Welcome Back To Side Hustle Weekly!

I’m excited to share with you another great side hustle you can start today! Today we will be discussing how you can utilize a past strategy of drop shipping to maximize it today.

Before We Get Started Here’s Your News Recap:

📉 Stock Futures Dip as Earnings & Tariffs Loom
U.S. futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged down ahead of earnings from Tesla, Alphabet, RTX, Lockheed, Coca‑Cola, and Philip Morris. Analysts expect 6.7% Q2 profit growth, driven by Big Tech, though stalled trade talks with the EU and India weigh on sentiment.

⚠️ RTX Profit Cut Amid Tariff Realities
Defense giant RTX lowered its 2025 profit forecast, flagging an $850 million hit from steel and aluminum tariffs—even as engine demand stays solid. Its stock fell ~3.8% pre-market.

🎙️ Fed’s Waller Pushes for July Rate Cut
Governor Christopher Waller urged a 25 bp rate cut at the July 29–30 meeting, citing slowing momentum and mild inflation—even with tariffs adding just 0.75–1%. He emphasized proactive easing to support jobs and growth.

💵 Dollar Slumps, Boosting Multinationals
A ~10% drop in the dollar has benefitted U.S. multinationals. Companies like Netflix, Pepsi, and 3M raised forecasts or posted earnings upside, citing FX gains that helped offset tariffs.

🏗️ Indonesia Eyes $8B U.S. Refinery Deals
As part of a new tariff pact, Indonesia plans an $8 billion modular refinery contract with KBR Inc., buying 17 plants to boost domestic capacity and support U.S. engineering exports.

📉 Oil Slides on Trade & Supply Signals
Brent crude dropped to $68.68/barrel, declining for a third day amid trade war jitters and OPEC+ output expectations, even as tight distillate supplies offered some downside support.

🌍 IMF: Tariffs Fuel Global Imbalances
The IMF warned that tariffs won't fix global current-account imbalances and could undermine growth and stability—highlighting $34 billion in tariff costs incurred by companies.

📈 Consumer Sentiment Rises to 61.8
U-Michigan sentiment rose to 61.8 in July—higher than expected—with inflation expectations cooling to 4.4% (12-month) and 3.6% (long-term), but consumers remain wary of policy instability.

📊 Beige Book: Tariffs & Labor Worries Surface
Fed’s Beige Book shows rising import tariffs—especially on labor-intensive sectors—and labor shortages are pushing costs higher, slowing hiring, and spilling over into price forecasts.

📈 S&P 500 & Nasdaq hit record highs, with communication and consumer goods leading sectors, despite cautious bond markets.

🏛️ Fed institutional review debated, as Bessent suggests assessing the Fed’s structure over political controversy.

💸 Multinationals see windfall, with every 1% dollar dip boosting earnings per share by ~0.6% for globally exposed firms.

Drop Shipping Rebranded

What is Dropshipping and Why It Works

Dropshipping is an online business model where you sell products without holding inventory. Instead, when a customer buys from your store, a third-party supplier ships the item directly to them. You pocket the difference between your retail price and the wholesale cost.

It's like owning a store without needing a warehouse, packing boxes, or spending thousands upfront. This low-barrier, high-potential model has created thousands of six-figure entrepreneurs — and it could be your turn next.

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Dropshipping Business

Step 1: Pick a Winning Niche

The right niche makes or breaks your success.

✅ Criteria for a profitable niche:

• Solves a specific problem

• Passionate audience

• Not overly saturated

• Easy to market with visuals

Examples:
Pet products, fitness gear, smart home gadgets, beauty accessories, kitchen tools, car upgrades.

Step 2: Find Reliable Suppliers

Use platforms like:

• AliExpress (good for beginners)

• CJ Dropshipping

• Zendrop

• Spocket

• USA-based suppliers (faster shipping)

Always:

• Test the product first

• Order samples if possible

• Look for suppliers with good ratings and consistent fulfillment

Step 3: Set Up Your Online Store

Use Shopify — the most popular dropshipping platform.

You’ll need:

• A Shopify plan ($39/month for Basic)

• A branded domain name

• A clean, modern theme (Debutify, Dawn, etc.)

Install apps like:

• DSers or AutoDS – to automate order fulfillment

• Vitals – for reviews, upsells, and trust badges

• Loox – for user-generated photo reviews

Step 4: Create High-Converting Product Pages

A great product page includes:

• High-quality product images (use mockups or create your own)

• A benefit-driven headline

• Engaging description with formatting and icons

• Social proof (reviews, testimonials)

• Scarcity tactics (limited-time offers or low stock)

Bonus: Add a product demo video to build trust fast.

Step 5: Launch Paid Ads to Drive Traffic

Start with TikTok Ads or Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram).

• Start with $20–$50/day testing 3–5 creatives

• Use video ads that show product benefits in the first 3 seconds

• Retarget warm visitors with discount offers

Once you find a winning ad, scale it gradually and test new creatives weekly.

Step 6: Optimize and Repeat

Use data to refine your store:

• Remove underperforming products

• Improve your top sellers with upsells, bundles, and better descriptions

• Use email marketing (Klaviyo) to recover abandoned carts

• Offer loyalty programs or referrals

How Much Can You Make with Dropshipping?

With one or two winning products, it’s very realistic to hit $10K/month in 3–6 months.

Pros and Cons of Dropshipping

✅ Pros

• Low startup cost

• No inventory needed

• Flexible work location

• Scalable worldwide

• Tons of automation tools

❌ Cons

• Low profit margins (unless upselling)

• High competition in some niches

• Shipping times can be long

• Dependence on third-party suppliers

Requirements to Get Started

Skills:

• Basic marketing (can be learned)

• Eye for design/product quality

• Willingness to test and adapt

Time:

• 2–4 hours/day starting out

• More during ad scaling

Helpful Tools & Software:

Product Essentials to Buy (Optional But Helpful)

• Ring light + phone stand (for ad content)

• Sample products for photo/video shoots

• Canva Pro account (for clean visuals)

• Laptop with strong internet

• Shopify theme upgrade ($100–$250 one-time)

Final Thoughts: Why Dropshipping Still Works

Despite what some claim, dropshipping isn’t dead — lazy dropshipping is. If you treat it like a real business, build a brand, and focus on product-market fit, you can turn this into a 5–6 figure monthly income stream.

Summary – How to Start a Successful Dropshipping Business

1. Pick a niche you can market well

2. Partner with quality suppliers

3. Build a Shopify store with engaging pages

4. Run eye-catching TikTok/Facebook ads

5. Scale winning products and automate everything

6. Reinvest into new products, creatives, and systems

Start small, fail fast, and iterate your way to a store that prints profit.

Dropshipping isn’t just a side hustle. When done right, it’s your gateway to eCommerce freedom.

That’s A Wrap

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and if you have any questions about the post, upcoming posts, how to advertise, or anything else, feel free to reply. See you next time with another money-making post, helping you boost your income!

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.