Testing the Waters: My First Month with Amazon Merch Program
👋 Hey there! It's December, and I'm excited to share my experience with the Amazon Merch program. As someone who has made a full-time income from the Amazon influencer program, I'm always looking for new opportunities to grow my business. In this article, I'll be sharing my results from my first full month with the Amazon Merch program, including how much money I made and what I learned along the way.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is the Amazon Merch Program?
- My Experience with the Amazon Merch Program
- Tier System and Product Limitations
- Sales and Royalties
- Potential for Growth
- Tips for Success
- Pros and Cons of the Amazon Merch Program
- Conclusion
- Resources
What is the Amazon Merch Program?
Before diving into my experience, let's briefly discuss what the Amazon Merch program is. In a nutshell, it's a print-on-demand program that allows you to create and sell custom t-shirts, hoodies, and other products on Amazon. You upload your designs, and Amazon takes care of the rest, including printing, shipping, and customer service.
My Experience with the Amazon Merch Program
I signed up for the Amazon Merch program in October 2023, but I didn't start actively using it until November. In my first month, I was still stuck in tier 10, which meant I could only have 10 total products. I uploaded 10 different designs on 10 different standard t-shirts, which gave me a total of 48 products (Amazon can take those 10 designs and put them on other products if they want to).
In November, I didn't add any new designs, but I was able to sell 12 t-shirts organically. I didn't do any promotions or advertising, and I didn't change the listings. I simply let the Amazon machine do its thing, and I was pleasantly surprised by the results.
Tier System and Product Limitations
One of the biggest challenges with the Amazon Merch program is the tier system and product limitations. As a new seller, you start in tier 10, which means you can only have 10 total products. You can upload one design and spread that design amongst 10 products, or you can upload 10 different designs each with only one product.
The tier system is based on your sales and performance, and as you sell more products, you move up to higher tiers. The higher the tier, the more products you can have live at any given time. This can be frustrating for new sellers who want to upload more designs and products but are limited by the tier system.
Sales and Royalties
In my first month, I was able to sell 12 t-shirts, which earned me $682 in royalties. I'm selling my t-shirts at around $21.99, which gives me a decent profit margin of around $6 per t-shirt. If I projected that out to a yearly income, I would have created an $830,186 per year business.
It's important to note that the ways to make money from the Amazon Merch program are quantity and product research. You need to have lots of designs to find the ones that are really working and to be able to make consistent money. Product research is also valuable, as it can help you find the niches that are working well for you.
Potential for Growth
While my first month with the Amazon Merch program was promising, there is still a lot of room for growth. As I mentioned earlier, the tier system and product limitations can be frustrating, but I'm hopeful that as I sell more products, I'll be able to move up to higher tiers and upload more designs.
I also believe that product research and having lots of designs are key to success with the Amazon Merch program. I use Merchantformer, a paid program that helps me find the niches that are working well for me. I also have a newsletter where I share what niches are working well for me, so if you're interested, be sure to sign up.
Tips for Success
Based on my experience, here are some tips for success with the Amazon Merch program:
- Upload lots of designs to find the ones that are working well for you
- Use product research tools like Merchantformer to find profitable niches
- Be patient and persistent – success with the Amazon Merch program takes time and effort
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different designs and products
- Keep an eye on your sales and performance to track your progress
Pros and Cons of the Amazon Merch Program
Like any business opportunity, the Amazon Merch program has its pros and cons. Here are a few to consider:
Pros
- Low startup costs – you don't need to invest in inventory or equipment
- Print-on-demand – Amazon takes care of printing, shipping, and customer service
- Passive income – once you upload your designs, you can earn royalties without much effort
- Potential for growth – as you sell more products, you can move up to higher tiers and upload more designs
Cons
- Tier system and product limitations – as a new seller, you're limited by the tier system and can only have a certain number of products live at any given time
- Saturation – print-on-demand has been around for a while, and the market may be saturated with similar designs
- Competition – there are likely many other sellers with similar designs, which can make it challenging to stand out
Conclusion
Overall, my first month with the Amazon Merch program was promising. While there are certainly challenges and limitations, I believe that with patience, persistence, and a lot of designs, it's possible to create a successful business with the Amazon Merch program. If you're interested in trying it out, be sure to do your research, experiment with different designs and products, and keep an eye on your sales and performance.
Resources
- Merchantformer – a paid program that helps with product research
- My newsletter – sign up to learn what niches are working well for me
FAQ
Q: How much does it cost to join the Amazon Merch program?
A: It's free to join the Amazon Merch program, but you'll need to apply and be approved before you can start selling.
Q: How many designs can I upload to the Amazon Merch program?
A: As a new seller, you start in tier 10, which means you can only have 10 total products. You can upload one design and spread that design amongst 10 products, or you can upload 10 different designs each with only one product.
Q: How much money can I make with the Amazon Merch program?
A: Your earnings with the Amazon Merch program will depend on how many products you sell and how much you're earning in royalties per product. It's possible to make a full-time income with the Amazon Merch program, but it takes time and effort to get there.
Q: Can I sell products other than t-shirts on the Amazon Merch program?
A: Yes, you can sell a variety of products on the Amazon Merch program, including hoodies, sweatshirts, and more.
Q: How long does it take to move up to higher tiers in the Amazon Merch program?
A: The time it takes to move up to higher tiers in the Amazon Merch program depends on your sales and performance. It can take several months or longer to move up to higher tiers.
