Do you want to learn how to start a profitable Etsy business selling candles with print-on-demand?
Print-on-demand candles can be a great way to sell unique and giftable products online without having to manage inventory or ship orders yourself. This means you can run this work-from-home business from your laptop, which is one reason so many people are interested in it.
Today, I’m excited to share another interview with Emily Odio-Sutton. I previously featured her on Making Sense of Cents in How I Make $7,500 Monthly Selling Print-On-Demand Gifts, and readers really loved learning about her Etsy business.
Since then, Emily’s shop has grown even more. She has now sold more than 22,000 candles on Etsy and her overall Etsy shop revenue has now passed $900,000 (with candles bringing in over half of her sales).
In this interview, Emily talks about:
- How she got started selling on Etsy
- Why she decided to sell candles
- How print-on-demand candles work
- How much it costs to get started
- How much a beginner may be able to make
- Tips for finding product ideas, pricing candles, and getting found on Etsy
- What new sellers should know before opening their shop
If you’ve ever thought about starting an Etsy shop or you’re curious about selling candles online, this interview is full of helpful tips and beginner advice.
I also recommend signing up for her free live workshop How Emily Made $900,000+ in Her Etsy Shop. You’ll learn what’s working for her right now, a blueprint for getting started as a new print-on-demand seller, and you’ll also be able to ask questions at the end that she will answer live. And, this webinar is not just about candles. It also goes over ornaments, tote bags, journals, mugs, and other print-on-demand items you can sell.
How I Sell Print-On-Demand Candles on Etsy
If you want to learn how to start a print-on-demand business selling candles, this interview is for you.
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you first got started selling on Etsy?
I’m a mom to two young girls with a background in higher education. When my daughter was getting ready to start kindergarten, I was worried about how we would juggle the elementary school schedule with two full-time jobs. Also, my husband and I had student loans that we wanted to pay off sooner rather than later! That’s when I started scrolling through social media late at night and stumbled across a few side-hustle opportunities. I started by reselling products on Amazon, but soon realized that wasn’t a great fit for me, as I didn’t want our house overflowing with inventory or spending tons of money up front.
One day, I came across a YouTube video about selling print-on-demand on Etsy, and I was hooked. What I loved so much about the print-on-demand opportunity is that you didn’t have to store any inventory. It had a low startup cost, and I could do everything from my laptop, which made it perfect for me as a busy mom running between school pickups and other appointments. As my New Year’s resolution, I was determined to make it work. I gave myself six months to make it successful, and that’s where my story started!
2. What made you decide to sell candles specifically?
When I first started my print-on-demand shop, I was focused mostly on t-shirts and sweatshirts because that’s what most of the YouTube content was about. I was having some success and had even had my first bestseller, which was amazing, but as I continued my research, I realized there were other print-on-demand products with much less competition and required less graphic design work than t-shirts did.
One day, I came across selling candles on Etsy and listed my first one, just as a test. I was blown away that that candle actually sold that same night! That’s when I realized there was a ton of potential in this space on Etsy!
3. How much have you made selling candles on Etsy, and what has your growth looked like over time?
I just recently pulled all my statistics, and I couldn’t believe the numbers!
I’ve sold over 22,000 candles with sales over $500,000. I have sold over $900,000 on Etsy, so candles have been a huge part of my Etsy sales!
My first year, my sales truly exploded once I started selling candles in my shop. Each year, I have a major peak in candle sales in the spring & during the holiday season. And each year, my shop has consistently done well over six figures!
This year, my shop is actually up over 70% in revenue compared to last year, too! The potential is truly endless on Etsy!
4. How much can a new person make selling print-on-demand candles?
Candles are one of my favorite products for new sellers starting out on Etsy. I love them because they are simple to design, highly giftable, and Etsy buyers love coming to the platform to buy special, unique gifts.
Every seller has a different journey, and their sales will look different from the next person’s, but there are new shops selling candles on Etsy that are making big sales. For example, the other day I was studying a shop that’s only four months old and has made over 2,100 sales by only selling candles.
5. What is print-on-demand, and what is a print-on-demand candle? Do you need to carry any inventory at all?
Print-on-demand is a fulfillment method for the products in your Etsy shop. Basically, what that means is you create a design for the candle, add it to a candle with a print supplier like Printify, and then publish it to your Etsy shop. When that product is sold, Printify will handle all printing, packaging, and shipping of that candle to the customer.
The best part is you don’t need to carry any inventory at all, and you don’t pay for any products until they actually sell! I love this because it means it’s been very low-risk for my family and me, and I’ve been able to grow a real, sustainable business.
6. How much does it cost to get started with print-on-demand candles?
One of the things I love about print-on-demand is its low startup cost!
To get started selling print-on-demand candles, you would need to open your Etsy shop (which typically has a small fee of around $29), a Canva account (a free account works for candles), and a free Printify account.
Also, I recommend at least one Etsy research tool to find out what Etsy buyers are looking for! Those tools typically range from $6 to $30 per month.
Generally, I tell new sellers that they can start their Etsy shop for under $50!
7. How do you come up with product ideas that people will actually buy?
Figuring out what Etsy buyers want is a key part of the process! Learning how to research what will sell is one of the most important steps. I always tell new sellers, “Do not open Canva until you have done your research to figure out what Etsy buyers are looking for!”
When it comes to selling giftable print-on-demand products on Etsy, we always want to think about the specific person and occasion for which we are making that product.
For example, if we are selling a graduation candle, we want to be more specific about what kind of graduation. Is it a nursing school graduation gift? Is it a high school graduation gift? These are the important things to research and determine before designing your product.
Getting specific with your audience is key to standing out as a new shop. With candles, we want to use words that resonate with that customer so they feel an emotional connection! My goal is to always create a product that they can’t go down the street and buy at a chain store!
8. How do you price your candles?
Printify has a great pricing tool right on their website that makes it easy to learn how to price your candles. I generally recommend that sellers have at least a 30% profit margin, which is possible with print-on-demand candles!
Also, I recommend charging for shipping, as shipping costs for candles can be a little higher than for other products.
9. How do customers usually find your shop and your candles?
Almost all of my sales come organically through Etsy buyer searches and SEO! As I mentioned before, getting specific with your customer is super important. It is much easier to stand out with a nursing school graduation candle than with a generic candle.
10. Can someone with no computer skills start a print-on-demand business selling candles?
Honestly, yes…with the understanding that you’re still going to learn a LOT along the way!
You definitely don’t need to be techy or a designer to start. Tools like Canva now make it so much easier than it used to be. But I never want someone to think they can just jump in and know everything right away.
There’s always a little bit of a learning curve, figuring out Etsy, creating listings, and making simple designs. None of it is hard, it’s just new!
You don’t need a bunch of skills; you just need to be willing to figure it out as you go.
11. What are the biggest challenges with selling candles on Etsy?
The biggest one I see is new sellers being way too broad. They’ll make candles that could be for anyone…which usually means it’s for no one! The shops that do well are super clear on who their product is for and when someone would actually gift it.
Another one is just feeling like the market is too saturated. Candles are popular, yes, but that also means people are buying them. You just have to find your angle!
And then honestly…patience. A lot of people expect quick results, and Etsy just doesn’t really work like that. It’s more of a build momentum over time kind of thing.
12. Is there room for new print-on-demand candle sellers in 2026?
Absolutely!
As I mentioned earlier, I am seeing new shops that are only a few months old making really big sales with their candles on Etsy. The great thing is that there are always new trends, new ideas, and seasonal demand that allow for new sellers to take a piece of the pie.
13. What other items do you sell through print-on-demand?
Since I started selling print-on-demand three years ago, I have grown my catalog to include several product types. Those include:
- Journals
- Mugs
- Tote bags
- Blankets
- Ornaments
I really try to focus on these gift products and special occasions so I can give customers unique, meaningful, and customized items they can’t find anywhere else!
14. For someone who wants to get started this month, what steps would you tell them to take?
I would keep this super simple and not overthink it! Start by taking one step at a time. Open your Etsy shop. Connect Printify. And get 1 listing up at a time.
Pick a specific niche and customer. Think in terms of a person and a moment… like a teacher gift, dog mom’s birthday, new homeowner, etc.
Then do a little bit of research on Etsy. Look at what’s already selling, especially from newer shops, and just pay attention to patterns, design styles, phrases, and who they’re targeting.
From there, create a few simple designs. And I mean simple!
And the biggest thing is just to stay consistent. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. You’ll learn way more by actually doing it.
15. Can you tell us more about The Gift Lab and who it is best for?
Yeah! So The Gift Lab is my course where I teach how to sell print-on-demand products on Etsy, with a strong focus on giftable items like candles, journals, ornaments, and other items people already buy for specific occasions.
Instead of guessing what to sell or chasing trends, I teach a really simple way to think about products: who it’s for, when someone would gift it, and why they’d buy it.
It’s really great for beginners who want a step-by-step path, as well as for people who have tried Etsy and feel stuck or overwhelmed.
The course is broken down into bite-sized videos to make it easy to follow & includes design templates, product ideas, and so much more!
You can click here to learn more about The Gift Lab.
Are you interested in starting a print-on-demand business?
Note from Making Sense of Cents: I also recommend signing up for her free live workshop How Emily Made $900,000+ in Her Etsy Shop. You’ll learn how Emily’s shop grew by 70% in 2026 in the parties niche, what’s working for her right now, a blueprint for getting started as a new print-on-demand seller, and you’ll also be able to ask questions at the end that she will answer live.
Recommended reading:
- How I Make $400,000 Per Year Selling Educational Printables
- Printify vs. Printful: Which Print On Demand Platform Is Best for You?
- How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy
- 14 Best Low Maintenance Businesses to Start Today
- 16 Best Things To Sell On Etsy To Make Money
- How To Sell On Etsy Successfully: A Beginner’s Guide
- How To Start a Print On Demand Side Hustle With $0
- How To Start Your Clothing Brand Side Hustle on Etsy With Zero Upfront Costs
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