Psst—Selling Stuff You Design on Amazon Is *So* Easy
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Calling all fashion designers and artists: Dream of designing a line of hoodies with your own sketches? Want to make tote bags to support a club you run or an event you’re planning? Check and check. Amazon wants to help you share your creations with the world
With Merch on Demand, you can upload unique designs and original artwork to be printed on tees, totes, tanks, and phone covers—helping you to skip that whole pesky, setting-up-a-business part of figuring out how to get from great idea to items people can buy. The service also helps you set up a storefront on Amazon—for free!—so people can shop your stuff. Whether you need an easy spot where you can send friends and family eager to support your growing business, or are ready to take the first step of launching your own brand, it’s a no-fuss, no-hassle, no-brainer way to test the waters
How do you get started?
First, you need to be approved. Log into your existing Amazon account (or create a new, I’m-an-official-boss one) and submit your account to the program. You won’t be greenlit automatically—it can take anywhere from three weeks to three months to get the go-ahead from Amazon. But once you’re in, you can really let those creative juices flow. And you can launch your shop with 25 separate items—pretty major!
What do I need to do—other than design my merch?
Amazon hosts your graphics store, yes, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be putting in plenty of your own work. Expect to write your own product descriptions and set prices for everything. Bottom line: Plan on feeling like a small business owner.
To be successful, you’ll want to do a bit of research and see what other people are up to. Consider it owning-your-own-business 101: The goal is to find the sweet spot of revenue and sales, so you’ll want to really think about how much a potential customer will spend on your merch, and how much it costs you to produce it. (Pro tip: Don’t sell yourself short!) If you’ve been all, “But how much can I really make, profit-wise?” since the beginning? First, yes to that CEO energy! And second, pay attention to Amazon’s royalty chart. It can give you a better idea of what kind of money you might be able to make, their cut included.
What’s the risk?
Honestly, that’s almost the best part—there’s not really one. Setting up your shop doesn’t cost anything, so if you only sell a few things, it’s not a big deal at all. And if you sell a whole lot, well, rock on!
Whether you want to have some fun, are looking for an easy way to sell merch for a special occasion (like fundraising for a cause you’re passionate about or a concert your band is planning for fall) or feel ready to begin building your business empire, it’s a kinda fantastic option. You’ll learn a ton no matter what. Plus: How good will “created, marketed, and managed independent fashion brand” look on your resume? And, you might even be planting the seed for your future career.
Good luck, future design star!
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