A businessman has managed to boost his income by an extra £10,000 thanks to his upholstery side hustle.
Jay Khan, 25, and his family set up a dry cleaning and alterations business in February 2020, but when the coronavirus pandemic struck shortly after they opened their doors, they had to adapt, fast.
Fast forward to May that year and Jay, who studied plumbing and handyman skills at college and then worked in retail and accountancy, came across a local services marketplace, Airtasker.
He spotted people were appealing for experienced specialists for a range of tasks, including upholstery, something Jay is skilled in, so he seized the opportunity.
Among the tasks he's completed on Airtasker, Jay has upholstered armchairs to look brand new
JAY KHAN
He seized the opportunity, and among his accomplishments, Jay has upholstered armchairs to look brand new, tailored men’s and women’s clothing, and made outdoor cushion covers.
Since joining the marketplace, Jay, who lives with his family in Walthamstow, London, has made more than £10,000, alongside his own business - Highams Park Dry Cleaners.
The amount Jay earns will depend on the job – some smaller and quicker jobs can bring in £60 while larger tasks can pay more than £500.
Speaking to GB News, the entrepreneur said: “The great thing about Airtasker is that you can complete tasks in your spare time and where works best for you and your client.
“I often complete jobs at my dry cleaning shop in Highams Park.
“Some tasks such as dress shortening could take around 30 minutes, others are more time consuming such as making cushion covers and can take four hours.”
When the pandemic hit, the Airtasker jobs were Jay’s main source of income. He recalled: “It allowed me to keep my business going.”
It also meant Jay had something to dedicate time to during the lockdown. “No one knew what was going to happen and my business just stopped,” he remembered. “It was important for me to keep working in any aspect, as this helped me focus on something during a strange time.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Jay says having the extra income from Airtasker means he can do 'what he wants when he wants' without having to worry
JAY KHAN
Now, the side hustle takes the pressure off his personal budget and gives Jay more freedom.
He said: “Having the income from my business now and additional income from Airtasker when needed means I can do what I want when I want and not have to worry too much.”
Jay, who has a string of five star reviews from his tasks, says positive reviews and photographs of previous tasks can really impact one’s success on Airtasker.
He urged other side hustlers to “stick to it”, adding: “Get as many reviews as possible as that helps a lot, and have a portfolio of images to show people your amazing work.”
