You Can Never Tell Which Designs Will Sell
The beauty of a platform like Spoonflower is the wide variety of designs available. There are the traditional beauties that would be appropriate for any fabric store. But try a search for “boobs” and amongst the pink ribbon fabrics, you will also find fabrics with actual boobs. (I’ve read that maternity ward nurses like to make smocks from them.) Here are three examples:
Obviously, you are not going to find these at your local quilt shop. And yet they are an available on Spoonflower. Awesome!
While there were 991 hits with the word, “boobs,” if you put in a search for “flowers,” you’ll get 10,000 hits. So a designer can create patterns from unusual subjects that are less likely to purchased, but have far less competition, or do more traditional designs like flowers that are purchased far more often but for which competition is overwhelming. It’s a conundrum.
I have settled for designing what I like and hoping for the best.
My Best Selling Designs
Sold on Redbubble as Totes
Designs Entered in Spoonflower Challenges - Which Scored Badly
While these two designs aren’t as off the beaten path as boob themed fabric, I’ve discovered that most people aren’t as enamored by purple as I am. (But if you are, I am the designer for you!) And yes, I must admit that singing flowers is a bit weird. It was sure fun to create though. And both of these do sell. Maybe because they are a little different?
Lastly
So What Can We Conclude?
From this very small sampling, it appears that paisley is at least somewhat popular. Hibiscus Panther and Midnight Hibiscus are from the same from collection, but they’ve never been purchased together. So what can we conclude? Not much! It’s fortunate that I am not trying to make a living from this endeavor.
(All photos are clickable.)