moment’s aggressive market, customers worth authenticity and excellence. A fantastically branded product will solely go thus far if the standard is not there, so spend money on getting it proper from the beginning.
Constructing real relationships along with your suppliers is simply as vital. Be clear concerning the scope and limitations of your online business. The proper companions will perceive your imaginative and prescient and develop with you; if they can not meet you the place you’re, they is probably not the most effective match.
Endurance is one other key ingredient. Success would not occur in a single day, however the small, constant steps you are taking each day will compound over time. Deal with creating one thing significant and distinctive relatively than chasing fast wins. While you strategy your aspect hustle with care, persistence and a dedication to high quality, the rewards — each monetary and private — will comply with.
