While I think cats are cute, too, I definitely have a preference for puppies. So, I like cute dog designs and that is what I am creating more of in my POD stores. This is a fairly new endeavor of mine which began when I invested in more design resources. As an artist I didn’t spend much time drawing animals, mostly plants or people. Now, I am putting together some of the types of things I would like to buy; for others to enjoy as well.
Artists
I have so many more ideas to complete that it will take me far into this year to cover the dog breeds and make interesting artwork around them. Right now, it is still experimental. I have to keep in mind what others like, not necessarily what pleases just me. That is a lot like buying Christmas or birthday gifts: cater to the person that you hope to please. A very different perspective than most artists have in their training.
There is an artificial divide in the professional art sector. It can be between crafts and art, or between graphic art and fine art, but there is a lapover that makes it sort of silly to think that way. It probably makes sense in certain situations, but I think it tends to under-rate those who work commercially. Likewise, it adds a bias to artists who feel that the business side of making a living from their art somehow cheapens it.
I think it is up to the artist to decide which pathway and expression is best for them. And no matter what you call your work, it is important to try to make it pay for itself. Marketing and self promotion are a large part of that, like it or not.
Such efforts aren’t totally in self interest. because there are people who value the joy and beauty of what an artist or craftsman creates. It only makes sense to advertise it to those who are seeking to purchase it. Again, it is a strange perspective that creators have when they believe if they make it, people will find it. Our material society just has too much clamor in the marketplace.
Oh Yes, Dog Designs
Getting back to the main topic. One of the great things about how POD + Creatives work together is that you can choose to buy resources that other artists make, and put them together to make a new artwork. Additionally, placing this on products in a way that pleases and makes sense.
One of the things I like about creating these designs featuring dog breeds is the chance to spark joy. That idea translates from my de-cluttering efforts and applies to many areas of life including the business of creating. Those of us who like dogs, and especially certain favorites breeds, often feel joy when seeing them depicted on a tshirt or a picture on the wall.
Two Dog Designs I Have On Merch
Corgi
Vizsla
I like Corgis because they are just so cute. I am looking to buy a Corgi puppy this year. Being very particular about the type of dog that fits in our lifestyle and personalities, I am looking for a certain breed. In the past we usually had a Lab or Lab mix. My favorite dog is a Great Pyrenees, but I don’t believe I should get another if I am not going to stay on a large property. Loving the breed so much means I might be making some artwork featuring them.
The Vizsla is a Hungarian breed. Owners love them because of their very affectionate disposition. They are hunting dogs for active people. I think they look adorable, but I would not be the ideal owner for this breed.
We can love them even if we wouldn’t be best owning them!
What Are People Buying from this Web Entrepreneur?
(Written in 2017)
Sometimes it is helpful to see what’s happening in someone else’s business. Like many other online writers, I saw a shakeup in income during the past year (2016), so I am trying to see where “the cheese” has relocated.
I know a little of where the bloggers are going… they are giving webinars and making ebooks to sell, making paid membership sites and information to some extent. The content farm writers are trying their hand at their own blogs, and others are networking, speaking, and writing books.
It is quite the fruit salad of alternatives, but back to the point of this post, I am looking at what on sells Amazon for my sites, which designs at Zazzle are purchased, and other pertinent bits of information.
Web Entrepreneurs Affiliated with Amazon
(As of 2024, my Amazon income and orders has drastically dropped and stayed depressed. After Hubpages and their partners took over almost all Amazon affiliate links were removed or penalized, but you can view the former information recorded here) After the initial drop from the closing of Squidoo, I usually see between 7 and 20 orders which qualify for affiliate referral.
This quarter some of the items were books (mainly from my garden site), but also:
Since Hubpages has radically reduced the number of Amazon products (to zero in some cases) allowed on my pages, I may well see less of the hair careall orders in the future.
Hubpages was taken over by another company and has dwindled down to almost no income for me, and for most web entrepreneurs like me, now. For years the forums on Hubpages had complaints about effects of Google updates. In 2024, this has benefitted my own hosted websites, but the content farms continue to struggle for small-scale writers who are not employed directly.
Zazzle Web Entrepreneur
In 2024 I have to update my findings on this web entrepreneur avenue. My stores there have become one of my main sources of online income. Everyone at Zazzle forums complains of changes leading to less income, but I don’t know the overview. For me, last year was a struggle, and this year is variable. While it seems that I am making progress at times, the orders are often small and for products that have little commission. I don’t make consequential referral income.
As I have worked harder in this sector of web entrepreneurship, I have seen much more success in my Zazzle efforts.
The sectors that are known to sell, for web entrepreneurs on Zazzle, have been the invitation areas of Wedding, Shower, and Birthday. let it be known that these are so highly competitive and saturated that it pays to find your own niche within those areas.
A more complete picture of what sells on this POD, for me, can be seen from postings on my art Facebook page.
When I began monetizing, in the early 2000’s, Google ads, affiliate advertising -including Amazon- were the main sources of income. These were incorporated into blogging for web entrepreneurs. Then came the rise and changes inside Social Media platforms, i.e. Facebook/Instagram, Twitter/Now X, et al.
I did not ever enter the Etsy platform as a store, and from Youtube tutorials this has changed and become much more challenging. I have not attempted to create my own stores with Shopify or WooCommerce. Facebook has wasted restricted its platform for commerce, etc. So, I don’t have anything helpful to say about these resources.
Youtube long ago changed so that I had no income from that platform, either.
I'm just starting out on Society6, which is a POD site for artists ( much like Zazzle). Anyway, while seeking to discover how to use the site and create designs that fit its demographic and products I came across some sute Corgi designs.
I like the Corgi breed of dog ever since seeing a cousins absolutely adorable pup. I am thinking of getting one sometime in the next year.
It seemed like a good idea to share my discoveries with the world ( both the Corgi design and my newfound affection for the breed.
Here is a pattern on a mug:
Why do I like the Corgi breed? Cuteness factor is quite high, it is friendly without being too needy. Intelligent and good watch dogs.
They are said to be stubborn and need training, as well as prone to bark. Those downsides need to be taken into account, but isn't different from the other dog I just love: Great Pyrenees.Â
However... the difference in size between the two means a smaller dog like a corgi will be much easier to manage.Â
We Need To See More Corgi Designs
Okay... take a look at this:
Coming Soon: My Own Designs
I have loads of design elements to play with and intend to make some work (hopefully including patterns) for Society6 site. It has bedspreads and wall papers, along with many other products that aren't found elsewhere. I'm hoping to do as well as I have on my Zazzle stores.
In the meantime, I have a watercolor of a cute Corgi that is available in Amazon Merch and on Zazzle:
I recently added a dog breed design that is made for the holidays, with its wreath and Christmas colors. It is a fun watercolor style that highlights fans of the Vizsla dog breed.
The "Faith" tshirt remains live because it made one sale. This is the criteria for designs to have longevity on Amazon Merch. Then, I bought one for myself- got many compliments on the shirt and people really liked the design. I will say it runs slightly small, so order one size up unless you like a slim fit. The length was really nice, and I liked the overall quality.
Details About Merch by Amazon
we are limiting the number of t-shirts a content creator can make based on tiers of designs.
The Merch by Amazon team will be hand-selecting content creators who have sold the same amount of t-shirts as the number of the tier they are in. For example: to move up from the 10 tier, a content creator will need to sell at least 10 shirts from those they have created to move up to the 25 tier.
Admission to these tiers are based not only on sales, but the quality of the products being sold by the content creator as well.
Tier levels include: 10 25 100 500 Pro (by invitation)
Learning Curve
I have to confess that Merch by Amazon has a big learning curve when it comes to creating on the site. Now that many changes have been made to the system, it is frustrating to have a short timeline to sell designs and then have them removed.
If a design does not sell, it is removed. It cannot be automatically renewed, and there is a limit to the number of designs that can be uploaded each day.
These are not unreasonable restrictions, but quite different from other sites like Zazzle or Redbubble, etc.
Comparing Merch with Other Similar Sites
I have worked on Zazzle since 2011, and that site had a similar slow start for me. It produces regular, if not large, pocket money now. I expect that Redbubble and Merch are similar. From others comments some of them have greater success on Redbubble and all who comment on their stores say that each one differs and it is helpful to diversify.
Producing content for each POD type of store is different. In Amazon Merch each product is produced individually, from the upload to writing the descriptions and tagwords to the publishing. Zazzle, while now similar in that they encourage single rather than batch operations of publishing, have the transfer feature. This helps reduce time. Redbubble and Society6 automate the designs to their products, after which it is wise to size and edit each one to look good on that particular one.
I will report on the comparisons in a more definitive way in about a year. I think that is enough time to observe sales and see the trend.
What are your experiences? Do you like one site better than another for making sales? Which one is best for your designs and style?
If you need to make a professional looking graphic for your headers or banners it is no secret that Picmonkey and Canva are free, easy, and accessible.
However, maybe you didn’t know about that, yet.
It is easy to sign up for free access to most of the features and use the online editor. However I use the premium, for the extra features. Want to access those? Use my handy affiliate link for Picmonkey, and support me while you do yourself a favor and gain some really useful apps for graphics.
Canva is very clear that their graphics are for personal use only. So nothing made on their site should be sold, although I am sure that you can make personal headers for your store or collections on this site.
Picmonkey has no dire warnings, so I am not sure about the use of your graphics, although they will be perfectly fine for anything personal, as well. Personal use is posting on your social media, blogs, etc. as well as making products for yourself, like cards you want to send.
Commercial would include POD products like those sold on Zazzle, etc.
Right now the only things I am recommending these sites for is the personal usage. Making Facebook headers, headers for your store, or profile pics. Collection and category graphics which can all be branded with your particular style.
My family also uses Amazon Prime often, which saves us money on shipping and more.
Please support my site by using my links, thank you. This Page may contain affiliate links. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases”
