Amazon Merch on Demand is a thriving program that allows creators to sell custom-designed products without the hassle of inventory management or shipping logistics. What is so great about program is that this is a print-on-demand service that enables sellers to upload their designs, which Amazon then prints on a variety of products and deliver to the customers.
Because I also sell digital designs online, I decided to give this program a try!
I’ve found it even easier to manage than Printful and Printify, where you have to find the product suppliers and handle delivery services for your business—and manage returns. Amazon Merch takes care of all of that! You just need to focus on creating designs and marketing (which, let’s be real, can feel like most of the work sometimes lol).
What Can You Sell on Amazon Merch?
The range of items available for customization is extensive, including:
- T-shirts: The most popular item, customizable in numerous styles, colors, and sizes.
- Hoodies and Sweatshirts: Ideal for colder seasons and perfect for featuring unique designs.
- Phone Cases: Available for various models, allowing for personalized protection.
- Tank Tops: Great for summer wear and fitness enthusiasts.
- PopSockets: Fun accessories that enhance grip and usability of smartphones.
- Tote Bags: Eco-friendly options that are both stylish and functional.
- Throw Pillows: Perfect for home decor with a personal touch.
I’ve gathered top 10 trending themes on Amazon Merch, along with examples of best-selling items within each category.
Top 10 Amazon Merch Product Ideas That Are Hot Right Now
1. Custom Design T-shirt
One of the best-selling custom design t-shirts on Amazon Merch is the “Custom T-Shirts for Men/Women: Design Your Own Shirt“. This shirt allows customers to add their own text, images, or logos, making it a popular choice for personalized gifts and events. With a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars and over 496 reviews, it showcases the demand for customizable apparel, priced at around $15. This option appeals to those looking to create unique designs for parties, reunions, or promotional purposes, highlighting the versatility of Amazon’s print-on-demand offerings.
2. Pop Culture References
Pop culture-inspired designs remain a consistent favorite among Amazon Merch customers. From movie quotes to iconic TV show moments, these designs resonate with fans across generations.
3. Seasonal and Holiday Themes
Designs that align with specific seasons or holidays continue to perform well on Amazon Merch.
Best-selling examples:
- “Hello Kitty Trick or Treat Halloween Tee Shirt”
- “Disney Mickey’s Halloween Trick or Treat Candy Co. T-Shirt”
- “Disney Minnie Mouse Halloween Ghosts Pumpkins Spiders T-Shirt”
These Halloween shirts demonstrate the popularity of seasonal designs, especially those featuring beloved characters.
4. Patriotic and Political Themes
With the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election, politically-themed merchandise is gaining traction.
Best-selling examples:
- “Kamala Harris 2024 President Comma La Funny T-Shirt”
- “I Understand The Assignment Chucks and Pearls Election 2024 T-Shirt”
- “President Trump Trending Political Trump 2024 Election Shirt”
These shirts cater to different political leanings, showing the broad appeal of election-related merchandise.
5. Inspirational and Motivational Quotes
Positive messages and uplifting quotes continue to resonate with consumers looking for daily inspiration. While specific examples aren’t listed in the top sellers, this theme remains popular. Creators should focus on unique, eye-catching typography and design to make their inspirational merchandise stand out.
6. Retro and Vintage Aesthetics
Nostalgia-driven designs that evoke past decades remain popular among consumers of all ages. Best-selling example: While not explicitly vintage-themed, the “STAR WARS Mos Eisley Cantina Tatooine Men’s Adult Graphic Tee T-Shirt” likely appeals to fans of the original Star Wars trilogy, tapping into retro nostalgia.
7. Niche Interests and Hobbies
Designs catering to specific interests or hobbies continue to find dedicated audiences on Amazon Merch. Best-selling example: The “Flags of the Countries of the World” appeals to those interested in world cultures and flags, demonstrating the potential of niche-focused designs.
8. Environmental and Social Causes
As awareness of environmental and social issues grows, merchandise supporting various causes is gaining popularity.
9. Humor and Memes
Funny designs and references to popular internet memes continue to be strong sellers on Amazon Merch. Best-selling example: The “Crayon Tshirt Halloween Costume for Men Women Adult Size | Funny Cool Shirt idea | Graphic tee” demonstrates the appeal of humorous, costume-inspired designs.
10. Minimalist and Abstract Designs
Clean, simple designs with abstract elements or minimalist aesthetics are trending across various product categories. Best-selling example: The “INTO THE AM Men’s Graphic Tees S – 4XL Cool Lightweight Fitted Printed Design T-Shirts Nature” likely features some minimalist or abstract nature-inspired designs, catering to this trend.
Where to Find More Best Selling Ideas?
Make sure to visit these pages to get inspired:
Best Sellers in Women’s Novelty Tops & Tees
Best Sellers in Men’s Novelty T-Shirts
How to Get Accepted to Amazon Merch?
To get started with Amazon Merch, you first need to apply and be accepted. Getting accepted to Amazon Merch on Demand is pretty straightforward! First, make sure you have a solid Amazon account in good standing. When you apply, fill out all the info accurately and showcase your best original designs—creativity is key! You have a form where you should highlight any design experience you have and if you don’t have a specific style, pick a niche that fits well, like novelty t-shirts.
Be clear about your business goals and ensure your designs follow Amazon’s content guidelines to avoid any copyright issues. The approval process can take a while, so be patient. I applied on June 20, and 9 days later, they approved!
If you get rejected, no worries—just tweak your application based on any feedback and try again later!
How Does Amazon Merch on Demand Work?
Amazon Merch on Demand is similar to print on demand services like Printify and Printful (you can read more about Printful vs Printify here). But as I mentioned earlier, it’s even better because you don’t even have to deal with customers. 👏👏
Amazon handles the:
- Order processing
- Printing
- Shipping
- Customer service, returns, refunds – you name it!
All you have to do is design pretty things! Sounds like a dream, right?
First Step on Amazon Merch
When you’re accepted into the program, your account starts at Tier 10.
👉 With tier 10, you can submit 10 designs
👉 After you sell 10 products, you can unlock tier 25 (that allows you to publish up to 25 designs)
👉 Next are coming higher tiers where you can submit 500, 1000 designs, and so on!
How Fast Can You Start Making Sales and Earning Money?
While it’s possible to start earning as soon as you make your first sale, for many sellers, it can take months—or even over a year—to start generating consistent sales and income on Amazon Merch on Demand. Success often requires patience, persistence in uploading designs, and, most importantly, actively promoting your products. It’s not enough to just publish designs and wait. To get those first sales and make it work, you need a marketing strategy that puts your designs in front of potential customers. I share my marketing strategy and more tips further down in the article.
Here’s how I did it:
After just 7 days, I made my first sale with Amazon Merch on Demand.
👉 I sold 2 t-shirts and earned $8.30!
Here’s a peek at my Amazon Merch on Demand dashboard:
That’s a great start. And Amazon handles every aspect of the ordering process, so all I have to do is collect a payment.
But how did I get those sales?
Promotion! I promoted my merch products on my blog. I set a pop up with a banner linking to a t-shirt I sell, and I linked to the products also from related articles on my blog (the ones that already get high monthly traffic).
It’s easy to launch a shop on Etsy, Shopify or Amazon. But here’s the thing; because you can’t just set it and forget it or wait for search engines to rank your products either, you HAVE to be proactive and promote, promote, promote!
I’m a big fan of SEO, but these marketplaces are highly competitive. SEO takes time. It may be weeks or months before products start ranking. In the meantime, promotion will get traffic to your listings and sales can start accumulating.
What if you don’t have a blog to promote your products? In that case, you should turn to social media. If you already have an active account, that’s amazing! Promote your new products to your followers. If not, start a new account on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or whichever platform you prefer, and begin building your audience.
So here is a quick summary of a marketing strategy that will help your boost your Amazon Merch sales:
If You Want to Make Sales as Fast as I Did (on Any Marketplace)
👉 Promote your shop on your blog. Don’t have a blog yet? Read our guide on how to start one!
👉 Promote your shop on social media, especially Pinterest. Take photos and videos of your products and creation process, and show off your final products. Not sure how to get started? My Pinterest marketing guide will show you the way.
More Tips That Will Help You Get More Sales on Amazon Merch
- Diversify your product line: T-shirts are always a hit, but don’t forget about other items like hoodies, sweatshirts, phone cases, and tote bags. These can be big sellers on Amazon Merch too!
- Ride the seasonal wave: Some of the best-selling items are tied to seasons or holidays. Plan your designs ahead of time to take advantage of these trends. For example, Halloween t-shirts can be a game-changer!
- Consider political merch: With the election coming up, politically-themed products are super popular. Just be careful not to dive into anything too controversial.
- Tap into niche markets: Products that cater to specific hobbies or interests can attract loyal customers. Do some research to find those under-served niches and get creative.
- Add some humor: Funny designs always sell well! Try to incorporate humor while staying within Amazon’s content guidelines.
- Optimize for search: Make sure you’re using the right keywords in your titles and descriptions, like “Halloween,” “costume,” or specific character names to help people find your products.
- Price it right: Check out the pricing for top-selling items in your category. Most novelty t-shirts sell between $15 and $25, so aim for something competitive.
- Stay on trend: Keep an eye on trending topics and events that might inspire new designs (but steer clear of copyrighted stuff or touchy subjects).
- Quality is key: Make sure your designs look great! Clear graphics and text that stand out are what catch people’s attention.
By keeping an eye on these trends and following these tips, you’ll boost your chances of success in this super competitive marketplace. Regularly checking out your sales data and listening to customer feedback will help you tweak your strategies and keep up with changing trends over time.
What’s Next?
Get those sales I need to unlock the next tiers and sell more products! 🙂
