I started a side hustle at 17 – now it’s a multi million pound fashion empire, the Kardashians & J-Lo are fans
ONE woman revealed how she channeled her love of fashion into a multi million pound business.
Conna Walker founded her first company, House of CB, at the age of 17 and soon had an army of loyal customers, including Kim Kardashian.
Speaking on the Working Hard, Hardly Working podcast with Grace Beverley, the 31-year-old reflected on her business journey.
With a family loan, a teenage Conna set out to create a high-end brand that could be worn by regular shoppers and celebrities alike.
She even manifested the latter by naming her company House of CB, with the CB standing for Celeb Boutique.
London-based House of CB now has over 40 retail locations as well as a significant online presence.
The fashion empire has ammassed a worldwide community of over three million.
Celebrities including Kim Kardashian, J-Lo, and Chrissy Teigen also jumped on the bandwagon.
Kim was one of the first, offering the company a huge boost when she posted a picture in the brand’s classic waist-cinching bodycon dress.
Thanks to Kim’s online shoutout, Kardashian fans soon made up a large portion of shoppers.
Her sister Khloe has also been an avid supporter of the brand, attending several launches over the years.
Jennifer Lopez has also been spotted in dresses from the clothing company.
She modeled a floral look from the brand in a paparazzi snap of her walking alongside husband Ben Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
J-Lo also posted a photo of her in a gingham pattern summer dress from the brand, just days after her highly anticipated wedding in 2022.
Both House of CB and it’s affordable sister company Mistress Rocks offer a wide range of women’s clothing.
While Conna admits to her initial hesitation in veering from form-fititng dresses, her bread and butter, she acknowledges the importance of growth.
“I’m always competing with myself,” she told listeners of the podcast.
Do I need to pay tax on my side hustle income?
MANY people feeling strapped for cash are boosting their bank balance with a side hustle.
The good news is, there are plenty of simple ways to earn some additional income – but you need to know the rules.
When you’re employed the company you work for takes the tax from your earnings and pays HMRC so you don’t have to.
But anyone earning extra cash, for example from selling things online or dog walking, may have to do it themselves.
Stephen Moor, head of employment at law firm Ashfords, said: “Caution should be taken if you’re earning an additional income, as this is likely to be taxable.
“The side hustle could be treated as taxable trading income, which can include providing services or selling products.”
You can make a gross income of up to £1,000 a year tax-free via the trading allowance, but over this and you’ll usually need to pay tax.
Stephen added: “You need to register for a self-assessment at HMRC to ensure you are paying the correct amount of tax.
“The applicable tax bands and the amount of tax you need to pay will depend on your income.”
If you fail to file a tax return you could end up with a surprise bill from HMRC later on asking you to pay the tax you owe – plus extra fees on top.
Conna, who featured on Forbes 30 Under 30, explained that her consistent message has been the key to her company’s success.
House of CB’s goal is to “embrace the female form in order to champion female empowerment.”
While this began with the, now very dated, neon bandage dresses in 2010 it has since evolved into every element of the business.
Emphasizing femininity in fashion has always been at the forefront for Conna over the years.
“Style changes over time but [we] always focus on cinching in the waist and having that really feminine shape,” she said.
It is this consistency that the business mogul rates over anything else, even a universal selling point.
“I’m not someone who thinks you need to have a USP,” she explained.
“The markets are so saturated it’s about selling what you have [better than your competition].
“I think the time of having a unique business is gone.”
Instead, she emphasised the importance of consistency within your product.
“It’s very important to have a very clear and cohesive brand voice across everything, from your socials to your website, from how things are written to how the aesthetics look,” Conna said.
“It needs to be consistent so it looks like your brand when you see it.
“Everything customer-facing needs to be consistent and cohesive.”