Gather Market Insights: Market Research Workbook for Side Hustles

NINE TO THRIVE | THE SIDE HUSTLE STUDIO
Stage 2 of 6: GATHER MARKET INSIGHTS
Printable and Fillable PDF workbook | 35 pages | A4

Before you spend money on your side hustle, find out who your customers are, what they need and who else already serves them. Gather Market Insights guides you through low-cost research you can fit around a job.

You don't have to quit your 9 to 5 to thrive. Build your business. Grow your career. Thrive on your terms.

WHAT YOU GET

- 2 PDF files: a Printable version and a Fillable version
- 35 pages in each, A4 portrait, numbered and bookmarked
- Founder welcome, learning objectives, contents and a how-to-use guide
- Worked examples, including AfroTouch Design and fictional businesses
- Exercises with plenty of space for your answers
- Final summary, next steps and an introduction to the next stage

WHAT IS INSIDE
- Part 1: Target Audience Analysis. Define your ideal customer, describe them inclusively, build personas, find where they spend time, learn where to find research, and use customer interview guides, notes sheets and a feedback log.
- Part 2: Competitor Research. Identify direct and indirect competitors, compare offers, pricing and positioning, work through pricing examples, review competitor marketing and spot gaps and opportunities.
- Part 3: Industry Trends and Insights. Research trends, tell a trend from a fad, estimate demand and seasonality, and work through a regulatory checklist for UK businesses (general information, not legal advice).
- Part 4: Summary and Action Plan. Pull your findings together, score your opportunities, identify your strongest one with the evidence, and follow a six-week research plan of about three hours a week.

WHO IT IS FOR
Employed professionals who want evidence behind their idea before they launch. It is made for people building a side hustle alongside full-time or part-time work, with plans that fit real calendars, families and responsibilities.

HOW TO USE IT
- Printable: print at A4, actual size (100%), at home or at a print shop. It works in colour or black and white.
- Fillable: type straight into the boxes using Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) or a desktop PDF app or browser that supports forms. Save your own copy as you go. Some phone apps do not support form fields, so use the printable file if yours does not.

THE NINE TO THRIVE PATH
This workbook is Stage 2 of 6 and works on its own as a complete, standalone resource. The six stages are: 

1. Clarify Your Vision. 
2. Gather Market Insights. 
3. Craft Your Brand Identity. 
4. Implement Your Side Hustle Checklist. 
5. Launch with Confidence. 
6. Get Your First Sale.

ABOUT THE CREATOR

Georgina Fihosy, Founder of The Side Hustle Studio, is also the founder of AfroTouch Design, an award-winning Afro-Luxe greeting card and stationery brand built alongside her career. Nine to Thrive is the name of her programme for people who want to do the same.

PLEASE NOTE
- This is an instant digital download. Nothing is posted to you.
- Files are A4 size. Print at actual size for the best result.
- This workbook is an educational resource. It is not legal, tax, financial or other professional advice and does not promise or guarantee any business or income result.
- UK rules and guidance mentioned reflect general information at the time of writing (November 2026) and can change. Always check current guidance on GOV.UK or with a qualified professional.
- For personal use only. Please do not share, resell, redistribute or upload the files.
- Colours on screen can look different from printed colours. Digital items cannot normally be returned, so please message me if anything is wrong with your files.