Utah

In 2013 Christine Krogue discovered wool dryer balls from a businesswoman named Kalpana in Nepal. “I didn’t really know what they were or how they would be helpful,” Krogue recalled. “So I just bought a small amount for me to use myself.” After testing them in her own laundry, she contacted Kalpana about bringing them to American customers. She created Smart Sheep and listed the products in the Amazon store, where she herself liked to shop.

When her first shipment checked into Amazon’s fulfillment centers, she was on vacation. “Within about 15 minutes I had sold like five units, which actually blew my mind out of the water.” She’d only bought 50 units total. At this rate, she’d sell out within days. “I immediately contacted Kalpana and said, ‘I need more, ASAP. They’re just selling like crazy.’”

As reviews accumulated and the holidays approached, Krogue faced a decision. “We ended up placing a really large order. We actually refinanced our house to fund it,” she said. “It was a leap of faith, but we were very confident that we were going to sell what we purchased and we did.” Within a year, Smart Sheep hit $1 million in revenue. Within five years, they reached $5 million. The modest side gig had become a thriving business, and Krogue’s husband quit his job to join her full time.

Alan Qi Cao, a second-generation master violinmaker, launched Viotti Music to help make affordable violin accessories designed to create beautiful sound more accessible to aspiring musicians.

Cao says it’s his passion for playing and deep understanding of the mechanics of sound that give him the upper hand in designing the pieces he now sells in his Amazon store.

By using Fulfillment by Amazon to process orders, handle customer service and manage returns, Cao has parlayed his passion for music into a business that he plans to use to transform how violins are produced around the world.