From architecture to print-on-demand entrepreneur

The transition from designing buildings to creating an online store might seem like a radical career shift, but for Alina Bibisheva, architecture provided the perfect training ground for entrepreneurship.

“Architecture was the best education in the world because it has all aspects of soft skills, hands-on strategy, design, engineering, and being able to learn new software quickly,” she says. 

The foundation prepared her to handle the various roles required in her business without getting overwhelmed. “I need to be my own accountant, customer service representative, designer, SEO specialist, and then manage all the software. All of these were really easy for me because I had prior experience.”

Overcoming the too-late mindset

When researching business opportunities, Alina was discouraged from entering established markets. 

“I started watching YouTube videos to get inspired on what business I should start. For as long as I can remember, no matter what platform you want to start on, people say it’s too late.”

Alina developed a different perspective, allowing her to move forward despite the negativity.

“I think there is never a single day when it’s too late. Even if it is late, you can still benefit from all the knowledge already there.”

This mindset is the key for anyone wondering how to make an extra $500 through an online business. Where some see barriers, entrepreneurs like Alina see doorways.

Finding the right mentors

Connecting with the right mentors early in her journey accelerated Alina’s progress.

“I came across these people called the Life Hacker Couple. There’s a pretty small group of us who all became pretty successful after joining their mentorship program. Other members include Cassiy Johnson, PassiveIncomeAngel, and JennyFromTheShop.” Alina says with pride.

Such a tight-knit community provides tactics and the confidence to keep going through the ups and downs POD entrepreneurs face.

Choosing consistency over speed

Alina approached Print on Demand with a long-term perspective rather than a get-rich-quick mindset.

“I knew from the beginning that it’s going to be more of a marathon than a sprint,” she says. “I had to do at least a little bit every single day. It was slow for me in the beginning. I started at the beginning of the year, and I saw real traction in Q4.”

When today’s work pays tomorrow’s bills

For Alina, the best mindset shift was recognizing the growth potential of POD businesses. Unlike her previous per-hour compensation, POD offered the opportunity to keep earning long after she closed her laptop.

“I was always paid per hour. But with POD, the earning potential was so much greater. I invested an hour today that keeps making me money in 2025. Some hours that I spent in 2021 still give me profits today.”

Navigating challenges as a traditional designer

While her architectural background gave Alina many advantages, it also presented unexpected obstacles. “I had my traditional design habits, and in architecture, you’re taught to create design purely from a creative standpoint, focusing on aesthetics or personal preference.”

POD required a different approach. “When I started doing POD, I realized that maybe that works in traditional design but doesn’t really apply here. Here, the customer is king, and you need to focus on demand – hence ‘Print on Demand.'”

Alina then shifted her approach from creator-centered to customer-centered. She found confidence in her work, knowing that her designs absolutely delighted buyers.

Picking the right platform for growth

Alina’s initial print-on-demand platform choice didn’t provide the profit margins she needed as a growing seller. “I realized that as a small seller, the profit margins were too slim to keep going. So I decided to give Printify a shot,” she explains.

Printify’s product migration assistance made the transition a lot easier. “There’s a beautiful program where Printify gave you a couple of engineers to transfer all your products,” Alina recalls. This drastically cut the time she would’ve spent on recreating every product in Printify.

Printify Choice slashed Alina’s workload by 80%

Once a seller starts getting more orders, operational efficiency becomes a top priority. But before switching to Printify Choice, fulfillment consumed hours of Alina’s time.

“I used to go into every single order and make sure mother-and-daughter outfits would be from the same Print Provider to avoid paying for two different shipments and ensure the items arrive together.”

The introduction of Printify Choice changed everything, and we can see why. “Since I switched to Printify Choice, I think I cut my processing time by 80% because I’m using it for almost all my products.”

Spending so much less time processing orders freed Alina to focus on business growth. “Printify Choice was a great decision for me.”

The benefits of switching to Printify Choice

Alina found that Printify Choice gave her consistent quality and some great perks.

“It was a no-brainer. It has the lowest price on the platform, the fastest fulfillment time, and the best product selection, so you don’t have to monitor anything.”

After switching to Printify Choice, she saw no drop in customer happiness. “Using Printify Choice has given me more confidence to use the Print Providers Printify picks for me. My customers were just as satisfied with my products as before, if not even happier!”

Delighting customers with surprisingly fast shipping

One unexpected benefit of Printify Choice has been enhanced customer satisfaction due to faster shipping times. It can very well impact reviews and repeat business.

“Some people were shocked by how fast their orders shipped. They ordered Monday and got their products Thursday!” Alina shares. “I always underpromise and overdeliver. So they’re thrilled when their package arrives much earlier than the estimate I give.”

Good customer service has always been important to Alina. “I focus on stellar customer service. No matter what happens, I’ll do my best to keep my customers happy. Printify was helpful because they had my back, especially if anything unexpected happened like things getting lost in the mail.”

Boosting profits $1 at a time

Lower prices with Printify Choice help you reach your profit goals, whether that’s an extra $500 per month or even more. 

“Printify Choice helped me a lot with my margins. Especially with sweatshirts, where it’s a $1 difference – that was big. If you sell 1,000 sweatshirts in a year, that’s $1,000 extra in your pocket. It’s that simple.”

These small per-item savings add up fast across hundreds of orders. Combined with the time savings from simpler order fulfillment, Alina’s business became more profitable without extra work.

Tips for new and existing POD sellers

Alina’s advice is simple for beginners wondering how to make an extra $500 a month with Print on Demand: skip the Print Provider research.

“If you’re just getting started, don’t become an expert in all the Print Providers. Just go straight to Printify Choice.“

And for experienced sellers? Alina suggests updating your existing listings to Printify Choice.

“Start with your absolute bestsellers,” she says. Changing your best products to Printify Choice first will save you money right away.”

Her recommendation: tackle your 10 most popular products first.

“Put a little time into switching your top 10 products. From there, just switch others as you have time.”

According to Alina, the best part is the long-term payoff.

Once you update a product, “it’s done forever.”

From first sale to $10K months, Alina’s Looks into the future

So, what’s really possible with Etsy POD in 2025? For Alina, $500 per month was just the beginning. In 2024 alone, she sold between $300k and $400k on Etsy, consistently hitting over $10k per month. And she wants others to know that it’s never too late.

“There are about 100 million buyers on Etsy looking for the next fresh design. When you know exactly what works and what doesn’t, and you have a clear plan with systems and processes, there’s no limit to what you can do.”

Now, after growing both her customer-facing shop and her digital mockup business, Alina created a course sharing the strategies that helped her succeed, aiming to support others in building the freedom-filled business they want.

“My business has given me the freedom to spend more time with my family,” she told us. “I’ve been able to live in five countries. I get to do work I really enjoy on my terms. And I want to help others have that same experience.”

And there’s plenty more ahead for Alina. Here’s to Alina’s continued success and all the entrepreneurs she’ll inspire along the way!

When Simone Cassarino left his economics studies in 2020, he wasn’t sure what would come next. 

Like many of us during the pandemic, he searched for a new direction. What he found was an opportunity to turn his creative interests into a successful Etsy shop that quickly blossomed into a seven-figure business.

“I always knew the internet could offer great opportunities,” Simone told us. “There are billions of dollars going around in so many industries and niches. I just wanted a small percentage of those billions for me – it would be life-changing.”

Little did he know that this life would indeed change in just a few years.

Building foundational skills through Fiverr and RedBubble

Simone’s first earnings didn’t come directly from Etsy or Print on Demand. Before launching his Etsy business, he developed his skills and tested the market’s response to his work. He began teaching himself graphic design and found his first paid jobs on Fiverr.

“My first gig was creating logos on Fiverr for startups and small businesses,” he shared. “The price was low because I was a beginner, but it gave me my first online income. That was very encouraging because I had results in the first few weeks.”

The timing worked in his favor. “During the pandemic, tons of people were right in front of their computers trying to create side hustles and needed logos for their new businesses.”

He also opened a RedBubble shop during that time to test his designs on products. “With RedBubble, you simply upload the design, and they take over everything. You take the percentage profit, which is only a few bucks per item.”

While this generated some income, Simone realized its limitations. He knew he couldn’t make a full salary from it and started looking for bigger marketplaces to scale his business.

Finding low-barrier entry points to eCommerce

The pandemic pushed many of us online, searching for ways to make money from home. Simone was no different, but he had clear ideas about what kind of business felt right for him. eCommerce offered multiple options, but not all aligned with his values or creative interests.

“I was looking for something with a low barrier of entry,” he recalled. “I wasn’t interested in dropshipping and just reselling products from AliExpress for five times the price without offering much more.”

Instead, Print on Demand caught his eye. It let him create designs based on his ideas and sell them without worrying about inventory. It was a perfect fit for someone with limited starting capital but growing creative skills.

 “I was curious about creating designs from my own ideas, putting them on products, and selling them worldwide without worrying about stock issues.”

Identifying the perfect market entry strategy

Simone researched major eCommerce platforms to find the best fit for a newcomer with limited resources. Each option had different advantages and challenges.

“I found out about Etsy, but there were also other options like Shopify or Amazon,” he explained. “With Shopify, you need to bring traffic yourself and pay a lot for advertising. With Amazon, you need different approvals to sell with Amazon, and they have very restrictive listing rules.”

Etsy offered the ideal balance: an established customer base with straightforward seller onboarding. “On Etsy, you’re already relying on their customer base. You just open an account, create a name for the shop, and you’re ready to sell.”

Capitalizing on pandemic-driven product demand

Simone’s market entry coincided with unique timing: the sudden demand for face masks during the pandemic. The new product category presented an opportunity with less established competition. 

For those of us who remember the early pandemic scramble for masks, this makes perfect sense – people were desperately searching for masks that weren’t clinical-looking, and Simone was there with the right product at the right time.

“I was really lucky because face masks were a new product for the pandemic. People were starting to wear them everywhere and wanted interesting designs. With t-shirts or other products, there was already a lot of competition, but with face masks, I was a brand-new seller in a brand-new niche.”

After comparing platforms, he found that Printify offered competitive pricing for masks. The design requirement simplicity also helped. “Printify was offering face masks at a very good price compared to other platforms. I decided to use Printify, create the listings, connect my Etsy shop, and import all the links.”

The results were immediate. “I had my first sale on Etsy within 24 hours of opening my shop because I was one of the first to create these listings for face masks.”

Managing quality challenges in a new product category

Of course, being an early seller in a new category wasn’t all smooth sailing. As with any new product category, face masks presented quality issues. The pandemic complicated things even more. “During the pandemic, I saw struggles with stock issues and long shipping and production times.“

His response to these challenges set Simone’s successful Etsy business apart. Instead of getting defensive or disappearing, he focused on making customers happy – even when problems weren’t his fault. 

“I tried to be a good seller, being kind to customers. If they weren’t satisfied with the products, I used to provide refunds without questions.”

This approach stemmed from a long-term perspective that continues today.  “I still immediately offer a refund or free replacement if a customer is disappointed, even for shipping issues I can’t control. I want to treat customers the way I would like to be treated.”

Making a strategic product transition

While face masks got Simone’s foot in the door, he knew they wouldn’t be his forever product. The margins weren’t super high, and demand would eventually drop as the pandemic subsided. So, he developed a clear transition strategy for sustainable growth.

“I knew face masks were only for the pandemic. My strategy was to let my Etsy shop grow with sales and good reviews, then switch to long-term products like t-shirts and sweatshirts to build a real business.”

After his first summer on Etsy, he gradually introduced apparel products with higher profit margins. “I started selling t-shirts, slowly transitioning from face masks for the long term. By Christmas 2020, I was making my first sales with t-shirts.”

It’s easy to understand why Simone’s Etsy shop outlasted the pandemic boom. He used a trending product as a launchpad for a more sustainable business.

Refining product strategies for a competitive advantage

Moving from face masks to apparel brought new challenges. Suddenly, Simone needed to think about sizes, colors, mockups, and variations – complexities that didn’t exist with single-size face masks.

Interestingly, he took a different approach than many sellers. While others offered dozens of color options, Simone kept things simple.

“Many sellers provide dozens of color options, which I think is confusing for buyers because they don’t know which to choose. I always pick not more than five colors for t-shirts. I think it also gives a more premium idea about the design, and shirts can be more exclusive. It’s working so far.”

Today, his product mix has evolved, and his bestsellers have a personal touch. “T-shirts make up the majority of sales, followed by sweatshirts and mugs. Most of my sales are personalized orders, which is great for Etsy. People go there to find personalized gifts that they can put a name or dates on.”

Using Printify Choice for a competitive edge

When Printify introduced Printify Choice, Simone was among the first testers. The program automatically selects the best Print Provider based on price, quality, and customer location, and it really improved his experience.

“The first thing I noticed was the lower price compared to other Providers. My main Print Provider was Monster Digital and Printify Choice had a slightly lower price.”

But the biggest deal was speed. In a world where Amazon has trained us all to expect near-instant delivery, this speed boost gave Simone’s Etsy business a sharp competitive edge.

“Etsy actually promotes your shop more if you have faster shipping times. With Printify Choice, the shipping time is one to two days, sometimes within 24 hours.”

The most impressive part for us was the reliability during the holiday rush. “During Q4 before Printify Choice, I had many more issues with quality, lost orders, or damaged shirts. With Printify Choice, the last two holiday seasons had only a couple of issues with all my orders.”

Anyone who’s run an eCommerce business or a successful Etsy shop during Q4 knows what a massive difference reliability makes.

Diversifying through multiple shops

Simone came up with the idea to create a brand new Etsy shop, this time with a different approach. This time, he won’t be selling t-shirts. 

The new shop will focus on higher-margin items. “With high-ticket products, I can make the same amount of money with fewer sales than I would with t-shirts,” he said.

Printify’s expanded Product Catalog makes this strategy possible. “Printify now offers so many new print-on-demand products – tech accessories, car accessories, home living items.”

His approach is to focus on gaps in the marketplace. “A good idea would be to find what’s not on Etsy, bring it from other places like Amazon, and add my own style,” he explained.

This kind of adaptation and innovation is exactly what keeps a successful Etsy business growing even as markets shift.

Living the digital nomad dream

Perhaps the best part of Simone’s story is how his Etsy success has transformed his life. Beyond the impressive sales numbers, it’s given him the freedom to work from anywhere.

“I became a digital nomad, which was one of my dreams. Traveling the world while working and making money without worrying about a traditional job.”

What started as an experiment with face masks during a pandemic has evolved into something remarkable. “It’s crazy to think that in the past, I was just trying with face masks, and now I’m getting close to having a million-dollar business,” he reflected.

Though competition has increased and Etsy has changed, Simone remains adaptable. His journey from graphic design beginner to successful Etsy business owner shows what’s possible with the right timing, strategic thinking, and tools like Printify Choice.

Simone’s journey offers a blueprint for those looking to make it big on Etsy with Print on Demand: identify emerging opportunities, provide exceptional customer service, adapt to changing market conditions, and use tools like Printify Choice to stay competitive and profitable.

Bravo to this champ!

Let’s start with getting to know you a bit better, James. What’s your story?

“Hi I’m James, and I’ve lived in Brisbane, Australia my whole life. I share my life with my partner Aaron and our dog Rufus, and we run a shop together on the street where we live.

It’s named after my partner’s business, ‘A Boy Named Aaron,’ and serves as a joint space to showcase our work, books, and gifts. I’m a big dog person and love music, but what really drives me is progressive politics and pop culture. 

My art reflects both these passions – I celebrate pop culture while expressing my thoughts about politics. My work spans both ends of the emotional spectrum, from fun to deeply meaningful.”

What first drew you into the world of print-on-demand?

“About a decade ago, I was working as a graphic designer and went through a bit of a mental health journey. I needed to take a step back from work, and during that time, I got back into drawing. 

I rediscovered the immense joy it gives me – I realized I’d been missing that part of myself for so many years. It awakened that childlike excitement and wonder for creativity.

When I started sharing my art online, I got really good feedback. That felt great, and I thought I could explore turning this into something that could sustain me commercially. I was new to the space with websites and online marketplaces. 

POD was something new to me that I hadn’t considered before, but I was exploring the space, reading a lot, listening a lot, and learning as I went along.”

What was it about Printify that clicked for you?

“I discovered Printify about six or seven years ago, and it was exactly what I needed to take my business to the next level. Instead of relying on marketplaces, I could finally have my own website, complete control over my branding, and set my own prices. 

The ability to build direct relationships with my customers was a game-changer, and the higher profit margins made it a smart business decision.

What’s also amazing is how Printify has grown alongside my business, especially in expanding its network of local Print Providers. Here’s a funny coincidence – the company that handles all my national apparel is just down the street in my Brisbane suburb. That’s been incredibly valuable, especially now that we have our physical store. 

Recently, someone asked why I don’t keep inventory, and I had to break down the numbers for them. With around 300-400 designs, if I stocked every size, color, cut, and style, I’d need a warehouse with half a million t-shirts alone – and we haven’t even gotten to sweatshirts. That explains why Printify works so well for my business model.”

How was the transition from a steady job to running your own business?

“For the first five years, I kept my full-time job while building the business. Right from the start, I knew this was what I wanted to do, but I also knew it had to be a long game. You can’t just quit your job and dive in – you need a real plan, a pathway you can actually see working.

I was lucky with my employer. They were incredibly supportive when I opened up about where I wanted to take my career. Instead of completely losing me, they suggested, ‘Let’s make this work – start with three days, then go to two days, then one.’ That kind of gradual transition was exactly what I needed.

But I want to be honest here – it takes real commitment. Even now, running your own business means saying no to a lot of things. You might not be the social butterfly you used to be; you’ll work some late nights, and you’ve got to stay flexible as things change.”

How did you know it was financially safe to make a full transition?

“The 2022 federal election was my tipping point. I’d already cut down a day or two from my day job, and my political art just exploded – everything I was creating about Australian issues resonated with people.

I could have quit right then if I wanted to, but I decided to be more measured. My employer tried to convince me to stay on as long as possible, which helped provide that security and consistency while building the business. 

I’m a bit of a spreadsheet nerd – I track absolutely everything. So when I finally made the jump, there wasn’t any doubt. The numbers told me what I needed to know.”

What drives you to create politically engaged designs?

“First and foremost, it’s something I’m deeply passionate about. I’ve always had a strong sense of social, economic, and environmental justice. A lot of this drive comes from my childhood and adolescence as a gay man – I grew up in a pretty conservative church, and that was challenging, dealing with being closeted and having to navigate that alone.

The journey of coming out and finally being myself was visually emancipating and powerful. Reclaiming my voice was so important, and I knew that moving forward, I didn’t want to live a life where I would be silencing myself. I owe it to my younger self to be unapologetically bold about the things I’m passionate about.

Even more so, I value elevating the voices of others who may not have a platform. If there’s an issue that intersects with my interests and values, I love championing those voices, promoting a cause, raising money for charity, or celebrating someone who’s standing up for what’s right in the public eye.”

How do you handle the controversy the niche brings?

“You’re going to attract controversy because these topics are controversial. People have big feelings about them, so you need to have thick skin or be willing to deal with pushback online. 

I’m always a big believer in having honest conversations in good faith – I don’t have time for trolls, but if someone’s willing to talk about something they’ve misunderstood or don’t understand, I’m happy to have that conversation and unpack my perspective.

It’s a double-edged sword – it can attract vitriol, but it also attracts passionate followers who find their community and resonate with the voice you’re putting out there. Much of what I do spurs important conversations, which can be helpful for people who might not be able to have these discussions in their real-world environments.”

Can you share your marketing strategy with us?

“I haven’t done much paid advertising in the last five years. I’ve just focused on organic, viral content that I share on my social media platforms. 

Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are the three main places where I’ve developed a community. As that’s grown exponentially over time, it pays dividends on reach, so you can promote your work without necessarily doing targeted ads.

I built up my email list to send an email blast to my followers when I have a new release. Having a physical store for the past year has helped build new local followers and community. Having a physical space also helps build credibility – it supports brand building.”

How do you approach holiday seasons after years of experience?

“After going through five or six holiday seasons, one thing remains constant – it’s always better than a non-holiday season. Each year fluctuates, but November and December are pretty much guaranteed to bring in big months. I’ve learned to prepare well in advance and create specific strategies for the season.

I create Christmas-themed designs, especially with pop culture references – double entendres or plays on words with celebrities or old movies. I make them cute, kitschy, and retro, and I push Christmas ornaments too. 

Even if people don’t buy the Christmas items, having seasonal content helps drive organic traffic to the site. Sometimes, they’ll come for the holiday designs but end up buying something completely different.”

What made you open a physical store, unlike most print-on-demand artists?

“Having a physical location was always part of my vision. There’s something special about being able to contextualize your work with other pieces you’ve created and complement it with carefully curated items that fit the brand’s aesthetic.

Our shop is in this beautiful mid-century 1950s precinct at the end of the road. I’ve always dreamed of having a cute, little Mid-Century Modern Palm Springs bungalow with white breeze blocks and a slanted roof, and this place had it all. 

If I never get the house, I’ve got the shop – that’s my little Palm Springs paradise I can escape to every morning with a coffee.

It’s been a wonderful experience connecting with the community and people who want to see my work in person rather than through a computer screen. We get international visitors and interstate travelers, and that physical dimension adds something special to the brand experience.”

What moments made building this business worthwhile?

“The most meaningful interactions have been with parents, particularly mothers of gay or trans kids who want to be better allies. Through following my page and journey, they’ve found a safe space to explore and find items that resonate with them. It’s been incredibly powerful building that kind of community.

It’s also been amazing to partner with nonprofit charities and organizations to raise money for various causes – whether it’s relief in Gaza, survivors of childhood sexual assault, bushfire relief, or queer charities. That work is fulfilling to the soul.

And then there are the faithful customers who routinely continue to buy your stuff – that’s just so validating. Being able to wake up in the morning and not have to answer to a manager or have someone breathing down my neck is incredibly empowering. I value working from my home studio with my dog at my side, my partner here, and building my own lifestyle.”

You’ve built something really special. Where do you hope to take it from here?

“With the recent news about Printify merging with Printful, I’m excited about the possibilities, especially for strengthening the Australian market presence. I never really see myself stopping what I’m doing now – I hope to continue on this path, and, being brutally honest, I hope sales go through the roof so I can have a fabulously wealthy life that’s comfortable and take care of the people I love.

I’d love to collaborate more with artists and brands I admire, expand into the film and music industry, and continue building our local community. We’ve started hosting street parties with drinks, food, drag queen performers, and giveaways. We want to give back to the community and foster local and online connections.

The business has taken away a lot of stress and struggle while giving me huge amounts of experience I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I certainly don’t see myself stopping – this is just the beginning of what’s possible.”

Hi, Megan. What sparked your journey into entrepreneurship?

“If I had to look back five years, I would never have imagined this is where my life would be. I graduated with a sports medicine degree and was exploring everything in health sciences, like physical and occupational therapy, before deciding on nursing school. 

After completing an accelerated program, I landed a job as a pediatric trauma nurse at a children’s hospital. That’s when I met Chris, my husband, who was successfully running POD stores. He noticed my creative side and mentioned that it would be perfect for me.

He explained that I could supplement my income without quitting my job, saying, ‘If all the guys I’m living with can do this, you 100% can do the same.'”

How did you balance both careers during the transition?

“The early days were intense. I worked full-time in nursing while building my POD business in every spare moment. I would work night shifts at the hospital, come home and answer customer service emails, sleep, wake up, handle more business tasks, and then head back to the hospital. 

While it was exhausting, each store taught me valuable lessons that I applied to the next one. Those early days of balancing both careers helped me develop strong time management skills and gave me a safety net while building my business. It wasn’t about making an immediate jump – it was about smart, gradual progression.”

What is the biggest misconception about starting a POD business?

“The biggest misconception comes from social media. Nobody wants to watch a video about taking nine months to make your first sale – they want to see ‘I made $10,000 in four days.’ 

While social media has helped open people’s eyes to POD becoming a real business, it’s created unrealistic expectations. People think it will work in 30 days or less, and if it doesn’t, they quit or think those successful sellers must be special. 

Like any business, POD takes time to master. Just as it took me months to feel comfortable as a nurse, you must give yourself time to learn and grow in this business.”

How important would you say niche selection is when starting?

“Chris and I always start with one broad niche like history, for example, and one specific product, usually t-shirts. Many newcomers feel pressured to offer everything – mugs, shower curtains, phone cases – but it’s much more effective to master one product first. 

Go for a niche you’re genuinely interested in. With our history store, Chris’s dad, Pete, loves history so much that he’s always reading history books. 

When you have that passion, you understand your customer better because you are the customer. You’re not just looking for designs you like, but creating content that speaks to a community you’re part of.”

How did your first store experience shape your perspective on research?

“My first store had no niche. I found designs I liked, thinking, ‘So many people are going to love my designs!’ I learned the hard way that not many people share my exact taste, and that’s okay. The first store wasn’t a financial success, but it was a priceless lesson. 

Now I tell everybody to do research. Go out there and look into different niches and products, as well as various designs and styles. Study what’s already selling in the niche, what isn’t, and reverse engineer what we’re seeing and putting into our own stores.“

Why did you choose Printify as your POD partner?

“Initially, I chose Printify on Chris’s recommendation, but over time, I discovered why it was the right choice. Honestly, it comes down to pricing – I don’t think you can find better print-on-demand costs anywhere else, which directly impacts your profit margins. 

When running a Shopify store with advertising costs, those margins become crucial. While platforms like Etsy can generate organic sales through SEO, Shopify requires consistent ad spending to drive traffic. 

With Printify’s pricing, we can maintain 15-20% margins even with advertising costs, compared to the 5% you might see with other providers.

Next, selecting and testing different Print Providers has also been invaluable to our business. I always tell new sellers to order the same design from various providers and compare quality and shipping speed. 

Having this flexibility to choose based on quality and turnaround time has helped us maintain customer satisfaction.”

How do you handle international fulfillment?

“We’ve developed a strategic approach to international orders. We created what we call our ‘Printify Dream Team’ for fulfillment – we have providers in the UK, Europe, Australia, and Canada. This helps us optimize shipping times and costs for international customers.

For example, if someone orders from Latvia, we can have their order fulfilled by our European Print Provider rather than shipping from the US. This reduces shipping costs and ensures faster delivery times.

How important was setting up an LLC as a POD seller?

“Honestly, I never thought about running it without one. In Pennsylvania, where I got my LLC, I think I paid $250 – it wasn’t a huge amount of money that would break the bank. 

When you dive into the protections you have with an LLC, it separates your personal finances from your business. 

The last thing I want is for a beginner to get taken advantage of and tied up to something that could put their personal assets on the line. 

Even if it’s a side hustle and starts doing well, you wouldn’t want that tied to your house, your retirement funds, or anything else.”

Beyond legal structure, what’s your approach to managing business finances?

“Chris taught me a crucial lesson about financial management. We’d set aside a specific amount for the business and emotionally detach from it. Pick an amount you’re comfortable with and treat it as already spent. 

This helps avoid the mindset of ‘I spent $200 on ads, so I need to make $250 back immediately,’ which can lead to rushed decisions. When setting up your initial budget, consider all aspects – product testing, marketing, legal setup, and a buffer for unexpected expenses. 

This financial cushion allows you to make calculated decisions rather than emotional ones. Remember, it’s better to start small and scale up than to overextend yourself early on.”

What’s your strategy for testing new designs?

“We recommend having at least 100 designs in your shop to give Facebook enough data to find winners that are getting clicks. When you’re ready to start advertising, take $100 and start your campaign on a Thursday. 

Run it Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, then turn it off late Sunday. This gives you tons of data about your designs and stores for just $100 spent over four days.

After that, analyze which designs got cheap clicks and showed real interest. 

Look at what aspects of these designs people were interested in – was it the saying? Was it all typography with something funny about the niche? Or was it an artistic design we can replicate in a different area of the same niche?

We always aim to sell two or more shirts to a customer because then we’ll make a better margin. So, we’ve developed various strategies and tools on our site to encourage multiple purchases.”

How do you handle customer service challenges?

“Something we’ve done with our customer service that has had positive feedback is our approach to returns. Obviously, with POD, we can’t accept traditional returns – where would we return it to?  

Instead, we’ll say, ‘Hey, we get the fit isn’t right. We’d love to give you a gift card for store credit or send you a new shirt.’ Then, we encourage them to give the original shirt to a friend or donate it, tying it back to our brand’s mission. This approach has resulted in incredible customer loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing. 

We also maintain transparency about being a small business, especially regarding shipping times. When customers understand they’re supporting a small business rather than a large corporation, they’re often more patient and understanding.”

What’s your experience with different selling platforms?

“I’ve always started on Shopify because that’s what Chris had done. As our brands have grown, we’ll put our top sellers on Etsy, because some people may not be comfortable purchasing from our Shopify site if they’ve never heard of it. 

Typically, people search for our brand on Google, Amazon, and Etsy and feel more comfortable purchasing from those platforms. 

So, we use Etsy to capture some of that natural organic search traffic. But other than that, I’ve never really focused on Etsy as much of a priority as our Shopify store.”

What’s your approach to research and trend analysis?

“Today, much more research is involved in everything we do. Taking History Tees as an example, we found one design – a Lincoln five-star design – that really took off. 

We noticed people in the history niche particularly enjoyed sarcastic humor related to historical events. Chris’s dad, Pete, would read history books, and we’d collaborate to find different historical events and create similar humorous concepts around them.

When looking for trends, don’t get too caught up in what other people are doing on specific platforms. Instead, try to get inspired by broader trends or themes from art, movies, or literature. SEO and competitor analysis are important, but don’t make them your sole focus.”

What role has community played in your success?

“One of the main challenges when running an online business is working alone. Although it might sound like a dream to some people, it has its disadvantages. You can’t get advice from anyone and don’t have a way to share your concerns or problems. 

We share what we’ve learned because we remember how valuable it was to have someone guide us through the early stages. In our community, there are no stupid questions – whether it’s about LLC formation, design techniques, or marketing strategies. 

This support system has been priceless for our growth and the success of our community members.”

Looking back at your journey from nursing to POD, how has this career change impacted your life?

“This transition has given me flexibility and opportunities I never imagined possible. While I loved nursing and helping people, POD has allowed me to impact lives differently while being free to live on my own terms. 

We can travel, work from anywhere, and build something meaningful. I would never have had these experiences without taking that first step into entrepreneurship. 

The skills I learned as a nurse – attention to detail, problem-solving, and customer care – have proved invaluable in running my POD business.”
For more about Megan and her amazing work, check her out at www.mysticpod.com and www.skool.com/heckman.

Kate, tell us about your life before becoming an entrepreneur.

“I never imagined I’d be running my own business. Without Print on Demand, I honestly don’t think I ever would have become an entrepreneur. 

After college, I went straight into nonprofit education, working as a high school teacher in a predominantly underserved school district. I loved my students and the work, but I felt burnt out by the school environment and the expectations placed on me with minimal resources.

I transitioned into nonprofit grant administration, and while I enjoyed that work too, it was hard to make ends meet. Something had to change, but I had no idea what that change would look like.”

How did Print on Demand enter the picture?

“It all started during a meeting with a colleague working in the nonprofit space. She mentioned starting a print-on-demand business, and I was completely confused. I asked if she’d learned screen printing because I had no idea what Print on Demand was. 

When she explained how she worked with Printify and that there were no upfront costs, it planted a seed in my mind.

At the time, I had just started my first remote job in tech recruiting. Suddenly, I had more free time than ever before. That’s when I remembered that conversation about POD and thought I should give it a try.

I just wanted something creative and fun to help me earn some extra spending money – all my regular income was going to basic expenses.”

Why did you choose Printify as your production partner?

“One of the things that drew me to Printify was the ability to pick your Print Provider. When I ordered samples from competitors, they were never consistent because they sent orders to random manufacturing partners. 

With Printify, I can control quality by choosing specific providers. The customer service has always been top-notch as well, and the pricing is great. 

I’ve sampled products from other manufacturing partners but never used them to fulfill orders – I’ve stayed exclusively with Printify.”

You took quite a different approach to advertising – tell us about that

“I took what might seem like an unconventional approach – I’ve never spent a penny on advertising. I’ve kept my shops completely organic to show people what’s possible without paid promotion. 

I’m an ads hater. I’ve never run an Etsy ad or any kind of paid advertisement in any of my stores. Everything has been through organic traffic and SEO optimization.

It isn’t just about saving money but building sustainable growth. One of my newer shops has made over 700 sales purely through organic traffic. 

I firmly believe that if you don’t learn how to master customer demand and drive organic traffic, you’ll spend your entire career as an Etsy seller constantly paying for ads. While ads can be a catalyst for growth, they shouldn’t be the foundation you’re building your shop on.”

How do you spot opportunities without relying on paid marketing?

“My approach to product research is probably different from what most people expect. I believe that product research starts long before you ever open any tools or software. It begins with real-world observation and understanding of trends as they emerge.

For example, I walk into stores like TJ Maxx and pay attention to what’s trending – why are there suddenly shirts with bows everywhere? What design aesthetics are emerging? 

Some of the best research happens in small local boutiques. Visit your town’s shopping district, study the displays, and see what new items they feature each season.

When the coquette trend started getting popular last year, I noticed a flower brand on Instagram called Fresh Sends posting a reel where they were tying bows around everything in their office, calling it ‘coquetifying.’ 

That caught my attention, so I researched ‘coquette’ on eRank and discovered it was just starting to pick up on Etsy. 

I told my boyfriend, who runs a print-on-demand store with me, that this design style was about to explode. He was skeptical, but I knew it would take off – and it did.”

How can beginners use SEO tools to identify a niche or in product research?

“eRank should be used as a tool to validate the product research that you’ve already done outside of eRank. People think it’s going to be this treasure chest where you just have to make an account, log in, type in ‘T-shirt,’ and you’re going to find the niche. 

But the truth is that there’s work that needs to be done before you even log into eRank that people want to skip.

Start with real-world research. Go window shopping because it’s fun and because you are a business owner who wants to know what’s in demand. Etsy stats is a great tool to dig into what people are searching to find your listings and go from there.”

Speaking of trends, how do you handle concerns about market saturation?

“People worry too much about oversaturated markets. It’s not about the product type – it’s about finding the right niche within that market. 

You can’t just sell a generic ‘Happy Birthday’ candle and expect success, but a retirement candle specifically designed for mechanical engineers might only have two or three competitors on Etsy. I believe in niched-down shops rather than broad, general stores.

Figure out exactly who your dream customer is and how to serve them specifically.

New niches are born daily, and Printify regularly adds new products to its Catalog. If you’re struggling to make sales, try exploring less saturated product types. 

For instance, when pickleball paddles were just added to the Catalog, I saw that as a great opportunity – it’s a growing sport with passionate players, and there’s less competition than in traditional categories.”

How do you handle customer service, especially during busy periods?

“My first holiday season was definitely a learning experience. I had decided to launch a candle business two months before Q4, and I made the rookie mistake of not paying attention to Printify’s shipping deadline emails. So, the week before Christmas, I had to message a couple dozens of customers about delays.

But I learned that most Etsy shoppers are incredibly understanding because they want to support small businesses. When you’re transparent and say, ‘Hey, I’m so sorry about this delay. Let me make it right with a discount code or special offer,’ they usually respond positively.

Now, I do a lot of custom orders, and I always send customers a mockup before production for approval. This extra step has led to more reviews because it gives me a chance to connect personally with customers. Most of my reviews now mention how nice the seller was and how well I communicated – that builds trust with future customers.”

How do you manage the seasonal nature of Print on Demand?

“My first January slump after Q4 was tough. I had seen consistent growth from summer through December, and then suddenly, orders dropped off. I started questioning everything – was I failing? What was happening?

But I’ve learned that the year for POD sellers is very cyclical. Don’t beat yourself up if you see a drop in orders during January and February. Use that time to recover, rest, and get creative. Whether that’s coloring, reading, going for walks, or whatever helps you detach from your business for a bit – that downtime pays dividends in the long run.”

You’ve built quite a following on social media, too, right?

“When I lost my tech recruiting job, I still had my print-on-demand income, which was a blessing. I started making TikToks sharing my story and teaching others about POD. 

It became this beautiful full-circle moment where I found my way back to teaching, but in a completely different context.

The amazing thing is that I get to wake up every day and teach people about starting their own businesses, and they’re genuinely excited to learn. 

Unlike my teaching days, I never have to ask anyone to pay attention – they’re eager to do their homework because it could lead to their own success. Hitting 100,000 followers really showed me how many people are looking for alternative income streams.”

How have you approached building different revenue streams?

“When I lost my job, it opened my eyes to the fact that one income stream isn’t enough, especially if it’s a nine-to-five, because it can always be taken away. 

POD was my first stream, but I’ve expanded into Etsy digital products, content creation, and coaching. 

I love how diverse my income sources have become because they provide security and different growth opportunities.”

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?

“Starting out, I wasted a lot of time trying to figure everything out on my own instead of learning from those who’d already succeeded. I was doing everything through trial and error, which probably doubled the time it took to optimize my store.

That’s actually why I now create resources for new sellers, both free and more in-depth tutorials. You can find them on my website. I want to help others avoid my mistakes and accelerate their journey to success.”

What’s that one moment that you’re the proudest of?

“One of my proudest moments was when a customer used my bachelorette-themed shirts for their wedding party’s exit photos. They sent me their professional wedding pictures showing the whole party wearing my designs. 

It reminded me that when you’re selling products, you never know where they’ll end up or what special moments they’ll be part of. These customers will have these pictures forever, and something that started as an idea in my head became part of their permanent memories.”

How has your business evolved?

“I’m now in a phase where I’m allowing my print-on-demand stores to work more passively. While POD always requires some work, and it’s fun for me – it doesn’t feel like a job when creating designs I love. 

Recently, I’ve been busy moving into my first house and growing my TikTok presence, so I’m letting my mature stores run themselves more. My handle is @KateRobbLLC on both TikTok and Instagram. 

Just during this interview, I received a $279 order, and I haven’t posted a new design in that store for weeks. It’s amazing that I can have this as a reliable, passive form of income while only designing when I feel passionate about it.”

What advice do you have for those just starting out?

“First, don’t get too caught up in strategy when you’re first starting out. Your initial designs probably won’t be your best sellers, and that’s okay. You need to put in those repetitions and get the not-so-great designs out of the way to reach the successful ones.

Focus on connecting with your customers rather than obsessing over making your first sale. When people ask me when I made my first sale or the first thousand dollars, I honestly don’t remember because the money was just a bonus – I was doing it because I enjoyed it.

Remember that it’s okay to make mistakes – every error I made led me to where I am today. Focus on building genuine connections with your customers, and don’t get discouraged by slow periods or initial setbacks.”

Hi, Buğrahan. Before we dive into your business success, tell us about your journey. How did it all begin?

“I was born and raised in Istanbul, Türkiye, where I completed both my undergraduate and graduate education in business administration. 

My career path is unique because I’ve shaped it by combining my business and marketing knowledge with my deep interest in art and design.

My life is pretty diverse when it comes to interests. I’m constantly working on eCommerce projects. When I’m not doing that, you’ll find me staying active through sports, expressing myself through design and art, or writing stories. 

I’m also an avid reader, always searching for new business ideas. Both business and digital design have become integral parts of my life.”

That’s quite a mix of interests! How did you end up turning them into a printing business?

“I started my business in Türkiye by printing my designs and sending them directly to customers. I focused on posters, canvases, and similar decorative products, all produced through local printing houses. However, what seemed straightforward at first quickly became complicated with numerous challenges.

The biggest issue was maintaining consistent quality in production. Each printing house delivered different results, making it incredibly difficult to maintain standards. Beyond that, each new order’s production and packaging processes demanded serious time and energy – trying to keep up with everything was exhausting.

The real challenge, however, arose on the shipping side as I worked to grow the business. Orders would either arrive late or show up damaged. This situation had a major negative impact on customer satisfaction, leading to numerous returns and complaints. It became clear that I needed to find a more sustainable solution for my business to survive.”

It sounds like you were at a breaking point. What turned things around for you?

“I discovered Printify around that time, and it completely changed everything. Thanks to the platform, I could fully automate production and shipping processes. My products are now printed by production centers closest to my customers’ locations and shipped quickly. This has significantly reduced quality issues and delays.

Printify’s manufacturer network lets me easily switch between producers in different regions while maintaining consistent, high-quality prints. Since implementing this change, my business has run much more smoothly. 

I’m extremely pleased with Printify’s automation and operational convenience. It allows me to focus more on design and marketing to grow my business. In short, Printify was truly a savior when my Turkish business was about to collapse due to operational difficulties.”

Which markets have been most receptive to your products? What motivated your decision to sell internationally?

“My primary markets are the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. These countries have shown particularly strong interest in art prints. The response from these regions has been consistently positive.

I decided to go international for two main reasons: to reach a larger market and to earn income in foreign currency. The high purchasing power in foreign markets gives us a significant advantage in reaching a wider customer base. 

What I particularly enjoy about selling internationally is how it keeps me on my toes – following trends across different countries inspires my work and constantly pushes me to improve and evolve.”

As someone from Türkiye, did you find the language barrier challenging when selling internationally?

“I’ve found that even a beginner’s level of English is sufficient for running a successful POD business internationally. Most of our sales communication happens through messages, and with today’s technology, language barriers are becoming less of an issue.

Modern translation tools and AI-supported software have simplified customer communication. I particularly appreciate how these tools help me stay current with global trends and create new POD products. 

The combination of basic English skills and these technological aids means that language shouldn’t be a barrier for anyone looking to enter the international POD market. These tools have leveled the field for non-native English speakers.”

You mentioned how Printify changed your business. What makes it particularly effective for sellers in Türkiye?

“Printify has proven to be an exceptional solution for sellers like me, particularly those of us based in Türkiye. The worldwide network of Print Providers enables us to offer fast and cost-effective solutions across different markets. 

I particularly value the seamless integration with major platforms like Etsy and Shopify, which makes managing sales transactions incredibly efficient. The automatic order management system has simplified our entire supply chain process and saved me considerable time and money.

Honestly, the biggest advantage of working with Printify is its Support Team. When shipping problems or product issues come up, there’s always a team that genuinely wants to help. This support matters when you’re running an international business from Türkiye.”

What advice would you give to other Turkish entrepreneurs starting with Printify?

“My main advice to anyone starting this journey is to cultivate patience and consistency. Success doesn’t happen overnight in POD. Before diving in, it’s crucial to identify your niche market and maintain a laser focus on that area. 

One thing that’s helped is using automation tools to make my business processes smoother and faster. Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing, create products that match what’s trending, and always pay attention to what your customers are telling you.

I see people getting caught up in chasing quick sales and big numbers right away. That’s not the way to go. Focus on the long run, believe in what you’re building, and keep moving forward steadily.”

That’s solid advice about patience. How long was your own journey to profitability?

“The journey to profits wasn’t overnight. I spent the first few months diving into market research and trying to understand what customers wanted. 

After that, I started seeing sales gradually pick up, and it took about 6 to 12 months before I was making steady profits. 

Sure, I hit some rough patches along the way – that’s just part of building a business. But by staying patient and learning from each challenge, I kept improving and growing.”

The financial side of international business can be tricky. How do you handle payments from all these different markets?

“Managing international payments can be challenging, especially since we can’t use PayPal in Türkiye. But I’ve found ways around it. 

I mainly use Etsy Payments for my Etsy store and Payoneer for eBay sales. These platforms make it straightforward to receive money from customers worldwide. 

The key is to keep a close eye on every transaction – I track all my transfers carefully to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

You use a lot of automation in your business. How did AI become such a big part of your operation?

“My journey with AI began simply – I used it for writing product descriptions and managing SEO. But once I saw how helpful it was, I started exploring more. Now, I use tools like Midjourney to create visuals and Make.com to automate different parts of my business.

Automation handles all those repetitive tasks that used to eat up my time. Things like processing customer orders and managing social media now happen automatically, and there are fewer mistakes than when I did everything manually. It’s freed me up to focus on the creative side of things.

The combination of AI and automation has significantly improved my marketing. I can develop better campaigns and connect with customers more effectively. 

What I appreciate most about working with AI is how it continues to help me grow – I’ve discovered new product ideas and business opportunities I hadn’t considered before. Each time I use these tools, I learn something new that helps expand my business.”

What convinced you to transition from traditional design methods to AI-assisted creation?

“The speed of AI in design changed everything for me. Tasks that used to take hours or even days with traditional methods now take just minutes. This lets me test out many different ideas quickly – if something doesn’t work, I can immediately try another approach.

I really enjoy how AI lets me mix different styles and concepts. Imagine blending independent art movements into a piece like, cute cat-themed wall decor – I’m sure you’ll want to hang it in your room.”

Given your extensive experience with AI, what common pitfalls should other sellers be aware of?

“I always tell people not to rely too heavily on AI – you need to add your own personal touch to stand out. While AI is a great tool, it shouldn’t be doing all the creative work. 

I study what other sellers are doing to build my visual style and understand what works.

Yes, AI helps with the creative process, but ultimately, creating original and personalized content is what brings long-term success. You can’t just generate designs and hope they’ll sell. 

Listening to customers and using their feedback to improve your work with AI is important. The technology is there to support your creativity, not replace it.”

Tell us about your biggest win so far – what’s been your most successful product line?

“One of my biggest successes has been a series of posters and canvases inspired by vintage artworks. The collection really took off, particularly in the US and European markets. Before launching, I noticed a high search volume in this area but few competitors – it was a perfect opportunity.

I focused on creating designs that connected with people’s personal tastes, and it paid off. Rather than just following trends, I looked at what customers were actually asking for and created products matching their interests. 

This approach helped build a loyal customer base that returned for more pieces from the collection. I was particularly pleased because everything worked out just as I had planned.”

Given all your success with automation and AI, what’s on the horizon for your business?

“Running my business now reminds me of what they call the ‘lightless factory’ in Industry 4.0 – everything from production to shipping runs smoothly with minimal human input. It’s amazing to see how the whole process works almost independently.

Looking ahead, I want to build on this foundation. My main focus is developing even better automation systems while making sure our customers have the best possible experience. I’m particularly excited about expanding our personalized product offerings. 

When customers feel that a product was made especially for them, they’re more likely to come back, and that’s exactly what we want. I plan to use AI design tools to offer more customization options.

Geographic expansion is also high on my list. I want to reach customers in new markets we haven’t tapped into yet. The goal is to keep growing while maintaining the same level of service and quality that got us here. There’s still so much potential to explore, and I’m ready to take on these new challenges.”

Tell us about yourself and the organization.

“My name is Stacey Runfola, and I work for a nonprofit organization called Paltown. The company’s mission is to create communities supporting people with specific diseases. We help patients and caregivers by addressing social isolation and providing information, education, training, and technology.

I’m responsible for running the space known as Colontown, which is a community for people affected by colorectal cancer. The name Colontown might sound unusual, but we try running our online community like a real town. For example, my official title is Mayor, and we have a general discussion area known as Downtown.

Colontown has over 100 individual groups. Some sections are focused on different stages of the disease, while others are for specific locations, ages, professions, and more. We also have a separate area for caregivers, enabling them to have their own private space away from patients or loved ones.

Although we’re dealing with a very serious topic and have some heavy discussions, we try to keep things as light and positive as possible. We do our best to engage with as many people as we can, helping our members not just with disease education but also with social and emotional support.”

How has Colontown helped you as a member?

“I joined Colontown in 2011 after my husband was diagnosed with stage IV adenocarcinoma of unknown primary. Sadly, the disease took Rick’s life, leaving me widowed in 2014. However, I stayed in the Colontown community and eventually began working for the organization.

I’d say 95% of the people I work with have direct experience with cancer, either as survivors of the disease or as caregivers. Many of my colleagues are active patients, and some even work on projects while in the hospital. Colontown is a unique place, as we allow people who wouldn’t otherwise be employed to work with us. Those members feel like they’re giving something back, and they add a tremendous amount of value. It really is a pretty cool organization all around.”

How does Print on Demand help Colontown’s mission?

“I guess our organization, Colontown, focuses less on numbers or profit, which makes our story a little different from many of the merchants you interview. We use our print-on-demand store to help with publicity. When people around the world buy our branded merchandise, we not only raise funds but also spread awareness about our mission. Colon cancer can have a certain stigma around it, so when people see our logo or the slogans on our t-shirts, it acts as an icebreaker and helps to open conversations.”

How did you discover Print on Demand?

“Before we began using Print on Demand, we had limited success using a local printing company for fundraising activities. If we needed a bulk shipment of t-shirts so everyone at an event looked the same, it was pretty straightforward to get what we needed. However, when we decided to open an online store, we required a bespoke setup where we could add lots of different designs.

Using a local provider meant adding new products to our website on a whim wasn’t possible. We also couldn’t deal with the complexity of setting up a warehouse and tracking all of the inventory and shipping. We would have had to manually set up the entire operation, and customers would have waited weeks to receive their items.

My background in retail meant that I knew there had to be a better way. After some research and a chat with a partner organization, I discovered Print on Demand and was sold on the concept.”

Tell us more about your store and products.

“We launched our print-on-demand store in around November 2023. Leading up to the grand opening, we ran a community contest where our members could submit their designs and vote on their favorites. We managed to create a lot of engagement during colorectal cancer awareness month in March, so by the time the store opened, people were already pretty excited. 

In addition to basic t-shirts featuring our logo, we focus on specific aspects of the disease and create items specially designed for caregivers. Other than sticking to basic community guidelines, we encourage our members to come up with as many ideas as possible. Whatever designs prove to be the most popular, we’ll offer them for sale in our store.

The proceeds from our print-on-demand store go directly back to the nonprofit. We’ll never make enough to run the entire operation, but selling merchandise is a great way to raise funds without constantly asking our members for direct donations. People can feel good knowing they’re supporting a good cause, but they also get cool t-shirts to wear or give as gifts. 

We also use Print on Demand to create prizes for our fundraising events. When people hit certain milestones, they win stickers, mugs, or other items. We’re always looking for new ways to use our store to drive engagement and excite our members.”

What made you choose Printify’s Pop-Up Store?

“We decided that Printify’s Pop-Up Store would be the easiest way to sell our merchandise. I liked the idea that we wouldn’t need to integrate with another platform and would have a complete solution without the associated development costs. I also think that people on Etsy or Amazon aren’t necessarily searching for the kind of items we offer, and many are looking to buy at the lowest possible price. There are limitations to solely using the Prinitify Pop-Up Store, but as we’re not a retail organization, the simplicity and low barrier to entry are extremely important.”

What are the advantages of using Printify Pop-Up?

“The main strengths of the Pop-Up Store are speed and flexibility. A community member can request a new shirt design, and I can upload it and have it ready for sale the same day. I don’t have to deal with the complication of connecting to other platforms, and I can even download reports each month to see what’s selling well and what isn’t. The low cost is also a big advantage. We use Printify’s Premium plan, but could easily run the entire thing for free.”

How does such a sensitive topic affect your approach to product design?

“We are indeed dealing with a serious subject, but we also need to stand out and create designs that raise awareness and start conversations. For that reason, some of our print-on-demand items are slightly sarcastic and lighthearted, while others are heartwarming. We try to express the personality of our organization and our community members. If we can also highlight our mission, that’s a great win.

As for specific designs, we have cheeky slogans like “Check Your Butt” and “Make Your Butt Matter.” We also use inside jokes or nods to terminology that only cancer patients would understand. One of our most popular shirts uses the phrase “May You Always Be Unremarkable.” In the cancer world, when a scan is described as “unremarkable, ” nothing sinister has been found. I’ve even had doctors ask me about my organization after wearing that design, so it’s been hugely successful and a great publicity boost for us, especially during colorectal cancer awareness month.”

Do you have any other standout products or bestsellers?

“Our t-shirts tend to be the top sellers overall. We’ve started selling items like bucket hats, and we do cosmetic travel pouches for our community members going to the hospital or undergoing clinical trials. Printify’s Catalog is huge, and we’re always looking for new items. We saw that you guys even do print-on-demand coffee now, which looks like an interesting idea.

As we’re raising awareness for colon cancer, underwear is an obvious item for some of our cheeky slogans. We thought writing “With Love From Colontown” across the back of boxer shorts would be funny. We don’t necessarily sell many of those, but having them in the store really helps to show off our personality. 

Lastly, I have to mention the necktie we created, decorated with poop emojis. The board chairman of our organization wore it to an important meeting of colorectal cancer people, which was pretty amazing.”

Any tips for nonprofits or charities looking to get started with Print on Demand?

“If you’re trying to keep shipping costs down, make sure as many of your items as possible come from the same provider. That way, if your buyers purchase multiple items, they’ll all come from the same place. Of course, it’s not always possible to use the same printer for both t-shirts and mugs, but if you’re selling 20 or more shirt designs, it’s relatively easy to use a single supplier. 

One last thing, unrelated to Print on Demand but still very important, is tax exemption. If you’re an organization like ours, you should carefully weigh the benefits of filing the paperwork, as it might not be a good fit for your company. The details will be different for every business, and in the United States, almost every state has different rules and requirements.”

Visit Colontown and show your support

If you or someone you know has been affected by colorectal cancer, Colontown’s 9,000-strong online community has over 100 neighborhoods offering support and free educational resources to both patients and caregivers of all backgrounds.

If you’d simply like to support this extremely important cause, make a donation to Colontown or its parent organization, Paltown, by heading to the website’s donation page.

Nothing makes you learn faster than getting out there, trying stuff and seeing the results for yourself, tells us Mike Pasley. As someone who’s made $700k in revenue during his first year in business, Mike is the kind of guy you’d trust with business savvy advice.

His shop, famousinreal.life, has grown from an unknown online store to a reputable apparel brand backed by a passionate community in less than two years, but it took Mike a fair amount of experimentation to unlock the secret sauce of running a profitable eCommerce business.

And now he’s ready to share those hard-won lessons with us.

Wise advice: What does it take to build a successful print-on-demand business?

Always be ideating. Mike believes that anyone can start a print-on-demand business and find success in eCommerce, but only under one condition. To be successful in this industry, one must be constantly learning, experimenting and keeping their eyes peeled for exciting (and profitable) ideas. Mike insists that the success of a print-on-demand business truly rests on the power of innovation and unique ideas. His journey in eCommerce started with eBay when he was only 12, listing anything that would sell from clothing and antiques to lawn mower parts. Ever since discovering the potential of side hustles and the opportunity to make extra cash, keeping the ideas reservoir topped up at all times has become the norm. He’s always ideating, no matter how well the business is doing.

Another factor Mike highlights is the importance of finding a niche that both excites you and has mass audience appeal. “For anyone who’s in the tshirt business,” Mike explains, “it is as important to not become limited by your own passions as it is to understand what’s considered to be cool and what has crowd appeal.” Whether you’re into dogs, cycling or books, combining popular ideas with your own unique twist and monitoring your target audience’s response can be the secret ingredient that your strategy needs.

Upskilling is key

Whether you’re planning to run a side gig or want to launch a full-time serious eCommerce business, having the right skill set in place will be critical to your ability to scale and to do it fast. Although Mike says he’s a fan of outsourcing and advocates for task-based hiring, he’s also big on upskilling, which is another word for improving one’s skills through training.

With a professional background in graphic design and marketing, Mike is involved in every aspect of his business and doesn’t need to outsource much. However, he remembers having to pick up quite a few new skills through the good old trial and error process when he started out. It took Mike a bit of time, money and patience to experiment and wrap his head around the concept of social media and Google ads. But that certainly paid off. He believes that putting the effort and time into learning valuable skills, such as Google AdWords or copywriting, can turn out to be a huge advantage. Rather than relying on someone else’s expertise and hoping for the best, you can take control of the core tasks and ensure that your store gets the best chance at succeeding. At the same time, he tells us he’d definitely advise entrepreneurs to outsource design work instead of trying their hand at it if the skill set isn’t there.

Picking up ideas anywhere

One brilliant design idea that goes viral could be enough to bring your store the attention of thousands of online shoppers. Being an ‘ideas man’ himself, Mike explains that the success formula of a profitable apparel business is very simple: the faster you iterate and the more ideas you put out, the sooner you might stumble upon your golden-ticket design.

The best t-shirt designs are often those that tap into human emotions:

Whether it’s making people smile (or laugh if you’re that good), indulge in nostalgia or gasp in surprise, leveraging emotions is the best way to prompt online shoppers to take action. What this means is that the best ideas can really be hiding in plain sight: in conversations with friends or family, group chats, your daily routines and even your pet peeves. As an entrepreneur, you should be able to pick up on ideas anywhere as well as be receptive to others’ suggestions and input.

Thinking long-term

“Having a long-term mindset and seriously thinking about your brand is very important,” Mike explains. While trying to scale his own operations, he put a lot of importance and effort into building a community around his products, hoping that he could eventually turn it into a brand. An authentic brand usually attracts like-minded people and lays the foundation for an organically growing online community. And once you have a strong fan base, you will start seeing the impressive impact that word-of-mouth advertising can have on your bottom line.  

One of the most important pieces of advice that Mike shares is the significance of being in tune with your target audience. “If you can look at data and see the human behavior behind it, then that’s really how you’re going to find success in eCommerce,” suggests Mike. “Are people finding your products? Do you have the right keywords in your product descriptions? Are your prices effective? Have you done your research? If you can look beyond clicks and see the user experience and why people are behaving that way, then it is really the key piece in finding success in eCommerce.”

Bringing it all together

Don’t make the mistake thinking that, coming from graphic design, Mike had it easy. When his store was just a side hustle, he used to put in 20 to 25 hours a week on top of his full-time job commitments. That often meant sacrificing his weekends and outings with friends, but he knew what he was hustling for. Mike insists that if you’re willing to put in enough time and energy into the project and continue to learn and experiment throughout your journey, you’re bound to find success with a print-on-demand business. Considering that over two billion t-shirts are sold worldwide every year, the potential to succeed is immense.

Have you been sitting on a brilliant idea for a while? There will be no better time to see whether it has legs.