In the episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen interviews Alana Harmond about her journey in creating a successful side hustle. Alana began her business, Frosted by Lane, by launching an Instagram account and selling products within 24 hours. She started with product drops on Instagram, taking payments through Venmo, and later transitioned to a Shopify store, which she found challenging in terms of setting it up, pricing and managing shipping. Despite her marketing background, she faced obstacles in configuring Shopify and taking effective product photos, eventually settling on a fabric backdrop and ring light for consistency.
Alana shares insights into managing business expenses using budgeting tools like “You Need A Budget” and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of using different sales platforms like Etsy and Shopify. She explains her creative process for making decorative fake cakes and functional items such as clocks and picture frames, and the satisfaction of seeing her products appreciated during a professional photo shoot. Alana is focused on building an organic following on Instagram, mainly because of the ability to integrate her Instagram profile with Shopify. Throughout the episode, she highlights the importance of maintaining control over customer relationships and staying organized, inspiring listeners interested in starting their side hustles.
Mentioned in this episode:
Frosted by Lane Website: https://frostedbylane.com/
Frosted by Lane Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frostedbylane
Frosted by Lane Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/frostedbylane?ref=shop_sugg_market
Edgar’s Bakery: https://www.edgarsbakery.com/
Infomedia: https://infomedia.com/
Canva: https://www.canva.com/
You Need a Budget (YNAB): https://ynab.com/referral/?ref=RnwnqzaUE7wuGZPf