In a world where most creators rely on brand deals for their income, Sarah Renae Clark stands out. The Australian creator has built a $5 million business selling Color Cube, a product that has sold more than 100,000 units, by focusing on audience needs rather than sponsorships. Her journey is a blueprint for how small creators can successfully monetize their products alone. Long before launching her YouTube channel, she started by testing the market through digital products and community-driven marketing.
Sarah with 100K silver YouTube play button
sarah lena clarke
Choosing not to look for brand deals
While many creators chase sponsorships to diversify their income, Clark has found success with a product that allows her to be more financially independent.
“I created something that directly served the audience,” she says. “Color Cube allows me to make a living while supporting my community in a way that doesn't rely on external sponsors.”
By focusing less on brand deals, Clark maintains full creative control over his content and business. Clark explains: “Selling the product gave me the freedom to quit videos. It gave me the freedom to create better videos that I'm really proud of without feeling like a burden.” Videos for Algorithms Instead of having to create or keep doing certain things just to maintain finances, you can now design the business you want. ”
Why do creators rely on deals with brands?
Questions remain. Why don't more creators follow in Clark's footsteps? Perhaps it's because brand deals offer a low-risk way for creators, especially those with large audiences, to monetize on the platform. It is considered that. For most people, this is the fastest way to earn income without having to develop your own products or manage complex logistics such as manufacturing and distribution.
But what are the downsides? There are restrictions on brand deals. Creators often sacrifice their creative freedom to meet the demands of sponsors, leaving them reliant on external brands for income, leaving them with a weak foundation when those contracts disappear.
Why aren't more creators building products?
Developing a product like Color Cube is not easy. Requires upfront investment, time, and expertise. Many creators are hesitant to delve into the complexities of product development. Because it's risky and you face questions like, “What if no one buys?” What happens when you invest thousands of dollars in manufacturing and are left with unsold inventory?
Clark avoided these pitfalls by starting small. She didn't jump to physical products right away. Instead, she tested the idea with a digital product first, using a color catalog to gather feedback and gauge demand before committing to larger production.
color cubes on the shelf
sarah lena clarke
Clark's journey began with digital downloads rather than video content. In 2018, she created and sold her first product, a color catalog. This is a digital resource that provides carefully selected color palettes for artists. She used Facebook groups, Pinterest, and a blog to promote her products without the help of a brand deal or a significant following online.
“When we started selling color catalogs, we didn’t have a huge audience,” Clark explains. “But we saw through sales and feedback that people needed more help choosing colors. That's when we knew we could create a physical product.” After proving that there was, we invested 100,000 in the first printing of the color cube, and the latest printing cost was 350,000.
This step-by-step approach minimized her financial risk and gave her the confidence to move forward.
Design that takes form and function into consideration
One of the main reasons for the Color Cube's success was Clark's careful attention to design. She believed that products should not only be functional, but also visually appealing. The idea was to create something that people would be proud to display in their homes. “We didn't want it to look like just a tool that people throw in a drawer,” she says. “I wanted it to look great on a bookshelf.”
Her thoughtful approach paid off. Color Cube is designed to be compact, colorful, and aesthetically pleasing, making it a product that not only serves a purpose, but also serves as a decorative piece in people's creative spaces.
Organic growth and viral products
Interestingly, the Color Cube wasn't something Clark initially touted. She didn't try to sell it, just used it in her YouTube videos. “People started asking about it in the comments,” she says. “That's when I realized there was a real demand.” This natural curiosity drove the first sales, and now Clark frequently finds her color cubes in other people's videos, “more so than mine.” “I'm also famous,” he even jokes.
Sarah with color cube cards
sarah lena clarke
As a result, no major advertising campaign was needed to make Color Cube a hit. Audience enthusiasm and word-of-mouth recommendations made Color Cube a viral product. Now, she's buying ads to take her sales to the next level, but only after she finds a way to reach her audience organically.
The power of niche down
Clark's success shows the importance of creating targeted products. Unlike merchandise that fans buy to support creators, niche products are designed to solve a specific problem. This was the key to Clark's success with Color Cube. Her audience needed tools to make color selection easy and fun. Instead of generic products like branded hoodies, Color Cube helps the creative community, from crafters and illustrators to painters, choose colors that look good.
color cube cards
sarah lena clarke
For example, Color Cube serves a community of miniature figure enthusiasts who often struggle with choosing the right color combinations to bring complex models to life. Color Cube solves this problem by providing pre-curated color palettes.
What makes her story even more remarkable is that she sold over 100,000 units and earned $5 million with a relatively small YouTube audience. As of 2024, Clark's YouTube channel has over 340,000 subscribers, but she only posts about once a month, proving that her huge following isn't everything.
As Clark points out, being niche distinguishes a product from more common products such as foods and energy drinks that appeal to a broad market, often sold by creators like Mr. Beast and Logan Paul. Helpful. “They've been working on it across the board because they can branch out into things like food. But niche creators can't be successful by just giving something to their fans to support them. We have to solve real problems for people,” she explains.
By focusing on narrow, specific needs, creators like Clark are able to connect more deeply with their audiences and build sustainable businesses driven by value, not just support.
Lessons for creators: Building a business beyond brand deals
Sarah Renae Clark's story provides valuable insight for creators. Dealing with brands is often seen as the quickest route to monetization, but Clark's path shows the power of developing unique products that directly serve your audience.
By investing time and effort in understanding the community, Clark was able to create a product that not only solves a real problem, but also grows into a profitable and sustainable business.
Her success shows that creators in niche markets can compete with big companies if they focus on solving specific problems for their audiences. By avoiding dependence on external sponsors, Clark maintains full creative and financial control, ensuring the longevity of the business.
For creators looking to build a long-term career, Clark's journey thus far shows that thoughtful growth rooted in understanding your audience can be more beneficial than chasing short-term brand deals. It reminds me that there is. Whether you're a fitness guru, a gamer, or an artist, Clark's story is that creating products based on your audience's needs can help you grow bigger and more sustainable. It proves that it can lead to success.
