cottage industry

American  

noun

1. the production, for sale, of goods at home, as the making of handicrafts by rural families.

2. any small-scale, loosely organized industry.

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cottage industry British  

noun

1. an industry in which employees work in their own homes, often using their own equipment

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Etymology

Origin of cottage industry

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

There is a cottage industry of “tell-all” media about Kennedy and Bessette’s relationship, much of it powered by the people who have claimed to be close to them.

From The Wall Street Journal

An entire cottage industry of startups and consultants has emerged to help retailers and brands ensure their products appear in AI search results, a field called Generative Engine Optimization.

From Los Angeles Times

The honour has cast a global spotlight on a fragile cottage industry battling labour shortages, rampant adulteration and dwindling sap supplies.

From Barron's

There’s a whole cottage industry dedicated to determining which 15- and 16-year-olds are going to turn into the best football players in college, but every year someone extraordinary falls through the cracks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Preparing for the test is sufficiently daunting that it has spawned a cottage industry of specialized agencies that help AI companies pass, much like preparing for an SAT exam, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal