The future of POD

[cniem14]

I am relatively new to Zazzle so what I am about to ask is a genuine non-snarky real question I have had for quite awhile and would love to hear all of your feedback and thoughts. As background, I do have a traditional 9 to 5 job. My job and family keep me plenty busy and on the go so Z is something I do when I have time. I am not in this to replace my job and didn't join the platform in hopes to make a ton of money, however, the longer I am here, I have noticed that there are an abundance of creators that have made Zazzle or POD their full-time gig. My question is, for those of you who have made POD a career, are you concerned about the time invested, return you receive and the future of any POD company? From what I hear, POD is currently a viable and strong industry. However, I do wonder with the rapid pace in which technology is changing the way we live our day-to-lives combined with the fierce competition POD faces, what is the future of these companies? Could we open up the website one day and see it's been sold or worse yet, bankrupt? Again, these are some thoughts that I have had with all POD platforms. 

[Flobaby]

You are here today. Work for today and try not to worry about the future and what will happen. Every job/career can be in peril eventually so it's not helpful to think about it, just stifles your creativity.  Somewhere around 2015, when I was having those same thoughts, it hit me that if I work now and aim to make as much money as I can RIGHT NOW, then even if it goes bust, I will have made that money. The alternative was constantly weighing the "what ifs", which bring you nothing.

Just my thoughts on the matter (because it's a good subject!).

[Flobaby]

...and one more thing. I actually do think it'll fizzle eventually, everything does. Whether it's the industry or my place in it (because here, for instance, you can have a best seller on the first page for years, then they do rearranging and it's virtually gone). But that's why you use defensive tactics and change the way you do things, or find new inspirations and ideas. You really do have to be on your toes a bit, but that's what makes life interesting. 🙂

[KeegansCreation]

I think the POD concept is a strong one since the desire for personalization/nichification seems to be getting stronger rather than weaker. There is a lot of competition but I think Zazzle is more agile than the other POD companies. It seems to respond quickly to market changes such as many young people moving to phones as a way to shop rather than laptops or desktops. It also seems to be able to implement platform changes more smoothly than other PODs (when those other PODs even try, which they rarely do). Sure, we will post aggravatedly about things broken for a week when there is a platform change, such as the changes to collections. But when other PODs try to revamp, things will be broken for months. And some don't even try. They just stay frozen in place and hope the market doesn't mind.

So I think Zazzle's agility will keep it a strong contender.

[Connie]

It's a valid concern, especially seeing the changes that certain other PODs recently made, which seem to indicate that they aren't doing too well financially. However, I've come to the conclusion that it's not worth worrying about, and I'll just try to make as much money as I can while I can.

Incidentally, a few years ago at my "real" job we actually DID wake up one morning to find that they went bankrupt! (And that was my favorite job I ever had! 😭) So POD isn't the only business with risks.

[cniem14]

Correct, all business today face a lot competition and risk that includes bankruptcy.

[orientcourt]

My thoughts😀 Stay with your 9 to 5 job ! Most creators on Zazzle I believe are trying to make money to boost their income whether they work at full time jobs or perhaps receiving a pension after they retire! Re every little bit of extra monies count! For those have had success selling on Zazzle or other platforms, it is due to sheer hard work !  PS  some of us just love creating products, if we sell them that is a huge bonus to our finances as well as thrilled that some person has loved our designs !    

[cniem14]

I am not quitting my job for POD. That never was a plan of mine. I do enjoy my career and worked hard to get to the point I am at. I like to work on Zazzle as a fun hobby-like activity and have made minimal in the past few months but again, I am not here to crush it. My thought process is more about time invested vs monetary return. At work, I invest a set number hours and am guarateed a specified payment. On the other hand, POD does not work like this. You can invest literally hundreds of hours and make pennies or nothing. 😞 Maybe the real question is, how many people feel the invested time is worth the return. "Return" could include both monetary or just plain satisfaction with what they are doing with POD and this is important too.