A College Student’s Side Hustle Turned $500K-per-Year Business.
Jayson Siu, a 21-year-old college student, transformed his simple sticker side hustle into a thriving business that now earns him over $500,000 per year.
Starting with selling $3 stickers on Snapchat in 2020 to fund his passion for car parts, Siu’s entrepreneurial journey took a significant turn when he expanded his business, Invalid.jp, online in 2021. Operating from his parents’ apartment in Honolulu, Siu credits the success of his venture to a strategic social media marketing approach.
The Genesis: Sticker Sales for Car Parts
Siu’s entrepreneurial journey began as a means to fund his interest in car parts. In 2020, he initiated sticker sales on Snapchat, offering a unique product at an affordable price point to fellow enthusiasts.
Expansion and Viral Success on TikTok
Taking his business online in 2021, Siu continued operating Invalid.jp from his parents’ apartment. The turning point came in 2022 when the company’s TikTok account @invalid.jp posted three viral videos featuring stick-on LED panels. These videos propelled Siu’s business into the spotlight, helping him achieve significant financial success.
Social Media Strategy: Posting Consistently and Going Viral
Siu attributes much of his business’s success to a consistent social media posting strategy. Advocating for regularity, he suggests that the key to going viral is continuous posting. Siu’s commitment to posting one to two videos daily on TikTok paid off, with one video allegedly earning him $38,000 in a single day.
From Side Hustle to Main Venture: Unlocking the Potential
Recognizing the potential of Invalid.jp after a video went viral, Siu decided to invest further in social media marketing. He expanded his content creation, incorporating vlogs and instructional videos about product usage. The shift in strategy, along with hiring contractors to help with content creation, allowed Siu to scale his business beyond the limitations of a side hustle.
Conclusion: A Testament to Entrepreneurial Spirit and Social Media Savvy
Jayson Siu’s journey from selling stickers for car parts to running a $500,000-per-year business is a testament to the power of entrepreneurial spirit and social media savvy. Embracing the opportunities presented by platforms like TikTok, Siu turned a modest side hustle into a lucrative venture, showcasing the transformative potential of strategic online marketing.