How to Run a Successful CafePress Shop (and make lots of money!)
by 622 people |
Ranked #12 in Business, #890 overall
CafePress is THE online place to become your very own entrepreneur quickly and easily. All you need is a computer, Internet connection, and a graphics program, and you are on your way to making major money!
Get all the CafePress goodness here with help on setting up your store, managing it, and marketing it. Please click on the RIGHT-most star above to rank this lens as a 5 (if you love it) and leave a message for me below!
If you are not yet a CafePress shopkeeper and would like to become one, visit CafePress.com to get started. Basic shops are free and premium shops offer a two-week free trial!
New to CafePress? Still undecided about opening a shop?
If you're brand new to CafePress (welcome!) or are unsure whether or not to open a shop, try these links for more information on the bare-boned basics of shopkeeping.
- Cool CafePress Stuff
- A great lens that explains the details of the CafePress printing system, pricing methods, affiliate program, and other neat tools.
- Affiliate Program Info from Vox Fox
- A great beginners tutorial on getting started with the affilate program.
- CafePress.com
- Do I have you convinced yet? Visit CafePress.com TODAY to get started!
Things you HAVE to read if you want to be a successful shopkeeper
There are some fabulous resources online that allow shopkeepers to learn more about running successful shops. These are the best of the best of the best.
- Making Money on CafePress
- I was asked by Work.com to write an expert article on using CafePress.com to make money. Here you'll find the top five tips for making your CafePress shop a success, along with other resources and links.
- Your shop isn't making sales?
- ZapGraphix is my hero for posting this top 12 list of what's wrong with your shop and how to make it wonderful.
- CafePress Thotz
- Great blog by Gandalf Parker on preparing the SEO and management side of your CafePress shop for business.
Not sure what to design?
Even the best shopkeepers can easily fall into a rut about what to create new images and themes about! Here are some ideas to jog your creativity and get those new designs out there!
- What interests you? Are you into snowboarding? Yoga? Bottle cap collections? No matter how obscure, CafePress has proven that niche markets sell, and they sell well! Find something you really like and create the dream shop for others who really like it. For an example, visit CurlingRox.com. Kate has taken a niche sport and created the Curler's Shopping Paradise.
- What's current? What's new? What's exciting? What's awful? What's strange? News sells, and funny news sells even better. From politics to romance to technology, keep track of what's going on with my Where's the Buzz lens. You'll find all sorts of weird and wacky stuff here - great CafePress resource!
- What events are coming up? For special events you'll want to create merchandise 2-3 months ahead of time, at the least. Just do a search on Google for "August holidays" or "February events" to find great information on unique holidays and events to design merchandise around.
- What is really really REALLY strange? Lately on CafePress, MATH related shirts have been selling like wild. Find something obscure and a little goofy to develop.
- What can you do better? Some things are done to death, such as Anti-Bush merchandise. Just because it's done to death doesn't mean you can't do better. If you have a creative new spin on an old topic, refresh our senses with it!
New News and Announcements!
CafePress has an awesome support team that is working hard to help you make more money! The following updates are new features from the CafePress Community, where you can network and get valuable product and marketing info.
- CafePress Connect - San Francisco, 2006
- Sign up for the first CafePress User's Conference, taking place for two days in October 2006 in San Francisco, CA.
- Upcoming Chats and Workshops
- Announcements for live chat opportunities where you can learn more about marketing your shop. Also includes transcripts of past chats.
- New Shipping Rates
- New shipping rates offer a $5 flat fee for the first five items!
How to get the most out of CafePress
Running a shop is simple. Being successful takes some work. To get the most out of your investment, take advantage of the options and tools CafePress offers.
- UPGRADE!! Premium shops make more money by FAR. Not only do you have a ton more options, you can create a wonderfully organized and visually appealing site for your visitors. You have an option to pay the (very small) shopkeeper's fee each month from your CafeCash, so there are no excuses for not being able to afford it!
- Use teasers and descriptions generously. So many people fail to use descriptions on their products and product galleries. These descriptions, correctly developed, can add tremendous value to your site by generating additional SEO (search engine optimization). Many of my products are found using phrases and keywords picked up by Google.
- Send newsletters. On your shop pages visitors can sign up to receive your newsletter (unless you've disabled this feature). This is a great way to notify interested people of your new products, new services, and keep them coming back for more. Too few shopkeepers take advantage of this opportunity!
- Participate in CafePress chats. At least once a week, the hard-working people at CafePress hold a group chat about a topic you're interested in. Visit the Chat Room for more details on dates and times.
- Templates are your friend. I see SOOOO many items on CafePress with images that aren't designed for the product shape, style, or color. The Product Image Templates will help you create great images that work well on your products. Remember, people don't want to buy things that don't look good!
- Use premium pricing. Many new shopkeepers worry that high pricing will deter shoppers but nearly every shopkeeper that has raised their prices will tell you that the higher prices have brought more customers. People want to purchase a high-value product, and high prices are often associated with high values. High and premium priced products sell the best on CafePress.
- Pick and choose your products. Some images and themes are definitely made for t-shirts. It's hard to imagine anyone buying a clock or tile box with many of the popular t-shirt phrases on it. This being true, be choosy about what you offer in your shop. If a product doesn't fit the image, don't make it available.
- Use ALL the products offered. Don't forget about the teddy bears, license plate frames, and BBQ aprons! Each can be very useful to customers and high sellers if you design images appropriately.
- Offer personalization. While anyone can create their own image and make something with it on CafePress, many shoppers just don't want to spend the time doing this. When you offer personalization for your products, you open your store to a new level of paying customers.
- Create "other" pages. By creating an extensive HTML section in the Section Description (Landing Page Text or HTML), you can create personalized pages to advertise your affiliate program, offering of personalization, links to other sites you like, etc. This helps you create an even more amazing shopping experience for your customers.
Popular Cafepress shirts and gifts
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Kimberly's Most Successful CafePress Shops
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Don't think you can really make a living off CafePress? I'll tell you a secret: even though I tell everyone I'm a writer, most of my income is from a passive stream of sales on CafePress. Learn what sells by taking a peek at the items below, an...
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Rainbow Artist Gifts, Housewares, and Apparel
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It's a great time to show off your crafty side with fun rainbow artist shirts and housewares!
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Due in December Maternity Shirts and Gifts
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Do you have a baby coming in December? Show off that tummy with a fun, "Due in December" shirt or a December birthstone gift.
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Blood Donor Shirts and Gifts
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In 2005 the American Red Cross processed 6.3 million blood donations from 3.8 million volunteer donors. Say thank you to a blood donor, or show off your lifesaving donation by purchasing a blood donor shirt or gift from the 911 Power! CafePress...
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Breast Cancer Awareness Shirts
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and now you can support the ones you love with breast cancer awareness shirts and gifts. The Breast Cancer 101 shop at CafePress has lots of great designs that are perfect for gifts, organized walks and...
Networking Sites
Networking isn't the same as marketing, so be careful if you're visiting these sites for the first time. Networking involves getting to know people who can help you expand your business, not blatantly sending them ads. Be sure to read all the rules on each of these sites before posting.
- Ryze.com
- Originally used by "white-collar" networkers, Ryze is one of the most user-friendly networking sites and has an extensive membership of stay-at-home moms, work-from-home entrepreneurs, and creative spirits.
- MySpace.com
- MySpace has recently become VERY popular for CafePress designers and shopkeepers. For more information on creating and marketing a profile page, visit Promote your CafePress Shop on MySpace.
- Success with CafePress
- The Success with CafePress group on MySpace covers the business and marketing end of running a shop. Join us for conversation on graphics, navigation, promotion, and more ideas.
- CafePress Community Forums
- Networking with other shopkeepers can sometimes seem like preaching to the choir, but there are great opportunities to learn a lot about other shopkeepers' experiences, get affiliate links, create partnerships, and get ideas from others!
Contests and directories
Many new t-shirt contest sites and website directories have popped up that cater to CafePress shops. Submit yours and enjoy a little extra traffic.
- CafeTalent
- CafeTalent has quickly expanded from a small directory to a site full of articles, promotion tools, and networking features.
- T-Shirts Countdown Chart
- A voting site for the top 100 t-shirt designs in several categories.
- T-Shirt Rank
- Another voting site for t-shirts.
- Top 100 CafePress Stores
- Find the top 100 CafePress stores on this voting site.
- Froogle
- Froogle is Google's shopping search feature and you sure don't want to pass up an opportunity to be listed there, for free!! Creating a database takes a little work but is well worth it.
Become a recognized expert
Marketing isn't just about pretty ads anymore - it's about becoming recognized as an expert at what you do. By sharing information you can quickly get your store's name out and generate some exciting PR.
- Squidoo.com
- Create your own CafePress lens here at Squidoo.com. You can share information about your products, post products to sell, and even post your blog feed.
- Blogger.com
- Whether you use Blogger or another blogging tool, posting new images and gift-giving reminders using your blog is a quick, easy, and FREE way to create a buzz about your goods.
- MySpace.com
- Through the personal page, blog feature, and groups, you can share a LOT of news with a LOT of people very quickly.
- Article City
- Do you do weddings? Write a quick article about giving tile boxes as gifts for the wedding party and BOOM, you're an instant expert. For more article sites search for submit article on Google.
Do you have a little squid?
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Tees and Gifts for Baby Squids
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Mommy and daddy love Squidoo, but don't forget about the kids! These fun shirts, bibs, and hoodies for toddler and tykes are great gifts for the Squidoo lover's kids. Click on any design to see more styles at CafePress.com.
Where else can you sell CafePress merchandise?
With the great ordering and shipping features that CafePress offers, you don't have to limit yourself to your CafePress branded shop.
- CP Shop
- A third-party tool that allows you to create your own website using your CafePress products. Customers go to the CafePress site only when they check out.
- Froogle
- This online shopping directory hosted by Google has created a new shopping experience for customers all over the globe. Don't miss out on the chance to be listed here for FREE.
- eBay.com
- Whether you choose the auctions method or stores, eBay can bring a lot of visitors and customers to your business. Purchase items in bulk and ship them yourself or drop ship them from CafePress by entering the products as a gift order.
*** Some notes about eBay Stores
I set up an eBay store shortly after a CafePress chat about using eBay to sell more products. Since that time, just a month ago, their listing fees have gone up five-fold and they'll be taking 10%+ of what you sell your products for. I've deleted my store since this new pricing scheme will no longer make it possible for me to provide a good deal to my customers. Please be sure to read all eBay information so you can make your own choices.
Will you become rich? The Magic 8 Ball says...
Every shopkeeper has different goals for their shops. Some are in it as a hobby or way to express themselves, and some have made it their full-time career.
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Use Squidoo to promote your Shop
Squidoo offers great modules that will help you create a lens that showcases the best of your store. For the best results, and to get listed in CafePress's directory of related lenses, visit the CafePress HQ on Squidoo and register for your lens through their links. (Otherwise you won't be on their list of top shops lenses!)
Below are three examples of the CafePress modules you can use to promote your shop. One allows you to choose tags and CafePress will pick images, another allows you to promote specific products, and the third promotes random things from your shop.
Below are three examples of the CafePress modules you can use to promote your shop. One allows you to choose tags and CafePress will pick images, another allows you to promote specific products, and the third promotes random things from your shop.
Squidoo's CafePress module will pick images based on your tags
This is the CafePress module I've created with the tag "hockey."
Squidoo's CafePress module also lets you pick your favorite products.
The below products are some favorites from my store. You can add a description when you create the module.
"Proud to be an American" Tote Bag
Price: 17.99 
Squidoo's CafePress module will also promote your shop
Enter your shop name and CafePress will show items from your store. (The module is being feisty today, so check back soon to see if it's working!)
"Real men wear pink" breast cancer Long Sleeve T-S
Real men wear pink - breast cancer supporters do anyway. Support your loved one with this pocket-logo gear.
Price: 24.99
"(Breast) Cancer is a thing of my past" Women's Tr
Let everyone know that breast cancer is a thing of your past! Be a proud breast cancer survivor with these comfy shirts, great for lounging or wearing out on the town. Throw a party to celebrate!
Price: 54.99
Host Elsewhere and Expand your CafePower
Several new tools are available that allow you to host your CafePress shop on a different domain or web hosting service. The benefit of doing this is that you can double your SEO efforts and create a store with more personalized branding.
- CP Shop
- Marty's cpshop is an easy-to-install perl program that allows you to fully integrate CafePress store pages into your site. It is fully compatible with CafePress' most recent design change, and easily updates for future changes.
- Not One Bit
- A PHP script that allows you to download your CafePress merchandise to your website.
More Tips and Techniques
Many CafePress shopkeepers have generously shared their own tips for success. Hear what they have to say.
- How to make money with CafePress
- An article from Steam Crow Press on how to make money using CafePress.
More of my helpful Cafepress lenses
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CafePress Product Setup Tips
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Work.com invited me to write an expert article on making money using CafePress, and it is currently featured as one of the most popular and most helpful articles! Read the entire article and find out more about making money using one of the...
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Promote your CafePress Shop on MySpace
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With millions of people on MySpace, it's no wonder why any ambitious CafePress shop owner would want the opportunity to market their store here. Find information about setting up your account, customizing your page, using your blog wisely, and...
Before you go...
I bet you know something cool about MySpace too. Or Facebook, or Hi5, how to plant a flower garden. (I have two black thumbs.) Whatever it is, you can create your own Squidoo lens to talk about it. It's easy, free, AND you can earn money for yourself or charity. Get started today!
Thinking about joining?
Insert "elegantmischief" as the referral store ID. Many thanks!
What questions do you have?
What can I help you learn to make your CafePress shop a success? Be sure I can contact you from your lens to answer the question!
(Questions and kudos only. Spam will get deleted.)
submit
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Reply
- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Dec 9, 2009 @ 6:30 pm
- I would like to start a CafePress shop or a Zazzle store, but time is a factor. For now I'll just keep building Squidoo lenses.
Thanks for sharing
Lizzy
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- thillukka thillukka Dec 5, 2009 @ 11:10 pm
- I recently started a CafePress shop, but haven't had much luck with it, so I created a lens on it. Hopefully it will help! Your suggestions have also helped me out.
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- DebtFree4all DebtFree4all Dec 4, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
- Thank you so much for this page. Cheers.
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- Luis2u4u Luis2u4u Sep 13, 2009 @ 10:14 am
- Good to know! Nice lens!
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- beachbum_gabby beachbum_gabby Sep 9, 2009 @ 3:43 am
- I've heard about this and the Zazzle thing, but never tried them both. Maybe I should now, and find out which one is better.. :)
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- pinkpig pinkpig Aug 26, 2009 @ 2:26 am
- Great tips here -5 stars and favoured
-boy do I need the advice....My cafepress shop is costing me money right now!..not good
Check it out if you do have a mo-
www.cafperess.com/pinkpigdesign
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- rzukic rzukic Aug 26, 2009 @ 1:38 am
- This is all new for me but very interesting and will check this out!
Thank You.
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- clemency clemency Jul 31, 2009 @ 3:48 am
- Great lens. Thanks for the info.
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- BunnyBoiler BunnyBoiler Jul 19, 2009 @ 11:26 pm
- There's some great stuff here :) Nice Job Kimberly! I caught the CP bug a few years back, and the path to success is certainly a tricky one, and it's easy to get discouraged and derailed...very nice to have an oasis here and there chock full of good advice, like this lens...
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- lil_ana_b2 lil_ana_b2 Jul 13, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
- this is a wonderful lens! i rated it 5 stars of course!
- Load More
Your CafePress Shopkeeper Questions Answered
Did you ask a question about how to effectively run a CafePress shop? Check back soon for the answer, here.
If you have a question, check out the guestbook above.
1
Where can I get images?
I don't recommend getting/buying images, only desi more...5 points
2
What graphics program do I use?
I use Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. Costs $80-100 depen more...3 points
3
What product should I try first?
I recommend designing shirts first, just because y more...2 points
4
What if I want to use a sports team or other logo?
Easy. Don't. That goes for movie quotes and anyt more...2 points
5
How do I know what's already been created on Cafepress?
Do a search for it in the Cafepress marketplace. more...2 points
by KimberlyDawnWells
I'm Squidoo's Community Organizer, which means my focus is on building the community: bringing in new lensmasters, developing...
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