The Hustle of Building a Business in the Big Apple

The Real Entrepreneurial Grind

Building a business isn’t for the faint-hearted; it’s a wild ride. Ask anyone in New York. Take it from Alex Yale. “Being an entrepreneur is great. It’s awesome. But hey, the grass is green wherever you water it,” he told Business Insider. He knows it takes a special mix of grit, skills, and a certain appetite for risk.

From Corporate Cubicles to E-Commerce Mogul

After a solid decade in corporate America, Yale decided to jump ship. He had cut his teeth at Deloitte, Facebook, and even spent some time at Amazon aggregator Thrasio. But in 2023, he decided to take the plunge and work for himself. Enter Uncle Todd’s, his cleaning brand. He’s now hawking products like septic pods and shoe deodorizers on Amazon. Articles about successful seven-figure revenues are making the rounds.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Despite the grind, Yale doesn’t discourage breaking out on your own. Here’s his top advice for making it in e-commerce in 2025:

1. Source Domestically: Start local, folks. Yale points out, “The international trade game is a hot potato right now.” He’s shifting Flip-It! Cap’s production to Providence to dodge erratic tariffs. “Dealing with international trade can be a headache. Source your materials at home to cut some unpredictable hurdles.”

2. Sell Patentable Products: Competing with Chinese sellers? It’s a jungle out there. Yale’s strategy? Patent protection. “If your product isn’t protected, you’ll have copycats selling it cheaper on Amazon before you know it.”

3. Offer a High-Quality, Problem-Solving Product: Your product’s gotta solve a problem. “Don’t just focus on flashy marketing. If the quality isn’t there, savvy New Yorkers will notice, and then you’re toast,” he cautions.

The Heart of an Entrepreneur

In Yale’s eyes, being an entrepreneur is personal. “It’s your product, your baby. If something goes wrong, you lose sleep and cash,” he says. In contrast, corporate life might offer a buffer with a steady paycheck, even when things are bumpy.

Retail Expansion and E-Commerce Challenges

Uncle Todd’s isn’t just an Amazon success; it’s landing on shelves in over 3,000 stores like Walmart and Home Depot. Yale isn’t just stopping there—more retail growth is on the horizon. But it’s not all rosy, with competition from direct Chinese sellers becoming a major hurdle. New Yorkers know, to stay ahead, you’ve gotta reinvent and adapt.

The Key to Survival

New Yorkers know survival is key. For Yale, flipping products from online success to retail staples is a winning strategy. Selling patent-protected items keeps him ahead of the copycats.

Table: Yale’s Strategic Moves

At the end of the day, if you want to succeed in the e-commerce biz, especially in this relentless city, you have to hustle like a true New Yorker.