Fancie's Heart

You shop name *	Fancie's Heart
What PODs do you use *	Cafepress Zazzle
How long have you been a POD shopkeeper? *	6 months-1 year
What is the best advice you would give to someone who is new to PODs? *
Consider the first few months to be your college faze (but at least it is not as expensive, lol). It may take a little bit to earn an income, but if you keep working at it, it will come. The longer you work on your POD stuff, the quicker you get, and the better your designs will be. It takes a bit to get noticed, but each sale becomes a little pick me up and a motivation to do more. A great thing to do after you get your first sale is to get or print a small map of the world, and every time you get a sale put a sticker in the location of where the sale came from. I find it motivating to see where my art work is sprinkled at all over the world. Also Don't give up, but don't forget to take breaks if you need to.
In an average week how many hours do you put into designing, adding, promoting and all other parts of your POD business? *	30-40 hours
Pick a fun question to answer - *	If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?
Answers to the chosen question -
Pay off my house and my debt and buy a huge farm so I can have chickens, ponies and horses and tons of other animals (and hire someone to help take care of them. Maybe start a fish farm, I breed bettas now, I wouldn't mind doing it on a larger scale. or grow plants in greenhouses to sell to stores around here. I start my own plants most years, and enjoy it, so I think that might be fun as well. Maybe do some auctions and buy stuff to sell online. I always wanted to do that,, but never had the "start up" funds. I would also have my husband start something he would want to do, whatever that would be. Maybe buy a camping type place. I would put a lot away as an investment, I would love it if my kids could have a trust. I would still do the zazzle thing cause it is fun.
What art programs do you use? *	Photoshop (PS)
Your Favorite design on Zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/dog_and_cat_embrace_in_a_heart_shaped_yin_yang_keychain-146329782852223340
What is your newest design? *	http://www.zazzle.com/squite_beauty_is_one_of_a_kind_with_snowflakes_notebook-130409244590550019

Flissitations

You shop name *	Flissitations
What PODs do you use *	Zazzle PAOM OArtee Other
How long have you been a POD shopkeeper? *	1-3 years
What is the best advice you would give to someone who is new to PODs? *
For anyone just starting up on POD (Product On Demand) stores I would firstly and foremost say don't do it if you want to get rich quick or even get rich slowly. However if you love designing and are prepared to put in a lot of hard work, not just designing but researching, promoting and if your like me learning new techniques etc; then it's a fabulous way to earn yourself enough to pay a few bills, have a few treats and feel good about people appreciating your designs. There is plenty of how to information on the Zazzzle help centre and I would advise you make the most of this along with the Zazzle forum where most people are very friendly and happy to help if you need advise on anything. Some advise which I wish I had had when I first started was be organized, keeping records of what designs you have used on what products for example. When I started out I never dreamt that I would make so many designs and have so many products to sell and now I find it hard to remember what designs I have put on what products.
In an average week how many hours do you put into designing, adding, promoting and all other parts of your POD business? *	15-30 hours
Pick a fun question to answer - *	Where do you get inspired the most?
Answers to the chosen question -
What inspires me? well I would like to tell you that I get inspired from country walks, mother nature, travel and the like. However if I am truthful I get inspiration from trawling internet sites like Pinterest and following the latest fashions and styles in bricks and mortar shops. When I see pictures/graphics on products I like, I don't copy them because that would feel like steeling but I do use them as a base and usually come up with something completely different. I love to look at vintage and retro designs these and whimsical cute kids stuff inspire me most of all and I am sure that anyone who visits my store will probably see this straight away. I love it when I come up with a new design, each time I think that this one is the best I have ever done; its bound to be a seller. In reality the ones that I am not that pleased with tend to be the ones that sell, there is just no accounting for taste.
What art programs do you use? *	Other
Your Favorite design on Zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/cute_colorful_family_of_russian_dolls_fabric-256403916633568001
What is your newest design? *	http://www.zazzle.com/cute_girls_polka_dot_shoes_theme_personalized_fabric-256711044998760024

Amanda Rain

Your name or shop name as you wish to be identified *	Amanda Rain
How much time do you work on your shops per week on a normal week *	30-40 hours
In a normal week do you work on your shop *	3-4 days
when I work: *	I have a set amount of time but i am flexible and sometimes work less or more
choose which statement is closest to how you feel *	I just work on what is in front of me and what i feel like doing that day with no set goal to accomplish it
your 1st tip to getting work done and/or staying organized *
Concentrate on one thing only at a time until you have completed it . try not to get side tracked , once you do it is too hard to go back and pick up where you left off... Spend one day a week promoting. Keep templates up to date ..Only add products that suit the products you want to sell. I think it is pointless add a design to every single product .. and do take the time to make sure things are not just slapped on . take some pride in your work. eventually you will shine though all the crap out there . Oh and I stopped trying to think what the customer wants or if anyone will like my stuff ,that is just more added stress. you don't need . I work for me . I enjoy it . and if someone buys it great . if they don't well it doesn't bother me . I
your 2nd tip to getting work done and/or staying organized
keep folders and designs organized. I now do all my shop and comp folder by year . Make sure you back it all up on an external.. . People say don't delete but I don't care I delete anything that is crap even old sections of designs I did years ago. It hasn't affected my ranking and I even went as far as pulling down a whole shop I had had for a few years and started from scratch.. It is now my best selling shop after 2 1/2 years . and was worth the effort ... try to update a few old sections a week if you can.. and ten tags or phrases is all you need so make sure they are effective. Did I mention coffee ? yes .. I can't work without it ... I used to make little work lists ,being an anal organizer.. but I always failed in completing them because I was like a bull in a china shop, which made me feel defeated . these days I am much more relaxed in my approach to my work. and the results show .
your 3rd tip to getting work done and/or staying organized
plenty of coffee. Take time out for you . After years of slogging away up to 14 or more hours a day .I finally just one day stopped . now I work in the mornings and got to the beach in the afternoon and cook a nice meal . after that I rarely feel like working again .and after a good nights sleep I get more done in 5 hours the next morning than I used to get done in a whole day .. and seriously unless you have a facebook business page . don't waste your time posting products in groups . no one looks at them and if they do well they are your competitors your time could be utilized much more efficiently .. . in your spare time try to learn . photoshop and get some more skills or develop your own style and perfect it .
A link to 1 product in one of your shops on zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/aum_wheel_throw_pillow-189573500061529972
A link to 1 product in one of your shops on zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/st_georges_basin_3_autumn_keepsake_boxes-256790333228021740

Auntie Shoe

Your name or shop name as you wish to be identified *	Auntie Shoe
How much time do you work on your shops per week on a normal week *	40-60 hours
In a normal week do you work on your shop *	7 days
when I work: *	I have a set amount of things to accompish each day that should take roughly the same amount of time, so sometimes it is more or less
choose which statement is closest to how you feel *	I never have enough time to complete my goals each week
your 1st tip to getting work done and/or staying organized *
Being informed is a big part of your new career. Each POD has different rules and ways of doing things. Read your emails from the PODs FIRST. An urgent change from any POD, can change your work plans for the day. If the urgent item takes several hours for you to complete, it is better to have that information at the beginning of the day and not the end. It will help you plan your work time for the day. The same holds true for forums, Facebook threads, Google hangouts, etc. Skim it at the beginning of the day to help plan your time. Be careful, though, forums and Facebook and other social media can be, if not used effectively, become enormous time wasters. Be sure to balance any socializing you do with actual productive work.
your 2nd tip to getting work done and/or staying organized
Use folders on your computer with reckless abandon. As your business grows, so will your designs. Some PODs will require different file formats than others. You will.have color or text variations of some designs. To avoid where-the-heck-is-that-itis, organize your designs. You can do this by POD, design, colors, whatever you want. I'm my case, organization is simple. Most of my designs are flag oriented. One folder for each country. Then, inside the country's folder, one for each design. In each design folder you can organize by POD, text colors, etc. It is vital that you organize in some way, otherwise you will spend endless hours wasting time looking for the item you need in order to do your work. So, please be sure you have all your images in a way that they can easily be found when you need them. It might just save your hair from being pulled out in frustration.
A link to 1 product in one of your shops on zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/italy_flag_and_word_wrist_watches-256466035651507556
A link to 1 product in one of your shops on zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/italy_flag_and_word_wrist_watches-256466035651507556

Flissitations

Your name or shop name as you wish to be identified *	Flissitations
How much time do you work on your shops per week on a normal week *	20-30 hours
In a normal week do you work on your shop *	5-6 days
when I work: *	I work as short or long as i am i have that day
choose which statement is closest to how you feel *	I just work on what is in front of me and what i feel like doing that day with no set goal to accomplish it
your 1st tip to getting work done and/or staying organized *
Something I always try to do is to set things to repost from one single post. For example: - I use Polyvore a lot to promote my products in nice show sets and when I do them I choose post to blogs, in Tumblr, Blogger, WordPress and my Facebook pages. I also come back to them on a regular basis and tweet them for more coverage. In Polyvore you can also make collections of your products, I have a collection of throw pillows, cute stuff for kids, wedding invitations and many others which I regularly update with new products/designs These collections can be used any time to show off your collected products on any of your blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Polyvore is just one of many ways you can get your products seen over a wide area without spending too much time away from the thing the love most, designing!
A link to 1 product in one of your shops on zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/mid_century_modern_floral_polka_dot_mix_design_pillow-189643055265656551
A link to 1 product in one of your shops on zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/magical_mermaid_sea_creatures_picture_personalized_poster-228466642059977916

Fancie's Heart

Your name or shop name as you wish to be identified *	Fancie's Heart
How much time do you work on your shops per week on a normal week *	30-40 hours
In a normal week do you work on your shop *	3-4 days
when I work: *	I have a set amount of time but i am flexible and sometimes work less or more
choose which statement is closest to how you feel *	I just work on what is in front of me and what i feel like doing that day with no set goal to accomplish it
your 1st tip to getting work done and/or staying organized *
For getting work done first I would suggest to set a routine. Have a certain time to work on the days you have available. I take my kids to school, and when I get home I turn on my morning radio show and start plugging away until it's time to pick them up. I do this most days. The second would be simply just to start. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started, but once you do that first whatever it gets easier to stay going. kinda like riding a bike. But don't forget to take breaks! Burn out can be your worst enemy. I like to listen to ted talks in the background while I work to give me that extra push and motivation to keep going.
your 2nd tip to getting work done and/or staying organized
I use excel for most of my organization. I also have a calendar to give me an idea of what the week will be like (the kid's days off effect my work and such) and a binder to keep a few odds and end things that are not in the computer. I have a profit sheet in excel in which I put in my sales each day, and will give me an estimate as to what I might be getting paid at the end of the month. I also have a list of my designs which tells me where I am at when it comes to putting designs up, when they where made, when they where last updated, the title, description, keywords and when those where last updated. I also put any links I may have to it's public domain resource if I happened to use one for the design.
A link to 1 product in one of your shops on zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/common_loon_swims_in_a_northern_lake_in_winter_manualwwfleeceblanket-256229883095157485
A link to 1 product in one of your shops on zazzle *	http://www.zazzle.com/a_cute_brown_otter_swimming_in_a_clear_blue_pool_manualwwfleeceblanket-256651690173489836

Tinker Place

You name or Shopid *	Tinker Place
Which PODs do you work with? (in no particular order *	cafepress zazzle 3drose spreadshirt redbubble
How long have you been working with PODs? *	8+years
What is the best thing about working with PODs *	Getting paid first and foremost is the reason I do this. I like seeing the results, love it when a art piece comes out better than I thought. Apprecate the help from friends I have come to know through working with these POD's. I think it is a great opportunity for people who are stay at home moms, disabeled, even young adults learning how to make it in business today. It can be a start or a finish to your career or even a part time job. If its not fun for me it is not worth it, its still fun so I will stick around for a bit more. Thanks
How many hours do you spend on your POD(s) - including designing, adding & promoting - on average *	40-50 hours per week
what would you say to another POD artist who is struggling and in need of motivation? *
If you are expecting instant gratification don't waste your time. It can take years to start making money that is notible. With the thousands of new stores and artists you have to find something people want and do it better than anyone else. Take your time and do not add a design to everything just because you can. Pick what fits your design the best. Check every designs for clarity by blowing it up to the actual size. Be patient and read whatever you can about those who make it. Check out their stores and learn by them , be polite and reciprocate with blogs, networks promoting others. It is a way to get your work out there, and meet great people. Learn as much as you can about promoting your work as said previously, the market is huge nowadays with these kinds of stores.. Thanks for the opportunity to share me experiences with you. Tink JMHO
Do you have any formal training or education in POD related fields? *	Yes, Formal - Graphic Arts Yes, Formal - Art Yes, Formal - computer related services
If I won the super jackpot lottery tomorrow I would... *	close all my POD shops
My zazzle stores are:	http://www.zazzle.com/tinkerm http://www.zazzle.com/justincase http://www.zazzle.com/homeandbeyond http://www.zazzle.com/turnitover http://www.zazzle.com/spiritualgifts http://www.zazzle.com/lifeisabeach

Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

GetYerGoat UTeezSF

You name or Shopid *	GetYerGoat UTeezSF
Which PODs do you work with? (in no particular order *	cafepress zazzle other not listed
How long have you been working with PODs? *	8+years
What is the best thing about working with PODs *
The best thing about working with Print on Demand companies is Being able to work from home on my own time and offers me to be creative with no restrictions on what to create or what day to create them - in addition gives me satisfaction that someone somewhere enjoys my art enough to purchase it for themselves or as a gift. I can explore many topics and styles of art when in the creative mood to do so. I have been fortunate to sell enough product to completely support myself and my household, including caring for my animals. While I technically do not make even minimum wage, the freedom it provides me to work at home is a great trade off.
How many hours do you spend on your POD(s) - including designing, adding & promoting - on average *	60+hours per week
what would you say to another POD artist who is struggling and in need of motivation? *
Do not give up , find a niche to create designs for (something you are familiar with or have a passion for) and promote promote promote. There is money to be made and people are making a good income form PODs - but you need to have quality art and make sure when it is placed on products it fits well - use good key words and write good descriptions. Use your blogs, and any type of networking avenues you can use - twitter, facebook, squidoo, stumbleupon, pinterest - you get the idea. Make pages for your products at Facebook and talk about the topic. When you get a mental block on what to create, think about what holiday is coming up in the next few months and design for that. Usually artists design for Holidays seasons before they come due, to give them time to get spidered by google - so while you may not feel like Christmas in July, it is a pretty good time to design for it. Most of all do not get discouraged.
Do you have any formal training or education in POD related fields? *	No - I am self taught
If I won the super jackpot lottery tomorrow I would... *	Keep working my POD's for fun
My zazzle stores are:	http://www.zazzle.com/UTeezSF http://www.zazzle.com/GetYerGoat http://www.zazzle.com/JustCards http://www.zazzle.com/PetsandVets http://www.zazzle.com/LittleOneCoyote http://www.zazzle.com/Off_theWall http://www.zazzle.com/Generikah http://www.zazzle.com/Fantasy_Gifts http://www.zazzle.com/Ancestry http://www.zazzle.com/Custom_Clocks http://www.zazzle.com/KitchenGifts http://www.zazzle.com/BeMyValentine

Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

addmorecolor

You name or Shopid *	addmorecolor
Which PODs do you work with? (in no particular order *	zazzle 3drose
How long have you been working with PODs? *	2-3 years
What is the best thing about working with PODs *
I dont have to maintain inventory at home and get to make countless number of products right from my home. Working with POD means no need to worry about printers, delivery, suppliers and so on. That is all taken care of. You just design, get access to numerous products from wall art to flip flips and your designs can reach a wider market this way. POD is a great place to start for those of us who wont know the first idea how to get our images onto products for the market to enjoy. Not everyone knows how to get your images on an item at Target or IKEA...so this is a great start. You can sell your designs easily with the right POD, some time and effort.
How many hours do you spend on your POD(s) - including designing, adding & promoting - on average *	5-10 hours per week
what would you say to another POD artist who is struggling and in need of motivation? *
Keep going at it! POD is a numbers game..make more products, promote with a blog and social media..give it time..and it all would pan out. POD isnt a get rich quick thing. Just like all other businesses it takes time and effort to establish a brand, create awareness and eventually sell. You need to create a nice set of products to start off with. Have a nice website or blog to promote them on.. Share them with fellow POD artists and on your own fanpage. Promote via social media..Keep at it and there is light at the end of that tunnel. It does take time. But atleast you get to focus on designing and not worry if your suppliers are still there, delivering ot the customer, dealing with returns etc... our dear POD providers help us with all that. With POD you get to focus on design and marketing. Also the POD stores are established so their reputation can help your designs spread their wings as well.
Do you have any formal training or education in POD related fields? *	No - I am self taught
If I won the super jackpot lottery tomorrow I would... *	Keep working my POD's for fun
My zazzle stores are:	http://www.zazzle.com/addmorecolor

blessedwedding

You name or Shopid *	blessedwedding
Which PODs do you work with? (in no particular order *	cafepress zazzle greeting card universe
How long have you been working with PODs? *	4-6 years
What is the best thing about working with PODs *	Stay at home and earn money even while you are sleeping. I am able to support my family. This has open up new doors for me I get custom orders for custom designing other than zazzle products. I have made lots of friends, sincere friends with whom I share everything. I have something to look forward to every day I wake up , this has added so much color in my life. I am now exploring new ventures through working with POD , like opening up new sites, blogs, and so much more. Truth is I can't imagine my life without it anymore . I feel worthy, useful and special!
How many hours do you spend on your POD(s) - including designing, adding & promoting - on average *	60+hours per week
what would you say to another POD artist who is struggling and in need of motivation? *
Don't give up. Keep on making new stuff while marketing and promoting. Don't hesitate to ask questions. When I first started in march 2008 I was a mess, my stores were too, I was not motivated at all , just a few products in my store, like 5 or something , and I wasn't even sure this worked but then 1 day i sold 2 postcards , my first ever sale! I was so excited and thought I should try some more, made a few stuff, no sales for 2 months again I lost motivation , then one day I sold 40 postcards and that was it! I knew it then, that this has potential, I worked day and night , and now I have 20 K + products in my wedding shop alone, I am a gold pro and moving towards platinum, I have a name in my niche market and am successfully earning a steady healthy income every month! during this struggle I had 3 kids, we were in financial crisis, could not afford baby sitting , but I worked real hard, worked 20 hrs out of 24, my back hurt, my fingers too , but I kept on working and 5 years later I am glad I did! I don't have that much work to do now, so I can spent more time promoting and marketing so yeah! don't give up! you can DEFINITELY do it!
Do you have any formal training or education in POD related fields? *	No - I am self taught
If I won the super jackpot lottery tomorrow I would... *	Keep working my POD's for fun
My zazzle stores are:
http://www.zazzle.com/blessedwedding http://www.zazzle.com/invitationboutique http://www.zazzle.com/mg_businesscards http://www.zazzle.com/customcrockery http://www.zazzle.com/colorfulbinders http://www.zazzle.com/gadgetgoodies http://www.zazzle.com/blessedme http://www.zazzle.com/necktie http://www.zazzle.com/tastytees http://www.zazzle.com/cute4kids http://www.zazzle.com/interiordecoration http://www.zazzle.com/mobilephonecases http://www.zazzle.com/xmasmall http://www.zazzle.com/zazzleiphone http://www.zazzle.com/zazzlecoasters http://www.zazzle.com/yourphotocards http://www.zazzle.com/uniqueornaments http://www.zazzle.com/tastytees http://www.zazzle.com/spootakular http://www.zazzle.com/minispeakers http://www.zazzle.com/mgbusiness http://www.zazzle.com/funkyflorals http://www.zazzle.com/fantasyfractals http://www.zazzle.com/customwallart http://www.zazzle.com/customletterheads

Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

rbpahl

You name or Shopid *	rbpahl
Which PODs do you work with? (in no particular order *	zazzle other not listed
How long have you been working with PODs? *	6-8 years
What is the best thing about working with PODs *	It seems to be the only venue where I can sell my art, photos and cartoons. For many months, I did nothing to my site. Then in 2010 I added two stores, which didn't do much. In 2011, I crossed $100 in sales. In 2012 I added another 175.00 or so in sales. In early 2013, I am a few bucks away from $300.00 total gross sales and bonuses. Now, I have a dozen stores, and I hope to have them all fully stocked before summer. I am able to add to my products by coming up with "sayings" that primarily were uttered by my wife.
How many hours do you spend on your POD(s) - including designing, adding & promoting - on average *	10-15 hours per week
what would you say to another POD artist who is struggling and in need of motivation? *
I would begin by saying, " This is not a way to try to earn significant income. This is only a fun way to earn extra bucks. "There are over hundreds of thousands of 'store owners/keepers' in Zazzle alone. All of us hope to carve out a significant share of sales, but this won't happen if you give up. "Some SKs (Store Keepers) are pretty successful, now, but they had to struggle. Think about your keywords and titles. These can do a lot to get your products within the first two or three pages of the marketplace search engine. "Learn who the truly successful SKs are. Look at their products, and the keywords posted for these. (You can find the keywords near the bottom of the product page.) Do they make sense? If you were looking in the marketplace for a product like the one you're looking at, what words would you use to find it? Now apply this to your product. "For example, I have a cartoon about a Texas-sized mosquito oil-field driller. Because of the punchline, I can use energy-production, oil-production, entomology, and medical laboratories. "Finally think about the product name. Here's my secret: I keep the name fairly short. I use the same name for the same design on every product. And I put the 'prime keyword' in the title. The title has a lot to do with getting on the first two or three pages in the marketplace. "This isn't rocket science. It's t-shirts and mousepads. There are millions of SKs in the internet, all trying to get the attention of the buyers. In the beginning, be happy if you attract any attention at all."
Do you have any formal training or education in POD related fields? *	Yes, Formal - Graphic Arts No - I am self taught
If I won the super jackpot lottery tomorrow I would... *	Keep working my POD's for fun
My zazzle stores are:	http://www.zazzle.com/Barrelracing http://www.zazzle.com/thecartoonstore http://www.zazzle.com/Energyproduction http://www.zazzle.com/Medical_Humor http://www.zazzle.com/punsandgags http://www.zazzle.com/therodeostore http://www.zazzle.com/roundthebuoys http://www.zazzle.com/theseniorsstore http://www.zazzle.com/westernridersstore http://www.zazzle.com/wisecracks_unlimited http://www.zazzle.com/bluecollarstore http://www.zazzle.com/rbpahl

itsallgoodamandarain

You name or Shopid *	itsallgoodamandarain
Which PODs do you work with? (in no particular order *	cafepress zazzle photo4me estoremonster imagekind skreened inktastic wordans
How long have you been working with PODs? *	6-8 years
What is the best thing about working with PODs *
I can work my own hours and see my creations come to life on a variety of products. If I sell something I get a huge buzz knowing that somewhere out in the real world somebody is wearing or using a product with my designs or art on it. That is what keeps me going ,and as my shops and websites grow so does it's value as a domain.. Being completely self taught though is the biggest buzz for me,besides being a qualified commercial artist and sign writer with a 30 year background in photography.. I knew absolutely nothing about computers or graphics programs when I started this venture which I stumbled upon quite by accident while in an extremely abusive relationship.of which I was to scared to go to sleep at night for fear of being bashed or shot (which in the end almost happened)... Podding was my escape and my online friends became my saviors.. Seven years later here I am still learning, and still loving it
How many hours do you spend on your POD(s) - including designing, adding & promoting - on average *	60+hours per week
what would you say to another POD artist who is struggling and in need of motivation? *
Not to worry to much about being successful, just do what you love to do ,and that is create art !Try not to stress out over problems to do with Pods ,there is always some sort of issue or balls up going on.I used to pull my hair out if something technical went wrong .. thank God I have overcome that..If I am not motivated to create any art or make products I try to spend time promoting .Try to manage your time wisely. Lots of people make lists of what they need to do but I find this very overwhelming and feel like a failure if I don't finish the list each day or week..because I am to damn organized usually.. So I try to promote in the mornings ( while the coffee is kicking in) work for a bit in the shops during the day and create at night.It doesn't always work out like that though. but the trick is don't sweat it if it doesn't . as long as you love what your doing . some days I don't work at all and this can be for months at a time but that is just the way I flow these days ..remember there is life outside the home and away from the comp and pods . it is all about balance!
Do you have any formal training or education in POD related fields? *	No - I am self taught
If I won the super jackpot lottery tomorrow I would... *	Keep working my POD's for fun
My zazzle stores are:	http://www.zazzle.com/amandarainlapaglia http://www.zazzle.com/itsallamanda http://www.zazzle.com/itsallgoodamandarain http://www.zazzle.com/amandarain http://www.zazzle.com/itsallgoodrain http://www.zazzle.com/rainonme http://www.zazzle.com/itsallgoodamanda

Awesome Palette

You name or Shopid *	Awesome Palette
Which PODs do you work with? (in no particular order *	cafepress zazzle imagekind greeting card universe redbubble society6 fine art america
How long have you been working with PODs? *	1-2 years
What is the best thing about working with PODs *
It's a distraction from life's other issues and gives me the opportunity to be in touch with other PODers. Exchanging ideas and receiving valuable feedback along with solutions to problems has been an extremely positive experience. Belonging to several POD groups on Face Book has enabled me to stay in touch with the POD "gurus" who freely offer their advice and services and maintain a friendly community for all participants. Although it has been frustrating to this point I keep on "trucking" in the hopes that one day someone will actually like my designs and buy something. That's when I will cheer!
How many hours do you spend on your POD(s) - including designing, adding & promoting - on average *	20-30 hours per week
what would you say to another POD artist who is struggling and in need of motivation? *
No words immediately come to mind as I find myself in that "struggling" position and in need of motivation to keep me from throwing in the towel all together. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to address the topic of motivation particularly if one finds oneself in a situation where self motivation is at an all time low and discouragement sets in to cloud the issue. I like to think that I possess a fairly high degree of self motivation and I guess that in the long run, when I think I'm at the bottom of the pit and feel I'm getting no where, I suddenly get inspired and begin to turn things around and climb out of the pit. That's when I disappear from sight (and the POD boards) and get cracking on creating new designs, resizing images, and uploading to the various shops I have online. And that's when I say to myself: Maybe this new design or image will have a positive impact and get noticed. So I'm off on a new tack! But... then there's the promotion factor, and that's another story! Everything takes a lot of time and effort.
Do you have any formal training or education in POD related fields? *	No - I am self taught No - I have no clue how I stumble through
If I won the super jackpot lottery tomorrow I would... *	Keep working my POD's for fun
My zazzle stores are:	http://www.zazzle.com/activepalette http://www.zazzle.com/digigraphics