Build your dream business today
Remember what it was like hustling at your first job? For George McConnell, that hustle started in third grade. Growing up watching his father work three jobs, young George was already asking the big questions: “Why do we have to work this hard?”
Fast-forward 15 years in corporate, nine business attempts, and countless sleepless nights in warehouses, and George has built something remarkable.
From his early days of selling TV screen enlargement tricks on eBay to running a million-dollar Etsy business, his story isn’t just about making it big – it’s about learning something new every single day, even when things go sideways.
Hi, George! Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey.
“I worked in the corporate field for over 15 years, but I’ve always wanted to own my own business. That dream started early, even in third grade, when I was already selling things. I’d buy playing cards from my cousin for $1 for the whole pack and sell them to other students for a quarter each.
I wasn’t born into the best life. Because of the struggles I experienced throughout my life, I knew I needed to achieve something, and the only way to do that was to have something of my own. That’s why, even at that young age, I was always thinking, always asking, ‘Why?’
“By eighth grade, I had already started making real money online. I convinced someone to let me use their eBay account to sell plans for enlarging TV screens – an old trick my grandmother taught me from the 1930s using a cardboard box and a magnifying glass.
I made $2,000 that summer by selling those plans for five dollars each. Even then, I was always looking for opportunities.
How did those early business setbacks influence your approach to entrepreneurship?
“Every setback taught me something valuable that I could apply to my next venture. When I look back at those early ventures, many people might see failures. I had nine businesses go under, and one cost me over $40,000.
But I’ve learned to look at life differently. It’s not about things happening to you – it happens for you to learn from it. That perspective completely changed how I approach business challenges. Before my success with Print on Demand, I had nine failed businesses. But I never saw these as failures – they were learning experiences.”
“I launched my Etsy business in 2019 with leather and faux leather supplies. I began small, with just $100, testing the waters with basic items like plaid designs. The business grew explosively. Within six months, I replaced my corporate salary. I had to clear out my living room furniture to make space for inventory. The first year alone brought in over $280,000. Last year, we crossed the million-dollar mark.”
What inspired your transition to print-on-demand, given your success with the physical business?
“Print on Demand was completely new to me. I was looking for more providers for my leather business – you can’t just stick with one supplier if you want to scale. That’s when I stumbled upon Printify and saw their Product Catalog.
My mind started working right away. What could I sell? What could I do with this? I realized I could expand without worrying about the inventory losses I had before. Looking back, if I’d known about POD years ago, who knows where I could be? But things happen when they’re supposed to, you know?”
How has Printify transformed the way you run your business?
“People are skeptical about POD shipping times because they’ve never dealt with fulfillment logistics. From my experience running warehouses, I can tell you Printify is incredibly fast. I’ve had orders go out the same day or the next day, which is amazing when you think about it.
The best part? All those headaches I had with employee management, warehouse costs, and logistics – gone. Printify handles everything. I used to spend $10,000 monthly just on warehouse space.
As a POD entrepreneur, you can put your full focus on growing your business. All you really need to do is upload designs and provide customer service, and most of that can be automated. Printify takes care of all the backend operations that used to keep me up at night.”
You have a unique background in data analytics. How do you apply this to your print-on-demand business?
“My time at Samsung shaped how I think about marketing and consumer behavior. It’s all about understanding how people shop and click.
I bring that same data-focused approach to POD. Most sellers think success means constantly adding new products, but that’s not it. When I launch 50 designs and see only two selling well, I focus on creating more like those two. It’s about being smart with your data: if 100 customers out of 1,000 are making you money, those are the ones you focus on.
The biggest mistake here is getting attached to designs we think are amazing, but customers don’t want. But that’s how POD works: you can test and adapt quickly. I still order samples and take my own photos for my listings. That’s crucial for Etsy’s algorithm.”
Let’s talk about marketing strategy. How do you approach different platforms?
“I work with both Facebook and Etsy ads, but Facebook gives me laser-focused targeting that Etsy just can’t match. On Facebook, I can get super specific with targeting.
Say you’re selling baby products. Facebook lets me target parents who just had a child, are expecting, or even have a friend with a new baby. The same goes for weddings, birthdays, and all those life events. The tricky part with Facebook is that you can’t track if someone actually bought from your Etsy store – there’s no pixel connection.
With Etsy ads, I get clear data on whether a sale came from organic traffic or ads, but less control over who sees them. Because of this, I started moving away from Etsy ads. I want that targeting control.
After six years in the game, I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out what’s coming from where. But for someone just starting, it’s tough to know if your Facebook ads are paying off. You’ve got to test and learn.”
Speaking of challenges, how crucial is mindset when building a business?
“Everyone wants instant success. I ask them, ‘What if I told you you’d make zero money for a whole year, but on day 366, you’d make $100,000? Would you keep working?’ Most say yes. But in real life, they quit after a few months because they’re not hitting their targets.
The problem isn’t the work – it’s the arbitrary deadlines we set for success. The minute you tell yourself, ‘I need to make X amount by this date, or I quit,’ you’ve already failed.
Most people think working for oneself is about working less, but I went from working 6-7 hours at my corporate job to pulling 16-hour days in my business. Here’s how I look at it: if someone else puts in 8 hours while I put in 16, I’ll be twice as far ahead in a year, even with the mistakes I make along the way.
The real growth happens when you stop focusing on quick wins and start thinking long-term.”
How important are customer service and reviews for your Etsy success?
“Customers just want to be talked to like normal humans, not robots. I chat with them like they’re long-time friends, and that approach has been transformative for my business.
I also believe in immediate response times. My philosophy is simple: if a customer messages me, they’ve probably messaged other sellers, too. The first to respond often gets the sale. I don’t care if it’s day or night, when that notification comes in, I respond instantly. Sometimes, these conversations don’t lead to immediate sales, but customers remember who was there for them.
My reviews reflect this approach. Customer service is my highest-rated aspect, followed by shipping speed, which I credit to Printify. Even when there were delays with USPS, which no one can control, maintaining clear communication kept customer satisfaction high.”
How do you handle holiday shipping, especially during the Christmas rush?
“I’m incredibly proactive about managing holiday shipping expectations. I have daily reports set up to monitor delivery times, so I can spot potential delays early and communicate with customers before they need to ask.
Here’s something many sellers won’t do, but it’s been crucial for my success: I upgrade economy shipping orders to standard shipping during peak seasons. If I were selling apparel, I’d actually bump them to the fastest shipping option available.
Yes, I take a hit on costs, but if someone orders from three different sellers on the same day and your package arrives first, they remember that.
You might lose a few dollars on shipping, but you’re gaining a customer for life. When they need another gift or product later, they remember who delivered when it mattered. That’s how you build customer loyalty that lasts beyond the holiday season.”
What is your advice for someone starting in Print on Demand?
“First, don’t get in your own way, especially with designs. We think we have the best designs in the world, but if consumers don’t want it, let it go. The data tells you if it’s a winner or loser. Simple as that.
Second, adapt to how Etsy actually works. On desktop, you’ve got four items across, but people read in a Z or F pattern. I put my top sellers on the left where eyes land first and use that often-missed fourth spot for testing new designs.
Finally, master the mobile experience. People scroll fast, so you need something that makes them stop. If everyone’s showing standard product photos, do something unexpected, like putting a t-shirt on a dog next to someone wearing the matching design. It sounds simple, but that’s what catches attention and beats the algorithm.”
Join George’s growing community on YouTube and Skool, or visit his upcoming resource hub for exclusive strategies and insights.
