Like many other Print-on-Demand sellers I dabble in politics inspired design. People like to broadcast their political affiliation and I’m happy to help them in their aims. But last years, after taking stock, I do have to ask the question, “does politics sell?”.

I have a small set of political designs, but only two of them actually get some traction. The one that gets the most views is the “Make America Royal Again” theme. It did well since the beginning of the first Trump administration. A very problematic regime with a lot of media attention.

Another political hotbed was, and still is, Brexit. A divisive policy that dominates UK media since at least 2016. Yet, barely any traffic to my products. I would expect at least some views, simply because of the hot topic. For my LGBTQ+ designs it is the same story, even though the subject is more moderate and far less divisive.

In contrast, one of my Harry Potter designs is selling like hot cakes. Some years ago I made a stupidly simple neck tie pattern and applied it to decorative ribbons. And every year it produces plenty of sales. Something is going on what I’m missing.

Politics sells, not really

With the last US election, I would expect a big uptick in my US political designs. Not only did this not happen, but it’s actually “crickets”. Even two weeks after the election, barely any traffic. At some point somehow a large part of the US population got fed up with the current political climate.

Since my designs are primarily targeted on a liberal audience, I have to guess that a considerable part of that group is reevaluating their attitude towards society. Perhaps a trend that started in 2016, but that is now quite apparent after the recent traumatic elections. Democrats have to acknowledge that the US society is not one big nation, but is fragmented in separate tribes. One of which, the Republicans, showing ill will to any tribe that is not like them.

So, this is my prediction (for what it’s worth). A large part of the US society, a liberal part, will conclude that they live in a separate community. Separate from any Republican community, which they consider the proverbial “toxic uncle to be avoided at all cost”. It goes even further, already there are speculations in the media about ending friendships and even marriages.

Liberal people will focus on communities in which they feel safe and welcome. For instance the maker community, the cosplay/comic-con crowd or even groups of Harry Potter fans. Take your pick, but it will be a combination of cocooning and exclusively investing time, effort and money in a small set of like-minded people.

For a POD-shop owner that means less focus on politics and more on subjects like Harry Potter. Designing for a political subject is very alluring, due to huge media attention. Safe, pleasant, fun subjects on the other hand actually do sell on a regular basis. Start designing for niches that communities embrace. I predict this will be the future for POD selling for the next decade.