Hit 500 sales on my print shop today and I still don't get it

I started uploading my digital paintings to a print-on-demand site back in February just to see what would happen. Never really pushed it on social media or anything. Checked my dashboard this morning and saw I crossed 500 prints sold. That's like 500 people who paid real money for something I made on a tablet in my living room. Have any of you had a milestone that snuck up on you like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

cole_flores441mo ago

Did you ever figure out what exactly pushed those sales? I had a similar thing happen with my sticker designs where I just kept uploading and forgot about them. What worked for me was just making stuff I genuinely liked and ignoring trends. I think that authenticity comes through in the work even if you don't push it hard. For real, congrats on hitting 500 without trying too hard, that's a solid feeling.

lily_torres311mo ago

Made the mistake of trying to ride a trend once. Ugly sweater patterns, all the rage. Sold maybe three. My weird little cactus drawings? Those take off like crazy. Authenticity wins I guess.

cooper.drew1mo ago

Wait, do you ever look at your old work and wonder why that one random thing clicked? I had the same thing happen with my embroidery patterns. I spent weeks on this detailed floral design that I thought was my best work ever and it sold maybe twice. But then I uploaded a quick doodle I did of a grumpy cat sitting on a pizza slice, just as a joke, and that thing took off like crazy. What I finally realized is that the stuff I had the most fun making was the stuff that resonated with other people too. I think that looseness and energy just comes through in the final product, even if it's not technically perfect. So congrats on 500, that's a great reminder to just keep making what you love.