This Facet Hustle Highlight Q&A options Damian Primis, a 45-year-old musician based mostly in Queens, New York. Through 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 main occupation once you began your aspect 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 College. My profession has taken me all around the globe, and I’ve had wonderful experiences working with among the best 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 live performance with Josh Groban and the solid 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 dwell music got here to a halt. This meant that I’d be out of a job for fairly some time, which was actually scary. Will issues return to regular quickly? It was the query that saved 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 aspect hustle. I’ve at all times 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 type of further virgin olive oil you could’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 aspect hustle off the bottom?
The primary steps weren’t very straightforward, however I feel it is a necessary a part of what any startup or small enterprise is like. You have to expertise the “rising pains,” as I wish to name it. Whereas nonetheless within the pandemic, most manufacturing and success had been both gradual 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 identify by means of phrase 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 largest challenges you confronted whereas constructing your aspect hustle, and the way did you navigate them?
There have been fairly a number of challenges, I have to say. One of many largest challenges I confronted was securing funding. With a restricted finances, I needed to depend on every cargo’s earnings to finance the following, which meant slower development. However on reflection, 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 because of the advanced rules, paperwork and logistics. I sought recommendation from anybody who might supply perception and was persistent to find the appropriate contacts for steering.
Moreover, ecommerce introduced its challenges. I needed to study new expertise like constructing an internet site, organising transport and making certain the protected supply of fragile merchandise like olive oil in glass bottles. Elements like climate and temperature throughout cargo additionally grew to become key obstacles, however by means of persistence and trial and error, I used to be capable of finding options.
What does income and development appear like?
One factor to bear in mind about Primis Imports is that we had been promoting a small-batch amount of olive oil that’s harvested every year. 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 12 months from the northern hemisphere. This helped us to maintain model consciousness available in the market and offered constant funding and development for the enterprise month over month.
Primis Imports has constantly grown since we began in 2022. The primary 12 months, we had 200% development, and in 2023, we had 305% development from the earlier 12 months. 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 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 shall 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 aspect hustle permits me to remain deeply related to my roots and heritage. Partnering with small Greek producers not solely strengthens native economies but in addition helps share their craftsmanship with a world viewers. I like the problem of reimagining conventional merchandise for the U.S. market, particularly by means of progressive branding that catches the buyer’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, function and artistry, and I could not ask for extra.
What’s your recommendation for others hoping to start out profitable aspect hustles of their very own?
My recommendation for anybody seeking to begin a profitable aspect hustle is to start small and prioritize high quality over amount. In in the present day’s aggressive market, shoppers worth authenticity and excellence. A fantastically branded product will solely go up to now 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 necessary. Be clear concerning the scope and limitations of what you are promoting. The best companions will perceive your imaginative and prescient and develop with you; if they can not meet you the place you might be, they might not be the perfect match.
Persistence is one other key ingredient. Success does not occur in a single day, however the small, constant steps you’re taking every day will compound over time. Deal with creating one thing significant and distinctive reasonably than chasing fast wins. Whenever you method your aspect hustle with care, persistence and a dedication to high quality, the rewards — each monetary and private — will comply with.
