{"id":25632,"date":"2022-08-26T14:43:39","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T18:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spreadshop.com\/blog\/?p=25632"},"modified":"2026-02-06T14:00:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T19:00:51","slug":"how-a-shop-owner-finds-success-with-spod","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spreadshop.com\/blog\/2022\/08\/26\/how-a-shop-owner-finds-success-with-spod\/","title":{"rendered":"Shop Owner Success: SPOD Merch"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, you might be seeing things about SPOD<\/a> around here lately and you may be asking yourself what is a SPOD and do I need one? The answer is well, maybe\u2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SPOD stands for Spreadshop Print On Demand<\/strong> and it is our plugin that connects to common e-commerce platforms like Order Desk, Woo Commerce, Etsy, and of course, Shopify. Distilled down it allows merchants selling on e-commerce platforms to connect to our POD service.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SPOD is a great tool for seasoned veterans in the POD (Print On Demand) business with e-commerce sites that have a following. Print on Demand is expected to <\/span>grow<\/span> 26.1% between 2022 and 2030. It\u2019s a great time to consider a print-on-demand model for your enterprise.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So when you see content about it on our blog or on our socials just know we\u2019re super excited about this product and are really pushing for entrepreneurs to have great success with it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"how<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

How a Shop Owner Found Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n

SPOD is all about helping you – the business owner – gain knowledge and improve your business. Our goal is to create content that motivates you and helps you grow professionally (and personally). The SPOD mission: build a community of business owners who want to learn, develop themselves, and grow their businesses. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlighting and celebrating the successes of these businesses is key to that mission. We want to share shop owners\u2019 knowledge so that you – the merchant – can glean some insight and turn your business into a success!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our SPOD content team recently had the pleasure to speak with shop owner, Sean Ali, via video chat. Sean has been in the POD (print on-demand) business for seven years. He\u2019s worked in every facet of the POD business: production, design, marketing, all while leading the charge. Sean runs his operation of three (soon to be four) shops through Etsy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ali talked about all the ups, downs, lefts, and rights of his business with us.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We faced a roadblock at the beginning of our conversation: we couldn\u2019t mention the names of his shops. While we want to promote our shop owners\u2019 businesses and see that as a positive thing, Sean thought differently. His reasoning made sense after he explained: he\u2019s seen his designs end up in someone else\u2019s shop due to copying or flat out stealing his graphics too many times.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt would cost a small business around $1200-$1500 US [to trademark designs].\u00a0 So, say you have however many designs, it quickly adds up It\u2019s something to consider. Basic wordmarks are easier, but it’s never guaranteed.\u00a0 You can apply for it, but it\u2019s a gamble. You pay, and it’s up to the USPTO [United States Patent and Trademark Office] to decide if you get it. If they say no, then you\u2019re out of that money.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While theft of design is common in the POD marketplace, he does the best he can to protect his designs and creative ideas. As a veteran in the industry, Sean has worked with various platforms, like SPOD, and has found the platform to be easy to use and user-friendly.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSPOD\u2019s interface is one of the best and easiest to use. It\u2019s simple. I enjoy using it. Creating the product is quick. Uploading the design is quick. Creating a manual order is so simple and the pricing is a larger factor, not only for myself, but a lot of merchants. Your prices are very competitive, and your shipping prices and methods are competitive and possibly the best in the industry right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"spod<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

SPOD Benefits<\/h2>\n

Sean says that the shipping offerings for SPOD are a huge plus. We offer economy, standard, and expedited shipping options.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour prints are good, your quality is there, and you have pricing to make it all work for merchants,\u201d he says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sean uses SPOD as his main supplier and partner in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. He has quite an understanding of holidays around the world and is passionate about being there for his customers. He continues to speak about fulfilling orders in Australia and how Father\u2019s Day is coming and will be celebrated there. He is committed to having a place where people can seek out the right gift for that special someone for an important day or moment in their life. <\/span><\/p>\n

If there was one piece of advice he could give himself when he was starting out or to a new merchant, it would be \u201cto focus on one niche per store.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first started, I created my first store which was a store with designs all over the place. I was trying to figure out what was selling. It had birthday designs, some Christmas, and Halloween.\u00a0 So, I was all over the place. When a buyer comes to a store like that, they get flustered and are like whoa, there\u2019s completely different designs here. What should I do? Should I buy this or should I buy that? They don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting back a little at his desk, Sean smirks and continues:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe second store that I opened was geared towards birthday designs. I\u2019m finding more success when I concentrate on a specific niche such as birthdays because that\u2019s a year-round thing. Everyone has a birthday. I would tell a [SPOD] user that they should concentrate on one niche whether it be birthdays, kid designs geared towards more kid-focused items, yoga, workout, or anything like that. Concentrate on one niche and have your store be that specific niche. I think that they will find more success that way.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"power<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Power in a Print on Demand Niche<\/h2>\n

Sean elaborated on how he decides what niche is right for him. Like any good business owner, he looks at previous sales, trends, what’s coming up, and relies on a little gut instinct. In a previous role prior to his own enterprise, he was managing Etsy stores for others and has learned how to recognize trends and turn them into successes.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another key to his success is keeping things lean and continuing to learn new and difficult things outside of his wheelhouse. Sean creates his own designs and has learned Photoshop along the way. He\u2019s self-taught. He learned by watching tutorials online, reading articles, and YouTube. Sean also wasn\u2019t afraid to ask questions to those that were more skilled.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur in-house designer at my old company helped me a little bit. But watching YouTube videos on how to do designs is what really helped my knowledge and helped boost my Photoshop knowledge. I still maybe only know 15 to 20 percent of Photoshop because there’s so much. It is such a powerful application that everyone who uses it uses it differently, but I think the knowledge I have is great for what I need.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While we were on the topic of knowledge, we asked what sort of skills or attributes does someone need to have to be successful in this business? Sean said that when he first started, he was doing basic text designs and he evolved and started using photos or clip art and continued to grow his skills. He said he\u2019d try new things and \u201clevel up\u201d each time. His message:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvolve, level up, and learn. If you can\u2019t get out of your comfort zone and evolve, you\u2019ll never get beyond where you are.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He’s seen revenue growth since he started in 2015. 2020 was by far his best year due to the closures and limited hours of many retail shops. While revenue has slipped slightly since, it\u2019s still providing him and his business profits. During that time, Sean did a paid ad campaign on Facebook and Instagram. At its height, he was seeing $15-$20k sales per day. In the current market, he\u2019s rolled his ad budget back a bit and now is holding steady with social media efforts focusing on organic likes and interactions, as well as repeat business from existing customers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Connecting With Customers<\/h2>\n

He reminds his existing customers to come back and buy with an email drip campaign offering specials to his existing clientele. He also answers the customer service emails and maintains an extremely high regard for customer service.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of my experience, I know customer service and am able to quickly manage any issues a customer may have. I\u2019m quick to answer and resolve their needs.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s the future look like for Sean Ali and his shops? He\u2019s had a few offers to buy his company, but right now he\u2019s enjoying what he\u2019s doing. It\u2019s his main source of income and something he is truly passionate about right now. He\u2019s also been offered opportunities to purchase production equipment\/facilities and bring production in-house.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Sean, that just isn\u2019t in the cards right now. He\u2019s been in the throes of production and is happy to let SPOD be his production and shipping partner. Ali wants to continue to learn what he can do to make the business better, get more customers, satisfy more customers, and increase repeat purchases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you a SPOD merchant? Would you want to share your story and be featured? Let us know at talk2us@spod.com<\/a> or reach out to Terrille Horton at terrille.horton@spod.com<\/a> We\u2019d love to hear from you and feature you and your business. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SPOD is all about helping you – the business owner – gain knowledge and improve your business. Our goal is to create content that motivates you and helps you grow professionally (and personally). See how SPOD owner Sean Ali grows his brand and connects with his audience! Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":587,"featured_media":25674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"publish_to_discourse":"0","publish_post_category":"1","wpdc_auto_publish_overridden":"","wpdc_topic_tags":"","wpdc_pin_topic":"","wpdc_pin_until":"","discourse_post_id":"","discourse_permalink":"","wpdc_publishing_response":"","wpdc_publishing_error":"","_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false},"categories":[48665],"tags":[49867,854,49868,30405],"yoast_head":"\nShop Owner Success: SPOD Merch - The Spreadshop Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SPOD is all about helping you gain knowledge and improve your business. 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