Welcome Back To Side Hustle Weekly!

I’m excited to share with you another great side hustle you can start today! Today we will be discussing how you can start a profitable print-on-demand store.

Before We Get Started Here’s Your News Recap:

📊 Bond Investors Embrace Risk Amid “Goldilocks” Outlook
With the Fed poised to hold rates steady (4.25–4.50%), investors are rekindling appetite for corporate bonds and longer duration—even as growth remains solid. Market pricing shows a 65% probability of a rate cut in September, aligning with modest inflation and tight labor trends.

🤝 U.S.–EU Trade Pact Shores Up Markets
A newly struck U.S.–EU deal slashed import tariffs to 15% and secured commitments for $600B in European investments—halving trade war fears and bolstering investor sentiment.

🌏 U.S.–China Talks Resume in Stockholm Amid Tense Deadline
Top officials from both countries reconvened in Sweden—critical to extending a trade truce that could otherwise expire on August 12, potentially triggering steep tariffs up to 145% on select goods.

💊 AstraZeneca Reports Strong Q2, Eyes $80B U.S. Revenue by 2030
Fueled by solid sales of Tagrisso, Lynparza, and kidney-disease treatments, AstraZeneca grew revenues to $14.46B and raised its interim dividend by 3%. The firm maintains its 2025 guidance despite ongoing U.S. pharma tariffs.

📦 UPS Profit Slips, Delays Annual Outlook Again
UPS posted a modest profit miss and again refused to provide annual guidance—blaming trade uncertainty and a sharp drop (34.8%) in China-to-U.S. parcel volume after duty-free removals. Shares dropped ~3% pre-market.

🏥 UnitedHealth Lowers EPS Forecast Amid Higher Costs
UnitedHealth reinstated its full-year guidance, targeting $16 EPS, after raising 2025 medical cost estimates by $6.5B. Shares slid ~4%, extending a tough run in 2025.

🌍 Stellantis Warns of €1.7B Tariff Hit, Guides Lower Margins
The automaker now expects a €1.7B impact on operating income in 2025 due to U.S. tariffs, with second-half margins forecast in the low-single digits. Stock fell nearly 5% on the warning .

🛢️ Oil Pulls Back Slightly After Strong Moves
Brent slipped to $70.26/barrel and WTI to $66.60, paring gains after recent trade-driven rallies. Investors are eyeing today's Fed outcome for further market direction.

⚪ Aluminum Supply Shifts to Avoid U.S. Tariffs
Canadian aluminum producers are rerouting exports away from the U.S. after import duties doubled to 50%—underscoring supply chain disruption tied to trade friction.

🛫 U.S. Travel Bookings Surge; Carriers Optimistic
A rebound in August travel demand sparked upbeat guidance from United, Southwest, Hilton, Wyndham, and others. Airlines report stable corporate booking patterns, with Wyndham citing rising room revenues in the Midwest.

✈️ JetBlue Posts Smaller Loss, Gets U.S. Approval for United Deal
Improved demand and cost restructuring halved Q2 losses for JetBlue, whose shares jumped ~12%. The company also secured regulatory clearance for its partnership with United Airlines.

💡 IMF Forecasts U.S. Growth Up to 1.9%, Cautions on Tariff Risks
The IMF nudged U.S. 2025 GDP forecasts from 1.8% to 1.9%, while flagging continued trade policy uncertainty as a key inflation and investment risk. Tariff revenues will partially offset fiscal deficits.

🏦 Loss of Central Bank Independence Could Destabilize Markets
IMF analysts warned that undermining Fed credibility amid political friction could de-anchor inflation expectations and lead to macro instability—particularly if rate guidance becomes erratic.

📈 Wall Street futures up ~0.3–0.4%, with record S&P and Nasdaq opens despite jittery bond and oil markets.
Featured earnings include UnitedHealth, Boeing, UPS and major tech giants—all under watch for Fed outlook cues.

💸 Citadel revises rail deal news, confirming Union Pacific’s $85B acquisition of Norfolk Southern—creating a coast-to-coast freight powerhouse.

The Potential of P.O.D.

If you've ever wanted to build an e-commerce brand without managing stock, renting a warehouse, or shipping boxes out of your garage, Print-on-Demand (POD) might be your perfect entry point.

Whether you're an artist, meme creator, fashion lover, or marketer—POD lets you sell custom t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, posters, and more without ever touching a product. And with the right niche, designs, and strategy, hitting $5K–$10K per month is 100% possible (and scalable).

Let’s break down exactly how to get started and turn this side hustle into a full-fledged brand.

Step-by-Step: How to Start Your POD Business

Step 1: Pick Your Profitable Niche

Don’t just start a “shirt store.” Instead, target a specific audience: dog moms, gym rats, entrepreneurs, cat lovers, gamers, nurses, etc.
The more specific, the better.

Look for niches that:

• Have active communities

• Are passionate and willing to spend

• Have humor, quotes, or icons you can use in designs

Step 2: Design Your Products

You don’t need to be a graphic designer. Here’s how:

• Use Canva, Kittl, or Fiverr to create designs

• Focus on text-based or simple graphic designs that speak to your niche

• Aim for 10–20 solid designs to start

Start with high-demand items:

• T-shirts

• Hoodies

• Mugs

• Tote bags

• Stickers

Step 3: Set Up Your Store

The easiest route? Use Shopify + a POD app like:

• Printful

• Printify

• Gelato

• SPOD

These platforms connect to your store and automatically print & ship your items when someone orders.

Add key pages:

• Home

• About

• FAQ

• Contact

• Return Policy

Step 4: Price for Profit

Let’s say you sell a hoodie for $49.99.
Printify’s cost: $22
Your profit: ~$28 (before ad spend)

Make sure to:

• Price with a healthy margin (aim for 2x–3x the product cost)

• Include shipping where possible

• Use upsells (like adding a mug or sticker)

Step 5: Start Marketing Like a Pro

Organic Growth:

• Create niche TikTok/Instagram pages

• Post memes, reels, and UGC

• Use trending sounds and hashtags

• Add links in bio to your store

Paid Ads:

• Run Facebook or TikTok ads to your bestsellers

• Use lookalike audiences and video creatives

• Start small ($20–$50/day) and scale winners

Influencer Shoutouts:

• DM micro-influencers to wear/feature your product

• Offer affiliate codes or one-time payments

What You Need to Get Started

Tools & Platforms:

• Shopify (storefront)

• Printify or Printful (POD integration)

• Canva or Figma (design)

• TikTok / Instagram (marketing)

• Klaviyo or Mailchimp (email marketing)

• ReConvert (post-purchase upsells)

Suggested Products to Boost Results:

• Ring light (for creating social content)

• Canva Pro

• TikTok Ads Manager account

• Tripod or phone mount

• Laptop or tablet with internet access

How Much Can You Make Per Month? (Estimation)

With strong branding, smart ads, and repeat customers, a POD business can realistically hit $5K–$10K/month in profit within 3–6 months.

Pros, Cons & Requirements

✅ Pros

• Low startup cost

• No inventory or shipping

• Scalable & hands-free

• Great for creative entrepreneurs

• Can become a long-term brand

❌ Cons

• High competition

• Thin margins if not priced properly

• Needs consistent marketing

• Quality control is in the supplier’s hands

⚙️ Requirements

• Internet access & laptop

• Basic design or outsourcing skills

• Marketing strategy (organic or paid)

• A reliable POD partner

• Consistency & willingness to test

Final Thoughts & Summary

The Print-on-Demand model is the perfect blend of creativity, automation, and scalability. Whether you're launching meme shirts for gamers or elegant mugs for yoga moms, the potential is massive — if you treat it like a real business.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Choose a hyper-targeted niche

• Focus on high-margin, high-volume products

• Use TikTok & Instagram to build free attention

• Automate fulfillment with Printify or Printful

• Outsource designs or content to scale faster

• Use upsells and email to boost lifetime value

With just a laptop and a few smart moves, you could be on your way to building a brand that prints money — literally.

That’s A Wrap

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and if you have any questions about the post, upcoming posts, how to advertise, or anything else, feel free to reply. See you next time with another money-making post, helping you boost your income!

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.