Many are saying it’s almost not worth selling here anymore, and I’ll admit I’ve had those thoughts too. But I hang on because I love creating. I enjoy promoting. And after 15 years, my Zazzle store is part of who I am. It’s what I do when I wake up, before I go to bed, and in between I’m brainstorming the next product idea. Like many creators, I’ve raised my royalty, lowered it, tried charm pricing, created mockups, promoted everywhere even email boosts and still my sales are nowhere close to what they were before April 1, 2025.
What I’ve learned is this: you can do everything “right,” have high conversions, and still only hit payout. It’s discouraging. But then something wonderful happens a few referrals come in, a few more sales trickle through just enough to remind you that people are finding your products and liking them.
For me POD, sales are rarely immediate. When I promote heavily one week, the views show up quickly, but the sales often come weeks later. Online shoppers browse, save, compare, and return later to buy. That’s just how the cycle works. (in my experience) And honestly, summer is always slow. People are outside, traveling, and doing offline things. But soon it will be Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas and sales always pick up again.
So if it feels like sales are off, know you are not alone, sales are off for all of us. But it’s also the summer season. Hang in there. Better months are coming and our sales will be great again.
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This is a good reminder. My most successful products have been ones that were successful weeks or months after they were created, and every once in a while a product that I forgot I had gets sold, reminding me that patience matters.
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It’s admirable how you support designers Susan who are less fortunate. I hope people will stay and not give up and keep on going despite the hardship. I felt sad but I didn’t want to give up or close my store, I love designing a lot and it’s so rewarding to have customers that love what I do, I find that this work is everything I ever dreamed of, considering I painted since I was a child and wanted to be a designer and also to have my own business. This work is everything I love to do. 
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I agree that summer is usually slower, and I appreciate your positive outlook. I also keep creating because I genuinely enjoy the creative process.
That said, I don’t think the current situation can be explained by seasonality alone. Many of us have seen a significant and lasting drop since April 1, 2025, despite continuing to optimize our stores, promote our products, and maintain good conversion rates.
I hope you’re right that the holiday season will improve things, but I also hope Zazzle takes a closer look at what changed. Seasonal fluctuations are normal, but many of us are experiencing something that feels different.
In the meantime, all we can do is keep creating and support each other. I wish everyone the best for the coming months.
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