Turn your dreams into success
Emily Odio-Sutton’s New Year’s resolution turned into a $500,000 business.
What began as a six-month experiment is now the reason she left her education career and learned how to make six figures as a print-on-demand entrepreneur.
This former educator built her success on small daily actions rather than hoping for overnight virality. She focused on gift items, targeted specific professions, and leveraged Printify to grow strategically.
Her results offer concrete steps for anyone building an online business while raising a family.
The first business attempt and why it didn’t work
Emily’s first side hustle attempt was selling through Amazon FBA. She bought products from Walmart and big stores, then resold them on Amazon. She had to purchase inventory upfront, package everything, and ship products to Amazon or directly to customers.
“I had boxes and boxes of random products that I was trying to sell. That business model works, but I learned it wasn’t going to be a good fit for me long-term,” Emily explains.
Her garage and front room overflowed with inventory, which clashed with her organized personality and family life with two kids under five.
Finances were an additional stress for Emily, as the process of loading credit cards with purchases and hoping for returns was so risky.
Discovering Print on Demand
YouTube research led Emily to Hannah Ebeling’s content, where she discovered Print on Demand. After watching multiple creators consistently recommend Printify, Emily decided to give it a try.
“I was hooked right away because I could do it from my laptop at any time. I didn’t have to have any actual products. Being a mom working full time with two kids under five, I can’t store all of this stuff,” Emily explains.
Print on Demand eliminated every pain point from her Amazon experience. It offered complete flexibility: no inventory to manage, no shipping logistics, no warehouse space to pay for.
Setting goals that actually matter
Emily’s goal-setting distinguishes her from sellers who burn out early. She focuses on controllable daily actions instead of unpredictable outcomes like sales numbers.
“What worked best for me was setting goals that I could control. I can’t control if I’m going to make a sale, but I could post two products per day in my Etsy shop, or research for 30 minutes per day.”
She wrote monthly targets on a whiteboard attached to her refrigerator. Her first month’s goal was modest: one sale. Each subsequent month, she updated actionable commitments like product uploads and skill development time.
This approach worked because Emily had zero design or business experience. It eliminated overwhelm by breaking down building a six-figure business into manageable daily tasks that anyone could complete, regardless of experience level.
Why niche targeting beats broad appeal
Emily’s first sale came from targeting a specific profession rather than casting a wide net.
“My first sale was a speech therapist sweatshirt – a very specific career. It was a personalized product, and that was because my sister-in-law is a speech therapist,” Emily recalls. This personal connection gave her market insight that general research couldn’t provide.
She noticed that new sellers often target broad categories like “mom stuff,” which face overwhelming competition.
She still remembers her first sale like it happened yesterday. “I opened the notification and told my friend, ‘Hold on, hold on.’ A stranger across the United States just bought this sweatshirt. This was proof of concept — if it works once, it could work 10 times.”
How Printify’s product range supported her six-figure breakthrough
Four months into her business, Emily saw that Printify’s Catalog had a massive product range. While researching candles, journals, and tote bags, she decided to test one product to understand the listing process.
“I just posted a product. I barely designed it – I was just testing the mockups and how to sync them from Printify. It sold that night. I was like, ‘Wait, what? This is insane.”
Customer reviews revealed people were buying these items as gifts, not for personal use. This shifted Emily’s approach to targeting gift-buyers – a much larger market with higher purchase motivation.
The strategy perfectly matched her skillset, as she is great with words. Simple, text-based designs worked better on the products she was selling than trendy graphics.
Your next six-figure breakthrough could be one product away, too.
Emily’s breakthrough came when she discovered Printify’s Product Catalog extended far beyond apparel. With over 1,300 quality products from dedicated Print Providers worldwide, you’re not limited to clothing – we’ve got it all!
Whether it’s profession-specific journals, quirky candles, or seasonal ornaments, Printify’s ever-growing selection gives you the creative freedom to find your niche. Explore the full Printify Catalog.
Hitting the first six-figure milestone
Emily’s new strategy – selling gifts – delivered results faster than she anticipated. She hit her first six figures by October, then doubled it within two months.
“I made that shift in April and May. I had a product take off for end-of-school-year teacher appreciation gifts. I hit my first six figures in October, then my second six figures in November and December. It was wild”.
The profit jump in just two months is proof that targeting gift-buyers was the right move for Emily. By early 2024, her revenue reached approximately $580k. Now, she’s focused on sustaining the six-figure business rather than obsessing over numbers.
“I don’t even look at my revenue that often because I’m still like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have a business that’s worth almost $600k. But, I’m very much focused on what I’m doing today, to keep my shop growing and sustain it,” she admits. This newfound financial security made it possible for her to leave education and become a full-time entrepreneur.
Why Emily skips seasonal products
Emily built her six-figure business using evergreen products that sell consistently year-round rather than focusing heavily on seasonal items.
“I’m in listing mode year-round. What I find in Q4 is that the things that have sold all year are just selling more, like double what they sell the rest of the year,” Emily explains.
She chooses to keep listing new products all throughout the year without the pressure of perfectly timing seasonal launches, and she still benefits immensely from natural holiday demand increases.
“You don’t have to design a Christmas-themed journal. You could sell a journal for someone who is a musician, and during the holiday season, someone looking for a gift for their husband who’s a musician will find it,” she explains.
This evergreen focus plays to Emily’s strengths and saves her time.
How to make six figures without losing your mind (or sleep)
Emily’s productivity approach helped her work full-time and raise two young children. It centers on working with natural energy patterns instead of forcing unrealistic schedules.
“I know other moms who work best in the evenings. My brain is completely fried at night. For me, working early in the morning before my kids get up with a cup of coffee and my TV show playing – that’s been a game changer.”
Task batching became essential for maximizing her limited time. She focuses on one product category per work session, reusing keywords and mock-ups across similar listings rather than switching between different types of products.
Expanding beyond sales
The business success opened doors to teach others through her partnership with Gold City Ventures. The Gift Lab course walks students through five specific Printify products that Emily tested and validated through her own sales: candles, ceramic ornaments, hardcover journals, tote bags, and two-tone mugs.
Rather than teaching broad concepts, she provides exact product recommendations based on her sales data.
“I have live calls every week with this group, helping them through the process of growing their own shops. We’re seeing students who are having success as new sellers with these products.”
The teaching role reconnects her with her educational background while creating additional income sources beyond direct sales.
“This really fills my cup because I came from education, and I miss being in that world in a lot of ways,” she shares.
How Printify powered Emily’s six-figure success
Emily credits Printify’s reliable platform and responsive support as huge factors in reaching six-figure business status. Using Printify removed a ton of the operational headaches that derail many entrepreneurs.
“I have had nothing but a positive experience. The customer service has been great, even during really challenging times with an influx of messages or customers who want things by a certain date. I always get a quick and great response, and I can rely on Printify to help me solve any problems.”
Her dedicated representative adds personalized support that directly impacts growth opportunities.
“I have a Printify representative that I meet with a couple of times a year. He’s incredibly helpful and always asking what products I want or things I’m looking for. There’s been really great relationship building, and I can tell he has a genuine interest in making sure my shop is successful,” she shares.
The partnership lets Emily focus on design and marketing rather than troubleshooting platform issues or independently searching for new products.
The learning never stops
Along the path to success, Emily had to pick up new skills across multiple areas, like design, market research, customer service, and platform navigation.
“I knew I had to fail faster, in a way. I had to just keep practicing,” she admits.
The learning process proved more complex than expected, but she stuck it out.
“I look back at my designs and think, these are so terrible. But I had to be willing to be uncomfortable and stick it out,” Emily explains.
Emily’s educational background helped her approach challenges systematically, treating business building like skill development rather than expecting immediate mastery.
From whiteboard to YouTube: What’s next
The flexibility Emily gained from building a six-figure business delivers exactly what she hoped for when starting her journey. Small moments now define success more than revenue milestones.
“Today is my daughter’s last day of school, and she gets off the bus at 1:30 p.m. I can pick her up, and we’re going to get ice cream with a friend and celebrate the start of summer,” Emily shares.
Her upcoming YouTube channel launch this summer extends her teaching mission beyond The Gift Lab course and her Instagram page.
“I’m launching a YouTube channel later this summer. My goal has never been to be a famous influencer. But if I can help people find this opportunity and find success in their own way, then that makes it definitely worth it.”
Emily’s journey from overwhelmed working mom to successful entrepreneur with a healthy work-life balance proves that building substantial online income doesn’t require revolutionary ideas or massive startup capital.
Sometimes it just requires recognizing opportunity, setting practical goals, and finding the right platform to support your growth.
Who knew that going all-in on a six-month experiment could lead to never needing a boss again?
