At a time when her high school peers were picking up part-time jobs, Kiana Jackson, then 15, started her first side hustle business. Her decision to start Kiana Mei Designs, selling custom origami artworks, was instigated by time spent studying in Tokyo. The specific designs, though, were inspired by making origami with her classmates. “I came up with my first origami artwork and I asked my friends and family what they thought, then started my first market from there and that’s how it all began,” says Kiana.
Kiana mastered the juggle between her school studies and showcasing Kiana Mei Designs at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market on the weekends. By the time she graduated in 2023, Kiana not only achieved a tertiary admission rank of over 90, but also scaled her business to six figures in total revenue. Kiana was faced with a choice: pursue a Bachelor of Business degree at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology or take Kiana Mei Designs full time. Her decision was made when, post-graduation, she got a taste of focusing on her business six days a week.
“That’s when I realised it was a viable business. It was one of the really defining moments and why I chose to defer my university course and focus on this instead,” says Kiana. “Starting my own business full time straight after high school is just the most perfect decision that I’ve made for myself.”
Kiana’s advice to young entrepreneurs looking to grow a creative side hustle? Just get started.
Kiana’s Best Business Tips
Don’t Wait For Perfect
“I’ll often hear from my friends, family and other younger people that they really want to start a business. It’s all about just starting somewhere; it never has to be perfect,” says Kiana. “Always keep chipping at things, and growing, and working on it, and having that mindset of improvement. Just keep going from there and [you’ll] get better and better.”
Be Savvy With Your Money
“The biggest thing that I did was keeping my overheads low and having my profit margins high. For me, that was selling at the markets, where they charged less than a hundred dollars [for a stall] and I was doing everything myself so I didn’t have any staff costs.”
SEE ALSO: 7 Small Business Tips The Owners of Two Franks Cafe Live By
Balance Your Time
“I try to understand there needs to be a balance between me-time and hustling. I try to retain that balance of what I’ll usually do – go to the gym or dance and read books. And yes, I love that hustle and grind and getting things done, but at the same time, doing all that is impossible if I don't take care of myself and give that time for me to have that balance as well.”
Know Your Target Market
“Do your market research on [your] product and on the profit margin to ensure that you’re not wasting your time. A lot of people might have an idea and then just put it out there, but they’ve missed the step of market research. Then, maybe their product doesn’t sell, or maybe there’s certain elements to it that could be improved on, and they haven’t been able to get that feedback before actually officially launching.”
SEE ALSO: Small Business Success Stories with Riley Callie Resources
Learn From the Highs and Lows
“Be consistent with whatever you’re working on and don’t give up, even if something’s hard. I think starting a business is always a learning journey and there’s going to be ups and downs, but learning from each experience and just taking whatever you can from each step of it is very important.”
Share Your Brand Story
“Business is highly competitive; you really need to stand out these days, and I think your story is really what will get people over the line. [Think about] what your business represents and how you want to put it forward to the public so that it has this meaning; that’s going to get you more sales.”
Kiana’s Small Business Essentials
- Tapt Lite Digital Business Card: “I have this digital business card that has my details on it. Customers can tap their phone on the card and I find that the turnover of people clicking the link on their phone is a lot higher.”
- Square 2nd Generation Contactless EFTPOS Card Reader White: “Ever since my first market, I’ve always used my Square reader to take card payments. It’s such a lifesaver; it’s inexpensive and super easy to charge, set up and use.”
- Avery 18UP Inkjet Laser Rectangle Labels Gloss White 10 Sheet: “It’s so easy to print these labels off at home with my printer. I use them on the back of my artworks to include my website and story behind my business for customers to read.”
- J.Burrows Stick-It Notes 76x76mm Assorted Ultra 5 Pack: “These bright and colourful sticky notes are great for my ideas wall, as I use them to organise and categorise based on what I am currently working on and what I need to do next.”
SEE ALSO: Small Business Success: The Founder of Yura Tours’ Daily Routine
Balancing the Side Hustle
Running a side business, whether it’s in its burgeoning stages or taking off into a full-time gig, is no mean feat. And, when it’s a job tied to your dreams of turning your unique skill into an income stream, you’ll want to give it your all. But be wary of burnout – when it’s just you, it can be hard to set boundaries or recognise when you’re worn out. According to Mental Health First Aid Australia, 61 per cent of Australians report experiencing burnout so take steps to implement regular self-care practices (eating well, exercising, socialising outside of work), set clear boundaries on the start and end of your day, and book in regular leave.
