In today's digital age, the potential for success in online sales is limitless. While many entrepreneurs rely on advertising to grow their businesses, Hayden Howard has managed to achieve remarkable success by selling over $50 million online with no ad spend. Through his journey, Hayden has learned the importance of networking, hard work, and utilizing data tools to drive sales. In this blog post, we will explore Hayden's journey from buying and reselling electronics on Craigslist to selling two of his companies with millions of dollars in sales. We'll dive into the strategies he used to grow his businesses, and provide insights that can help aspiring entrepreneurs achieve their own success in the world of online sales.
Where It All Started
Hayden’s journey started in 2010 when he was working as a restaurant server in Spokane, WA. At the time, he was only 20 years old and living in a one-bedroom apartment that cost him $700 per month.
While working as a server, Hayden began buying electronics from consumers on Craigslist and reselling them on eBay. He quickly realized that there was a profit to be made in this business model and started to focus more of his time and energy on it.
One of the keys to his success was his ability to identify products that were in high demand and easy to sell quickly. One such category of products that he focused on was Apple devices, specifically iPhones, iPods, MacBooks, and tablets.
In the early days of his business, Hayden would scour Craigslist to find individuals selling their used and damaged Apple devices. At the time, there were no buyback services offered by major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, which meant that there was a significant market for these types of products.
Hayden would carefully inspect each device to determine its condition and negotiate a fair price with the seller. He was able to use his knowledge of the industry to accurately assess the value of each device and ensure that he was getting a good deal.
Once he had purchased the devices, Hayden would clean them up and make any necessary repairs to ensure that they were in good working condition. He then listed them for sale on online marketplaces where he knew there was a high demand for these products.
By focusing on Apple devices, Hayden was able to build a reputation as a trusted seller in the industry. His ability to identify products that were in high demand and easy to sell quickly allowed him to grow his business and eventually expand into other areas of online sales.
He saw the potential for growth and expansion and began to work with businesses only to buy larger quantities of products to sell on various online marketplaces such as Swappa, Amazon, and more.
Overall, Hayden's success in buying and reselling used and damaged Apple devices was a testament to his ability to identify market trends and capitalize on them. It was this early experience that laid the foundation for his future success in the industry.
Fast Forward 8 Years Later…
After honing his skills in the online sales industry for eight years, Hayden established himself as a respected and successful entrepreneur. He eventually moved from Spokane to Phoenix and then on to Los Angeles, where he continued to grow his business.
Despite facing many challenges and often having to learn the hard way, Hayden's relentless work ethic and dedication to networking helped him achieve significant success. In 2018, his company ranked #427 on the Inc 500 list, representing one of the greatest accomplishments in the company's history up to that point.
At the time, the company had grown to 15 employees with offices in Los Angeles, CA, and was surpassing $1 million in monthly revenue. Hayden's commitment to building relationships and networking within the industry had helped him build a strong team and establish a solid foundation for future growth.
Hayden's dedication to his craft and his commitment to building relationships within the industry were key factors in his success. By focusing on building a strong team and cultivating a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy seller, he was able to achieve remarkable success in the online sales industry without relying on traditional advertising methods.
What Happened Next Changed Everything…
In 2018, Hayden made a bold move that few entrepreneurs would ever consider. After surpassing $30 million in sales, he decided to shut down his company and focus on a new venture in the software industry.
This decision was a risky one, as his business was selling over $1 million monthly and had established a strong reputation within the industry. However, Hayden was determined to challenge himself and excel in a new field, and he believed that the software industry was the way to do it.
With unwavering determination, Hayden cleared out his entire business and launched Trade-In Tech, a wholesale platform designed to connect resellers. The platform quickly gained traction, and within just one year, over 30,000 companies had signed up, many of whom knew Hayden personally.
While the decision to shut down his successful business and start over in a new industry may have seemed risky, Hayden's instincts paid off. Trade-In Tech became a huge success, and Hayden's bold move allowed him to establish himself as a leader in the software industry.
Meet Garrett Howard
After the success of Trade-In Tech, Hayden Howard continued to look for new opportunities to expand his business. In collaboration with his brother, Garrett Howard, he decided to start an Amazon FBA business selling beauty and health products.
To ensure that their new venture would be successful, Hayden and Garrett used data tools and inventory management software to track sales and predict future revenue. This allowed them to make informed decisions about their business and adjust their strategy accordingly.
Their focus on data-driven decision-making, coupled with their industry experience and knowledge, helped them excel in the highly competitive Amazon FBA marketplace. They were able to build a loyal customer base and establish their brand as a trusted seller of high-quality beauty and health products.
In less than two years, Hayden and Garrett managed to take their annual sales for their Amazon FBA business to an impressive $20 million. This achievement was a testament to their industry experience and knowledge, as well as their ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing market conditions.
Hayden's past experience in sourcing products was a key factor in their success. He had honed his skills over many years in the online sales industry, allowing him to shortcut the learning process and quickly identify the best products to sell on the Amazon FBA platform.
In addition to Hayden's industry experience and knowledge, his brother Garrett brought a unique set of skills to the table. Garrett is an analytics expert with a deep understanding of statistical analysis, which proved to be incredibly valuable in their Amazon FBA business.
Garrett's expertise in analytics allowed them to make data-driven decisions and adjust their strategy based on the latest market trends. He was able to analyze sales data and identify patterns and trends that helped them optimize their inventory management and pricing strategies.
His statistical analysis skills also helped them to accurately forecast future revenue and plan for growth. This allowed them to scale their business rapidly and take advantage of new opportunities as they arose.
By leveraging both skill sets, Hayden and Garrett were able to source high-quality products that were in high demand and easy to sell. They also utilized his networking skills to establish relationships with suppliers and manufacturers, allowing him to secure the best possible prices for his products.
2022 Was The Big Year
Hayden Howard's remarkable success in the online sales industry continued with the sale of not one, but two of his companies. In July of 2022, he sold Trade-In Tech, which had achieved over $30 million in lifetime sales, to a private equity firm. This was a significant achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication that Hayden had invested in the business over the years.
But the success didn't stop there. Just four months later, in November 2022, Hayden and his brother Garrett sold their second company, Distribution Bros, which had achieved over $20 million in sales in less than two years, to a publicly traded company. This was yet another impressive achievement and a testament to their entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.
The success of these two companies and their subsequent sale was a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of Hayden's business strategies, the skills of Garrett’s analytical assessments, and their ability to excel in the online sales industry. Overall, Hayden's remarkable success in selling two companies was a testament to his unwavering determination, commitment to networking, and ability to identify new opportunities in the online sales industry. His achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to make their mark in the world of e-commerce.
So What Happened Next?
After the success of their previous ventures, Hayden and Garrett continued to look for new opportunities to innovate and make a difference in the online sales industry. They eventually decided to start a new venture, Inventoryy, which was designed to help business owners track their suppliers, products, and profits more accurately, as well as efficiently fulfill their orders.
Through their previous experiences in the industry, Hayden and Garrett identified a need for more streamlined and efficient inventory management tools. They recognized that many businesses were struggling with inaccurate inventory tracking, which led to lost sales, increased costs, and lower profits.
Inventoryy was designed to address these issues by providing businesses with a comprehensive suite of tools that would allow them to track their inventory more accurately, monitor their suppliers, and efficiently fulfill their orders. The platform was user-friendly and customizable, allowing businesses to tailor it to their specific needs.
Hayden Howard's journey is an inspiring one that demonstrates the power of consistent hard work, networking, and learning from failures. His experience in the industry and success with online sales can provide valuable insights and lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Through his latest venture, Inventoryy, he is helping business owners just like him, streamline their operations and achieve greater efficiency. He plans to work with his brother for the next 10-15 years on the project as they believe it will be the biggest thing they have ever built.
