How To Create and Sell Custom Products Online

When I first started looking into how to create and sell custom products online, I honestly didn’t know where to begin.

I kept seeing people talk about “print on demand” and “dropshipping,” but I wasn’t sure which one made the most sense for me—or if either would even work.

If you’re in the same boat, let me walk you through exactly how this business works.

I’ll cover everything you need to know, from picking the right product to launching your store and marketing it effectively.

You don’t need a huge budget or experience to start. You just need a clear plan, the right tools, and some patience to test what works.

What Is Print on Demand and How Does It Work?

Print on demand (POD) is a business model where products are only made after someone places an order.

You don’t carry inventory, and the fulfillment is handled by a third-party supplier.

Here’s how it works:

• You design a product (like a t-shirt or mug)
• You upload it to a POD platform (such as Printful or Printify)
• Someone buys it from your online store
• The platform prints the product and ships it directly to the customer

This makes it perfect for testing product ideas quickly without much risk.

Common Products You Can Sell with POD

POD is great for creatives, side hustlers, and even marketers who want to build brand stores without handling physical goods.

How Is Dropshipping Different?

Dropshipping is another form of hands-off eCommerce, but it’s not just for custom products. Instead of creating personalized designs, you’re reselling existing products from suppliers.

Here’s the basic flow:

• You list products on your store (usually imported from platforms like AliExpress or CJ Dropshipping)
• A customer places an order
• Your supplier ships the product directly to the customer
• You keep the profit margin between the wholesale price and your retail price

POD vs. Dropshipping

Some people combine both models.

For example, you can sell POD apparel alongside dropshipped gadgets or accessories in the same store.

Choosing a Niche That Sells

This is the most important part of your success. If your niche is too broad, you’ll have a hard time getting traction.

If it’s too narrow, you may not have enough demand.

The goal is to find a niche where people are passionate and willing to spend.

How I Pick a Niche

I look for a combination of three things:

• Clear audience: You can describe the buyer in one sentence (e.g., “nurses who love cats”)
• Emotional triggers: Humor, pride, nostalgia, motivation
• Proof of demand: Similar products already selling on Etsy, Amazon, or TikTok

Tools to Research Niche Demand

• Everbee: Browser extension for Etsy product research
• Sale Samurai: Helps uncover what keywords shoppers use
• Jungle Scout: Amazon-focused research
• Pinterest Trends: Identifies rising visual search terms
• TikTok Creative Center: Tracks viral trends and hashtags

Some niches that are consistently strong include:

• Pet owners (especially dog breeds)
• Hobbies (gaming, fishing, crafting)
• Professions (nurses, teachers, truck drivers)
• Fitness and motivation
• Pop culture and memes (use with caution due to copyright)

Getting your niche right makes everything else easier. It’s the difference between chasing random buyers and selling to people who already want what you’re offering.

Take the time to find that sweet spot—where demand, emotion, and a clear audience all meet. That’s where real traction starts.

Creating Custom Products That Actually Sell

You don’t need to be a graphic designer. You just need good ideas and access to simple tools.

Here’s how I go from idea to finished product:

Step 1: Come Up with a Design Idea

Start by looking at what’s already working. Go on Etsy and search your niche. Filter by “bestseller” and take notes on the most common themes, phrases, or styles.

Keep these questions in mind:

• What’s the core emotion behind the design?
• Is it funny, proud, cute, bold, sarcastic?
• Could it be personalized with a name or photo?

Step 2: Use Design Tools

• Canva: Perfect for beginners, with built-in POD templates
• Kittl: Great for text-based graphic tees and logos
• Midjourney: AI-generated art if you want to experiment with unique styles

Make sure you use high-resolution files and check the mockup requirements of your chosen POD platform.

Step 3: Upload to a Platform

Most POD tools integrate directly with your store. I personally use:

• Printify for low product cost and multiple supplier options
• Printful for better branding features and faster fulfillment
• Gelato for global shipping reach

You don’t need fancy software or a design degree to make products that sell.

What matters is knowing your audience, using the right tools, and keeping your designs simple but impactful.

Focus on speed, test often, and let the market tell you what works.

Picking a Selling Platform: Shopify vs Etsy

Choosing the right platform depends on your budget, experience, and marketing plan.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

If you’re brand new, I recommend starting with Etsy. It’s easier to get organic sales while you learn.

Once you’re confident, build your own Shopify store for full control and branding.

Building the Store

Once you’ve chosen your platform, you need to build a clean and professional-looking store.

Here’s what I always include:

Key Pages

• Homepage: Simple, niche-focused headline, featured products
• Product Pages: Strong images, clear pricing, size guides
• About Page: Share your story, even if it’s short—people buy from people
• Contact Page: Basic form and email address

Product Page Checklist

• High-quality mockups
• Clear product descriptions
• Shipping timeframes
• Size and fit info (for apparel)
• Reviews and testimonials (add a few from friends or test buyers if needed)

Shopify Apps I Recommend

Your store doesn’t need to be flashy—it just needs to be clear, trustworthy, and easy to shop.

Focus on the basics, keep everything aligned with your niche, and use apps that save you time and build trust.

A solid foundation makes everything else work better.

Marketing: How to Get Traffic That Buys

This is where most new sellers fail. You can have the best product in the world, but if nobody sees it, you won’t make sales.

Here are the most effective marketing methods I’ve used and tested.

TikTok Organic

• Post short videos showing the product in use
• Use trending sounds and hashtags
• Add “link in bio” to your store
• Post 2–3 times per day to build traction

TikTok Ads

• Use user-generated content (UGC) style ads
• Start with $10–20 per day testing different creatives
• Focus on a strong hook in the first 3 seconds

Pinterest

• Post product mockups, quote graphics, or lifestyle shots
• Use keywords in pin titles and descriptions
• Link pins directly to your product pages

Email Marketing

Once you start collecting emails, set up these flows:

• Abandoned cart
• New product announcements
• Weekly promotions
• Customer thank you + review requests

Marketing doesn’t need to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent.

Pick one or two channels, post every day, and test what gets clicks. Traffic takes time, but once it starts coming in, the sales follow.

Dealing with Shipping, Returns, and Customer Service

This part gets overlooked but can make or break your store’s reputation.

Shipping Expectations

Most POD platforms offer estimated delivery times:

• USA: 3–8 business days
• International: 7–21 business days

Be clear about these times on your product page and in the confirmation email.

Returns and Refunds

You’ll need to create a clear policy. I usually go with:

• Damaged or defective products: Full refund or replacement
• Wrong size or design mistake (customer’s fault): No return, but I may offer a discount
• Delays beyond 30 days: Refund or replacement depending on situation

Customer Support

Use a shared email (like [email protected]) and aim to respond within 24–48 hours.

Templates help save time, especially for common issues like tracking or refund requests.

Profit Margins and Pricing Strategy

Let’s break down a realistic pricing model for print on demand products.

Example: T-Shirt

This gives you about 48% profit margin. With advertising or marketplace fees, your net might be closer to 25–30%, which is solid for print on demand.

Use bundle offers and upsells to increase your average order value. For example:

• Buy 2 mugs, get 1 free
• Add matching sticker for $2.99
• Bundle hoodie + tote bag for $49.99
• Here’s a short closing paragraph for that section

Your pricing doesn’t have to be perfect out of the gate, but it does need to leave room for profit.

Start simple, track your margins, and look for ways to boost order value through bundles and upsells.

Small tweaks here can make a big difference over time.

Scaling the Business

Once you find a winner, your goal should be to scale it fast.

That means:

• Launching more designs in the same niche
• Creating upsells and bundles
• Expanding to new platforms like Amazon or Walmart
• Outsourcing order support and design

The beauty of this business model is that it’s scalable without needing a warehouse or a huge team.

You can do six figures a year working from your laptop if you keep your focus tight.

Final Thoughts

Creating and selling custom products online with print on demand or dropshipping isn’t complicated, but it does take work.

The people who win are the ones who test fast, learn from customer feedback, and double down on what sells.

Start with one niche. Launch 10–20 designs. Focus on traffic from TikTok or Etsy. See what people respond to. Once you find traction, scale hard.

You don’t need to be the best designer or marketer. You just need to be consistent, keep learning, and stick with it long enough to see results.