In my previous post, I talked about how I started gaining passive income as an artist on Redbubble. I explored how I was able to fine-tune my shop and boost my sales through trial and error. Let’s dive deeper into this topic as I answer questions from my social media followers.
How did you find out about Redbubble?
I don’t remember, but I definitely started out as a shopper and not an artist. I was probably looking online for some stickers and landed on the site!
What made you decide to try selling your art on there?
I was searching for ways to make money off of my art. I read about print-on-demand services and Redbubble was on a list of popular POD sites. Having previously shopped on Redbubble, I was already somewhat familiar with the site, so I decided to give it a try.
What is your niche? How did you choose it?
I primarily sell Christian designs (like Bible verses, Christian quotes, and cross designs.) I did not start out working in this genre. When I started my shop, I made a huge variety of designs, like monograms, inspirational quotes, random illustrations, abstract art, etc. I ended up narrowing my portfolio down to Christian designs because I enjoyed making them the most, and pretty soon I started attracting a customer base that specifically enjoyed those designs.
I also tried selling botanical patterns for a while. Although I did sell a few, it was clear that people were coming to my shop because they wanted to see my Christian designs. Because of that, I decided to cull my shop stock so that it appeals to the traffic I’m already getting.
How many designs do you have in your shop?
I typically have less than 50. I try not to keep too many up, because I only want customers to see the ones that they are most likely to buy. Too much stock in an online store can mean losing the attention of the customer.
How do you come up with new designs/choose which ones will be in the store?
It’s a combination of following popular trends and letting my own creativity flow! It can be frustrating, because the designs that I like the most are typically the ones that don’t sell. The designs I make by just doodling without any intention of really selling them are the ones that tend to become popular. I sometimes cycle through different designs to gauge how they will sell.
What products do you mostly sell?
I sell a ton of stickers. I also get a handful of sales from t-shirts, tote bags, and tapestries each month.
How often do you have to make new designs?
Redbubble does not require me to make a certain amount of designs, however I like to try to update my shop at least a couple times a month.
What is their product quality like? Have you tried using them for art prints?
Redbubble’s product quality varies based on the item and the type of printing that was used on it. Their t-shirt printing varies from excellent to just okay, depending on the design and how it was printed. Their stickers are thick and durable. I’ve gotten some great items from them, but I really would not recommend their art prints.
What percentage does the artist make from each sale?
I think the default for most products is 20%, but the artist can control the profit margin by adjusting the markup percentage.
Do you know of any sites like Redbubble, where artists could sell their own merchandise?
There are almost a ridiculous amount of sites where artists can use POD services. Some of my favorites are Printful, Society6, and Inprnt. I will have to write a future blog post to talk about these more extensively!
Do you recommend Redbubble? Do you think it would work for me? Do you think my art is good enough?
I absolutely recommend Redbubble for artists seeking to expand their income. It’s easy to start a shop and requires no work to keep running. I also love that Redbubble does all its own advertising, so I never feel like I’m struggling to bring more customers to my shop. I think anyone could make money as an artist on Redbubble, regardless of skill level. It has a vastly diverse product range and customer base, so there’s something on there for everyone! The hardest part is just working past those first few months where you don’t have an audience built yet. Keep working, and you will eventually see results.
Splendid Mint 