my store link is: www.animevibeapparel.com
what do i need to make sales now? are my products good products or are pod stuff not worth it?
and how much should i start putting on ads a day?
Topic summary
A new store owner running an anime-themed print-on-demand (POD) shop seeks advice on generating sales and determining appropriate ad spending. The store has been live for less than two weeks.
Key Issues Identified:
- Logo overlaps with banner, creating unprofessional appearance
- Generic product descriptions appear unedited
- Marketing copy contains unsubstantiated claims about quality and craftsmanship
- Designs may lack originality compared to marketplace competitors
Recommendations Provided:
- Store Design: Study professionally designed reference stores; ensure mobile/desktop responsiveness
- Product Strategy: Focus on unique, limited-edition designs tied to trending anime moments rather than generic artwork; create bundles (t-shirt + hoodie combos) to increase cart value
- Cart Optimization: Implement upsells and cross-sells for related products; add progress bars for free shipping thresholds; avoid installing too many apps that slow performance
- Advertising Budget: Start with $10–20/day on Meta platforms to test creatives and audiences; scale gradually after identifying what works; focus on one anime sub-niche at a time
- Product Validation: Order samples personally to verify quality before scaling
Current Status: The owner has ordered sample products and is actively redesigning the website based on feedback received.
Hey @AnimeVibeApparel,
In order to start making money first you need to setup your store very professionally. Currently your store is not professional design which is the bad sign. See these stores how are they optimized with the amazing look.
Once you finish with the store redesign then think about the ads.
If you need help with redesigning the store then you can reach me out.
Best,
Hey. Have you thought about dropshipping supplements? Best regards
“cut out the middleman”, “we are obsessed with the details”, “your satisfaction is our top priority”, etc. Lots of bs fluff. I don’t see anything that’s actually true. You ARE the middleman. You literally have nothing to do with any part of someone ordering a shirt. Obsessed with details, but there is no contact information, you didn’t even bother to edit product descriptions. “Every item is crafted with a commitment to quality and durability” Really? You sampled every product and tested them? Do you even know how the designs look on a real shirt? Speaking of designs…
Just to have clarity, you thought it was a good idea to download images and then upload them to a POD dropshipper…. That certainly speaks volume to the claim “We choose to do things the right way”.
So to recap, you are trying to “sell” products you don’t have, didn’t design, and have never even touched, let alone can vouch for them, and you have nothing to do with the order.
To answer your question “are my products good products”, I think you should find out. Instead of spending money on ads, why don’t you actually buy the products and see for yourself whether or not they’re “premium”? Preferably before an unsuspecting customers unwittingly sends you money. Or better yet, send “your” designs to a dtf printer and invest in a shirt press and send out your own dam products.
2 Likes
First off, I noticed the logo overlapping with your banner. That’s a quick fix but an important one. A clean, well-aligned header sets the first impression for visitors, so make sure your logo and banner are responsive across mobile and desktop.
Now, about your products. Print-on-demand (POD) products can absolutely sell well, but success in this space depends a lot on your designs and branding. Anime fans are passionate, they’ll buy if your designs feel unique, not like the same generic artwork they see on marketplaces. Focus on limited collections, exclusive drops, and designs inspired by current trending anime moments or characters. It’s not that POD isn’t worth it, it’s that the “why” behind your brand and your artwork quality need to stand out.
I noticed you’ve added a slide cart drawer, which is great. It’s a nice step toward improving conversion rates. However, it looks like it’s not fully optimized yet. Since your products are connected, like T-shirts, hoodies, and phone cases, this is the perfect opportunity to upsell and cross-sell. For example, if someone adds a T-shirt, show them a matching hoodie or a phone case with the same design.
You could also create product bundles (for example, “T-shirt + Hoodie Combo” at a slight discount). Customers love getting a deal, especially if it feels exclusive. Make sure these offers are visible in the cart drawer itself so customers can add them easily without leaving the page.
Adding an anime-themed progress bar is another great idea. Let customers know, “Spend $10 more to unlock 15% off” or “You’re only $5 away from free shipping.” It adds excitement and encourages higher cart values.
When it comes to cart customization apps, be careful not to overload your store with too many. They can slow down load time and increase app costs. Tools like iCart are helpful because they handle multiple cart functions (upsells, progress bars, bundles) in one place, which helps performance and saves on monthly fees.
For ads, start small but consistent. Begin with $10–$20 per day on Meta (Facebook/Instagram) to test different creatives and audiences. Don’t expect big results in the first few days, you’re collecting data. Once you find what works, slowly scale up. Focus on testing one anime sub-niche or collection at a time instead of promoting everything at once.
Overall, you’re on the right track. Polish the visuals, add strong upsells and incentives in the cart, and test your ads steadily. With anime merch, consistency and community are everything, keep engaging with fans and refining based on what resonates.
Pertanyaan yang bagus banget! Untuk toko baru, fokus utama sebaiknya di branding dan konsistensi promosi. POD (print-on-demand) masih bisa sangat menguntungkan kalau desainmu punya ciri khas dan sesuai dengan minat audiens. Selain itu, saya biasanya pakai Kalkulator Hari Jadian untuk bantu mengatur jadwal promo dan menentukan momen terbaik buat beriklan. Mulailah dengan anggaran kecil, misalnya $5–$10 per hari, lalu tingkatkan perlahan setelah melihat hasilnya
Ya man i started like less than 2 weeks ago,
Im still figuring out stuff and how to design the website and ya i ordered a few shirts and hoodies to see how they look like and im still redesigning my stuff
But yea thank you for your honest opinion it means alot.