Locksmith Girl of NYC saw demand surge after a single TikTok video reached 600,000 views.
A 27-year-old New York City locksmith received up to 60 jobs weekly after a TikTok video promoting her services to women went viral. The video encouraged women uncomfortable calling male locksmiths late at night to consider her business, racking up over 600,000 views.
Sahar Yona launched Locksmith Girl of NYC in November 2024 with a $7,000 startup cost. She trained for two years, obtained her license, and worked as a subcontractor before starting her own business. Prior to the viral video, demand was slow.
Yona said the strategy aimed to help women feel safer while building her business.