The 10 Dumbest Things You Can Do in January for Your POD Business

Some folks throw in the towel right after New Year’s. They’ll say, “Who buys anything in January? Everyone’s tapped out!” That’s like deciding no one will ever eat pizza again because they had a big holiday dinner last week. Trust me, pizza always comes back. So do online shoppers.

To avoid the pitfalls of many POD sellers from previous years, here are 10 ominous January trappings to dodge like the plague!

1. Proclaim “January Is Canceled”

Announcing that January is a total lost cause for sales is a fantastic way to ensure you actually lose sales. It’s like rolling out a giant “Closed for Winter” sign just when customers are still buzzing from the holidays or spending their freshly delivered gift cards. Tell yourself no one shops in the new year, and watch your competitors happily prove you wrong. January can be a perfect opportunity to test new ideas, launch limited designs, and catch impulse buyers who are still in a festive mood—assuming you don’t hibernate through it.

2. Ignoring January’s Hidden Shopping Frenzy

Many people assume that after the holiday whirlwind, no one has any money left for shopping. They picture folks huddled in front of their bank statements, nibbling stale fruitcake while whispering, “I’ll never spend again.” In reality, January can be filled with opportunistic buyers who have gift cards to burn or newly sparked motivations to revamp their wardrobe. If you sleep on January, your competitors will capture those eager shoppers, and you’ll be left wondering why your store is collecting digital dust. Don’t underestimate the power of a new year’s optimism and fresh paychecks.

3. Slapping a “New Year” Sticker on Old Holiday Designs

It might feel tempting to toss a “Happy 2025!” banner on top of that reindeer graphic you posted last month, but this shortcut is about as appealing as re-gifting a fruitcake. Shoppers can detect a lazy rebrand from a mile away—especially if the original design still has candy canes in the corners. If you’re going to ring in the new year with something fresh, invest a dash of actual creativity. Rework that holiday concept into a truly unique design, or set it aside until next December when the reindeer are once again relevant.

4. Skipping Trend Research Because You Missed Last Year’s Wave

If you’re bummed about missing that big holiday sweater craze in December or not jumping on some viral phrase from months ago, you might feel tempted to skip all trend research entirely. That’s a misguided approach. Trends aren’t a single train that leaves once and never returns; they’re more like a series of buses running on different routes, and there’s always another one coming. By giving yourself 30 minutes a week to skim social media and marketplace bestsellers, you’ll stay nimble and spot new opportunities. There’s no sense crying over missed trains when plenty of others are arriving at the station.

5. Drowning in Clichés with Zero Personality

One classic blunder is cranking out a thousand “New Year, New Me” shirts that look eerily similar to every other listing. Sure, motivational slogans have a place in January, but shoppers crave originality. Slapping generic text on a T-shirt and calling it a day will bury you among the competition faster than you can say “resolution.” If you add a pinch of personality—maybe a playful pun or a design twist that shows off your brand’s signature style—you’ll give people a reason to pick your design over the masses shouting identical catchphrases.

6. Dedicate Every Design to Fitness Fanatics Only

Yes, a chunk of the population transforms into gym warriors every January, but that doesn’t mean your entire store must become a shrine to barbells and kale smoothies. Overloading on “No Pain, No Gain” shirts alienates everyone who just wants a comfy hoodie or a funny quote to survive winter’s darkness. Focus on a balanced mix. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the workout crowd—but don’t lock the door on folks who’d rather lounge in sweatpants while enjoying a couch-bound Netflix marathon.

7. Blame “Bad Weather” for Everything

If sales stall, it must be because winter storms are blocking the internet tubes, right? Sure, that’s it. Or maybe you haven’t updated your listings, run any ads, or revealed a fresh collection since Rudolph was on the rooftop. January weather isn’t your villain; inactivity is. It’s easy to shrug and say, “Everyone is snowed in,” but in reality, people snowed in are often the ones online shopping the most. Tap into that captive audience by offering cheerful or edgy designs that brighten up their winter days.

8. Test Zero New Ideas Because “It’s Cold Outside”

January cold does funny things to motivation, but letting the chill stifle all creativity is a massive mistake. Refusing to launch fresh designs is like sealing yourself in an igloo with last year’s business plan. Meanwhile, your competitors are rolling out big, bold ideas, capitalizing on new trends, and filling your would-be niche with their own creations. Even if you’re curled up under three blankets, use January to refine or experiment with new designs. A cozy cocoa mug in one hand and a sketchpad in the other can lead to delightful new merch that warms you—and your audience—right up.

9. Waiting for Perfection Instead of Releasing Something

January often feels like a blank canvas, and perfectionists might use that as an excuse to tweak a design endlessly. If you spend three weeks moving a line of text two pixels to the left, you’ll miss the entire month’s momentum. There’s massive value in just launching a decent design, letting real customers react, and adjusting it if needed. You’ll learn far more from real-world engagement than from analyzing your design in a vacuum. Don’t let a relentless pursuit of flawlessness rob you of perfectly good sales and vital feedback.

10. Treating January as a “Meh” Month

The ultimate blunder is treating the first month of the year like a boring layover en route to bigger things. January has its own pulse, its own needs, and plenty of people seeking novelty or meaningful purchases. If you shrug off these weeks, you risk losing momentum while your brand drifts aimlessly. Embrace the fresh-start energy, the desire for self-expression, and the potential for creative breakthroughs. Whether it’s launching a whimsical new line, refining your brand story, or just engaging with your loyal fans, January can shape the tone for your entire year—assuming you don’t write it off as an afterthought.

One Last Word on The Matter…

Letting January slip through your fingers is a comedic tragedy your POD business can’t afford. Refuse to take a creativity nap or bury your head in leftover holiday designs. A new year is all about clever thinking, honest engagement, and the willingness to evolve beyond the confetti. Keep that energy humming, and you’ll see that January can be just as profitable—and delightfully surprising—as any other month on the calendar.

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