Podcast Summary: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
Episode: Ep 161 | POD Mockups Just Got Wayyyy Easier—with Cassie Johnson
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Release Date: December 26, 2024
1. Episode Introduction
In Episode 161 of How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy, host Lizzie Smiley welcomes listeners with festive greetings and excitement about sharing a groundbreaking episode to conclude 2024. She teases significant advancements in mockup creation for print-on-demand (POD) sellers, promising valuable insights whether or not the audience is currently involved in the POD space.
2. Lizzie’s Recent Workshop Success
Lizzie shares her recent experience hosting an AI workshop focused on creating Tumblr wrap designs and PNGs for Etsy. She highlights the workshop’s success, noting rapid scaling of her Etsy shop with over 100 sales and multiple bestsellers. A standout moment was receiving feedback from a participant who, despite already being knowledgeable about MidJourney, significantly improved his designs and SEO skills, resulting in immediate sales and continued success.
Notable Quote:
"he had learned how to write the SEO. He learned how to design what was in Demand... by 48 hours after the workshop, he was already getting sales, sales and favorites."
— Lizzie Smiley [02:36]
Lizzie emphasizes the workshop's effectiveness in helping attendees overcome roadblocks and achieve tangible results swiftly.
3. Introduction of Cassie Johnson
The episode features Cassie Johnson, a recognized figure in the Etsy POD community with four and a half years of experience. Cassie is the creator of Simply Listed, a mockup automation tool designed to streamline the listing process for Etsy sellers. She has successfully taught thousands of students to launch and scale their POD businesses.
Cassie’s Bio Highlight:
"I've been selling Print on Demand products on Etsy for four and a half years, have been able to quit my full-time job, and have taught thousands of other students how to start and scale successful Print on Demand stores."
— Cassie Johnson [05:49]
4. Cassie’s Insights on Print on Demand for 2025
a. Importance of Consistency and Action
Cassie underscores that regardless of evolving trends, consistency and a bias towards action are paramount for success in the POD space. She advises focusing on foundational business practices rather than chasing fleeting trends.
Notable Quote:
"the foundational pieces of your business are way more important to master than any kind of quick tip or trick."
— Cassie Johnson [06:39]
Lizzie echoes this sentiment, appreciating Cassie’s emphasis on the grind and consistency over flashy tactics.
b. Market Saturation is Not a Concern
Contrary to common fears, Cassie asserts that the Etsy POD market is not oversaturated. She provides anecdotal evidence of new sellers achieving substantial sales shortly after starting, highlighting continuous opportunities due to ever-changing trends and niches.
Notable Quote:
"I think it's the most beautiful thing about print on demand is there's always new trends, there's always new niches, new products."
— Cassie Johnson [10:03]
Lizzie adds her observations, noting the constant influx of successful new listings and diverse niches.
5. Success Stories and Student Achievements
Cassie shares inspiring success stories, including Christine, a student who initially struggled with sales but eventually achieved over 12,000 sales in five weeks after joining Cassie’s course, POD Roadmap. This transformation underscores the effectiveness of Cassie’s teaching methods and the potential for rapid growth with the right strategies.
Notable Quote:
"she sold over 2,000 things in about five weeks and made just a bunch of profit... she is really doing this in spare pockets of her time."
— Cassie Johnson [12:57]
6. Designing for Etsy: Simple vs. Complex
Cassie advocates for simple, high-demand designs over overly elaborate ones. She highlights the success of basic text-based designs in broad niches, emphasizing that complexity isn’t a prerequisite for high sales.
Notable Quote:
"the majority of the huge, well-selling listings on Etsy are so simple and it's for the biggest niche possible."
— Cassie Johnson [15:16]
Lizzie concurs, sharing examples of high-selling simple designs and reinforcing the value of targeting large niches.
7. Introducing Simply Listed: Cassie’s Automation Tool
a. Functionality and Benefits
Cassie introduces Simply Listed, a mockup automation tool that significantly reduces the time and effort required to create product mockups for Etsy listings. The tool automates the placement of designs onto mockup templates and can publish them directly to Etsy, allowing sellers to generate thousands of mockups in minutes.
Notable Quote:
"Simply Listed is a mockup automation tool... you can make like a thousand mockups in three minutes if you wanted."
— Cassie Johnson [30:49]
b. Future Developments
Cassie reveals plans to expand Simply Listed to support other POD platforms like Printful and Gelato, as well as digital product sellers, enhancing its versatility and utility across different selling mediums.
Notable Quote:
"It's working on a custom version where you'll be able to make mockups for printful or gelato or digital downloads."
— Cassie Johnson [35:32]
8. Printify Experience and Endorsement
Lizzie provides a personal testimonial about her positive experience with Printify as her print-on-demand provider. She praises Printify for its extensive product range, user-friendly interface, competitive production costs, and seamless integration with Etsy. Lizzie also shares a promotional offer for her listeners to access a 30-day free trial of Printify Premium using her code.
Notable Quote:
"I am super happy with the margins I'm bringing in, especially using Printify Premium compared with the other print on demand providers."
— Lizzie Smiley [40:02]
9. Cassie’s Tips for Beginners in Print on Demand
Cassie offers actionable advice for those new to the Etsy POD space:
- Start Immediately: Open your Etsy shop without overthinking.
- Focus on One Product: Choose a best-selling item from Printify and master it.
- Research Thoroughly: Understand mockups, pricing, and descriptions within your chosen niche.
- Simplify Processes: Standardize aspects like mockups and pricing to streamline listing creation.
- Iterate and Learn: Continuously analyze what sells on Etsy and replicate successful strategies.
Notable Quote:
"just get your Etsy shop open and then I want you to within the next 24 to 48 hours, get your first listing for sale."
— Cassie Johnson [43:39]
Lizzie reinforces these tips, highlighting their effectiveness and encouraging listeners to take immediate action.
10. Conclusion and Resources
The episode wraps up with Lizzie and Cassie sharing additional resources, including links to Simply Listed, Cassie’s courses, and YouTube channels. Both hosts encourage listeners to explore these tools and communities to further enhance their Etsy selling strategies.
Notable Quote:
"I hope that you guys walk away with just even one little tip or even just feeling a little bit more inspired that like this really is possible for you."
— Cassie Johnson [47:21]
Lizzie concludes by wishing listeners happy holidays and urging them to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to support the community.
Key Takeaways:
- Consistency and Action: Foundational business practices outweigh chasing trends.
- Market Opportunities: The Etsy POD market remains vibrant with continuous new niches and trends.
- Simple Designs Win: Basic, high-demand designs in large niches can yield significant sales.
- Automation Tools: Tools like Simply Listed can drastically reduce time spent on mockups and listings.
- Practical Tips for Beginners: Start immediately, focus on one product, and continuously iterate based on market research.
This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for both new and experienced Etsy sellers, offering valuable insights, actionable strategies, and innovative tools to enhance their print-on-demand businesses.