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?

3 comments

3 Comments

reese_lane2918d ago

Haven't you guys ever had a big order that paid for three months of expenses in one shot? I get the appeal of steady small work, but that one 5000-piece order I landed last year covered my rent, my new printer, and gave me breathing room to take on more creative projects without worrying about every little paycheck. Small repeat jobs might be reliable, but they keep you stuck in this grind of constantly producing the same stuff for the same people, and you never get that big jump ahead that lets you actually grow your business or take a real break. The local coffee shop is nice and all, but they'll nickel and dime you with requests for custom tweaks and rush orders while the big customer just sends a clear spec sheet and a check.

wade_young863mo 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_burns963mo 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.