How I Made $21,000 a Month Selling Mugs on Etsy: My Print on Demand Journey with AI

Hey, what’s up print on demand sellers! Today, I’m going to dive deep into a business model that I used to make my first $100K online. We’re talking about selling mugs on Etsy, but with a twist — leveraging AI to do all the heavy lifting. This is basically simple drop shipping with a focus on print on demand. Let’s get right into it and explore how you can replicate this model to achieve similar, if not better, results.

Introduction to the Print on Demand Model

Back in 2019, I started selling print on demand mugs. It took me about eight months to earn my first $100K, but with today’s AI tools, you can probably get there much faster. The business model is straightforward: you sell products that are only produced after a customer places an order, minimizing upfront costs and inventory risks.

Here’s a prime example: a simple floral print mug listed on Etsy, generating around $5,000 a month. This is not an isolated case; there are dozens of shops making similar or even greater amounts. Today, we’ll look at several examples, explain the process, and even start a shop step-by-step to show you the easiest way to get started.

Case Studies: Real Success Stories

Strictly Business Mugs

Strictly Business Mugs is an Etsy shop that focuses solely on selling mugs. They’ve generated over $800,000 in sales. Their designs are simple but effective, proving that you don’t need complex or intricate designs to succeed in this market.

Less Blues

Less Blues, another successful Etsy shop, has made around $1.25 million from selling mugs. They’ve been on Etsy for less time than Strictly Business Mugs but have achieved incredible success with simple designs. One of their bestsellers is a definition mug, which alone has brought in over $7,000. Their average daily earnings are about $720, translating to $21,613 each month.

These examples show that selling print on demand mugs on Etsy can be highly profitable, and the potential for growth is immense.

Setting Up Your Print on Demand Business

Step 1: Create a Business Email

The first step is to create a new Gmail account for your business. This will help you keep everything organized and separate from your personal email. Use this business email to set up all your accounts.

Step 2: Open an Etsy Shop

Go to the bottom of the Etsy homepage and click “Sell on Etsy.” Use your business email to sign up, and you can get 40 free listings using the link provided below.

Step 3: Sign Up for Printify

Printify is a print on demand service that integrates directly with Etsy. Sign up for Printify using the same business email, then connect your Etsy shop to Printify. This integration ensures that your products and orders sync up seamlessly, making the entire process more passive.

Step 4: Generate Designs with AI

One of my favorite AI tools for generating designs is MidJourney. It’s an image generation AI that creates images from text prompts. To use MidJourney, you’ll need a Discord account. Join the MidJourney server via their website and subscribe to their service to get full commercial rights to sell the images.

Using MidJourney

In Discord, start a private chat with the MidJourney bot. Type a forward slash (/) and select the “imagine” option. Here, you can type any prompt to generate designs. For example, if you want a cactus design, you might type: “cactus plant in the style of watercolor painting, sharp, prickly, on a white background.”

MidJourney will generate four images based on your prompt. You can refine the images by rerolling or creating variations. Once you have an image you like, upscale it for better quality.

Fine-Tuning Designs

Adjust the stylization settings to control the AI’s creativity. You can also use parameters like aspect ratio (AR) to fit your designs perfectly on mugs. For example, use “ — AR 293:151” to create a design that fits the full print area of a mug.

Step 5: Upload Designs to Printify

Once you have your AI-generated designs, save them to your computer. Upload these images to Printify and position them on mugs. Printify’s mock-up generator will show how the designs look on the actual product.

Step 6: Create High-Quality Mockups

Good product mockups are crucial for attracting customers. You can find mockups on websites like RawPixel or use tools like Photopea, a free Photoshop alternative, to edit them. Ensure your mockups are appealing and professional.

Step 7: Optimize Listings for SEO

Use keyword-rich titles and tags to optimize your listings for Etsy’s search algorithm. Research successful listings to see what keywords they use and incorporate similar ones into your titles and tags. This will help your products rank higher in search results.

Step 8: Continuous Improvement with AI

To generate more variations and improve designs, use ChatGPT to come up with funny puns and sayings that can be added to your mugs. This tool is free and can provide a wealth of creative ideas. Test these sayings to ensure they’re not trademarked, then incorporate them into your designs.

Benefits of Print on Demand with AI

Using AI tools like MidJourney and ChatGPT simplifies the design process, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business. These tools can generate unique, high-quality designs quickly and efficiently, giving you a competitive edge.

Scalability

One of the biggest advantages of print on demand is scalability. You don’t need to hold inventory or manage production, making it easier to scale your business. As your sales grow, you can simply increase the number of listings and designs without worrying about production capacity.

Cost-Effectiveness

Print on demand eliminates the need for upfront investment in inventory, reducing financial risk. You only pay for products when a customer places an order, making it a cost-effective business model.

Flexibility

Print on demand offers flexibility in terms of product range and design. You can experiment with different niches and designs without significant investment. If a design doesn’t sell well, you can easily replace it with a new one.

Challenges and Considerations

Competition

The print on demand market is competitive, especially on platforms like Etsy. To stand out, focus on creating unique designs and providing excellent customer service.

Quality Control

Since you’re not handling production, quality control can be a challenge. Work with reputable suppliers like Printify to ensure consistent product quality.

Marketing

While Etsy provides a large customer base, marketing is still essential to drive traffic to your shop. Use social media, email marketing, and other channels to promote your products and attract customers.

Conclusion

Selling print on demand mugs on Etsy is a viable and profitable business model, especially when leveraging AI tools to streamline the design process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can set up your own shop, create unique designs, and start generating sales.

Remember, success in print on demand requires patience, creativity, and continuous improvement. Use the resources available, stay updated with market trends, and keep experimenting with new designs and products.

A huge thank you to Printify for sponsoring this guide. Their platform has been instrumental in my success, and I’m excited to see how it can help you achieve your business goals. Sign up using the links below to get started and take advantage of all the benefits Printify offers.

I hope this guide helps you on your journey to making $21,000 a month or more with print on demand. If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to reach out. Good luck, and happy selling!