I turned my simple side-hustle into a thriving business – here’s how I did it
A MAN turned his lockdown side hustle into a thriving business – and it all started as a hobby.
Liam Mchale-Smith, 33, found himself at a loose end when construction sites were shut down because of Covid.
Liam, from Hyde, Cheshire, trained as a carpenter at the age of 15 before taking a job in construction.
He did that for years but, when Covid hit, he had to find something else to do – and settled on making furniture.
A wall-mounted garden bar and radiator covers were his first two builds.
He then set up a business, Unique Design by Liam, and opened a store on Etsy.
His proud partner Ruth Brankin, 32, then posted pictures on her social media – and enquiries came flooding in.
As soon as lockdowns lifted Liam and Ruth were delivering furniture as far as Truro and Aberdeen.
So he took over the garden shed and turned his hand to making furniture.
The company continued to grow and he could afford a new workshop by January 2021, he says.
He also started taking on staff – including his dad and two apprentices.
Three years later and the company is a success, Liam says.
The construction worker, who used to earn around £600 a week, said: “I really never thought something like this would happen to me. I have no experience of running a business or being the boss.
“But I wouldn’t go back to being employed now. I love being the CEO, I’m just glad Ruth is great with computers and social media.
“It was amazing from the start, and so unexpected. Home became almost impossible to live in because I just kept needing to expand my work space.”
Liam claims his firm turned over £60,000 a month throughout 2021.
He has since bought a new family home, acquired a fleet of trucks and several members of staff, he says.
Liam and his team now produce up to 40 pieces a day, he says, all handmade from locally sourced materials.
His most popular items come from the mirrored range, named after one of his children.
Liam claims he’s sold 10,350 items across Etsy and his website.
And he said: “In particular I enjoy providing help and work for local companies and charities.
“But it is very hard work. I can’t take a week off like I used to, so it has a huge impact on our home life.”
Ruth said: “It just blew up out of nowhere, we really didn’t expect it.
“It’s lovely that we never have to use credit anymore.
“And we didn’t take any business loans.
“We can buy a holiday now whereas once we’d have saved for months.
“But the success is very much deserved. I don’t know anyone who works as hard as Liam – he’s unique, and such an inspiration to others.”
It comes as hundreds are considering taking on a side hustle or second job.
There’s plenty of others who have made similar career moves.
One student pays for his pints at the pub with the cash he makes from his side hustle.
Tyler Potts pockets an extra £320 a month doing odd jobs alongside his full-time nursing degree.
Meanwhile, a mum and entrepreneur has revealed that she started her side hustle from her sofa, with just £250 whilst on maternity leave – but it is now an extremely successful business, raking in a whopping £9 million a year.
Plus, one man who quit his job as a delivery driver now rakes in £35,000 a year through his genius side hustle.