The POD Insider // 24.40

In this edition of The POD Insider, we cover the kickoff of Q4 2024, highlighting key opportunities in election merchandise, holiday season preparation, emerging product trends like wall art, important updates on shipping surcharges, and forward-looking planning for 2025.

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POD Insider
October 01, 2024

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The POD Insider! We're excited to bring you weekly updates on the ever-evolving world of print-on-demand. From industry trends to practical tips, we've got you covered. Let's dive into this week's hot topics!

Q4 Kickoff: Holiday season ahead!

This week marks the beginning of 2024's fourth and final quarter, traditionally the time when we all start gearing up for the holiday season. In recent years, we've seen peak demand creeping earlier and earlier as savvy customers get ahead on their shopping. There's still some lingering uncertainty about global shipping networks (a hangover from the Covid-19 pandemic), but suppliers are optimistic.

Our take: Keep a close eye on supplier updates. They're rolling out marketing guides, popular product ranges, and crucial info on shipping and last order dates. Stay ahead of the game!

The US Election: A merch goldmine

With the US election just around the corner (November 5), it's prime time for merchandise sellers. And trust us, it's not just about banners and stickers anymore!

Don't miss Jeff's video on the POD Insights YouTube channel for more election-themed designs and product ideas.

Hot tip: While apparel, pins, stickers, flags, and banners are expected to be popular, think outside the box. What unique election-themed products could set your store apart?

Printify Amplified returns

Last week saw the return of Printify Amplified with several hours of content streamed to help you to discover how to run a successful print-on-demand business.

Last year felt much more focused on Printify themselves, but this year sees a much more diverse line-up of speakers and content, with more sessions from people that have setup successful businesses to learn from.

Don't forget: The conversation continues in their active Discord community. It's a great place to network and learn from peers!

Holiday Season Prep: Your roadmap to success

As the temperature drops and the clocks prepare to fall back, it's time to shift into high gear for the POD industry's busiest season. We've rounded up some of the best holiday guides to help you prepare:

For a more creative angle, check out TaylorPOD's video on producing seasonally-themed designs.

While apparel and traditional holiday gifts (decorations, candles, cases) remain popular, we're seeing a resurgence in wall art this year. Demand is high, and suppliers are continuing to expand their product range to offer more options for you to stand out from the crowd.

Strategy tip: Consider creating original artwork that can translate across multiple products. A design that works for both wall art and phone cases gives you more flexibility and appeal.

Shipping Surcharges: Brace for impact

As in previous years, major carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) are introducing peak season surcharges for November and December 2024. The big question: Will POD suppliers absorb these costs or pass them on to merchants?

Gooten is leading the transparency charge with this detailed spreadsheet on surcharge impacts. We'll keep you updated as more suppliers weigh in.

Planning Ahead: 2025 holiday calendar

It's never too early to plan! Printful has released their 2025 holiday marketing calendar, covering all the major events and some fun niche celebrations. (Mark your calendars for National Doughnut Day on June 6 and National Wine Day on May 25!)

Remember: Success in POD often comes from finding your niche. These calendars are goldmines for identifying unique marketing opportunities.

That's all for this week's edition of The POD Insider. We hope you found it valuable! Have questions, comments, or topics you'd like us to cover? We'd love to hear from you, just reply to this email.