Want to make more sales this holiday season? Start your designs in June/July.

It sounds crazy… until you realize that the most successful print-on-demand sellers are already prepping for Christmas right now.

While other people are sitting by the pool or planning summer trips, you can be getting ahead of the busiest and most profitable shopping time of the entire year.

Because if you wait until November to start?
You’ve already missed the early shoppers, the trending products, and the testing window.

So let’s dive into 7 big reasons why getting your holiday POD designs ready right now is one of the smartest moves you can make this year.

Reason #1: Q4 Is the Super Bowl of Print-on-Demand

Let’s start with the big one:

The last 3 months of the year bring in more sales than the other 9 months combined.

Think about it:

• Black Friday
  
• Cyber Monday
  
• Christmas
  
• Hanukkah
• New Year’s
  

People are buying gifts for:

• Family
  
• Friends
  
• Co-workers
  
• Teachers
• Secret Santa swaps
  

And what are they buying?

Personalized, fun, unique gifts.
Just like the ones you can sell with print-on-demand.

Your POD store can be their favorite place to shop—if you’re ready in time.

Most sellers start too late.
They get excited in November, create a bunch of listings, and then… shipping deadlines hit.

If your products aren’t ready by late October or early November, you’re missing the biggest wave.

That’s why starting in June/July gives you time to plan, test, list, and sell with confidence.

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Reason #2: Winning Designs Don’t Happen Overnight

Let’s be honest.

Your first design probably won’t be a best-seller.

That’s okay! It’s part of the process. But it means you need time to:

• Try different quotes and styles
  
• Play with fonts and colors
  
• Test product types (mugs vs tumblers vs shirts)
  
• See what your audience likes

Testing now means you’ll know what works before the busy season hits.

For example:

• Maybe “Santa’s Favorite Dog Mom” sells way better than “Jingle All the Way” for your niche
  
• Maybe your retro-style font gets more clicks than the modern one
• Maybe your red and green color combo pops more than blue and silver

But you only find this out by testing early.

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Reason #3: Simple Designs Work Best—And Are Easier to Make Now

One of the biggest myths in POD?
That your design has to be fancy to sell.

It’s just not true.

In fact, many best-selling holiday products are:

• Text only
  
• One cute graphic
  
• Easy-to-read fonts
• Black text on white mugs or shirts

 Examples of simple top-selling ideas:

• “Dear Santa, I Tried”
  
• “Merry & Bright”
  
• “All I Want for Christmas is Tacos”
  
• “Santa’s Favorite Teacher”

These take minutes to design in Canva or your favorite tool.

You don’t need to be a pro designer. You just need to start.

In June/July, you have the time and space to create without rushing.

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Reason #4: Shoppers Are Already Buying Gifts in September

Did you know that holiday shopping starts as early as September?

Yep.

There are early birds who:

• Hate last-minute stress
  
• Shop for deals in advance
  
• Want to avoid shipping issues
  
• Buy in bulk for schools, teams, or offices

If your listings are live by then, you can capture this early demand.

Selling in September means more reviews, more traction, and more sales in November.

And the best part?
You’ll be way ahead of the competition.

Most sellers don’t even think about the holidays until October.
By then, you could already have many listings, solid SEO, and some sales under your belt.

Reason #5: Spotting Holiday Trends Takes Time

Every year, holiday trends shift.

Some years it’s:

• Buffalo plaid
  
• Gnomes
  
• Retro colors
  
• Minimalist fonts
• Funny food puns
  

Next year? Could be neon reindeer. Or pastel gingerbread. Who knows?

But guess what?

If you’re paying attention now, you’ll start noticing what’s rising in popularity.

Where to look:

• Pinterest boards from last year’s holiday season
  
• Etsy “Holiday Gift” categories
  
• Amazon’s gift guides
  
• Trending TikToks and Instagram Reels
  
• Facebook groups for holiday crafts and gifts
  

Start your “Holiday 2025 Trend Board” now and save what catches your eye.

Then turn those trends into designs your audience will love before everyone else catches on.

Reason #6: More Listings = More Traffic = More Sales

Print-on-demand is a numbers game.

Each listing is a new chance to show up in search, grab a buyer’s attention, and make a sale.

Here’s what more listings give you:

• More keywords working for you
• More designs to test and learn from
• More gift categories you can cover (teachers, moms, dog lovers, etc.)
  
• More chances to make sales and build reviews

More listings = better chances of catching a trending product.

And remember: each sale builds your confidence, your visibility, and your income.

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Reason #7: Holiday Sales Can Launch Your Entire POD Business

Let’s think bigger for a moment.

What if Q4 2025 isn’t just about holiday sales?
What if it’s the launchpad for a full-time side hustle—or a real business?

Because with the right listings, you can:

• Build up customer reviews
  
• Grow your Etsy or Amazon visibility
  
• Get repeat buyers who come back after the holidays
  
• Reinvest profits into better tools or templates
  
• Build an email list of fans who love your stuff
  

June/July designs ? December sales ? January momentum

So even after the tinsel and trees are gone, your POD business keeps growing.

All because you got serious right now.

What to Start Creating NOW

Here’s a super simple action plan to follow.

Pick 3 Holiday Niches

• Moms & dads
  
• Dog lovers
  
• Teachers
  
• Grandparents
  
• Wine lovers
• Camping families

Brainstorm 5 Quotes per Niche

• Funny, cute, or heartfelt
  
• Short phrases work best
• Mix and match to test what hits

Make Designs in Canva or Kittl

• Use mockups that look great
  
• Stick to easy fonts and bold text
• Add one simple graphic or keep it text-only

Upload to Your POD Platform

• Etsy and Amazon
• Use holiday keywords: “Christmas gift for teacher,” “funny Christmas dog mug,” etc.

Repeat Weekly

• Add a few new listings per week
  
• Test different products (tumblers, sweatshirts, ornaments, etc.)
  
• Watch what gets clicks, views, and sales

Bonus: 5 Easy Canva Template Ideas for Holiday POD

Need a head start? Try these quick templates (always check for trademarks before using or use CozyBuddy for phrases with no trademarks):

• Simple Mug Quote: Bold text in red and green. Example: “Let’s Get Elfed Up”
  

• Ornament with Family Name: Elegant script + year. “The Johnsons – Christmas 2025”
  

• Matching T-Shirt Design: For couples or families. “Santa’s Favorite Aunt”
  

• Retro Hoodie Text: 70s style font. “Merry Vibes Only”
  

• Candle Label Quote: Minimalist black & white. “Smells Like Christmas Morning”

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Ready for Your Challenge?

Here’s what to do this week:

1. Pick 1 niche to focus on (like dog moms)
   
2. Create 5 simple quotes
   
3. Use Canva to design 3 products
   
4. Upload to your store or POD platform
5. Repeat weekly 

By the end of the month, you could have many holiday listings live and ready to work for you.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait for the Rush

Remember this:

The best time to prepare for Christmas sales is before anyone else does.

And NOW is your moment to shine.

Don’t wait.
Don’t overthink.

Just start small, keep going, and build your own Christmas magic—starting now.

Your Next Step:

Looking for incredible mentors and the tools to start your own print-on-demand (POD) business, or are you ready to take your current business to the next level? Take a look at these excellent courses:

Low Hanging System

Dive into the most comprehensive online course designed to empower you to build an array of PROFITABLE income streams using simple designs and catchy sayings.

Learn how to design simple items and add them to marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon.

Sign up here

Easy POD Mastermind

Step into the spotlight with EasyPOD Mastermind – the VIP club for print-on-demand sellers. 

You also get case studies, interactive workshops, and live coaching calls. 

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