How to Start a Side Hustle with POD and Stickers
In today’s digital age, starting a creative side hustle has never been easier. If you love designing, drawing, or just have fun ideas you'd like to monetize, then selling Print-on-Demand (POD) products and stickers is a fantastic way to earn extra income—without heavy upfront costs or inventory headaches.
Why POD and Stickers Make a Great Side Hustle
Low Startup Cost: You don’t need to stock inventory or buy expensive equipment.
Scalable: Start small, grow at your own pace.
Creative Freedom: Express your personality or brand with your own unique designs.
Passive Income Potential: Once your designs are uploaded, they can keep earning over time.
What You Can Sell
- Stickers (digital and physical)
- T-shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Tote Bags
- Phone Cases, Posters, Notebooks
- Digital Downloads (especially on Etsy and Gumroad)
- Best Platforms to Sell POD and Stickers
Here’s a list of popular platforms where you can start uploading and selling your products:
Etsy
Perfect for: Handmade, vintage, printable, and niche products like stickers and T-shirts.
Pros: Huge customer base, customizable shop, good for digital and physical stickers.
Cons: Listing fees ($0.20/item) and transaction fees.
Redbubble
Perfect for: Artists and illustrators.
Pros: No upfront cost, easy to use, global reach.
Cons: Lower profit margins; you rely on their traffic.
TeePublic
Perfect for: T-shirt and apparel design beginners.
Pros: Easy to upload, automatic product mockups.
Cons: Less control over branding.
LINE Creators Market (Japan)
Perfect for: Selling original sticker sets for the LINE messaging app.
Pros: Popular in Japan and Asia, big demand for cute or niche characters.
Cons: Approval process takes time; regional audience.
Printify
Perfect for: Full-featured POD shops integrated with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, etc.
Pros: Wide range of products, better control over pricing and branding.
Cons: You manage the shop and marketing yourself.
Gumroad
Perfect for: Selling digital products like downloadable sticker packs or clipart.
Pros: Instant download delivery, easy setup.
Cons: Requires your own traffic and audience-building.
How to Get Started
Pick a Niche: Cats, anime, sarcasm, motivational quotes—find something you love and others will too.
Create Your Designs: Use tools like Canva, Procreate, Photoshop, or Illustrator.
Choose a Platform (or two): Start with Etsy and Redbubble, then expand.
Upload and Optimize: Use good keywords, mockups, and detailed product descriptions.
Promote: Share on social media, Pinterest, or even start a blog or YouTube channel.
Bonus Tips
- Use Transparent Backgrounds (PNG) for stickers.
- 300 DPI Resolution for high-quality prints.
- Test Multiple Platforms to see where your designs perform best.
- Create in Batches to stay consistent without burning out.