How Emily Odio-Sutton Built a 10-Hour-a-Week Etsy Empire

In December 2022, Emily Odio-Sutton sat on her couch, watching reality TV, and stumbled upon a YouTube video about print-on-demand. With no design experience but a desire for flexibility, she decided to try it. Her first attempts—holiday-themed T-shirts—flopped in a saturated market.

Then, she found her niche: creating witty, text-based designs for mugs, candles, and tote bags tailored to specific professions and hobbies. A candle labeled "The only podcast I listen to are the voices inside my head" resonated with podcasters. Using Canva and ChatGPT, she brainstormed and designed products that spoke directly to niche audiences.

Her strategy paid off. By 2024, her Etsy shop averaged over $26,000 in monthly revenue, with a peak of $54,900 in one month. Working just 10 hours a week, she paid off $20,000 in student loans and reduced her full-time job to part-time.

Emily's success story shows that with creativity and the right tools, it's possible to build a thriving business from your living room.

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