Stepping into the Unknown With Hands Full of Gifts

Good day, fellow creatives. Changes are part of life. And when it comes to business, you need to do what is best for your journey and your future.

I have huge news to announce to you. The Design Nexus newsletter has moved to the Beehiiv platform, which is home to some of the most successful newsletters, like Morning Brew and Milk Road.

This is the reason why this newsletter has not been consistent for the last two weeks. But starting today, each Sunday, you'll get a huge portion of the latest news, trends, and tips about Etsy, graphic design, and digital products.

Even better, you also receive numerous free gifts that can help you become a better seller (at the end of this newsletter 😉).

ETSY INSIGHTS
Lessons From 4 Years Selling POD And Digital Products on Etsy.

I have been selling on Etsy for over four years now. I started with the print-on-demand method, connecting my Etsy store, which focused on t-shirt designs, with Printful fulfillment services.

I loved creating these designs, but I hated communicating with occasionally rude customers.

So, I closed that shop and moved to selling digital products.

To AI-generated digital products, to be more specific.

Honestly, these 4 years have taught me a lot, and I want to share my experience with you.

And not only my experience but also that of other more successful sellers, demonstrates what selling on Etsy is truly about.

DESIGN SPOTLIGHT
Movie Quotes That Made the Most Money on Etsy

Copyright and trademark are huge issues facing every Etsy seller.

Every time I come up with text for my design, I still double-check the trademark for this text using multiple tools.

I will NEVER add a phrase from a movie to my design. It's a grey area of graphic design. Yes, it might boost sales but can simultaneously cause numerous issues.

But did you know what movie quotes made a significant fortune in merchandise sales on Etsy?

"Show me the money!" - Jerry Maguire (2006)

"I see you." - Avatar (2009)

"This is Sparta!" - 300 (2006)

"Good morning, Vietnam!" - Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

"Avengers assemble!" - The Avengers (2012)

"Wilson!" - Cast Away (2000)

"Daddy would you like some sausage?" - Freddy Got Fingered (2001)

"Hasta la vista, baby!" - Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

"You had me at hello!" - Jerry Maguire (2006)

“Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." - Gone With the Wind (1939)

"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." - The Godfather (1972)

MEDIA
Making Mockups With AI is Easy

Oh, mockups. There is a stellar difference between using bad and great mockups for your products.

I always try to get a mockup picture with a person holding or wearing my design. This is because people want to see the design of a real product. One they can easily imagine.

While you can use services like Canva (SmartMockups) or Placeit for putting your designs on different products, you can also create your own original mockup with AI.

I have recently discovered a special feature within Recraft that allows you to create a unique mockup picture from your text prompt.

And it is easy to use. Even if you are a complete beginner. And what is even better, it is free.

EXPERT TIPS
Finding Trends to Boost Your Sales

Any successful seller will tell you that the right mix of trendy and evergreen designs is the way to a profitable shop.

And at this moment, we are at the start of Pride month.

So if you're thinking of joining this trend, here are some tips on what you should focus on.

• Pride-themed apparel: T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies with creative and inclusive designs.

• Enamel pins: Featuring LGBTQ+ symbols, flags, and witty slogans.

• Greeting cards: For various LGBTQ+ milestones and life events.

• Handmade jewelry: Sustainable and ethically-made pieces showcasing Pride symbols.

• Cross-stitch kits: With progressive and LGBTQ+-affirming messages.

• Inclusive baby books: Representing diverse family structures.

• Soy candles: Made with organic essential oils, focusing on healing and wellness.

• Tote bags: Featuring queer art and empowering messages.

• Pronoun pins: To help make communication easier and more inclusive.

• Wooden Pride flags: As elegant home decor items.

• Stickers and patches: With LGBTQ+ themes and designs.

• Prints and posters: Featuring diverse and inclusive artwork.

• Mugs and glassware: With Pride-themed designs and slogans.

• Custom-made items: Catering to specific LGBTQ+ needs and preferences.

• Accessories: Such as socks, bags, and phone cases with Pride designs.

So, you are at the end of this email. I hope you get tons of useful and valuable information and as I promised at the beginning, here are the gifts for all the patient email subscribers of The Design Nexus.

Psst: The gifts for you are located on Google Drive, are virus-free, and are available for free download to your device.

Check out all the gifts.

Again, thank you for being a subscriber to this newsletter. I'm looking forward to next Sunday when I'll have tons of other information to share with you.

Have a nice day,

Miroslav from The Design Nexus