GEO 101 Design sells handmade cork maps of the US and its states, plus coasters and custom maps, to travel lovers who want to display their adventures at home or in an RV; the founder reported that he was averaging $4,000 a month in sales through the website and Etsy as of 2020.
What it sells and how it charges
The official site describes its cork maps as one of a kind with modern, minimalist aesthetics. The range includes maps of the US and its states, coasters and custom maps. The business uses its own Shopify website and Etsy as sales channels.
The official shop listed the Cork Map of Maine at a regular price of $85.00 USD as of 2026-10-01.
How it started
GEO 101 Design was founded in 2017. The founder describes the business as a side project alongside a day job. It was run from a garage in West Michigan, where he manufactured every map himself. He said this setup meant he was not worried about bills or overhead.
After a bad experience with an outside marketing agency, he ended the contract and learned about Facebook ads himself. The published account does not give an exact founding month or describe the first product.
The numbers
In the Starter Story founder interview, he said he was averaging $4,000 a month in sales through the website and Etsy. The figure is founder-reported and stated as of 2020; it does not describe current revenue.
The one-person description is based on the founder’s own account: he said he ran the small business by himself and manufactured every map in the garage. The available sources do not state a starting cost.
What stands out
- Product focus: The founder says he keeps the range small and batch-produces it; the stated range is cork maps, coasters and custom maps.
- Operating setup: The described model combines a day job, garage production, its own Shopify website and Etsy, with wholesale also listed as a channel.
- Marketing: The founder learned about Facebook ads himself after ending the outside agency contract.
- Staffing: In the interview, he said he did not plan to add employees.
Sources
Income figures are what the founder reported, or what a payment platform verified, on the date shown. They are not current income and not a prediction of what you will earn. Method & sources · Disclosure