This Aspect Hustle Highlight Q&A options Damian Primis, a 45-year-old musician primarily based in Queens, New York. Through the pandemic, Primis began olive oil model Primis Imports as a facet 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 whenever you began your side 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 Faculty. My profession has taken me everywhere in the globe, and I’ve had superb experiences working with a number of 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 concert with Josh Groban and the solid of Broadway’s Sweeney Todd.
When did you begin your facet hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
When the pandemic struck, Broadway went darkish, and reside 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 exterior of music and the way I may use this ardour to create a side hustle. I’ve at all times had an immense sense of delight 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 buddy of mine who produced nice olive oil, the sort of further virgin olive oil that 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 a number of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the bottom?
The primary steps weren’t very simple, however I believe it is a necessary a part of what any startup or small business is like. You have to expertise the “rising pains,” as I wish to name it. Whereas nonetheless within the pandemic, most manufacturing and achievement had been both sluggish 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 title by means of word of mouth, and the bottles bought out! It reassured me that there was a distinct segment that I may unlock within the U.S. market and boosted my confidence to proceed on this new journey.
What had been a number of the greatest challenges you confronted whereas constructing your facet hustle, and the way did you navigate them?
There have been fairly a couple of challenges, I have to say. One of many greatest challenges I confronted was securing funding. With a restricted funds, I needed to depend on every cargo’s income to finance the subsequent, 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 complicated rules, paperwork and logistics. I sought recommendation from anybody who may provide perception and was persistent find the suitable contacts for steerage.
Moreover, ecommerce introduced its challenges. I needed to be taught new expertise like constructing a web site, establishing delivery and making certain the protected supply of fragile merchandise like olive oil in glass bottles. Components like climate and temperature throughout cargo additionally turned 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 annually. When the product is gone, it is gone! In two to a few months, we had been in a position to see constant income and in the end 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 yr from the northern hemisphere. This helped us to maintain brand awareness available in the market and supplied constant funding and development for the enterprise month over month.
Primis Imports has persistently grown since we began in 2022. The primary yr, we had 200% development, and in 2023, we had 305% development from the earlier yr. 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 might be launching extra merchandise throughout the snacking and cooking classes.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Primis Imports
What do you take pleasure in most about this facet hustle?
I take pleasure in how this side hustle permits me to remain deeply related to my roots and heritage. Partnering with small Greek producers not solely strengthens native economies but additionally helps share their craftsmanship with a worldwide viewers. I like the problem of reimagining conventional merchandise for the U.S. market, particularly by means of modern 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 really 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 facet hustles of their very own?
My recommendation for anybody seeking to begin a profitable side hustle is to start small and prioritize high quality over amount. In in the present day’s aggressive market, customers worth authenticity and excellence. A fantastically branded product will solely go up to now if the standard is not there, so put money into getting it proper from the beginning.
Constructing real relationships along with your suppliers is simply as essential. Be clear in regards to 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’re, they might not be one of the best match.
Endurance is one other key ingredient. Success would not occur in a single day, however the small, constant steps you are taking each day will compound over time. Deal with creating one thing significant and distinctive moderately than chasing fast wins. If you method your facet hustle with care, persistence and a dedication to high quality, the rewards — each monetary and private — will comply with.
