In the world of side hustles, one name stands out as a symbol of incredible success: Gretta van Riel.
She burst onto the scene in 2013 with her first business, SkinnyMe Tea, and quickly became a role model for aspiring eCommerce entrepreneurs everywhere.
She was just 23 at the time, with no money to her name and no business experience. She started SkinnyMe Tea from her kitchen in her tiny apartment, and quickly turned it into a seven figure business.
To prove her first success wasn’t a fluke, she started 4 more companies, each quickly generating millions in revenue.
Gretta’s story will show you that anyone, with the right mindset and smart strategies, can transform their side hustle into a moneymaking venture.
In this week’s newsletter, we’ll dive into Gretta van Riel’s side hustle journey, uncovering the secrets behind her remarkable success and sharing practical advice for anyone dreaming of turning their own side hustle into a rewarding reality.
Let’s get into it!
This week’s newsletter brings you:
- Trends – This week we unpack the stats you need to know if you’re thinking about starting your own eCommerce business!
- Strategies – Get ready to get inspired as we take you through Gretta’s story and give you actionable strategies you can apply to your own side hustle.
- Tool of the Week – Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, making it an excellent choice for side hustlers starting an online business.
- Trends
- Strategies
- The side hustle journey of Gretta van Riel
- The Strategies Behind Gretta van Riel’s Success
- Identifying profitable niches and market gaps
- Leveraging social media for brand building
- Leveraging influencer marketing
- Building a community and fostering customer loyalty
- Diversification and the art of multiple revenue streams
- Tool of the Week
Trends
Is eCommerce a passing fad? According to our research, the answer is a definite nope! Let’s take a look at the figures.
Worldwide Growth in Retail eCommerce Sales (2021-2026)
It’s no secret that eCommerce sales have exploded since the 2020 pandemic. More people than ever are doing their shopping online, and according to this data from Insider Intelligence, that trend is only going to continue to grow in the next few years.
Social Commerce Sales Worldwide (2022-2026)
Social commerce refers to the integration of e-commerce and social media. This is something Gretta van Riel is a master at!
Due to its unparalleled reach, retailers worldwide have been using social networks as a communication and promotion channel for years. With the growing demand for easy and instant online shopping, companies have started to capitalize on these platforms’ e-commerce potential.
Using social media, consumers can make purchases without leaving the platform, enabling a fast and direct customer journey.
Strategies
Alrightly side hustlers now that we’ve got the numbers out of the way let’s get to know the lovely Gretta a little bit better! What can we learn from her? Turns out, quite a lot!
The side hustle journey of Gretta van Riel
Gretta van Riel’s entrepreneurial journey began in the most humble of settings: the kitchen of her tiny apartment.
As a fresh-faced 23 year old, Gretta harbored a deep passion for creating something of her own. A side hustle.
In her spare time, Gretta decided to take a leap of faith and started her first business SkinnyMe Tea.
Armed with a passion for health and wellness, she began blending her own detoxifying teas and designing weight loss programs.
Initially, she ran the entire operation from her kitchen, carefully packaging and shipping each order herself. Little did she know that this side hustle would soon turn into a remarkable success story.
SkinnyMe Tea gained traction quickly, mostly thanks to her thriving following on social media.
But it wasn’t without it’s setbacks, Gretta had to quickly learn how to navigate supply and demand, and got burned badly when she spent thousands of dollars on a shipment of tea, only to find out when it arrived that it was unsafe to sell.
But she persevered, learning from her mistakes, and quickly turned SkinnyMe Tea into a seven figure business.
However, Gretta wasn’t content to stop there. She decided to see if she could repeat her process and start a new company from scratch again, focusing on building a following first, before developing a product.
Her next venture was Drop Bottle, a line of fruit-infuser water bottles. She recognized that their was a growing trend for health-conscious folks and wanted to provide a solution that made drinking water more enjoyable.
Again, she built the company into a huge success by using the power of social media. Drop Bottle was even featured on Oprah’s favorite things!
Next, she launched The Fifth Watches, offering affordable and stylish timepieces. The strategy? They were only available for sale on the 5th day of each month. On the companies first birthday, she pulled in $1million in sales in a single day.
Understanding the power of social media, Gretta then went on to found Hey Influencers, a platform that connected brands with influential social media personalities.
This innovative approach to marketing allowed businesses to tap into the reach and impact of influencers, while providing influencers with exciting opportunities for collaboration.
Is there anything she can’t do?!
From her humble beginnings with SkinnyMe Tea to the expansion of multiple successful ventures, she demonstrated that with passion, dedication, and determination, anyone can pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and create their own path to success.
Check out this video to hear more of Gretta’s incredible story:
The Strategies Behind Gretta van Riel’s Success
Now that you’ve had an overview of Gretta’s side hustle story and the companies she founded, let’s dive deeper into the strategies she used to achieve such incredible success!
Identifying profitable niches and market gaps
Gretta van Riel’s knack for identifying market gaps played a pivotal role in her success. She had an incredible ability to spot emerging trends and understand what consumers were looking for.
It was like she had a sixth sense for recognizing opportunities that others might miss!
Gretta paid close attention to her audience’s behavior and listened to their feedback. By staying in tune with their needs and wants, she could pinpoint areas where demand exceeded supply or where existing products fell short.
She saw these gaps as golden opportunities to create something unique and fill those voids in the market.
For example, when she launched SkinnyMe Tea, she noticed the increasing demand for natural health and wellness products. She identified a gap in the market for a detox tea that offered effective weight loss solutions.
With her innovative tea blends and accompanying weight loss programs, Gretta addressed this specific need and captured the attention of health-conscious individuals worldwide.
Another instance of Gretta’s market-savvy was seen with The Fifth Watches. She recognized that people wanted stylish timepieces that didn’t break the bank. There was a gap between expensive luxury watches and low-quality, inexpensive options.
So, Gretta filled that void by creating The Fifth Watches, offering trendy timepieces at an affordable price point.
Her success serves as an inspiration for all of us to keep our eyes open, listen to our audiences, and find those hidden gaps that could lead to our own entrepreneurial triumphs.
Key takeaway: Pay attention to what your audience is looking for and seize the opportunity to fill those voids with unique products or services. Stay proactive, have an entrepreneurial mindset, and be ready to take action when you spot a market gap.
Don’t have an audience yet? Learn the strategies to growing a following here!
Leveraging social media for brand building
Gretta van Riel was ahead of the game when it came to recognizing the power of social media.
She saw it as a fantastic tool for building her brand and wasted no time in leveraging its potential.
With strategic and engaging content, she not only established a strong online presence but also formed direct connections with her target audience.
Gretta knew that sharing her journey, inspiring stories, and showcasing the benefits of her products would resonate with people.
By being open and transparent about her own experiences, she built an authentic connection that fostered trust and loyalty. Her relatable content made followers feel like they were part of her life.
Whether it was through transformation stories, heartfelt testimonials, or lifestyle imagery, she effectively communicated the value her products could bring.
What set Gretta apart was her genuine engagement with her followers. She took the time to respond to comments, initiate conversations, and encourage user participation.
By creating a sense of community and making her followers feel valued, she turned them into brand enthusiasts who enthusiastically shared their experiences with others.
Gretta’s social media strategy proved to be a game-changer, building a dedicated tribe of supporters who not only bought her products but also became loyal advocates.
Their enthusiastic word-of-mouth recommendations and social media shares amplified her reach, driving her businesses to new heights.
Gretta van Riel’s success demonstrates the incredible potential of social media for brand building.
Key takeaway: Take a cue from Gretta van Riel’s success and harness the power of social media for your own brand! Start by creating engaging content, sharing your personal journey, and fostering a sense of community to cultivate a loyal following.
Leveraging influencer marketing
Gretta van Riel knew just how influential social media personalities could be, and she tapped into that power through her savvy use of influencer marketing.
With her platform, Hey Influencers, she created a space where brands and influencers could collaborate and promote products together, benefiting both sides.
Gretta understood that influencers had dedicated followings who trusted their recommendations. By partnering with influencers who shared her brands’ values and targeted the same audience, she could leverage their reach, credibility, and expertise to effectively spread the word about her products.
Through these collaborations, Gretta’s brands gained wider exposure and gained credibility among their target demographics.
Influencers shared their genuine experiences and showcased the benefits of Gretta’s products with their enthusiastic followers.
These personal endorsements, amplified through social media, created a buzz that resonated with potential customers.
By embracing influencer marketing, Gretta opened the doors to remarkable growth and brand recognition. The authentic and relatable nature of influencer endorsements built trust and credibility for her brands, attracting new customers along the way.
It was a smart and innovative way to harness the influence of social media personalities, expand her brands’ reach, boost sales, and establish a strong presence among her desired audience.
Key takeaway: By collaborating with influencers who align with your brand and target audience, you can leverage their influence, authenticity, and engaged followers to effectively promote your products or services.
Building a community and fostering customer loyalty
Gretta van Riel understood the importance of building a close-knit community around her brands.
She went the extra mile to foster customer loyalty by creating fun and interactive experiences that made her audience feel valued and connected.
From providing personalized customer support to organizing exciting social media contests and challenges, Gretta made sure her customers had an enjoyable and engaging time.
These activities encouraged her audience to share their experiences, connect with one another, and feel like part of a larger family. By fostering this community spirit, Gretta not only increased customer engagement but also transformed her customers into enthusiastic brand advocates.
The result of Gretta’s community-building efforts was not just repeat purchases but also a network of passionate customers who couldn’t wait to spread the word about her brands.
Their positive word-of-mouth recommendations and social media shares became a powerful force that fueled further growth and attracted new customers.
Key takeaway: By creating enjoyable experiences, offering personalized support, and fostering a sense of belonging, you can cultivate a loyal and passionate customer base that becomes your biggest cheerleaders.
Diversification and the art of multiple revenue streams
Gretta’s secret to success lies in her ability to diversify and create multiple revenue streams, like a true master of versatility.
Instead of putting all her eggs in one basket, she spread her ventures across different industries, resulting in a strong and resilient business portfolio.
Gretta knew that relying solely on one business could be risky, so she took a smart approach by diversifying her ventures. This not only helped her mitigate potential risks but also allowed her to tap into various customer bases, expanding her reach and ensuring a more stable source of income. It was like having multiple backup plans in place.
By venturing into different industries, Gretta also had the chance to explore her passions and put her skills to use in various areas. It was a way for her to have fun and leverage her expertise across multiple arenas.
Talk about a recipe for happiness and success!
This diversification of revenue streams not only made Gretta’s businesses more resilient but also created opportunities for cross-promotion and synergy. By leveraging the strengths of each business, she was able to increase their visibility, profitability, and overall strength.
Gretta’s approach to diversification and multiple revenue streams shows us that being adaptable and resourceful can lead to long-term success.
By embracing new opportunities, exploring different passions, and utilizing expertise in various fields, entrepreneurs can create a dynamic and fulfilling journey that paves the way for remarkable achievements.
Key takeaway: Diversification also provides opportunities to explore different passions, leverage expertise, and create synergies between businesses. Embracing versatility and being adaptable in business can lead to long-term success and fulfillment.
Tool of the Week
Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, making it an excellent choice for side hustlers starting an online business. Here are some reasons why Shopify is a good platform for side hustlers:
- User-Friendly
- All-in-One Solution
- Professional Storefront
- App Integrations
- Mobile-Ready
- Support and Resources
- Scalability
Overall, Shopify’s user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, professional storefront options, mobile readiness, extensive support, and scalability make it a top choice for side hustlers looking to establish and grow their online businesses with ease and confidence.