Who knew becoming a multi-millionaire was one of the benefits of quitting sugar?
After a diagnosis caused Sarah Wilson to cut sugar from her diet, she discovered an entire untapped market of people thirsty for more information.
Now her I Quit Sugar juggernaut is on track to make more than $4 million this financial year.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that IQS.com, which turned over $534,000 in its first year, will now surpass the $4 million mark at the end of this financial year.
More than half of the company’s revenue comes from the diet programs. Around a third comes from its 10 digital cookbooks. The rest is from advertising.
Wilson – a journalist, turned blogger, turned anti-sugar advocate – launched health site iquitsugar.com with Zoe Eaton, a former colleague from her days in women’s magazines, after her sugar-free blog gained traction.
The former Cosmopolitan editor drastically changed her diet after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease, an autoimmune condition, in 2008, and wrote about her sugar-free lifestyle online.
Watch this hilarious piss-take on the I Quit Sugar movement:
The blog’s popularity prompted Wilson to write the digital I Quit Sugar Cookbook, which was published in more than 40 countries and became a New York Times bestseller, and I Quit Sugar For Life.
The powerhouse duo self-funded the venture, which now also operates eight-week diet programs, where participants can access experts and more sugar-free recipes for a price.
Eaton – the company’s general manager – told the Sydney Morning Herald the duo feed the enormous appetite for thoroughly researched information on the benefits of a sugar-free diet and how to make tasty sugar-free meals.
“There is no-one else really doing what we do,” she said.
“You’ve got (The Biggest Loser co-host and personal trainer) Michelle Bridges in the fitness market and Kayla Itsines from Adelaide, but nobody else like us.”
For more on Sarah Wilson, try these articles:
Sarah Wilson: “Diet doesn’t cure disease and it’s irresponsible to say otherwise.”
Diet guru Sarah Wilson says no to bike helmets.
OPINION: Sarah Wilson says she knows why women get sick. And she’s wrong.
The one where Mamamia asked Sarah Wilson what’s so wrong with Paddlepops.
Have you tried quitting sugar?
Top Comments
Um is the making $4M a year profit or is that their turnover? Two different things.
Talk about a mixture of the green-eyed monster and tall poppy syndrome. It's just embarrassing how mamamia is always trying to take down Sarah Wilson. Perhaps give it a rest?