3 Easy Ways to Start Selling Digital Designs for Print-on-Demand Shops

08/01/2025

3 Easy Ways to Start Selling Digital Designs for Print-on-Demand Shops

Starting a print-on-demand (POD) shop is a fantastic way to turn your creativity into a thriving business. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just dipping your toes into the digital world, offering unique and eye-catching designs can set your shop apart. Here are three simple ways to kick-start your journey into selling digital designs for print-on-demand shops.

1. Leverage Ready-Made Clip Art 

If you’re new to creating designs, start with high-quality clip art that comes with a commercial-use license. These resources allow you to:

  • Save Time: Skip the time-consuming process of creating every design element from scratch.
  • Focus on Creativity: Combine elements, add your unique flair, and create products like mugs, tote bags, or t-shirts.
  • Discover versatile clip art: in my AngikayCo Etsy shop that’s perfect for creating custom designs for print-on-demand products, like t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags, or even for planners, cards, and scrapbooking projects, all with commercial-use rights!

How to Begin:

  • Find clip art that match trending themes or niches (e.g., floral, seasonal, motivational quotes).
  • Use free or affordable design tools like Canva or Photoshop to arrange your graphics on product templates.
  • Upload your finished designs to a POD platform like Printful, Redbubble, or Zazzle.
  • I personally use Printify to transform my digital designs into products like mugs, tote bags, and t-shirts. It’s a straightforward platform that makes it easy to turn creative ideas into sellable items!


2. Create Niche-Specific Designs

Specializing in a specific niche (like camping) can help your shop stand out. Whether it’s pet lovers, gamers, teachers, or faith-based designs, focusing on a niche makes it easier to attract a dedicated audience.

Steps to Succeed:

  • Research your target audience to identify what they love (check trending hashtags on social media or browse popular Etsy shops).
  • Develop designs tailored to their interests, such as inspirational quotes for teachers or cute pet illustrations for animal lovers.
  • Add personalization options, like names or dates, to increase appeal and perceived value.

Example: Create a series of RV-themed designs for t-shirts and mugs that say, “HOME IS WHERE YOU PARK IT” with beautiful RV illustrations.

3. Create Bundled Products for Your Print-on-Demand Shop: 
Offer bundles that combine similar designs across multiple products, such as T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and other items, all featuring the same design. This allows customers to purchase a complete set with a consistent theme, increasing the perceived value and encouraging more purchases. For example, create a faith-based design for a T-shirt, mug, and tote bag and offer them as a bundle at a discounted price.

How to Create a Bundle:

  1. Choose Your Products: Start by selecting a few products that work well together, such as a T-shirt, mug, and tote bag, or any other combinations that align with your brand.
  2. Design Consistency: Ensure that each product in the bundle features the same design or theme. You can either use the same graphic across all items or create complementary designs that match.
  3. Set a Bundle Price: Price the bundle at a discount compared to purchasing each item individually. This adds value for your customers and encourages them to buy more.
  4. Upload and Create Listings: On your print-on-demand platform, create a new listing for the bundle. Include high-quality images of each item in the bundle, and make sure to describe the value of purchasing the set together.
  5. Promote Your Bundle: Share the bundle on your social media and email lists, highlighting the discount and the convenience of buying a matching set of products.

By bundling products, you'll offer more value to your customers, streamline their shopping experience, and boost your overall sales.

Final Thoughts

Starting a print-on-demand shop with digital designs doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By leveraging ready-made resources, focusing on niches, and offering bundled products, you’ll have a strong foundation for success. Remember, consistency and creativity are key! Start small, refine your designs, and watch your shop grow.

Ready to get started? Check out my collection of commercial-use clip art designed to help you bring your ideas to life! angikayco.com

What niche are you excited to explore? Let me know by emailing me at hello@angikayco.com I would love to hear your ideas. 


This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase any items through the links in this post, I may receive a small commission to help support my ministry, at no extra cost to you. Thank you!