How to Start a Print-on-Demand Side Hustle with Tumbler Designs - ZestyRebel

How to Start a Print-on-Demand Side Hustle with Tumbler Designs

, by Jean-baptiste Maligne, 11 min reading time

1. Introduction: Why Print on Demand Is the Ultimate Side Hustle for Creatives

In today’s digital age, turning creativity into cash has never been easier. Whether you're a hobbyist, stay-at-home parent, or full-time designer, print on demand (POD) offers a low-risk way to build your own online business — with zero inventory, no shipping hassle, and endless design freedom.

At ZestyRebel, we focus on tumbler wraps — especially for the 20 oz tumbler, the best-selling drinkware format across platforms like Etsy and Creative Fabrica. These sublimation templates are not only fun to design but also in high demand by crafters, coffee lovers, and digital sellers looking for ready-made products.


2. The Rising Demand for Custom Tumblers

From glitter tumbler wraps to mom tumbler quotes and leopard tumbler designs, custom drinkware has become one of the fastest-growing niches in the sublimation tumbler world. Why? Because everyone loves a functional item with personality — and tumblers offer just that.

The 20oz skinny tumbler stands out as the go-to canvas for creators. It’s the perfect size for portability and offers a tall surface ideal for vertical patterns, sassy slogans, and seamlesstumbler designs. Plus, it fits beautifully in cup holders — an underrated but essential feature.

You’ll often find buyers looking for sunflowers tumbler styles, bundle clipart sets, or even themed tumbler PNG downloads for weddings, holidays, or DIY events. If you're creating bundles or uploading to your own Shopify store, you’re tapping into an evergreen demand.


3. Choosing Your Niche: The Secret to Selling More

Picking the right niche can make or break your print on demand journey. For tumbler designers, here are a few hot picks that consistently attract attention and clicks:

  • 👩👧 Mom Tumblers: Emotional, funny, and deeply personal — these are bestsellers year-round, especially when paired with bundle digital product offers.

  • 🎉 Event DIY: Perfect for weddings, baby showers, or teacher appreciation events. Offer tumbler templates that match the event theme — think floral, gold foil, or coffee lover puns.

  • 💥 Trendy Styles: Leopard tumbler designs, sunflower themes, and even sarcastic T-shirt design quotes adapted to tumblers can skyrocket your downloads.

  • Glitter & Glam: Combine glam looks with inspirational quotes for glitter tumbler wraps that stand out.

Pro tip: Group your best sellers into bundles to create irresistible offers. A well-priced bundle clipart or sublimation download not only adds value but also increases your average order size.

4. Creating POD-Ready Tumbler Designs

If you want your side hustle to succeed, your designs need to do more than just look good — they need to sell. And that means making them POD-ready.

Start with a tumbler template that matches the product dimensions — the 20 oz tumbler or 20oz skinny tumbler is the most common. Use tools like Canva, Photoshop, or AI-assisted design apps to craft your own tumbler PNG, then test your files to ensure they align well for full-wrap sublimation tumbler printing.

Here are some design ideas based on popular trends:

  • Sublimation Designs with bold graphics, watercolor textures, or sunflowers tumbler themes

  • Eye-catching glitter tumbler visuals using faux glitter overlays

  • T-shirt design quotes turned into vertical wraps — sass, humor, empowerment

  • Seamless patterns (seamlesstumbler) with leopard tumbler design, stars, or boho motifs

  • Holiday and celebration wraps packaged as a bundle clipart or a bundle digital product

Offering variations in your packs helps too. Provide editable files when possible and include mirrored versions if you're selling as a sublimation template. The more flexible your file set, the more appealing it is to both beginner and advanced crafters.


5. How to Upload and Sell Your Digital Wraps

Once your tumbler wrap designs are polished and exported as high-res PNGs or PDFs, it's time to get them in front of buyers. Here are your best options:

🛒 Etsy & Creative Fabrica

These are the most beginner-friendly marketplaces. On Etsy, tags like "tumbler Etsy" or "glitter tumbler wrap" get regular searches. Over on Creative Fabrica, terms like "sublimation download", "bundle clipart", or "product creative fabrica" bring in traffic from digital designers and resellers.

🛍️ Your Own Shopify Store

For those wanting control and full branding, Shopify is a great choice. You can upload bundles like:

  • “Mom Life 20 oz tumbler Wrap Bundle”

  • Event DIY Party Tumbler Kit”

  • “Sassy Quotes for Coffee Lover Tumblers”

Use mockups and lifestyle images to display your wraps on actual tumblers. These visuals are crucial for conversions, especially if you’re also running Pinterest Ads.

✅ Don’t Forget File Format Essentials:

  • PNG with transparent background

  • 300 DPI for quality printing

  • Flattened and mirrored versions if intended for sublimation tumbler production


6. Marketing Your Side Hustle Like a Pro

Even the best designs won’t sell without smart marketing. Here's how to get eyes on your products using your top keywords naturally:

📌 Pinterest

Pinterest is a goldmine for targeting crafters, DIYers, and small business owners. Create vertical pins that feature your tumbler template mockups and keywords like “print on demand mom tumbler” or “glitter tumbler SVG bundle.”

Use descriptions like:

"Editable 20 oz tumbler wrap for coffee lover gifts – Instant sublimation download!"

📱 Instagram & TikTok

Show behind-the-scenes creation of your sublimation designs, how to apply a sublimation template, or packaging your tumbler PNGs into a bundle. The more engaging your content, the more your community grows.

🔎 SEO Tips

  • Use long-tail keywords like "bundle digital product for tumblers"

  • Optimize product titles with combinations: sublimation tumbler wrap + glitter + mom quote

  • Tag products with seasonal phrases like “event DIY tumbler favor” or “teacher appreciation tumbler

With time, you’ll build organic traffic that loves your niche — whether it’s sunflowers tumblers, drinkware wraps, or stylish T-shirt design-inspired tumbler art.

7. Free Resources to Kickstart Your POD Journey

Starting a side hustle doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, to help you gain traction fast, I’ve put together several free resources designed to get you up and running:

  • Download Free Tumbler Wrap PNGs
    Test your skills with a glitter tumbler, sunflowers tumbler, or 20 oz tumbler template. These are perfect to start learning mockups, working with sublimation designs, and even listing your first products.

  • 🧰 Explore Bundle Clipart & Mega Packs
    Save time and money by grabbing ready-made bundle digital products — including leopard tumbler designs, event DIY party packs, and coffee lover quote wraps.

  • 🎁 Claim the Free Tumbler Wrap Starter Pack
    This curated pack gives you a jumpstart with a selection of tumbler templates, tumbler PNGs, and editable files designed for both beginners and experienced crafters looking to expand their POD shop.

Whether you're selling on Etsy, Creative Fabrica, or building your own Shopify store, these resources will equip you with high-quality assets and real-world practice material without any upfront cost.

8. Join the ZestyRebel Community

Running a business on your own can feel overwhelming, especially when you're still learning how to use AI tools, convert art into tumbler PNGs, or promote your listings on Pinterest. That’s why I created the ZestyRebel Facebook Group — a free space (for now!) where you can connect with like-minded creatives and POD sellers.

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

  • Weekly discussions on print on demand trends and winning drinkware niches

  • Feedback threads on your latest sublimation download or product Creative Fabrica listing

  • Freebie drops including exclusive tumbler wrap templates and seamlesstumbler patterns

  • Live sessions where we analyze the best bundle clipart packages or coffee lover design angles

And yes — this community isn’t just for experts. Whether you’re making your first 20oz skinny tumbler mockup or organizing your first bundle digital product, this is where you’ll find both accountability and encouragement.

Join now before the group moves to a private, paid space on Skool!


9. Conclusion: Turn Your Craft into Cash — One Tumbler at a Time

Building a print on demand business with tumbler wrap designs is more than a side hustle — it’s a chance to express yourself, connect with a global audience of crafters, and generate real income doing what you love.

Whether you're designing for moms, coffee lovers, event DIY occasions, or crafting bold glitter tumbler wraps, the key is to stay consistent, test new niches, and keep learning.

With the right mix of creativity, community, and digital tools, you’ll not only stand out in a crowded market — you'll thrive.

👉 Ready to get started?

Let’s grow your creative empire — one tumbler at a time.

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