Products
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Three years ago, I almost missed the holiday rush completely.
I thought I could just slap some snowflakes on t-shirts in mid-November and watch the money roll in. Spoiler alert: That's not how it works.
By the time I got my products listed, everyone else had already captured the early shoppers. I scrambled to run ads, dropped my prices to compete, and barely broke even. It was a mess.
But here's what changed everything: I learned that the holiday season doesn't start when you feel festive. It starts when your customers start thinking about Christmas—and that happens way earlier than you'd think.
Last year, I launched my holiday collection in early October. I planned my production timeline backward from December 25th. I targeted not just couples and families, but also the people buying for themselves, their coworkers, and their pets.
The result? My best Q4 ever, with sales continuing strong through New Year's and into January.
Let me show you how to do the same.
The numbers don't lie: shoppers are projected to spend an average of $1,638 on gifts, travel, and entertainment this season, marking a 7% increase from last year (PwC).
Even better? Mobile shopping will account for 56.1% of online spend (eMarketer), which means your print-on-demand products are perfectly positioned to capture impulse buyers scrolling on their phones.
Here's what's working right now:
Translation: People are buying. They're buying online. And they want unique, personalized products that show they actually put thought into their gifts.
I've tested dozens of products over the years. Some flop. Others print money. Here's what consistently performs:
Custom Ornaments: The absolute champion of Christmas sales. The Christmas ornaments market was valued at $23.9 billion and is projected to grow at 5.2% annually through 2030 (Data Intelo). People buy these for themselves, as gifts, and to commemorate special moments.
With GearLaunch's personalization fields, you can offer customized family names, dates, and messages that turn a simple ornament into a keepsake.
Personalized Mugs: These sell year-round, but they explode during Q4. Think beyond "Merry Christmas"—I'm talking:
Festive Apparel: Ugly Christmas sweaters remain a tradition in the US, Canada, and UK, with National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day on the third Friday of December. But don't stop there—matching family pajamas, holiday hoodies, and festive t-shirts all perform incredibly well.
Target families, friend groups, and corporate teams who want matching outfits for photos and parties.
Home Décor: That Lasts Canvas prints, throw pillows, blankets, and acrylic plaques aren't just for Christmas—they're investments in home ambiance. Market them as "holiday décor you'll use every year" rather than single-season items.
The Sleeper Hits
Most sellers get this wrong. They think about selling during the holidays. Winners think about selling for the holidays.
Here's your week-by-week playbook:
Early October (Right Now)
Mid-October to November
Black Friday Week (Late November): This is your Super Bowl. 75% of Americans participate in online Black Friday shopping, and 68% shop on Cyber Monday (NRF).
Have your offers ready. Make them clear. Make them compelling. And make sure your production timeline can handle the volume.
December 1-15: Push hard. This is peak buying season. Your ads should be running, your email list should be engaged, and your product descriptions should emphasize fast shipping.
December 16-20: Last chance for standard shipping. Update your messaging to "Order by [date] to receive by Christmas!" Create urgency without panic.
December 21-24:Rush shipping only (and charge appropriately for it). Some procrastinators will pay extra. Let them.
Post-Christmas Through New Year's: Don't stop! People have gift cards, cash gifts, and return money. They're also buying for themselves and thinking about New Year's resolutions.
Pivot your messaging to "treat yourself" and "fresh start" themes.
You don't need a massive ad spend. You need smart messaging that speaks to what people actually want.
1. The Gift Guide Approach: Create content around gift categories:
Each guide features your products naturally. Post them on social media, pin them on Pinterest, share them in email.
2. Behind-the-Scenes Content: People love seeing how personalized products are made. Show your design process. Share customer photos. Make it human.
3. User-Generated Content: When customers share photos of your products, repost them (with permission). Nothing sells like social proof.
4. Email Marketing (If You Have a List)
5. SEO That Actually Works: Optimize your product titles and descriptions with keywords people search:
Don't overthink it. Just think like a shopper.
I've made all of these. Learn from my pain:
Starting Too Late: If you're reading this in late November, you've already lost early-bird shoppers. Next year, start in September.
Overwhelming Customers with Choices: Products offering 1-5 color options outperform those with over five variations by 70%. Keep it simple. Black, white, maybe red or green for holidays. Done.
Ignoring Production and Shipping Times: GearLaunch typically handles production efficiently, but you still need to account for transit time. Don't promise December 25th delivery if the math doesn't work.
Only Targeting Traditional Families: The modern holiday season includes:
Market to all of them.
Forgetting About Mobile: Over 60% of print-on-demand sales come from mobile devices. If your product images don't look good on a phone screen, you're losing sales.
Stopping on December 26th: The holiday season doesn't end with Christmas. People are shopping with gift cards, treating themselves, and preparing for New Year's parties through early January.
Here's the truth: Yes, the market is crowded during Q4. But most sellers are lazy. They use generic designs, boring product descriptions, and zero personalization.
You're not going to be like them.
Your Competitive Edge:
Specific beats generic every time.
See the difference?
Stop reading. Start doing. Here's your this-week task list:
✅ Review your product catalog – Do you have personalized ornaments, mugs, and apparel ready?
✅ Optimize your titles and descriptions – Add keywords like "personalized," "custom," "family," "Christmas"
✅ Set up your holiday timeline – Mark your last shipping dates on a calendar
✅ Create 3-5 social posts – Gift guides, product features, customer photos
✅ Plan your Black Friday offer – What's your discount? When does it start?
✅ Test one small ad – $10-20 to see what resonates with your audience
✅ Email your existing customers – "Holiday collection is here!"
Most sellers crash in January. You're going to thrive.
Here's how:
Pivot Your Messaging
Keep Your Winners: That custom family ornament? It's now an "anniversary keepsake." That holiday mug? It's a "cozy winter essential."
Same products. Different angles.
Prepare for Valentine's: Start designing and planning in early January. Launch by mid-January. (See my previous blog for the full Valentine's strategy.)
The holiday season is the biggest opportunity of the year for print-on-demand sellers. But it's not about luck—it's about preparation, smart marketing, and giving customers what they actually want.
With GearLaunch handling production and fulfillment, you don't have to worry about inventory or shipping logistics. You can focus on what matters: creating products people love and getting them in front of the right buyers.
The sellers who win Q4 are the ones who start early, stay consistent, and don't stop on December 26th.
The clock is ticking. Your holiday collection should be live. Your marketing should be running. And your customers? They're out there right now, scrolling on their phones, looking for the perfect gift.
Make sure they find you.
Ready to crush your holiday sales? Start uploading your Christmas designs to GearLaunch today.
Got questions about your holiday selling strategy? Drop them in the comments—I'd love to help you make this your best Q4 ever!
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