Meet Cassiy Johnson, a 31-year-old mom who turned a simple side hustle into a thriving empire. She left her sales job behind for an innovative “print-on-demand” venture that’s now raking in up to $101,000 each month, all while requiring just half an hour of her daily attention.
Johnson’s journey began in Howell, Michigan, where she yearned for an additional income source. Initial attempts at selling concrete candles and creatively designed coffee mugs proved too cumbersome and demanding to ship. Then, her breakthrough came when she ventured into T-shirt design.
In April 2020, while on furlough from her full-time daycare sales role that earned her $70,000 annually, she launched her Etsy shop. In just two months that fall, her store generated an astonishing $30,000 in revenue, and the best part? She invested less than 30 minutes per day, managing it entirely from her smartphone, dedicating the rest of her time to a new sales job, making $17 per hour.
By the following year, her Etsy venture had blossomed into a $90,000 income stream, prompting her to take the bold step of running the online store full-time. The store’s cumulative revenue has surpassed a remarkable $766,400, and Johnson estimates that approximately one-third of this is pure profit. In her highest-earning month to date, she pocketed an impressive $26,100 from a total of $100,900.
Her business success has led to the birth of two additional enterprises, enabling her husband to quit his job. Johnson’s testimony illustrates that financial freedom is attainable with dedication and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Path to Success: A ‘Print on Demand’ Revelation
Johnson’s Etsy shop, which she prefers not to disclose for fear of imitation, drew inspiration from a YouTube channel. This channel educated viewers about “print-on-demand” stores, where sellers craft designs on blank T-shirt templates (mock-ups) and delegate order processing to manufacturers who print and deliver the products.
Johnson found this approach “simple and easy.” Her strategy revolves around identifying existing demand and placing products in front of potential buyers. Each month, she delves into extensive research, scouting Etsy for emerging trends and drawing inspiration from shopping excursions and social media.
She utilizes Canva, a graphic design platform, to create new T-shirt designs. The product doesn’t physically exist until a customer places an order, at which point an automated request is dispatched to a manufacturer like Printify, seamlessly integrated with Etsy.
Her designs often feature popular phrases, customized fonts, and slight variations to cater to specific demographics. For instance, she offers grandmother-themed shirts with phrases like “My favorite people call me Nonnie, Mimi, Gammy,” and more. Johnson occasionally collaborates with designers to create illustrations that humorously reference popular characters or songs, staying on the right side of copyright laws.
Her inventory also includes customizable shirts, allowing customers to insert their own text into pre-existing design templates. One of her standout designs in 2021 featured letters that melded cheetah print with neon fonts, and she repurposed this design for countless unique variations.
Diversifying Income Streams
Recognizing the potential of her business, Johnson expanded her portfolio. In March 2021, she established an Etsy store called StopMockAndRoll, selling mock-up photos of herself wearing blank shirts to other sellers. This venture, while profitable, doesn’t match the success of print-on-demand.
Moreover, Johnson ventured into the world of YouTube, creating and starring in her own print-on-demand tutorial videos. She swiftly gained over 1,000 followers in six weeks, leveraging her established presence in print-on-demand Facebook groups. Today, her YouTube channel boasts more than 118,000 subscribers.
While the time investment for her YouTube channel averages around 20 hours per week, print-on-demand selling remains less time-consuming. Nevertheless, Johnson underscores that both endeavors demand dedication and persistence. She firmly believes that her willingness to put in the hours without fearing failure is what truly sets her apart. To emulate her success, one needs grit, determination, and a relentless commitment to learning and adaptation.
Cassiy Johnson’s story is a testament to the possibilities of financial freedom through smart entrepreneurship and hard work.
