Key Takeaways
At just 16 years old, Ethan Alexander embarked on a reselling journey that quickly turned into a thriving online business. Starting with a modest $500 investment to learn the trade, Ethan’s dedication and strategic approach led him to generate $10,000 in sales in the first month and an impressive $150,000 within just 10 months. As he now shifts focus toward his education, Ethan plans to pursue studies in business or psychology, leveraging his entrepreneurial experience for future success.
From Spare Time to Side Hustle: Ethan’s Entrepreneurial Spark
Last year, after stepping away from lacrosse, Ethan Alexander found himself with extra time and a desire to create something meaningful. Living in Kansas City, Missouri, he noticed the rise of verified resellers on major platforms like Amazon and Walmart—individuals who buy and resell products online for profit. Inspired, Ethan decided to dive into this side hustle world.
He invested $500—money he received annually from his great-grandfather’s will—to learn the ropes from an experienced reseller. Ethan’s approach was simple yet effective: instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, he embraced what was available and committed fully. “I feel like everyone always tries to find the perfect side hustle,” he says. “What’s the best thing to do right now? But I saw it and went for it. I didn’t try to look for a perfect opportunity. I just took what was in front of me and made it mine.”
Launching the Business: Walmart Laundry Detergent and $10K in Month One
To identify profitable products, Ethan utilized the software SellerAmp, which provides detailed seller metrics like price points, inventory levels, and insights on the coveted “buy box” — the section on product pages with “add to cart” and “buy now” options that often drive sales. SellerAmp also helped him understand fees, processing costs, and pricing strategies to maximize profits.
His research pointed him toward Walmart laundry detergent as his first product. Launched in May 2025, Ethan’s side hustle quickly took off. He dedicated hours driving across the Kansas City metro area, visiting every Walmart to purchase stock. “Literally for hours a day, just driving, 30, 40 minutes to each of the big Walmarts and buying out everything that they had to try and send stock,” he recalls.
He personally handled packaging, labeling, and shipping, even making frequent trips to the post office. This hands-on effort paid off: $10,000 in sales in the first month and a total of $150,000 by March 2026.
Scaling Up with Amazon and AI: A “Rinse and Repeat” Formula
Following his initial success, Ethan adopted a “rinse and repeat” model, applying the same principles to other trending products. He incorporated AI technology into his workflow, training ChatGPT using Python to streamline product selection by filtering out items unlikely to sell based on various metrics. This advanced automation saved significant time and improved inventory management.
During the summer, with more free time, Ethan expanded his sourcing beyond Walmart to include retailers such as Menards, Target, and Home Depot. His intense schedule involved packaging products late into the night and making early morning trips to post offices and stores, often working from early morning to late at night to meet Amazon’s delivery speed expectations.
Winning the “Buy Box”: Pricing and Metrics Matter
Success in reselling hinges on winning the “buy box”—a critical factor that boosts sales by making a seller’s offer the default option for buyers. Ethan learned that maintaining competitive pricing and strong seller metrics was crucial to outpacing competitors.
He experimented with sourcing products not only from retailers but also from other sellers’ stores, opening numerous tabs on his computer to find profitable items. His strategy focused on small-dollar, high-volume sales rather than relying on expensive products, a tactic that proved consistent in generating revenue.
Bulk Buying and Big Days: $6,000 in Sales and $2,000 Profit
As his business matured, Ethan transitioned from piecemeal sourcing to bulk purchasing from places like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and pallet stores. He stored inventory in his parents’ garage and sometimes handled deliveries directly from trucks arriving at his suburban neighborhood.
On his peak day, Ethan recorded $6,000 in sales with approximately $2,000 in profit, highlighting the effectiveness of his scaling efforts.
Overcoming Challenges: The Teen Hustler’s Balancing Act
Running a reselling business as a teenager came with unique obstacles. Ethan navigated complexities like credit card holds, packaging errors (such as leaky spray bottles ruining labels), and the challenge of managing a demanding business alongside full-time high school studies.
To help manage operations, he hired virtual assistants, demonstrating his growing business acumen and understanding of delegation.
Looking ahead, Ethan plans to invest his earnings in college, where he intends to study business or psychology. He believes that hands-on experience offers lessons beyond the classroom. “I don’t know how much more you can learn [about business] in a classroom than you can by actually doing it,” he reflects. “Failing and learning from your failures and trying not to repeat them, and actually having the hands-on experience of a real business.”
Looking Forward: Beyond $150,000 in Sales
After hitting the $150,000 sales milestone, Ethan decided to pause his reselling side hustle to concentrate on school and other ventures. He acknowledges that the business’s hands-on nature demands significant time and space, which may not fit well with college life.
One of Ethan’s key takeaways is the importance of seizing opportunities without waiting for perfection. “People think that there’s a treasure map that’s just going to fall out of the sky and have the X that marks the spot on it,” he says. “But people don’t make opportunities for themselves as much as they should. There’s an opportunity in every single second of life that you can either get something out of, or you can have a negative mindset and not pay attention to what you could be benefiting from.”
This article is part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a young business owner.
