Getting Started with Your Own Print on Demand Venture

If you’re thinking about starting a new income stream, print on demand (POD) could be a profitable option. It all comes down to your willingness to learn and tackle the challenges that might come your way. While a bit of luck is involved, you can definitely start a POD business from scratch and make money.

However, it’s important to note that this method isn’t for everyone. There are generally two types of people who will likely succeed in this field:

Ideally, you should be a professional graphic designer who is looking to create an income source. But even if you don’t have artistic skills, that’s not a dealbreaker. With online tools like mockup generators, creating your own shirt designs isn’t too hard. You also have the option to partner with a graphic designer and start a joint venture.

If you design the merchandise yourself, you might consider a different approach—making money by licensing your artwork to established POD brands. The shortage of great artists is a primary reason why some POD businesses struggle. Without an in-house artist, they have to outsource, and that’s where your skills or dedicated learning can pay off.

Entering an already large market can be beneficial because you won’t have to worry about building a site from scratch or competing in an overcrowded field. Plus, if the platform you join already invests in marketing, that’s one less thing for you to worry about.

Promoting your designs on social media is always a good idea, but even without that, being part of a big platform like Amazon or Redbubble gives you access to an established customer base.

Creating a few exciting designs isn’t enough to keep your business afloat long-term. You might see early success, but sustaining that momentum requires continually coming up with new t-shirt designs and showing your growth as an artist. Your designs should also improve over time to prevent stagnation.

Designer’s block is common, so look for new sources of inspiration if you get stuck. Expanding into more marketplaces can also help. As long as you’re not exclusively tied to one t-shirt platform, you can sell your designs on other marketplaces too.

Revisiting and improving your old designs can also give them a fresh, new feel, even if they aren’t entirely new ideas.

Though focusing on trends rather than personal preference might be a bit discouraging, it’s crucial to consider what your target audience wants. That doesn’t mean your original ideas won’t make money, but you’ll likely have better odds if there’s a demand for your designs.

Tools like Google Trends can help you see what’s currently popular. Predicting the next big trend and preparing for it can be profitable. Major events like the Olympics or the World Cup often spark a lot of interest in related merchandise. The same goes for big video game releases, as interest ramps up closer to the launch dates.

By planning your designs around these trends, you can capitalize on high demand and then move on to the next big thing once the interest fades.

In summary, this guide should give you a clearer idea of what to expect if you want to start a POD t-shirt business.