Merchandise
The short answer: Merchandise brands report big sales at the top: Tumbleweed TexStyles reached $1.2M in annual sales by 2017, and Bean Goods is on track for seven figures. Hannah Gardner warns new print-on-demand sellers that listing volume isn't the point: "It's the design." (Chris Koerner; Hannah Gardner) Because Sandra Di says "You don't pay anything up front" with Printify, merchandise suits people testing designs with little cash. (Sandra Di)
| Reported startup cost | $0–$2,000 3 reports by 3 creators, Oct 2023–Oct 2026 |
|---|---|
| One creator's reported hours | 1–2 hrs/week Reported by Side Hustle School, Oct 2026 |
From 9 quotes by 5 creators. A creator figure is one person's account.
Go deeper: every source on merchandise
How much do merchandise sellers make?
Merchandise sales figures are brand-level, not personal pay: Bean Goods reports a 65% minimum profit margin and 450% growth. Tumbleweed's founders, Nick and Jeb, were high school teachers who reinvested profits from a first T-shirt run. (Side Hustle School; Chris Koerner)
What do people doing merchandise say?
“you don't need any inventory or upfront costs to make your journals because Printify, which is a print-on-demand company, will create, package, and deliver your”
“You don't pay anything up front. Printify will take a cut from every sale you make.”
“So with less than $2,000, she purchased and built everything she needed in order to create her own screen printing shop and build an online store with Shopify.”
“Tumbleweed Textiles started small with just $700.00 invested in their first run of T-shirts.”
“It's like kind of an entry level one. I think it was maybe in the $400 range.”
What does it cost to start selling merchandise?
Selling merchandise startup runs $0–$2,000: Sandra says nothing is paid up front with print-on-demand, while Side Hustle School's example used "less than $2,000" for a screen printing shop and Shopify store. Nick and Jeb put $700 into a first run of T-shirts. (Sandra Di; Chris Koerner)
How much time does a merchandise side hustle take?
A merchandise side hustle can fit small daily slots: Dr. Ronek Metta's tip is to work 10 to 15 minutes a day. Sandra's plan aims at a first journal sale in 72 hours with three posts a day on platforms you already use. (Side Hustle School; Sandra Di)
Who is selling merchandise good for?
Selling merchandise suits designers willing to add something new, since Hannah says "You have to add some value than what's already out there." Skip print-on-demand if your plan is copying designs or flooding a shop with near-identical listings, given her warning. (Hannah Gardner)
Which platforms do people use for merchandise?
Platforms people doing merchandise use: Printful, Redbubble, Threadless.
Is selling merchandise worth it?
Pros
- Printify creates, packages and delivers the journals, so no inventory is needed. (Sandra Di)
- Nick and Jeb sold online, at festivals and in local stores. (Chris Koerner)
Cons
- Printify takes a cut from every sale. (Sandra Di)
- Hannah warns to watch trademarks. (Hannah Gardner)
What are the risks of selling merchandise?
Selling merchandise can stall on saturated designs: Hannah says "it's never a great idea to just copy what's already there." Reports split on production: Sandra pays nothing up front through Printify, while Side Hustle School's example spent $500 on a vacuum printing press. (Hannah Gardner; Sandra Di)
What are the alternatives to merchandise?
- Online Marketplaces side hustle: Often covered together (5 shared videos).
- Vending machines: Also over $1,000 to start.
- Live selling side hustle: Also over $1,000 to start.
- Mobile Coffee Cart: Also over $1,000 to start.
- Reselling clothes: Also in selling and reselling.
- Scrap Metal Recycling as a side hustle: Also in selling and reselling.
Part of: Selling and reselling
What else do people ask about selling merchandise?
Should designs be seasonal?
Hannah prefers evergreen designs over seasonal spikes. (Hannah Gardner)
How can a first sale start?
Sandra uses a 48-hour flash sale and asks friends and family to share. (Sandra Di)
Sources and method
Quotes are verbatim and linked to the moment they were said. A figure from one report is not confirmed by a second source. BLS figures describe employees in the closest related occupation. Every quote, the pay in each state and the full source list are on the every source on merchandise.
- Chris Koerner, podcast, 2 Oct 2023.
- Side Hustle School, podcast, 15 Oct 2026.
- Hannah Gardner, YouTube, 27 Aug 2026.
- Sandra Di, YouTube, 26 Aug 2026.
- Sandra Di, YouTube, 30 Sep 2026.
- Side Hustle School, podcast, 25 Oct 2026.
- Side Hustle School, podcast, 8 Oct 2026.
Other data behind this page (3)
| Fact | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common pitfalls | uploading many near-identical listings expecting volume to bring sales | One report | Hannah Gardner |
| Common pitfalls | copying designs already saturated in the market | One report | Hannah Gardner |
| Equipment | screen printing supplies, vacuum printing press, screen print frame, drying rack | One report | Side Hustle School |