How a Mom Turned $0.35 Magnets into $1M+ Business

Today we’re not just sharing an inspiring story. This is the journey of a mum who turned a small side hustle into a $1M+ business in one year.

Sariah, the founder of Memory Magnets, noticed the opportunity through her own need for custom photo magnets. She tested the idea with less than $1,000 and kept expanding the business. What started with custom magnets soon grew into event services and eventually a business toolkit.

Let’s start with some basic facts:

Founder: Sariah Howell
Founded: May 2024
Startup capital: Less than $1,000
Business evolution: Magnets → Events → Business kits
Revenue: $1.63M in 2025

Now, let’s walk through the journey from Sariah’s first-person perspective:

A Mum Starting a Side Hustle From Home

My husband and I were newly married and really short on cash. I was six months pregnant and had just been in a car accident, so I couldn’t work. My husband was juggling two low-paying jobs at night and was hardly ever home.

So I kept asking myself, what could I do from home that could bring in a few extra hundred dollars a month—and still let me be with my baby?

I’ve always loved taking photos, and I wanted a way to preserve memories without filling our house with picture frames. While researching unique photo displays, I discovered custom photo magnets on Etsy. I started researching how to make them myself. I spent less than $1,000 buying a manual magnet-making machine and supplies from AliExpress.

How My Business Started Making Money

Starting with markets & community events

At first, I set up all our social media accounts, but I really started making money when I went to local markets. I would bring just the magnets to my booth and hand out business cards to people who seemed likely to place larger orders.

People passing by found the magnets interesting, but they didn’t always have time to stop, place an order, or choose photos. Most would just take a card, and about five days later, orders would start coming in—mostly from people living near the market.

On slow days, revenue was about $150, but a big two-day event could bring in over $3,000. Booth fees were $50–$300, with higher fees usually meaning higher-traffic events. Total material costs were about $100 plus labor and mileage. Nine magnets per pack sold for $25. Since we are buying in bulk, each magnet costs around $0.35. This includes paper, ink, metal foil, and all other materials.

For the most part, my husband and I ran the booths ourselves. When we got busy, we hired high school students for $15/hr. By the second month, we hit $100,000 in monthly revenue for the first time.

Expanding into weddings & other events

I always thought custom magnets would be perfect for weddings or baby showers. If I had just gotten married or engaged and saw these magnets at a market, I’d think, “We could stick these on the fridge to start our life together. These photos capture the best moments.” At first, I didn’t know if the idea would work or how to find clients.

At our second market, returning customers were already asking us to provide wedding and event services, which felt like a dream come true. We filmed lots of videos during events and posted them on social media, and soon people in the comments were asking if we could set up photo magnets at weddings too.

For each couple, we talk to them about what they want and then give a quote based on the event. We set up a dedicated area where guests can take photos. Those photos get printed on magnets on-site and arranged like a photo wall. Usually, we make a few hundred magnets, all included in the setup.

Typically, a wedding or event runs between $1,200 and $3,000. Sometimes we charge by the hour, about $50 per person. Prices depend on setup, backdrop, labor, and travel time. For example, at a recent three-hour wedding about 40 minutes away, we quoting the couple $2,000 for the event.

Special event services, including weddings, are not cheap, but people are willing to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. That makes these services highly profitable. For a 3-hour wedding with 300 magnets, materials cost about $100 and gas for travel was about $5.

How We Smooth Production & Launch New Products

How we streamlined event production

At the time, no one in the market was making photo magnets on-site. Most sellers on Etsy were individual crafters, and many others just sold machines or supplies to DIY enthusiasts. We were one of the first to actively target memory photo magnets for events. So there was no blueprint to follow, we had to figure it out as we went.

Initially, our process was completely manual: customers would text their photos, we’d download them, fit them into templates, print, and assemble. At crowded events, this would slow everything down and make it a lot more hectic.

To streamline things, we made a system where where guests scan a QR code, upload and crop their own photos, and they automatically fit into the templates.

With this, guests handle uploading themselves so theoretically one person could print and assemble all the magnets. In practice, for a typical wedding we use two people, one for printing and one for assembling.

For example, a three-hour wedding with two staff at 25 dollars per hour each plus 100 dollars in materials costs about 400 dollars. If the event brings in 2,000 dollars, the net margin is around 80%.

Adding DIY magnet kits & new products

We also started selling DIY magnet kits that come with machines, materials, and simple tutorials. Customers usually buy the machine once and keep coming back for supplies. Margins on machines are around 30%.

Beyond magnets, we’re always testing new products and different machine sizes. One of our latest kits uses removable adhesive instead of magnets. It sticks to almost any surface, can be repositioned up to 20 times, and can even be cleaned and reused. We also created magnetic boards to go with the magnets, kind of like a frame, and blank sketch tiles for kids to draw on.
We’re also working on a circular machine to make pins, bottle openers, and other keepsakes.

Why Customers Choose Us Over Other Sellers (and China)

So what makes us different?

Most of our competitors sell badge-making machines and supplies to corporate clients, schools, event organizers and DIY hobbyists. They are mainly machine manufacturers, distributors, or service providers targeting business and large events. Many of their products are source directly from China, just like ours.

From the start, we were able to outwork them. Why? First, most competitors offer only a one-year warranty. After that, customers are on their own. Will there be a return policy? What if something breaks? In contrast, all our kits come with a lifetime warranty, giving customers confidence and peace of mind.

Second, most competitors stop once the machine is sold. We don’t. We show people how to make money with them. We started from local markets, scaled into events, and turned everything into a repeatable system. So instead of just buying a machine, customers get a business model they can actually run.

I’m not trying to beat competitors

We had great success in Utah, but we knew this business could work even better in other places. Even though social media brought in inquiries from all over the country, there’s no way we could personally take machines everywhere ourselves.

What we really need are people on the ground in places like Florida or Texas, running their own versions of this business, serving their local communities. Many of them were single moms, new moms, or people looking for side hustles, and they asked how to start their own event magnet business.

The wedding and event market is huge. There is no risk of saturation. Weddings, parties, baby showers, graduations, even funerals are all opportunities. So we created a comprehensive course that teaches everything from setting up a website to handling logistics.

With the machines, supplies, and the course, anyone can replicate our model and run their own memory magnet business.

How Our Supply Chain Works

From our first machine to the UV printer we use today, most of the equipment is still coming from China. That’s not an ad—it’s just how the business works. Tools like this are making it much easier and more affordable to start a small customization business that meets the growing demand for personalized products. When paired with local service and support, the profit margins are surprisingly high.

Subscribe to us to see more startup stories like this one, plus China sourcing stories, product ideas, insights, and practical tips.

Wholesale and Customize

Have great product ideas but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’re looking to buy products in stock, add your logo, customize packaging, or place a small order for quick testing?

Share your ideas. Get affordable, and effective sourcing solutions!