Are you interested in starting a profitable print-on-demand business centered on giftable items?
Print-on-demand lets you sell personalized, unique gifts—like candles, mugs, journals, and tote bags—without holding inventory or handling shipping, making it an ideal online business to run from home. These products appeal to buyers searching for thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts that aren’t available at big-box stores. Below is an interview with Emily, who built a successful print-on-demand business focused on gift items and shares practical advice for getting started and scaling.
Emily, a mother of two with a background in education, began her print-on-demand journey in early 2023 after discovering the low-cost, low-risk model. By narrowing her focus to giftable products, she quickly differentiated her shop in a crowded marketplace. In less than two years she reached $500,000 in Etsy revenue and averaged about $7,500 in profit per month during 2024.
In this interview Emily covers:
- Why she shifted to selling gift-focused items like candles, journals, and mugs
- What makes giftable products a strong niche for print-on-demand
- Realistic earning potential and startup requirements
- Practical tips for designing, pricing, listing, and marketing gift products
If you’re thinking about launching a shop that sells meaningful, giftable items, Emily’s insights offer actionable steps and realistic expectations to help you begin and grow your business.
Make Money With Print-On-Demand Free Workshop
Learn how to sell print-on-demand products on Etsy and how Emily reached $500,000 in two years by focusing on gift items.
How I Made $500,000 Selling Print-On-Demand Gifts in One Year
This interview is designed for anyone who wants step-by-step guidance on starting a print-on-demand business focused on gifts.
1. Background and monthly earnings
Hi, I’m Emily. I’m a mom of two and a former educator. While looking for a flexible way to earn extra income and spend more time with my kids, I discovered print-on-demand and was immediately drawn to its low-risk nature. In January 2023 I committed to the idea, and within two years I reached $500,000 in Etsy revenue. My monthly profit varies with seasonality, but in 2024 I averaged about $7,500 per month.
2. What is print-on-demand and how it works
Print-on-demand lets you place your designs on physical products without buying or storing inventory. You research what buyers want, create a design (tools like Canva are common), and upload the design to a print-on-demand provider such as Printify. When a customer orders, the provider prints, packs, and ships the item. Your role is to create and list designs, optimize product listings, and handle customer communication.
3. Why focus on giftable items?
I initially sold apparel, which brought steady sales but not the growth I wanted. After testing other product types, I noticed many buyers were purchasing items as gifts. Switching to gift-focused products improved my visibility and sales, and it removed sizing complications common in apparel sales. Gifts also tap into emotional buying—people purchase for occasions, celebrations, and meaningful moments.
4. What I love about print-on-demand
What excites me most is how a single design can continue to sell over time without requiring physical handling. One product I listed after a 15-minute design session earned over $27,000 in a year. The creative process—researching trends, designing, and listing—feels enjoyable and rewarding, especially when customers share how a gift made someone’s day.
5. A typical day running the business
Once the shop is established, it’s low maintenance. I spend 1–2 hours daily processing orders, answering messages, and listing new products. I prefer working early mornings before my kids wake, then checking in later for messages or creative tasks like research and design.
6. Earnings potential for beginners
Income varies widely based on time invested, product selection, and marketing. Some beginners earn a few hundred dollars a month early on; others scale to thousands over time. Consistency—regularly adding products, improving listings, and testing ideas—is key to growth.
7. Starting with little or no money
Print-on-demand requires minimal upfront investment. I recommend having around $30 to cover an Etsy listing fee and a Canva Pro subscription, although Canva has a free tier you can start with. Most print partners offer free plans and only charge you when a customer places an order, so you don’t pay for production until you’ve already sold the item.
8. Typical expenses
My main recurring costs are Printify Premium, Canva Pro, and a few Etsy research tools. Combined, these tools cost under $100 per month. I pay production costs on my business credit card when orders come in and immediately settle the balance after receiving Etsy payouts, which also lets me earn card rewards.
9. Can someone with no technical skills succeed?
Yes. Print-on-demand platforms and design tools are built to be user-friendly. Print partner dashboards walk you through product setup, and Canva makes design accessible. If you’re willing to learn step by step, you can build a successful shop even without prior experience.
10. Advice for people who feel uncreative
Don’t let a lack of artistic background stop you. Many successful sellers start with simple designs and improve over time. The most important skills are niche research and understanding what appeals to your target customers. Simplicity often converts better than overly complex designs.
11. Handling competition
Micro-niching is effective. The more specific your product or audience, the more emotionally connected buyers will be. For instance, a general “best teacher” item may be oversaturated, but a product targeted to first-grade teachers with a humorous or highly specific message stands a better chance of being discovered. Etsy buyers often look for items they can’t find in mass-market stores, so specificity helps you attract those customers.
12. Steps to get started and earn money
- Sync your print partner – Sign up for a print-on-demand service (for example, Printify) and connect it to your Etsy shop.
- Research – Choose a focused product type or audience, such as teacher gifts or pet-lover mugs.
- Choose products – Popular giftable products include mugs, candles, tote bags, ornaments, and journals.
- Create designs – Use Canva or a similar tool to create simple, appealing designs.
- List on Etsy – Upload mockups, write keyword-optimized titles and descriptions, and make clear what buyers will receive.
- Price for profit – Factor in production costs, Etsy fees, and a margin that supports your business goals.
- Make a sale – Your print partner produces and ships the item directly to the customer.
- Get paid – After Etsy fees, the remaining amount is your profit.
13. About The Gift Lab course
I created The Gift Lab to teach sellers how to build a gift-focused print-on-demand shop for marketplaces like Etsy. The course offers 60+ video lessons that walk through selling candles, ornaments, mugs, tote bags, and journals. It includes The Micro-Niching Workbook, a spreadsheet of niche product ideas, plus five Canva templates you can customize for quick action. The materials reflect the exact processes I use in my shop.
14. Why The Gift Lab exists and what makes it different
As a former educator, teaching is a natural fit for me. I launched The Gift Lab because I wanted to share a simple, repeatable system that helped me succeed. Unlike general Etsy courses, The Gift Lab focuses specifically on giftable print-on-demand products, with practical lessons, a step-by-step framework to reduce overwhelm, a micro-niching workbook, and ready-to-use Canva templates.
Make Money With Print-On-Demand Free Workshop
Curious how to profit from print-on-demand on Etsy? Check out the free workshop to learn Emily’s approach and strategy.
Are you interested in starting a print-on-demand business focused on gifts? What would you sell?
Recommended reading:
- How To Start a Print On Demand Side Hustle With $0
- How To Start Your Clothing Brand Side Hustle on Etsy With Zero Upfront Costs
- Printify vs. Printful: Which Print On Demand Platform Is Best for You?
- How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy
- How I Make $400,000 Per Year Selling Educational Printables
- 14 Best Low Maintenance Businesses to Start Today
- 16 Best Things To Sell On Etsy To Make Money
- How To Sell On Etsy Successfully: A Beginner’s Guide