If you are one of the many Australians currently in lockdown or working from home and are looking to supplement your income, there are a variety of ways you could make some extra cash from the comfort of your couch or dining room table. We round up 10 ways you could earn money from home, and talk to one Aussie mum who has turned her sticker planner business into a lucrative side hustle.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a rapid shift in where and how many Australians work. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the number of people working from home during the pandemic increased significantly (from 12% in March 2020 to 31% in September 2020).
Six years ago, Aussie mum Karen Lee began her at-home business while on maternity leave with her son. She started by selling handmade gifts, which soon turned into handmade party styling. While Karen loved making party buntings, cake toppers and other party accessories, she told Canstar the process was extremely labour-intensive and unprofitable, so she changed her focus to the world of planner stickers.
“I was using planners to help me stay organised – to keep track of my business, as well as my personal life – and then I saw how people would buy stickers each week to put in their planners to make them pretty,” she said.
“I sold my stickers under my party shop brand until a year ago, when I decided it was time to rebrand to Pretty Planner Studio.”
Karen now designs planner stickers that feature her own hand-drawn ‘kawaii’ art, as well as the illustrations of other local artists who she likes to support. ‘Kawaii’ art includes oversized eyes, rounded shapes, and simple features, and relates to an aesthetic of the ‘cuteness’ trend originating in Japan.
“I have my own art on accessories too like notebooks, albums, tote bags and acrylic pins, and I also have a kids’ stationery subscription box with a new theme each month,” she told Canstar.
Karen sells her planner stickers and other accessories through her own Pretty Planner Studio website and also through e-commerce website Etsy, which she said enables future customers to discover her business easily.
When it comes to earnings from her creative side hustle, Karen said it varies according to how much time she can invest in her business, as she also works full time.
“During a strong month, I can make $3,500 in sales …….
Source: https://www.canstar.com.au/savings-accounts/savings-make-money-from-home/