Jamie Penney’s entrepreneurial journey started when he was in college.
He dabbled in area of interest websites and a journey vlog on YouTube efficiently till the latest Google updates, however he actually discovered his groove when he targeted his efforts on a interest he needed to earn extra cash: flipping furnishings.
In 2019, he launched his YouTube channel, Furnishings Flippa.
Unsurprisingly, the journey has been crammed with ups and downs and loads of studying alongside the best way.
And through the years Jamie has been working to diversify his revenue, incomes from YouTube advertisements, associates, sponsorships, and promoting the furnishings he flips, amongst different avenues.
He just lately launched a membership group for furnishings flippers, and he’s increasing his attain on Fb, Instagram and past.
He’s incomes over $4k monthly from this enterprise, to not point out different revenue he has coming in from his different area of interest websites.
On this interview, Jamie shares all the main points of his journey in addition to many concepts for diversifying away from Google and constructing a profitable YouTube channel.
Hold studying to search out out:
- How he bought into area of interest websites
- How his first YouTube channel did
- How he bought began along with his furnishings flipping YouTube channel
- How he gained traction on YouTube
- How his revenue has advanced and the place it comes from
- His advertising technique
- His ideas on search engine optimisation
- His content material creation course of
- His favourite instruments and sources
- His primary problem
- His biggest accomplishment
- His greatest mistake
- His recommendation for different entrepreneurs
Meet Jamie Penney
My identify is Jamie. I am from Newfoundland, however I at present dwell in Vancouver, BC. I lived in Newfoundland till I completed highschool.
After highschool, I moved to Nova Scotia for a yr to play aggressive hockey, however then returned to Newfoundland to finish my education at Memorial College of Newfoundland (MUN).
Rising up in Newfoundland, I performed loads of sports activities, specializing in hockey primarily, however I additionally loved spending time outside fishing, grime biking, mountain biking, mountaineering, snowboarding, and many others. I used to be a zipline information for five years, too!
After ending post-secondary faculty (BBA), I moved to Halifax, NS, and labored as a realtor in new house development for 2 years. I additionally dabbled in actual property videography presently.
Whereas residing in Halifax, I started recurrently flipping furnishings to make a number of additional bucks, which is after I began my web site, Furnishings Flippa.
After 2 to three years of residing in Halifax, my girlfriend and I moved to Vancouver, BC, the place my girlfriend attended a year-long style program. We’ve got now been in Vancouver for 3 years!
Why He Created His Web site
Once I was in college, nonetheless residing at house, I heard about on-line companies together with YouTube channels and area of interest web sites.
I created a number of area of interest websites and began making journey YouTube movies; I used to be studying the fundamentals of those on-line companies.
I started seeing minor success with area of interest websites, incomes a pair hundred bucks whereas nonetheless a pupil. I used to be extra interested by my web sites than faculty!
My journey YouTube movies weren’t gaining any traction, however I discovered a ton about video enhancing. My channel, Jamie & Tay, taught me the way to use Adobe Premiere Professional.
Though I gave up on it earlier than any success, I believe it actually helped me in the long term with Furnishings Flippa and entering into actual property videography.
After studying about earning profits on-line, I additionally discovered some individuals on YouTube flipping and portray furnishings to generate profits. It was not as well-liked in 2018 as it’s now, that’s for positive!
I gave it a strive in my mother and father’ basement.
I purchased a desk for reasonable on Fb, painted the bottom and stained the highest, after which offered it for a $200 revenue. Having the money in my hand from that undertaking made me understand you can make an honest aspect revenue by flipping furnishings.
I quickly moved to Halifax, the place I had a home with a storage. It was good for somebody like me who loves initiatives, so I began shopping for items of furnishings from thrift shops and on-line, and I used to be fixing and portray them to promote for revenue.
I didn’t actually know what I used to be doing after I began, however with every undertaking I discovered an increasing number of.
With out interested by it a lot, I took a video of my initiatives, how I did them, and posted them on YouTube.
I created the primary Furnishings Flippa YouTube video on August sixth, 2019. My second and third movies began getting some views, like 10-30 a day, which was attention-grabbing to me.
Trying again, these movies had been horrible, however they nonetheless bought some views and nonetheless do to at the present time!
I continued discovering furnishings initiatives to do as this interest made a little bit of revenue by itself. I used to be actually extra interested by determining how I may construct a YouTube channel as a result of I assumed that will be fairly cool!
In March 2020, Covid took the world by storm, and in Halifax, Canada we had been on a strict lockdown. I had simply begun as a realtor, so this actually made issues difficult making an attempt to begin a profession in actual property.
I began making extra furnishings movies. I joined an internet discord chat that a big furnishings YouTuber referred to as That Shabby Man had talked about in one in all his older movies. I began sharing my initiatives and was studying an increasing number of concerning the interest.
I shared a nightstand video within the discord group chat, That Shabby Man shared it to his YouTube channel, and it then obtained over 5000 views within the subsequent few days.
Listed below are the stats for that video:
This helped me get a pair hundred subscribers and elevated my watch time, which helped me hit monetization numbers for YouTube on the time.
November ninth, 2020 was my first day of YouTube advertisements monetization.
Being monetized motivated me to make extra movies and to proceed flipping furnishings.
YouTube is humorous, as a result of my subsequent 2 movies after the one That Shabby Man shared are my 2 most watched movies on my channel to at the present time.
One at present has over 415,000 views, and the opposite has over 685,000 views.
I posted these movies on September eleventh and the twenty second, 2020. Initially, they did not take off, however in late October 2020 the preliminary video started getting loads of views, round 1000-2000 per day, after which it hit its highest ever at just below 11,000 views in a day.
This helped me get a further 1000 subscribers. Then, in January of 2021, the subsequent video took off within the YouTube algorithm, getting 2-3k views per day, however this video maintained its place within the algorithm for a lot of months getting 500-1500 views a day.
To at the present time these 2 movies have earned me round $9,000 and nonetheless make about $40-50 monthly collectively.
Fairly cool contemplating they had been made nearly 4 years in the past.
I continued making movies, about 2 to 4 monthly, and I additionally created an internet site together with the Furnishings Flippa YouTube channel following the standard area of interest web site system.
This labored for a bit, however the Google algorithms simply destroyed them lately.
Nevertheless, on September sixteenth, 2021 my girlfriend and I made a decision to maneuver throughout Canada to Vancouver, BC. We offered our home with a storage and commenced renting a 2-bedroom condominium.
At this level, I used to be going to proceed doing smaller initiatives, however I simply did not have the area for it in my condominium. I solely made 3 movies in 2022 and I started specializing in my different on-line revenue sources that started rising quicker.
I used to be engaged on some area of interest websites and a pair started rising properly, reaching $10-20k monthly. I began rising a group, hiring good writers and VAs to assist me develop these websites.
However then these websites had been hit a number of instances by the Google updates in 2022, then destroyed as soon as once more in 2023, and once more in 2024!
Jaime’s Comeback
I made a decision it was time to get again to creating Furnishings Flippa movies.
On the finish of 2023, I made a number of small movies from my condominium however they didn’t do properly. I believe taking a while off could make it harder to get issues rolling once more.
Originally of 2024, I made a decision I might go full-time on Furnishings Flippa and get issues going. My solely problem was I had no place to do these initiatives.
I started attempting to find a storage to hire at an inexpensive price. After 4 viewings, I discovered one which was inexpensive and huge in dimension, a double storage, and I rented it!
My first storage video was an MCM espresso desk restoration. I may inform painted furnishings restored again to its authentic wooden look was a preferred development for movies, so I gave it a go.
This video began off decently, then was picked up by the algorithm for a bit, getting as much as 140k views.
I continued making movies, and my newer movies are between 10k to 170k views and climbing. Since gathering extra YouTube views I’ve had numerous sponsorship alternatives and I’ve been lining them up since.
Here’s what my YouTube analytics seem like this yr, you possibly can see I began renting the storage in January, and issues began rolling once more after that first restoration video:
Once I submit a video I get an honest enhance in views, which correlates with watch time, subscribers, and a income enhance. It’s regular, and I have not been as constant as I ought to be with video output.
I’m additionally within the strategy of rising different social media platforms, however nonetheless must be taught extra about them.
On Instagram, I hit 3000 followers with 1 video reel getting 130k views, and I’m curious to be taught extra about how Instagram is monetized. I additionally submit on TikTok with minor success for the time being.
I nonetheless work on a number of area of interest websites simply so as to add to my revenue, however these usually are not operating on natural site visitors anymore, largely social site visitors.
How A lot He’s Incomes
In relation to earning profits by means of Furnishings Flippa, I’ve categorized it into YouTube advertisements, associates, sponsorships, Fb video advertisements, and promoting the precise furnishings I flip.
YouTube advertisements
In 30 days I make round $750 – $1200 with solely a pair movies.
After getting again into making movies, YouTube advertisements at the moment are turning into a second thought. YouTube advertisements don’t make you extraordinarily wealthy except you may get hundreds of thousands of views monthly.
I’m doing every thing I can to extend my views and hope to extend this quantity progressively.
Affiliate revenue
For affiliate revenue with Furnishings Flippa I simply use Amazon. I add hyperlinks on all my movies of merchandise I take advantage of and other people can click on. I additionally add affiliate hyperlinks in my weblog posts.
Furnishings Flippa doesn’t earn rather a lot on Amazon Associates; nonetheless, I believe there’s a play on Instagram you can make this work when you can develop your following.
I might be testing these sooner or later. Final yr, with out making any new movies, my Amazon Affiliate revenue was $904.20. For the final 30 days, it was solely $35.81—not so good.
Having my Google site visitors disappear has precipitated my affiliate revenue to go down on Furnishings Flippa to mainly nothing.
My content material on YouTube is extra targeted on entertaining as a substitute of instructing and answering questions, so I really feel this reduces affiliate revenue.
For those who concentrate on answering questions and displaying “the way to” content material, you possibly can doubtless improve affiliate conversions there. Proper now, I’m specializing in rising views to extend sponsorship alternatives.
My different web sites made $1744.73 on Amazon within the final 30 days, and I hit the Creator Rewards numbers to obtain a bonus of $1800, 2 months in a row now. I additionally earned $245.86 from the Amazon Influencer Program.
Sponsorships
I’ve been signing numerous sponsorship offers recently, and for the time being that is what’s capturing my curiosity. I’ve had sponsorship offers previously and I normally would take decrease numbers and settle for that.
With rising viewership, I’ve elevated my sponsorship earnings per video. I’ve signed numerous offers over the previous few months, wherever starting from $1000-2500 per video, and typically I settle for the product plus cash
With views rising, the sponsorship charges additionally will increase.
Membership group
I began a group. It’s at present free however might be a paid group sooner or later. I’ve over 150 members. I additionally collect emails from every member.
The group will change into a month-to-month subscription program. It should embrace programs, bonus content material, and a dialogue platform for individuals to be taught from one another about furnishings refinishing.
This can be a main focus for me proper now.
Fb web page
I had a Fb web page that had 30k followers.
When energetic it was making $500-1000+ monthly from video advertisements. I might share some revenue with different furnishings flippers as a result of I shared their movies, too.
Nevertheless, the account related to the web page was hacked, they modified the e-mail on the account and it disabled the account that was operating the web page.
The restoration course of is mainly inconceivable as Meta help is a joke. This web page was referred to as “The Furnishings Squad” and remains to be accessible for individuals to see, I simply cant replace it.
I had plans to share weblog posts and try different monetization methods, however sadly the hacking occurred.
The advert account on the web page was reactivated just lately, and I nonetheless earn $100 or so monthly, however I can not entry it.
Lately I began one other Fb web page and have been paying for advertisements to get it rolling once more.
I’ve observed individuals have been having big earnings with the Fb Bonus Program, so I wish to see if I could make that work.
Furnishings flipping revenue
Flipping furnishings could be a good way to make some aspect revenue as properly.
For instance, you will discover free or low-cost furnishings on Fb Market or thrift shops. You’ll be able to refinish, paint, or simply clear the furnishings and record it on the market your self.
For every flip, I count on to earn $100-600+ revenue, all of it will depend on the undertaking.
I’ll do 2 to 4 flips a month, usually specializing in one per week. The scale of the undertaking influences the time it takes to finish.
Different revenue
Within the close to future, I plan to create some on-line merchandise and programs sharing how one can earn cash flipping furnishings, answering particular questions, and many others.
I plan to get into Instagram monetization methods as properly.
If I had been to begin a video undertaking right now and submit it the next week, right here is the revenue potential of that piece 1 month after publishing:
YouTube Adverts: $150 – $600
Sponsorship: If any… $600 – $1800
The furnishings promoting itself: $100 – 500
If I make a sponsored video right now, that video is prone to make on the low finish $850, and on the excessive finish $2700.
Not unhealthy, and if I could make 2-4 movies a month, it may possibly change into a pleasant revenue.
Word that I have not even added in doable affiliate performs, Instagram prospects, and different potential revenue I may make from this content material.
Right here is Furnishings Flippa’s YouTube channel revenue for June:
Adverts: $981
Sponsorships: $3450
Free merchandise: $250 + $300 = $550
Furnishings Gross sales: $1000 CAD (2 gross sales)
Extra June on-line revenue from area of interest websites:
Mediavine advertisements: $4725.96
Amazon Associates, Influencer, and bonuses: $3810.17
When it comes to site visitors, my YouTube channel has simply over 100k views within the final 30 days.
The Furnishings Flippa weblog used to get some site visitors:
September 2021 = 23,030 pageviews
Final 30 days – 4000 web page views
Google really hit this web site with the well-known Spam guide motion just lately, which is comical because the content material was simply articles sharing my furnishings flips and answering widespread refinishing questions.
I submitted a reconsideration request and it was authorised a month later, however my site visitors remains to be useless on Google, round 0-10 clicks a day.
Jaime’s Advertising Technique
I’m simply rising with natural development advertising, however when I’ve my very own merchandise I’ll doubtless change some advertising methods.
For the time being, I submit on YouTube and acquire views naturally from the algorithm with out paying for views or subscribers.
His Ideas on search engine optimisation
search engine optimisation was once vital for me till Google updates modified the running a blog recreation. Proper now I rely extra on YouTube’s algorithm to develop my viewers with every new piece of content material.
First, I simply concentrate on creating good content material, which is essential, clearly.
Then I concentrate on creating an intriguing title and thumbnail. If you may get clicks to your video and a very good watch time, your video is prone to be proven to extra individuals. That is YouTube algo in a nutshell.
For a video to do properly, it wants a very good title and a fascinating thumbnail. If individuals don’t click on, they don’t watch.
Subsequent, the video itself must exceed the viewers’ expectations in order that they watch longer, subscribe, and watch extra.
Then YouTube is extra prone to present your content material to extra individuals.
Key phrase Analysis
My previous key phrase analysis course of used to contain Ahrefs and Key phrases All over the place, however I canceled these subscriptions.
Now I create content material I really feel my viewers is on the lookout for and would take pleasure in (and typically simply one thing I take pleasure in!).
His Content material Creation Course of
My movies can take as much as 10 days to make; it relies upon how lengthy the furnishings undertaking takes.
Currently, I’ve been taking up difficult initiatives, however these usually go over properly for my viewers, and it’s serving to me develop. I’ve 63 complete movies.
I begin by discovering a chunk of furnishings that I believe could be restored, refinished, or painted. Then I do a earlier than video, the refurbishing content material video, then the after. The method is straightforward, it simply takes time.
Then I’ve to edit all of it collectively after.
I do the entire recording and enhancing myself. I take advantage of Adobe Premiere Professional. I like to recommend discovering an enhancing software program that works for you.
His E-mail Record
I began an e-mail record a number of months in the past and am rising the subscriber record. I plan so as to add hyperlinks in my movies for individuals to enroll and I’ll point out it within the movies. I’m a rookie in terms of e-mail lists.
I just lately began a group, and I get individuals’s emails after they enroll. At the moment I began a giveaway and have been gaining loads of emails, and might be utilizing this technique to develop an e-mail record and my group.
Jaime’s Favourite Assets
I’ve been listening to Area of interest Pursuits for years now, and I’ve additionally listened to the Doug Present. These had been nice for area of interest web sites.
Nevertheless, my go-to YouTube podcast is YouTube Creators Hub by Dusty Porter. It’s a terrific interview-style podcast of YouTubers sharing how they earn and develop their YT channels. There are tons of of interviews you possibly can take a look at.
The instruments I take advantage of probably the most are:
- Canva – I take advantage of Canva every day for thumbnails, photographs for social media, and many others.
- ChatGPT – I take advantage of ChatGPT to assist me with quite a few issues. I ask it questions, concept technology, and extra.
- Adobe Premiere Professional – I take advantage of Adobe enhancing software program to assist create high-quality movies. It’s not required, however I really feel I can create a good-quality video for my viewers.
His Greatest Problem
It may be difficult to maintain your self motivated while you work arduous to create on-line content material that finally ends up not assembly expectations.
I simply want to recollect to maneuver on and concentrate on the subsequent undertaking; it may possibly find yourself being a winner!
Additionally, working alone could be difficult. I keep energetic in on-line group chats, and many others., however real-life interplay is clearly a lot completely different.
I hope to fulfill individuals who create comparable movies in actual life at occasions sometime!
His Best Accomplishment
My primary accomplishment is simply beginning the journey and reaching an revenue degree the place I don’t have to work for another person.
This was all the time my objective from a younger age, and I’m glad I began after I was in college. I used to be totally working for myself at age 23.
What He Needs He Knew When He Began
I want I had recognized to not depend on Google site visitors for on-line companies.
Google updates have precipitated most content material web site house owners to lose 90% of their site visitors and earnings in a single day, so you shouldn’t depend on this anymore. Construct one thing actual and dependable.
His Greatest Mistake
My greatest mistake for Furnishings Flippa was giving up for a yr and never creating new content material. This was a missed alternative to construct a bigger viewers and construct on my actual model.
That is Furnishings Flippa’s YouTube life:
His Recommendation for Different Entrepreneurs
My recommendation for somebody eager to create a YouTube channel right now is that it’s 100% doable. It’s not too saturated like some might really feel.
Additionally, YouTube is rising quick and extra persons are utilizing it every year.
Simply begin. With every video you create, you be taught one thing new.
Studying the way to make a video from begin to end helps you perceive the method. Even when your first channel does not work out (like my journey channel), it’s possible you’ll discover one thing that finally ends up being profitable!
I consider that you probably have a ardour for a distinct segment or interest and also you make some movies doing it or speaking about it, the correct viewers will finally discover you.
