Danny Leung.
Courtesy of Detoorp
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Danny Leung, an interior designer and the founder of Detoorp, based in London, United Kingdom. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I work full time as an interior designer for a UK architecture practice, and I've been in the industry for about 10 years. I'm a creative person, but I found myself "repeating life" a bit. I start a project, design it, coordinate with clients, go on-site to complete it, and then do it again.I felt like I needed a change of scenery. I wanted a side hustle that was a little bit different without starting over entirely. I primarily wanted something that could give me more autonomy in my career and allow me to expand my creativity, while earning extra income. It was also important to me that my side hustle be eco-friendly and have a positive impact on the environment.I started Detoorp, an online marketplace specializing in aesthetic, eco-friendly household and self-care products, in 2023, and at its peak, it generated £2,000 a month, or about $2,650, in sales.I started my side hustle after seeing a gap in the marketI had been gaining greater financial stability in my corporate role and started investing in self-care products like hand soap that smelled great and complemented my home's interior design.As I was doing routine chores, I also started to notice how depressing the cupboard looked with boring, artificial-smelling laundry detergent and other cleaning products. I did more research and came across small businesses that create eco-friendly, plant-based products using essential oils.I thought I might start a platform or marketplace featuring a curated collection of aesthetically pleasing, great-smelling products that are also good for the environment — making chores a more enjoyable, uplifting experience.
