I turned my hobby into a bath bomb side-hustle and it’s paid for my wedding – it hardly takes any time too
A WOMAN who turned her lockdown hobby into a side hustle has told how she’s made a whopping £21k in two years to put towards her wedding.
Elizabeth Norman, from York, is the founder of Sea & Bee – a small business making and selling handmade, natural bath bombs and eco-friendly cosmetics.
The 27-year-old was bored in lockdown when she decided to teach herself how to make bath bombs by watching YouTube videos.
Now, she’s raked in a whopping £21k in just two years, and is using the money from her side hustle to help pay for her wedding to her fiancée Lauren, who also offers a helping hand with the business.
Speaking to Fabulous, Elizabeth, who shared her story in partnership with CashLady.com, explains: “I turned my lockdown hobby into a side hustle and have made £21,000 in the first two years.
“I never expected to make so much so quickly, and it’s been a massive help in paying for the cost of my wedding this October.
“Plus, I’ve learnt so many great skills as a result which has allowed me to create my own ‘Save the Date’ and place name cards, which has saved us hundreds!”
The savvy 27-year-old – a ‘key account manager’ who is also undergoing a level 5 ‘operations management’ apprenticeship – started her side hustle shortly after Christmas two years ago, when she was suffering the January blues.
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“It was during the pandemic so there was very little to do, and I found myself getting obsessed with baths,” she explains.
“I was using a lot of bath products, and, after a quick Google, I realised that I could make some myself or at least give it a good go.
“After all, we were in lockdown, and I needed a weekend activity.”
Elizabeth, who suffers from eczema and dry skin, has always been a fan of bath bombs as they help to ease her flare ups, so it seemed like the perfect side hustle for her.
“I experience eczema and dry skin,” she says.
“Bath bombs and bath melts that use oils such as shea and coconut soothe and nourish the skin and really help when it’s particularly dry.
“Bath Bombs are just a nice way to enjoy a bath – they’re a little fun and the ones with essential oils really help you relax!”
Elizabeth soon set to work and taught herself everything she needed to know by watching tutorials on YouTube.
“To make bath bombs you need three basic ingredients – sodium bicarbonate, citric acid and a binding agent like clay powder or corn flour,” she explains.
“From there, add essential oils, fragrances and colours to make the perfect blend.
“I learnt from YouTube videos and trial and error!”
After realising just how quickly and easily she could make the products, Elizabeth created an Etsy page.
I never expected to make so much so quickly, and it’s been a massive help in paying for the cost of my wedding this October
Elizabeth Norman
“I initially uploaded a couple of affordable letterbox gifts starting from £6,” she recalls.
“I remember calling my Grandma in the first few weeks when I had more than one order in a day!”
But within just a few months, Elizabeth’s business had garnered so much attention, she had to take over a bedroom in her house.
“I installed shelving units and organised a packing and production space,” she says.
“This was perfect to begin with, as we didn’t expect to get busy quickly, but once we started getting a higher volume of orders, space was a problem.
“We then spent around £4,000 creating a space in the garage which was purpose-built for our needs.”
She adds: “I can make 200 bath bombs in an hour (more if I’m feeling energetic!).
“I ensure we have stock ready-made as we often get wholesale orders we have to keep on top of.
“My partner helps out, but we both work full-time and are apprentice learners, so ensuring bath bombs are ready-made guarantees quick dispatch.”
Since starting the business in January 2021, Elizabeth has made a staggering £21,000 – with some of the profit going towards her wedding to Lauren in October.
“It’s crazy to think about,” she admits.
“Now we have a website, our following on social media is growing, and we have even received an order of 400 bath bombs from one customer!”
“We do get a lot of repeat buyers which is absolutely amazing and our reviews are 4.8 on average which is an absolute dream.
“Our most popular product is a small letterbox gift box which includes bath bombs and a tube of Epsom salt, always followed by a healthy sprinkle of dried flower petals.
“The average item costs £6.50 so is incredibly reasonable for a handmade product.”
As for the wedding, Elizabeth explains: “My side hustle has been a great motivating factor, knowing that without the additional money it would have been a lot harder.
“We’ve managed to put enough money in from that made by my side hustle to cover flowers and decorations.
“The flowers are from Moonwind who are growers literally a few miles from the wedding, which feels right knowing we are supporting small and local!”
“We have the venue all day so the aim is to have a lovely relaxed day, surrounded by the people we care about most in the world.
“There’ll be great food, lots of laughs and a band ready to sing until our hearts content!”
But while Elizabeth’s side hustle has earned her a small fortune, she recalls how some months are much quieter than others.
“December and January were quieter than we’d have hoped, as a lot of small businesses found,” she says.
“The postal strikes in December, and this Christmas in general, were the biggest challenges I have faced.
“I’d just invested heavily in upgrading our production and packing space; whilst this was necessary, I really banked on having a busy Christmas but sadly this was not the case this year.
“Orders and revenue tanked, big time.
“We had some really cold weather so people are rightly focused on how much gas and electricity are costing, meaning most people could no longer afford to ‘shop small.'”
I learnt from YouTube videos and trial and error
Elizabeth Norman
She continues: “It did feel demoralising after such an amazing first year, but everyone is dealing with the cost of living crisis, and it wasn’t just my business which was impacted.
“Even though it wasn’t what I hoped, I used the time to focus on what I wanted to achieve in 2023: new product ideas, objectives, and vision.
“But then February was a great month for us.
“We were up 12% on revenue compared to last year, and it certainly feels like the hard work is paying off.”
For anyone looking to follow in Elizabeth’s footsteps and set up their own side hustle, she has some words of advice.
“If you want to set up a side hustle, be mindful of the return on investment (ROI),” she says.
“Try to choose an idea that you don’t have to invest a lot of money in to get it up and running – if you have goods or a skill that can be used, this is a fantastic place to start because there is no initial investment needed.
“Don’t forget to budget for your time; ensure this is factored into your price and if you are using your own equipment, such as gardening tools, factor in the cost of depreciation.
She concludes: “Finally, go for it! The only thing standing in your way is yourself and the sooner you start, the sooner you could be earning money!”