Podcast Summary: Crickets to Cha-Chings – Episode 201: "These 5 Print-on-Demand Products Make Sales Every Day (Even in Off-Season)"
Release Date: August 3, 2025
Host: Julie Berninger
Guest: Emily, Print-on-Demand Expert
Introduction
In Episode 201 of Crickets to Cha-Chings, host Julie Berninger welcomes Emily, the podcast’s resident print-on-demand (POD) expert, who celebrates a remarkable milestone of surpassing $600,000 in revenue within just two and a half years of operating her POD shop (00:09). Emily specializes in both handmade and digital products on Etsy and shares her insights into five trending POD products that consistently make sales, even during off-seasons.
1. Wedding Vow Journals
Product Overview:
Emily highlights the Hardcover Matte Wedding Vow Journals available through Printify, specifically focusing on the "His and Hers" French Toil Pattern Wedding Vow Journal Set.
Key Points:
- Rapid Sales Growth: Despite being listed only six months ago, this product has sold over 3,000 units, with an initial surge of 400 sales in the first month (01:46).
- Bulk Orders: The "His and Hers" set encourages bulk ordering, increasing the average order value as customers purchase paired journals.
- Design Simplicity and Trend: The French toil pattern remains popular, and the minimalist design appeals to a broad audience.
Notable Quote:
"I didn't think that [blank journals] would be something customers would necessarily be drawn to, but I was definitely wrong." — Emily (05:03)
Usage and Market Positioning: These journals serve multiple purposes:
- Vow Preparation: Couples can practice and refine their vows.
- Ceremony Keepsakes: Vows can be read during the ceremony and kept as lasting mementos.
- Personal Letters: Partners can write and exchange letters, fostering a deeper connection.
Emily emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs over personal preferences, which contributed to the product's success.
2. Funny Career Candles
Product Overview:
Emily introduces Funny Career Candles, a category she considers evergreen and highly versatile. These candles feature clever, humorous phrases tailored to specific professions.
Key Points:
- Niche Focus: Targets a wide range of careers like teachers, nurses, accountants, and designers.
- Design Simplicity: Utilizes a straightforward white label with black text, making it easier for beginners without a strong design background (05:36).
- Occasion Alignment: Products are timed with events like graduations, enhancing their giftability.
Notable Quote:
"These simple, straightforward candles are absolutely killing it on Etsy every single day." — Emily (06:15)
Market Insights:
- Gift Market Dominance: Etsy is a leading platform for unique, personalized gifts, making these candles ideal for occasions such as graduations and holidays.
- Print on Demand Advantage: Leveraging Printify allows sellers to focus on design while handling production and fulfillment seamlessly.
Design Tip: Emily advises creating specific, relatable messages for targeted audiences, enhancing the emotional connection and appeal of the candles.
3. Teacher Tote Bags
Product Overview:
The third product Emily discusses is the Teacher Tote Bag, which offers a functional and personalized gift option for educators.
Key Points:
- Sales Performance: With over 1,400 sales and actively featured in 19 carts, teacher tote bags are a bestseller in their category (09:29).
- Product Quality: High-quality materials from Printify ensure durability and customer satisfaction.
- Customization Opportunities: Personalizable with names or teaching-related phrases, making each tote unique.
Notable Quote:
"There's a lot of opportunity here in selling other products to teachers beyond the usual T-shirts and candles." — Emily (10:15)
Market Positioning:
- School Year Timing: Peak sales occur at the end of the school year and in August as teachers prepare for the new year.
- Gift Versatility: Suitable for new teachers, long-term educators, and as a thoughtful self-purchase.
Pro Tips:
- Trend Analysis: Emily suggests monitoring teacher T-shirt trends to inspire tote bag designs, ensuring relevance and appeal.
- Extended Niches: Expand beyond traditional teachers to include school support staff like speech therapists and bus drivers for broader market reach.
4. Personalized Ornaments
Product Overview:
Emily addresses the misconception that ornaments are solely seasonal items by showcasing Personalized Ornaments as a year-round selling product.
Key Points:
- Consistent Sales: Contrary to popular belief, ornaments sell throughout the year for various occasions such as engagements, new pets, and housewarmings (13:36).
- High Profit Margins: Priced around $20 with low production costs, allowing for substantial profit.
- Lightweight and Easy to Ship: Minimizes shipping costs and logistical challenges.
Notable Quote:
"Ornaments truly sell year-round because people love to give them as gifts for special moments in their lives." — Emily (14:05)
Market Insights:
- Customization: Personalized designs make these ornaments unique gifts that cannot be easily found in traditional stores.
- Occasion Diversity: Suitable for a wide range of celebrations, increasing their marketability beyond the holiday season.
Personal Anecdote: Emily shares her own tradition of exchanging personalized ornaments with her husband, highlighting the sentimental value and recurring sales potential.
5. Hidden Message Mugs
Product Overview:
The final product Emily introduces is the Hidden Message Mug, which incorporates subtle or concealed phrases within the mug's design.
Key Points:
- Unique Design Trend: Features hidden phrases or QR codes that reveal messages upon closer inspection or scanning (18:05).
- High Demand: With over 1,200 sales in just two months, these mugs are a hot commodity and a current bestseller.
- Versatility: Suitable for various occasions such as coworker gifts, retirement presents, and white elephant exchanges.
Notable Quote:
"These dual-tone mugs are one of my favorites on Printify. They always print really, really well, and customers love them." — Emily (20:07)
Market Positioning:
- Gift Effectiveness: The surprise element—from hidden messages to QR codes—makes these mugs engaging and memorable gifts.
- Social Media Potential: Emily suggests leveraging platforms like TikTok to showcase the reveal moment, potentially creating viral content that drives sales.
Design Tips:
- Keyword Optimization: Utilize relevant keywords such as "coworker gift," "white elephant gifts," and "retirement gifts" to improve searchability and attract targeted buyers.
- Visual Clarity: Ensure listing images clearly depict the hidden message aspect to inform and entice potential customers.
Additional Insights and Opportunities
Webinar Announcement: Emily announces an upcoming webinar titled "Get to Your First Hundred Sales on Etsy with Print on Demand" scheduled for Thursday, August 7th at 8 PM Eastern. The webinar aims to provide practical strategies for new sellers to achieve their initial sales milestone (01:27).
Course Promotion: Emily promotes her course, The Gift Lab, which focuses on creating print-on-demand giftable products. The course offers a discount for enrollments starting on August 7th, closing on August 11th (27:01).
Social Media Presence: Listeners are encouraged to follow Emily on Instagram (@ecomemily) and her newly launched YouTube channel, where she shares strategies, interviews, and tips related to print-on-demand and Etsy selling (27:28).
Conclusion
Episode 201 of Crickets to Cha-Chings provides invaluable insights into five lucrative print-on-demand product trends on Etsy. Emily’s expertise underscores the importance of understanding niche markets, leveraging customization, and capitalizing on unique design trends to achieve and sustain high sales volumes. Whether you're a seasoned Etsy seller or just starting, Emily’s strategies offer actionable steps to enhance your print-on-demand business and drive consistent revenue growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Niche Targeting: Focus on specific audiences and occasions to increase product relevance and appeal.
- Design Simplicity: Opt for straightforward designs that resonate with your target market, especially if you're new to graphic design.
- Seasonal Flexibility: Choose products that perform well year-round to ensure consistent sales.
- Utilize Print-on-Demand Benefits: Let POD services handle production and fulfillment, allowing you to concentrate on design and marketing.
- Engage with Trends: Stay updated with current trends and adapt your product line accordingly to maintain competitiveness.
For more detailed strategies and to learn directly from a successful Etsy seller, consider attending Emily’s upcoming webinar or enrolling in The Gift Lab course.
Timestamps
- Introduction: 00:00 - 00:50
- Wedding Vow Journals: 01:46 - 05:33
- Funny Career Candles: 05:36 - 09:22
- Teacher Tote Bags: 09:29 - 13:34
- Personalized Ornaments: 13:36 - 18:05
- Hidden Message Mugs: 18:05 - 27:57
- Webinar and Course Promo: 27:01 - 27:57
For further information, follow Emily on Instagram @ecomemily or subscribe to her YouTube channel. Don’t miss out on her webinar and course offerings to elevate your Etsy shop's success with print-on-demand products.