A while back, if you wanted to make your own t-shirts or mugs, it was this whole ordeal like, you’d have to set up an actual screen-printing station in your house. Trust me, it wasn’t just about the ink, it was messy, time-consuming and honestly, smelled terrible (hot ink fumes are no joke). Fast forward to today and suddenly, anyone with a computer and a decent idea can create and sell their own stuff. No mess, no stress.

The secret sauce? The print-on-demand services like Zazzle, Redbubble or Printful, they’re like a magical middleman. You upload your design, slap it on a shirt or a mug (or even a shower curtain. I’m serious), and they handle the printing and shipping. It’s like having a business partner who does the boring stuff while you just sit back and imagine yourself as the next big brand.

But here’s the kicker, they take a massive chunk of your earnings. Seriously, I once saw someone sell a t-shirt for $25, and after the fees, they made like, $4. It was a bit of a downer. But hey, it’s a way to test the waters. You’ll find out if people actually like your designs without spending thousands upfront. Think of it like renting a flat instead of buying. Low commitment, less risk.

Here’s something wild, in 2023, an artist named Cat Coquillette from the US claimed she made six figures in one year, just from selling on POD sites like Society6. But she’s the exception, not the rule. Most people use these platforms as a side hustle (honestly, who doesn’t want some extra cash in this economy). If you’re serious about it, maybe one day you’ll move onto higher-profit options like bulk orders or starting your own shop. Shopify, anyone?

Now let me get real for a sec, designing isn’t just slapping words like “Monday Mood” on a coffee mug (although, if you’re doing that, fair play, it sells!). To stand out, you need to get creative. Look at trends, play with colours or even dig into what’s popular globally. I saw this Brazilian designer on Instagram selling totes with quirky, hand-drawn animals and they blew up overnight. People love originality and a story behind the art helps too.

Oh, and don’t forget marketing. Nobody’s buying your “cool dad” t-shirt if they don’t know it exists. Social media’s your best mate for this. Make TikToks of your process or share photos on Pinterest. It’s basically a free advertising. Speaking of advertising, here’s a useful resource (Hubspot) on how to get started: How to Market Print-on-Demand Products.

In the end, print-on-demand is what you make of it. It could be a hobby, a side hustle or if you play your card correctly (a full-time gig). But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The profit margins are thin. The competition is fierce. And sometimes it feels like you’re just shouting into a void, but if you’ve got an idea that bouncing in your head and you can’t put it down, why not try it? You might surprise yourself.

So what are you waiting for? Pick a platform, pick a product and start designing. Whether it’s trendy typography, artistic patterns, a sarcastic avocado or I don’t know, there’s a customer out there for everything.