Here’s a little look at what my Zazzle shops are selling during this Christmas buying season. It is here, right? The holiday season has completely snuck up on me. Here in Central Florida the temps are still in the 80’s and most days are hot and muggy even though we are into November. And now that I say November, I realize that Christmas is only a few weeks away.
Sales in all my online shops have been way down, as is true for many others, I know. Honestly I have not made a huge effort to sell anything because I do not have confidence that the time spent will do much good. In past years, my Zazzle sales have kicked up during October and November, which seems to always be the prime buying season. I can sometimes continue to sell Christmas items well into the new year, for some reason.
This year has not shown me a jump in sales during October. November is off to a better start but what I am mostly advertising (Christmas things) are not what is selling.
If I look at my most recent sales, this confirms my belief. There is no way to know what people are shopping for this buying season. Sales are for products that range from a child’s apron with a little pig on the bib, to trout fishing birthday party paper goods.
I have sold some Christmas ornaments, Luau-themed corporate holiday party invitations, a set of Flamingo gift tag stickers, and beach themed address labels, but there is no one big obvious item that customers want.
Christmas cards are not selling at all, and I wonder if even the downloads are not drawing people in. People are just stretched too thin at holiday time to bother with cards, it seems.
Custom Ornaments and Wallets
Every holiday season my biggest sellers by far are Christmas ornaments. Zazzle ornaments make great gifts for so many family members, especially the grandparents who still put up a tree. They can be made as keepsakes from a wedding, moving to a new house, or having a baby – all First Christmas milestones.
Remembering a favorite dog or cat with pictures on Pet Ornaments is also popular. And truly custom ornaments can be made for any occasion or reason. They are something to give when you don’t know what to give.
I have a couple of Zazzle wallet designs that sell pretty well. I do believe that creating enticing mockups helps sell items too.
Christmas Dream Sales
My dream is to sell a lot of one of my newer designs for the holidays. Do you realize that if only one item you create, as a designer, took off and sold like wildfire, you could make a lot of royalty money? I think about that a lot, and in the past I have had it happen a few times.
One year I sold 500 wristwatches with a starfish design. I can only assume it was a bulk gift idea for company employees.
I hope you have a peaceful, stress-free, holiday season even if the buying season is not as beneficial as you’d hoped.
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