Just hit 500 custom stickers for a local band and it changed my whole pricing idea

I always thought doing small runs for local groups was more about helping out than making real money. Then this punk band from Dayton ordered 500 stickers for their tour, and I ran the numbers after finishing the job. The profit was way better than I expected, almost double what I make on bigger orders from online shops after all the fees and shipping costs. It made me see that these local jobs aren't just nice to have, they're actually a solid part of the business. I was so focused on chasing the big 5000-piece orders that I missed what was working right here. Now I'm redoing my whole service list to push these smaller local runs more. Has anyone else found their smaller, repeat customers end up being more reliable than the big one-off jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

wade_young861mo ago

Spot on about local work. Those smaller repeat jobs add up without the stress of a single huge order going wrong. I had a coffee shop that orders 200 stickers every few months for their seasonal drinks. That steady cash is way better than chasing one big client who might ghost you after the first job. It lets you plan better and cuts way down on the time you spend looking for new customers.

dakota_burns961mo ago

Totally get that lol. My dumb ass spent a whole year chasing one big condo listing that fell through. Meanwhile my buddy just does three or four small house rentals a month and makes bank without the panic. Steady small stuff is way less of a headache.