Join eRank in welcoming today’s guest blogger: Jay De Souza from Jay’s Way!
Q4 may not officially arrive for another several weeks, but the time to get serious is right now. The most profitable sellers don’t leave preparation until October. Instead, they use summer to tighten up their designs, dial in their listings, and secure their supply chains (aka “print providers” in the print-on-demand world).
Go live before Q4. This isn’t about “getting ready” – it’s about being ready.
Contents
- Mindset: Stop Overthinking, Start Moving
- Systems: “Have Backups for Your Backups” ~Jay
- Listings: Prep Them Now, Not During the Rush
- Mindset + Systems = Less Stress, More Sales
- Five More Ways to Get Ahead Before Q4
- Final Word
1. Mindset: Stop Overthinking, Start Moving
If you wait until you “feel” ready, you’ll still be sitting here in November wishing you had started sooner. The sellers who win Q4 have one thing in common: they push forward even when things aren’t perfect.
Self-doubt is normal, but letting it control your decisions is a sales-killer. You don’t need to know every single step to start. You just need to start, then improve as you go.
2. Systems: “Have Backups for Your Backups” ~Jay
Never depend on a single print provider. If they run out of stock or get overwhelmed in December, your sales grind to a halt.
Pick products that multiple providers carry, like the Gildan 64000 or Comfort Colors 1717 t-shirts. That way, if Printer A runs into problems, Printer B is ready to go.
Action steps:
- Look at your top three to five best sellers.
- Make sure they’re available from at least two different providers.
- Fulfill some orders with the “other guy” now so you know both printers meet your quality and shipping expectations. Better to get crappy customer feedback now, rather than smack-dab in the middle of November and having sales drop off a bit in peak season. If you have the cash on hand, order a sample for yourself just to compare with your regular printer.
3. Listings: Prep Them Now, Not During the Rush
Don’t wait until the holiday chaos to tweak your listings. Use the quieter months to:
- Update your mockups on non-selling listings so they showcase your designs better.
- Check your keywords and tags for relevance. Is there anything seasonal you need to swap out?
- Make sure your titles clearly describe the product and appeal to your ideal customers.
Pro tip: Streamline your offerings. The sizes on the ends of the spectrum tend to go out-of-stock first, so focus on the core sizes that are the most in-demand and you won’t run out as quickly, if at all. So, if there are 27 colours and sizes from XXS all the way up to 6XL, cut it back to Small thru 3XL (4XL if you know there’s ample supply). And stick to four to seven colours, maximum. This is niche and customer-dependent, but my preferred colours for tees are Black, Dark Heather, Navy, Heather Navy, Military Green, and sometimes White (only if the design looks good on it). However, if your customers love Sand sweatshirts, make sure that’s what you’re offering. Just don’t offer alllllll the colour options, because I guarantee you that 1) decision fatigue (aka “analysis paralysis” or “information overload”) is a real thing, so make it as easy as possible for the customer to make a decision before they get overwhelmed and click away, and 2) the design won’t look good on all of them anyway.
This is also the perfect time to start adding giftable designs that fit your niche. You’re building a base of products that will keep selling year-round, not just in December. Personalization definitely works if you can implement it into a design that is already proven to sell.
Reminder: you’re not selling “a t-shirt” or “a candle.” The product itself is secondary. You’re selling the emotion someone feels when they open the gift. You know, that smirk that turns into a full-on grin when they lift the shirt out of the package for the first time. And you’re also selling the reaction of the other people in the room when the gift recipient holds it up and turns it to show everyone else. A gift is a winner if Mom or the partner gets the reaction they want from their “Favourite Son” or “Number 1 Husband” annnnnd everyone else in the room.
4. Mindset + Systems = Less Stress, More Sales
When your mindset is focused and your systems are solid, you stop scrambling and start running your shop with confidence so you’re not waking up in December wondering what to do next. You already have a plan and the tools in place to make it happen.
The work you put in now acts like insurance. It reduces last-minute problems, keeps orders moving smoothly, and frees up your energy for the things that actually grow your shop, like customer service and adding new designs.
Preparation isn’t just about avoiding stress – it’s about creating the space to take advantage of opportunities. When other sellers are overwhelmed, you’ll be the one fulfilling orders on time, keeping your customers happy, and attracting repeat buyers who trust you to deliver.
5. Five More Ways to Get Ahead Before Q4
- Batch your design work. Set aside a few focused sessions to create multiple designs in one go. It’s easier to stay in the creative flow and you’ll have a bank of listings ready to drop without scrambling.
- Tighten your shop branding. Make sure your banner, shop icon, and “About” section feel cohesive. Consistent visuals help customers remember you, which matters when gift shopping.
- Test your processing times. Adjust your listed processing times to reflect real-world turnaround. Under-promising and over-delivering beats the other way around, especially when shoppers are on a deadline.
- Review your shop policies. Keep them clear, beginner-friendly, and up to date. Confusing or outdated policies can scare off last-minute buyers.
- Schedule your marketing. Plan your social posts, email blasts, or ads now. Q4 is busy enough without trying to think up a caption while double-checking orders at midnight.
Final Word
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
— Benjamin Franklin
Don’t let that be your shop. Use the time you have now to tighten every screw. So, when Q4 chaos hits, you’re the one delivering fast, collecting 5-star reviews, and earning repeat buyers for next year.
Who the heck is Jay? He’s a graphic designer turned print-on-demand coach with 23 years of experience and a top 0.5% Etsy seller since 2013. He has built multiple six-figure shops and teaches others how to create designs that actually sell without the fluff. Jay currently lives on an island with sandy roads and no cars off the coast of Belize. He lives with his wife and their Great Dane. Jay strives to help people break free from toxic routines and build real freedom.
Learn more about Jay’s print-on-demand coaching group here
