How to Pick the Right Niche for Your Print on Demand Store

Starting a print on demand (POD) store can be a great way to turn your creative ideas into a profitable business.

However, one of POD store owners' most significant challenges is selecting the right niche!

With so many options, finding which niche will resonate with your target audience and bring success can be overwhelming.

To help you get started, this article will provide you with essential tips for picking the right niche for your POD store.

Let's begin by looking at what a niche is.

What is a print on demand niche?

A print on demand niche is a specific category within an industry.

This can include products such as t-shirts, phone cases, mugs, posters, and other items that can be printed with designs or images on demand.

Choosing a niche means focusing on a particular market area and developing your product and marketing strategies around that niche.

For example, a print on demand store that specializes in fitness-themed designs is a niche in the print on demand market.

What is an evergreen print on demand niche?

An evergreen print on demand niche has consistent demand throughout the year.

This means a stable and reliable customer base for the products within the niche.

Some examples of steady niches in the print on demand industry include pet products, travel-themed designs, and inspirational quote products.

These niches have a solid customer base that remains loyal over time, making them a good choice for a print on demand store!

What is a trendy print on demand niche?

A trendy print on demand niche refers to a market quickly gaining popularity.

Current events, pop culture, and seasonal trends often drive these niches.

Trendy niches can provide an excellent opportunity for businesses to capitalize on a rapidly growing market, but it's important to note that trends are often temporary and can change quickly.

Businesses that focus on trendy niches must be agile and quickly adapt to changing market conditions.

Some examples of trendy print on demand niches include political-themed merch and summer & winter and pop culture-inspired products.

5 Ways to find the best print on demand niche for your store

From researching market trends to testing the market, these tips will help you find a profitable niche aligned with your interests.

1. Choosing a print on demand niche you're passionate about

When you have a personal connection to the products you serve, you are more likely to be invested in the business and put in the effort to succeed.

Your passion will drive you to be creative and to improve your offerings continuously, and it will also help you build a unique brand that resonates with your target audience.

Also, a deep understanding of your niche will enable you to better understand your customers and their needs, allowing you to offer products and services that meet their specific requirements.

So, when selecting a print on demand niche, choose one that you are genuinely passionate about and feel excited about building a business.

2. Choose your hobby as a niche

Consider what hobbies you enjoy and would be enthusiastic about selling designs for.

This will give you a starting point for your research and help you find a niche in which you are genuinely interested.

It's also essential to consider the profitability of a niche. While you may be passionate about a hobby, it may not have enough market to support a POD store.

Look into whether there is a large enough audience for your products and whether people are willing to pay for the niche.

3. Find inspiration at marketplaces

You can see what works well by analyzing the competition on marketplace websites like Redbubble and Etsy.

This information can help you to create a unique product line that stands out from the competition and appeals to your target audience.

Another way to find a profitable niche is to look for products with high sales but low competition. This will give you an idea of what popular niches have the potential for success but are not yet overly saturated.

For example, you can view a product's sales so you can go through as many stores as you can in a niche to see which ones are doing the best. This will give you ideas on what's working!

You can also look for niches with high positive reviews, which is a good indicator of customer satisfaction!

4. Check Facebook for competitors

Facebook is a powerful tool for researching and finding a POD niche.

One way to do this is by checking for competitors in your potential niche.

To do this, you use the Facebook search bar for keywords related to your niche.

For example, if you're interested in a pet-themed POD store, search for 'pet-themed shirts' or 'pet lover gifts.' This will give you an idea of what is already out there and who your competition might be.

Once you have a list of competitors, look closely at their page and the products they offer. See what is popular and what is selling well for them.

This can give you competitors' stores and show what to avoid. You can also see your competitors' marketing strategies and whether they seem to work for them.

By analyzing your competition, you can better understand what is and isn't working in your niche and make informed decisions about your POD store!

5. Check our list of niche ideas

A great way to find a print on demand niche is by using our list of 27 POD niche ideas!

Here are some examples for you already:

• Fishing
• Truck drivers
• Pizza
• Vegan
• Video games
• Traveling

For more examples, give this article a look!

Here are 4 print on demand niches to avoid

Be mindful of your chosen niche and avoid specific niches that may be challenging to sell.

Here are a few niches to prevent:

1. Niches with low demand

Some niches may have a small or niche audience that is not large enough to support a POD store. Before committing to a niche, research the market to ensure enough demand for your products.

For example, selling customized basketball jerseys for amateur basketball players has a relatively small audience, as not everyone plays basketball, and not all basketball players are interested in customized jerseys.

If your research shows that the demand for customized basketball jerseys is too small to support a POD store, you may need to consider a different niche with a larger audience.

This could involve researching other sports or hobbies with a more significant following, such as football or gaming, and seeing if there is a market for customized products in those areas.

2. Niches with high competition

It's challenging to stand out and make sales in a crowded market. That's why you should look for niches with lower competition and consider filling a gap in the market.

For instance, if you're looking to start an online store selling clothing, you may find that the market is already saturated with well-established and recognizable brands.

In this case, it would be difficult to stand out and make sales, especially starting.

Instead, you might consider looking for a niche with lower competition, such as selling sustainable and eco-friendly clothing.

By filling a gap in the market, you may be able to attract a specific target audience and differentiate yourself from the competition, ultimately leading to more sales and success.

3. Niches with low-profit margins

Some niches may have low-profit margins, making it difficult to profit. Be sure to research the profitability of a niche before committing to it!

For instance, a niche specializing in handmade shoes may have a low profit due to the cost of materials and time required to create each product.

As a result, making a significant profit in this niche may be challenging, even with high sales volume. So researching a niche's profitability before committing to it can help you avoid investing time and resources into something unprofitable.

4. Controversial or sensitive niches

Avoid niches that may be controversial or sensitive, as these may turn away potential customers or result in negative press.

One example of avoiding controversial niches is not selling products related to politics or religion.

If you sell items related to a specific political party or religious group, it may turn off potential customers who do not share those beliefs. Also, taking a stance on a controversial issue could result in negative press and backlash from people.

To avoid this, you might want to be neutral on controversial topics and avoid selling designs that could be seen as polarizing.

Summary

Before we go to the conclusion, we've created a quick summary of this article for you, so you can easily remember it:

• There are two types of POD niches, evergreen and trendy. Evergreen niches have a steady demand, while trendy niches quickly gain (and lose) popularity.
• When you have a personal connection to the products and market you serve, you are more likely to be invested in the business and put in the effort to succeed.
• Consider what hobbies you enjoy and would be enthusiastic about selling designs for.
• By analyzing the competition on marketplace websites like Redbubble and Etsy, you can see what works well in your niche and is not.
• Facebook is a powerful tool for researching and finding a POD niche. One way to do this is by checking for competitors in your potential niche.
• A great way to get inspired to choose your niche is using our list of POD niche ideas!
• Avoid niches with low-profit margins, low demand, or too much competition.

Conclusion

Choosing the right niche for your print on demand store is crucial for success!

It requires research, market analysis, and a deep understanding of your target audience and their needs.

When selecting a niche, consider factors such as demand, competition, profitability, and personal interest and expertise.

By taking the time to evaluate each option and make an informed decision, you can set up a successful and profitable print on demand business.

Remember that it's okay to start small and experiment with different niches to see what works best for you! You can constantly adjust and change as needed.

With a clear focus and a well-defined niche, you can achieve your goals and turn your passion into a thriving business.

Thank you for reading, and have a great day!

Want to learn more about print on demand?

Ready to move your print on demand store to the next level? Check out the articles below:

• 10 Best Print on Demand Tools for Your Business in 2024
• 15 Best Print on Demand Companies and Suppliers in 2024
• 14 Best US Print on Demand Suppliers in 2024 (Fast Shipping)

Plus, don't forget to check out our in-depth how to start a print on demand business guide here!