Mike O’Dell is no ordinary nurse anesthetist.
He’s also the innovator behind a lucrative side hustle that reeled in over $1.4 million last year, turning his love for quilting into a profitable business venture.
The 50-year-old Oklahoma City resident transformed his knack for creating artful quilt designs into Legit Kits, a thriving enterprise that balances his healthcare career and passion for craft.
O’Dell’s journey into the world of quilting began in 2018 when he decided to make a quilt for his sons.
His first design was a Star Wars stormtrooper, drawn on a 5-by-6.5-foot sheet of graph paper laid out on his kitchen floor.
This process included cutting the pattern into smaller sections and sewing fabric onto the paper, before stitching these pieces together on a sewing machine and discarding the leftover paper.
This technique is known as “foundation paper piecing”, and O’Dell found it surprisingly straightforward for a beginner.
He realized that if he could streamline this process with the assistance of hired help, he could create and sell quilting kits featuring licensed images of nature scenes, animals, and characters.
Thus, Legit Kits was born in 2020.
The company has seen significant success, reporting sales of more than $1.25 million through Shopify last year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.
In addition, O’Dell estimates an additional $150,000 of revenue from selling quilt kits at Joann Fabrics and Crafts.
Despite the bankruptcy liquidation announcement by Joann on Feb. 23 leading to the closure of all its approximately 800 stores, O’Dell continues to balance his role as Legit Kits CEO and creative director with his full-time job as a nurse anesthetist.
He spends one day a week at Legit Kits and four days at a hospital.
Legit Kits employs seven full-time staff members and four freelance designers who keep the business running while O’Dell is at his nursing job.
His responsibilities at Legit Kits primarily involve promoting the company on social media platforms like Facebook and networking in professional crafting groups.
This strategy has even earned him a spot on an episode of ABC’s “Shark Tank” that aired in January.
Despite its impressive revenue figures, Legit Kits only broke even last year, with costs such as inventory, payroll, hiring, and a $4,500 monthly rent for a 4,500-square-foot manufacturing space.
Nevertheless, O’Dell plans to pay himself $50,000 from Legit Kits this year, on top of his $240,000 nurse anesthetist salary.
While O’Dell acknowledges the challenges of juggling a full-time job with a side hustle and admits to losing sleep and experiencing stress, he believes his entrepreneurial endeavor is worth the effort.
Even though he concedes that most of the money a business makes goes right back into it, he remains optimistic about the company’s future growth and profitability.
Finding purpose beyond profit
For O’Dell, Legit Kits isn’t just about the income; it’s a labor of love that brings him fulfillment outside of his healthcare career.
O’Dell’s success story demonstrates the potential of turning a hobby into a lucrative side job, even in a field as traditional as quilting.
The rise of online platforms like Shopify has made it significantly easier for entrepreneurs to reach a wide audience and sell their products directly to consumers.
O’Dell’s business model, which involves creating quilting kits with licensed images, is particularly innovative and offers a unique take on the craft.
But more than that, O’Dell’s story serves as a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t just about making money.
Despite the stress and long hours, he finds fulfillment in running his own business and creating products that bring joy to his customers.
This personal passion, combined with a smart business model and ongoing resilience in the face of challenges, is what makes Legit Kits a company to watch in the future.
As O’Dell navigates the challenges of entrepreneurship, his story provides valuable insights into the realities of running a business.
Legit Kits is not just about maintaining a financial bottom line, but also about preserving and innovating a traditional craft, demonstrating that even in the age of digital technology, there’s room for creativity and skill.
This tale serves as inspiration to others who might be considering turning their hobbies into businesses.
It’s proof that it’s possible to balance a demanding full-time job with a passion project, and not only find personal fulfillment but also create a profitable enterprise.
As we watch Legit Kits’ journey unfold, it will be interesting to see how O’Dell’s ambitious goals shape the future of his company and possibly inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
In a world where entrepreneurship is often glamorized, stories like O’Dell’s remind us that success is as much about resilience and dedication as it is about innovative ideas.
