StickerYou Blog

If you’re looking to make income from your art, you may have considered creating and selling stickers online. It’s indeed a very lucrative business with high margins that give artists lots of room to profit.

In this guide, we cover everything you need to know when starting this business — from how to make your custom stickers to how to sell them online. 

How to Make and Sell Stickers: Getting Started

You’ve got the talent — now it’s time to think about the entrepreneurial side of things. Starting a business selling stickers online requires you to think about business aspects like: 

• Branding: What will your brand look like? What will you call your business?
• Marketing/Advertising: Who are you selling to? How do you plan on reaching them? 
• Website: Are you going to create a website for your online shop? Or are you going to use the available platforms? 

All this might seem overwhelming, but armed with the right tips and guidance, you’ll be well on your way to starting a booming sticker business. The best part is startup costs are low, so you can start ASAP! 

Creating Unique Stickers in a Saturated Space

We’ll be honest with you here – the sticker market can be highly competitive, especially recently when sticker businesses have been popping up left and right. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t hop in and offer something unique. The key is to create stickers that represent YOU and your style. To do that, consider the following: 

• Your identity and personality: Every person has their own unique charm, so you always have something new to bring to the table. What is it that makes you YOU? Figure that out and incorporate it into your sticker designs. 
• Your hobbies and interests: What hobbies and interests do you have that symbolize your personality? These are things that you can bring into your sticker creations and help you tap into communities that think like you! 
• Your artistic style: What kind of art do you create or resonate with? Do you like bold colors and prints? Or are you more into minimalistic designs? Whatever your taste is, make sure it reflects through your stickers.  
• Your sources of inspiration: There’s inspiration everywhere around you — from nature to city life and fashion to pop culture. Use them to inspire your sticker designs. 

What Kinds of Stickers Can I Make?

There are two types of stickers that you can make and sell online: kiss-cut and die-cut stickers. Kiss-cut stickers are made by cutting through the top layer and keeping the paper backing intact. Die-cut stickers, on the other hand, are cut through both the top layer and paper backing, which creates a sticker with no border and a more unique shape.

What Type of Sticker Finishes Should I Choose?

Depending on the aesthetic you’re going for, you can choose between the following sticker finishes:
● Clear: Allows the color of the surface to show through, making it best for designs that incorporate a background color.
● Glossy: Smooth and shiny finish that makes a sticker look polished and professional. This finish is best for designs with bright colors and bold graphics.
● Matte: Gives a subtle, muted, and elegant look that is ideal for designs with fine details.
● Vinyl: Durable and long-lasting finish that is perfect for stickers for outdoor applications.
● Holographic: Creates a rainbow effect on the sticker’s surface, elevating a large, bold design.
● Holographic Glitter: Tops the sticker off with glitter to create a festive shimmer.
● Prismatic: Creates a dynamic sticker that changes color and appearance depending on the angle of the light.
● Mirrored: Reflective finish that adds dimension and depth to the design. It’s often used for typography and logos.

Conquering the Design Software Challenge

To render your sticker designs digitally, you need to use design software such as Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, or GIMP. There are both free and paid options, so choose one that aligns with your budget. 

Regardless of what software you choose, you’ll want to make sure that your stickers are at least 300 DPI for the best quality. Save your work as CYMK files for maximum brightness and color accuracy. 

If you’re not confident working with techy design software, you can also opt to outsource your sticker design needs. StickerYou has an online sticker maker that allows you to design your stickers quickly and affordably.

Printing Stickers with a Cricut

Now that you’ve created your designs, it’s time to print them! If you have a printer, a Cricut machine and some adhesive sticker paper–you can do this all by yourself.

Just connect your computer to your printing machine and calibrate your Cricut with your design software. Print your design and apply your finish. Then, use your Cricut to cut around your stickers. 

If you’re not up for the DIY, don’t worry, there’s an easier option. 

Printing Stickers with StickerYou

While you can opt to print your stickers yourself, you may need a little help when your business starts to scale. Working with a professional printing service allows you to print as many stickers as you need on-demand, saving you time and money in the long run. 

StickerYou offers a printing service with easy online ordering and a fast turnaround time. We can help you print stickers of any size, shape, and quantity. All you have to do is upload your artwork and we’ll handle the printing, cutting, and mailing of your ready-to-sell stickers.  

Printing Stickers with POD Dropshipping

Another printing option is a dropshipping service. There are Shopify print-on-demand apps that enable you to delegate your sticker printing to dropshipping services. Just upload your designs and they will print and ship the orders directly to your customers.

However, this option might offer lower profit margins and put you at the mercy of the suppliers when it comes to fulfillment.

How Do I Sell Stickers Online?

To sell your stickers online, you can either create your own website or online store or take advantage of online marketplaces like Etsy and Redbubble.

Selling Stickers on Etsy

Etsy is one of the best marketplaces to sell stickers online. 

Etsy allows you to create a standard storefront where you can display your sticker collection, providing your customers with an intuitive place to avail of your products. But keep in mind that using this platform is not free — each sticker listing will come with a fee and Etsy can take a commission from your profit. 

Selling Stickers Through Your Own Online Shop Using Shopify

If you want to build your own brand and sell your stickers through a website, then you can create an online shop using Shopify. This e-commerce platform has an intuitive interface where you can upload all your products, share information about your business, and retain full control of your order and fulfillment processes.  

How to Price Stickers for Sale?

When it comes to pricing your stickers, start by checking out your competition. You can either price your stickers as much or undercut their prices to attract more customers. Besides that, you also need to account for your production costs to ensure a healthy profit margin.
Remember to price your stickers accurately depending on their size, materials, finish, and design. Every now and then, you may also consider offering bulk discounts to increase your sales potential.

How Much Should Stickers Cost?

The market price for stickers is between $2 - $6 each. But your pricing will be highly dependent on your production costs and business model.

How Much Can I Make Selling Stickers?

The profit you can generate from selling stickers will depend on your cost of production and pricing strategy.

Is It Profitable to Sell Stickers?

Selling stickers online is a profitable venture, as long as you do it right.

How to Ship Stickers?

Shipping is the least of your worries in your fulfillment process. You just need a stamp and standard postage fee, as well as a relationship with a reliable shipping company. As much as possible, you want to keep shipping costs low, but you can also charge more for custom shipping requests or faster delivery.
Because your products will go through a rigorous shipping process, you want to make sure that you invest in packaging. Your stickers should be packed safely to prevent bending and creasing around the edges. It also wouldn’t hurt to make the packaging personalized to level up your branding.

How Do I Produce Stickers at Home?

To produce stickers at home, you only need to render your artwork using design software, print your designs on sticker paper, and use a Cricut machine to cut through your stickers.

How Do I Produce Stickers at Home?

To produce stickers at home, you only need to render your artwork using design software, print your designs on sticker paper, and use a Cricut machine to cut through your stickers.

How Do I Make Vinyl Stickers?

To make vinyl stickers, you’ll need to print your designs on vinyl sticker paper or self-adhesive vinyl paper.

How Do I Print Stickers?

Find a printer that’s compatible with the type of stickers you intend on making. You can also outsource your sticker printing to a service like StickerYou.

What Equipment Do I Need to Make Stickers?

To make stickers at home, you need the following to start:
● Sticker paper
● Sticker laminating paper
● Design software
● Cutting machine
● Lamination machine
● Cricut machine

Tips for Marketing and Promoting Your Stickers

There are various platforms that you can use to market and promote your stickers, such as: 

• Pinterest 
• TikTok
• Social Media
• Online forums 
• Influencer marketing 
• Community events 

Marketing your sticker business comes at an additional cost, but if you do it right and utilize the right platforms, the dividends will pay off. 

For the best results, don’t forget to take advantage of ads and promotion features in your chosen marketing platform. 

Sure, here are three FAQs that you might want to consider including at the end of your article:

FAQ 

What are the main challenges when starting a sticker business online?

The primary challenges include standing out in a saturated market, mastering the necessary design software, and handling scaling up as your business grows. Making even one of these steps easier will help you focus on maximizing your profits so always consider various options, including using customized printing services.  

What are the options for printing my stickers?

There are several options for printing stickers. You can choose to print them at home using a printer and a Cricut machine or collaborate with professional printing services such as StickerYou.

How can I effectively market and promote my stickers online?

Utilize platforms such as Pinterest, TikTok, and other social media channels to showcase your sticker designs and reach your target audience. Participate in online forums, collaborate with influencers, and consider participating in community events. Additionally, you might want to invest in ads and promotional features on your chosen marketing platforms to maximize your reach.