Benzinga - by Bibhu Pattnaik, Benzinga Staff Writer.
In an era where the gig economy is booming, Cassiy Johnson stands as a testament to the opportunities it harbors. Leveraging Etsy Inc 's (NASDAQ: ETSY) marketplace, Johnson created a booming business empire with a simple yet potent concept: crafting T-shirt designs.
What Happened: During the early days of the pandemic in April 2020, Johnson found herself without a job. She ventured into the e-commerce space, initially dabbling in the sale of concrete candles and coffee mugs, according to CNBC.
However, Johnson soon reportedly shifted her focus to T-shirt designs, a pivot that proved to be fortuitous. By May 2020, her online storefront was live, and it experienced a meteoric rise, amassing $30,000 in a mere two months during the autumn season.
Remarkably, this burgeoning business demanded less than 30 minutes of her day, allowing her to juggle it with a new sales role. Since its inception, the venture has garnered a staggering $766,400 in total revenue, with a lion's share being net profit, CNBC reported.
According to Johnson, she brought in $100,900 in her highest-earning month to date, and was able to get $26,100 of that money.
The linchpin of Johnson's enterprise is a "print-on-demand" methodology, a strategy she reportedly chanced upon through YouTube. It entails crafting designs for T-shirts using blank templates, a process simplified to forwarding the designs to manufacturers once an order is placed.
Also Read: Rent The Runway CEO Tells How Early Life Lessons Help Build $95M Company
In an interview with CNBC, Johnson highlighted the ease of the process, sharing her tactic of pinpointing prospective buyers' preferences and catering to them directly. "It seemed simple and easy," she said.
Johnson said she adopts a rigorous approach to design, dedicating a portion of each month to delve into market trends, not just on Etsy but also on platforms like Walmart Inc's.
Using Canva for graphic design, Johnson creates fresh designs, which are then superimposed on pre-acquired mock-up photographs, a strategy that eliminates the need for a physical inventory and thereby reduces overhead costs.
Expanding her offerings, Johnson said she introduced customizable shirts, targeting specific demographics such as nurses and teachers.
Johnson's entrepreneurial spirit reportedly didn't stop at T-shirt designs — she branched out to sell mock-up photos through another Etsy store named StopMockAndRoll and started a YouTube channel to share insights on the print-on-demand industry.
Despite the demanding nature of content creation, Johnson said her YouTube earnings have even outstripped her Etsy earnings in recent months.
Reflecting on her success, Johnson emphasized the hard work and determination that have driven her print-on-demand venture.
“I think that’s what really sets me apart,” she said. “I’m not afraid to put in the hours, and I don’t have the expectation of like, ‘What if I fail?’ So what if I do? Then I’ll find out.”
Now Read: The Financial Samurai: Unveiling The Man Behind A $4.4M Portfolio
This story is part of a series of features on the subject of success, Benzinga Inspire.
How can you invest in early-stage startups if you don’t know the founders? Easy. Click here for a list of startups you can invest in today.
Benzinga may receive monetary compensation from the issuer, or its agency, for publicizing the offering of the issuer’s securities in this article. Please see 17b disclosure linked in the offering circular for more information.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Shutterstock
© 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.