Want more sales this summer? Try one of these hot niches – and get ahead while others are still stuck!

I’ve been in the print-on-demand world for a long time now.

I’ve seen what works. I’ve seen what flops.
And one of the biggest mistakes people make?

They keep using the same old niches — even when seasons change.

Summer is coming, and that means your customers want fresh, fun, sunny stuff.

So I pulled together some of the best-performing summer-friendly niches to help you get a jumpstart.
These are niches people actually search for, buy from, and love sharing.

Let’s dive in.

Niche #1: Vacay Mode Activated

Summer = travel season.

People are going on road trips, family vacations, cruises, and beach getaways. And guess what?

They want shirts, mugs, and totes that say so.

What to sell:

• “Road Trip Crew” family shirts

• “Vacay Mode” travel tumblers

• Beachy mugs with fun sayings like “Sandy Toes & Sippin’ Coffee”

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Why it works:

• People LOVE buying matching items for trips

• It’s easy to customize by destination, year, or family name

• These designs are super simple to make (just text and a cute font!)

Niche #2: Dogs, Cats & Pool Floats

Pet lovers don’t take a break in the summer — and neither should you.

In fact, many people do summer photoshoots with their pets, take them on vacation, or buy funny gifts for their pet-sitter.

What to sell:

• “Pool Pawty” mugs with dogs in sunglasses

• “Hot Dog Summer” shirts with dachshunds

• “Dog Mom Fuel” skinny tumblers

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Why it works:

• Pet lovers are one of the most passionate buying groups

• Silly, punny, and cute designs = wide appeal

• Great for gifts (even last-minute ones!)

Niche #3: BBQ Kings & Grill Dads

Father’s Day + 4th of July = massive opportunity.

And let’s be real… dads love grilling.
(And their families love buying them funny shirts about it.)

What to sell:

• “License To Grill” mugs or shirts

• “Smoke ‘Em If Ya Got ‘Em” aprons

• “BBQ Dad Bod In Progress” tanks

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Why it works:

• Seasonal AND gift-worthy

• Funny designs sell really well in this niche

• Perfect for simple black text designs (aka easy uploads!)

Niche #4: Summer Festivals & Fair Season

Music festivals. Carnivals. County fairs.
All huge events where people love wearing custom gear.

This niche works especially well if you lean into fun, retro fonts and bright colors.

What to sell:

• “Sun, Music, Repeat” festival tanks

• “Here For The Funnel Cake” mugs

• “Fair Hair, Don’t Care” totes

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Why it works:

• These events happen all summer long

• People want fun, shareable merch

• These items get worn & photographed (great free advertising!)

Niche #5: Sweet Treat Season

Summer is basically an excuse to eat all the ice cream, snow cones, popsicles, and lemonade.

Why not turn that into a niche?

What to sell:

• “Powered By Ice Cream” shirts

• “Chillin’ Like A Popsicle” mugs

• “Lemonade Over Everything” totes

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Why it works:

• Food-themed designs are fun and relatable

• These are GREAT for kids, moms, and teachers

• Easy to turn into collections for bundles

Bonus Niche: Camping & Nature Lovers

Camping is HUGE in the summer — and print-on-demand fits perfectly.

Think matching shirts for families, mugs for around the fire, and gear for outdoor lovers.

What to sell:

• “Campfire Coffee Club” mugs

• “Weekend Forecast: Camping With A Chance Of S’mores” shirts

• “Takin’ It In-Tents” tumblers

Why it works:

• Lots of summer travel involves camping

• Endless pun potential (which buyers LOVE)

• Another perfect place for simple black text designs

Quick Tips For Selling Summer Designs

Keep it simple.
Fancy graphics slow you down — go for bold text and fun sayings.

Use Custom Happy products.
Their mugs and tumblers are perfect for these designs. Plus, they’re fast!

Don’t wait.
Upload now so your listings can start ranking before summer shopping spikes.

Final Thoughts: Summer = Sales

The best part about these niches?
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

Just mix a little humor, a little seasonality, and some basic designs — and you’re off to the races.

Your future customers are already searching for this stuff.
You just have to be ready.

Want Help Getting Started?

Come join the Low Hanging System — our community is full of helpful sellers, easy tools, and people just like you making their first sales.

Click here to join us and make your first summer sale

You’ve got this. Let’s make summer 2025 your best one yet.