​Product research for Print on Demand: How to find ideas that sell

In Print on Demand (POD), product research isn’t just a task to cross off your list. It’s how you identify market opportunities before they trend, create designs people actually want, and avoid wasting time on product ideas that won’t sell.

Winning brands do research before creating products. Chingasos, for example, found a profitable niche by combining Latino culture with culturally relevant humor – filling a gap the market hadn’t served well.

Want to do the same? This guide will show you how to run successful product research – from understanding customer needs to analyzing competitors. 

How to do product research for POD items: The basics

Let’s look at the typical steps involved in the product research process for print-on-demand businesses. 

1. Identify the niche and target audience

Before searching for trending products, it's essential to understand your target audience. 

Start with your business idea. Maybe you want to sell vintage tees, mugs, or hoodies, but who are they for? The more specific your target market, the better your chances of finding product ideas that actually sell.

In your customer research, ask yourself:

• What do my target customers care about?

• What influences their buying habits – price, identity, trends, values?

• What is missing in the market for my target demographic?

• If you have existing products, which ones do they continue to buy?
  
  

Let’s look at an example. Gay Pride Apparel began with a simple mission: to help the LGBTQ+ community express their pride all year round. The founders noticed that after July, most stores stopped selling Pride products. 

That gap became their opportunity. Instead of making generic rainbow tees, they created products inspired by real moments and trends within the LGBTQ+ community. 

Their t-shirt designs felt personal and meaningful – something their potential customers actually wanted to wear.

Unsure where to start? Begin with what matters to you. A niche you understand is always easier to serve. Then, consider what types of products your target audience might love, and where the market is less crowded.

Don’t overlook customer input either. Read reviews of similar products, browse Reddit threads, or run informal polls on social media to spot unmet needs.

Read more: Critical Print on Demand mistakes and how to avoid them 

2. Analyze demand and search volume

The next step is to validate the product ideas through market research. You need to know how many people are searching for this item and whether the demand is strong enough to build a brand around it. 

Focus on whether the market size is large enough to support your business and whether the niche is already saturated.

Additionally, consider whether the product has seasonal or evergreen demand. Seasonal products – like Christmas sweaters – spike at specific times of year. Evergreen items – like tote bags or phone cases – have steady interest year-round.

Start by checking Google Trends, which lets you compare multiple search terms to spot market trends across different timeframes. 

To dig deeper, use keyword research tools like Ahrefs, which is what we use at Printful. These platforms suggest Google searches related to your ideas, uncovering profitable products you might not have considered yet.

Also, look at what’s trending on Etsy, Amazon, or TikTok Shop. Check how recently the product has been selling and whether similar items are gaining traction. 

3. Research your competitors

The next step is analyzing who else is selling similar items. This is where competitor research comes in.

This process helps you understand the competitive landscape – what other brands are offering, how they’re positioning their products, and where there might be room for something better. 

Even in a crowded niche, you can still gain a competitive edge if you spot something your competitors are missing.

Use these questions to guide your competitive analysis:

• What types of designs are other sellers using?

• How much are they charging, and does the price match the quality?

• How do customers feel about the product features?

• What do their product descriptions say about who they’re selling to or what makes their product different?
  
  

Read more: Step-by-step guide to find low-competition Etsy niches

4. Validate the product’s profitability

Once you’ve found some good product ideas, the next step is figuring out how much you’ll actually make from them.

POD services offer a range of items at varying prices, so it’s worth comparing different companies before committing to one option. Check out our guide on where to source products for more information. 

Let’s say you’re launching a personalized gift store and debating whether to sell custom hoodies or scented candles. Both product categories are available in Printful’s Catalog. 

In most cases, a 20-40% profit margin is a healthy range for POD products. But how you price depends on the research you’ve already done: your niche, target audience, product demand, and the type of store you’re building. 

Also, factor in how much it costs to sell on platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce, as well as any tools or add-ons you're using.

Here’s a simplified margin comparison using Shopify’s Basic plan as an example:

At a glance, candles seem like the more cost-effective option. However, don’t base your decision solely on numbers. Refer back to what you uncovered during your earlier data collection and market analysis to select the product that best suits your business. 

5. Do concept testing

Even with thorough product research, it’s still important to test your ideas in real market conditions.

In the product development process, this step is known as concept testing – presenting early versions of your product to see if customers are likely to buy.

The best part about Print on Demand is that there’s no upfront cost or inventory required. You can start listing products right away and gather real data from actual purchases.

Use concept testing in your research process to understand:

• Which designs or messages resonate most with your potential customers.

• How different price points affect conversions.

• Which product categories generate more interest for a specific concept.
  
  

Consider testing by launching the same design across a product line, creating variations of an artwork for the same target customer, or experimenting with pricing and positioning. 

Monitor your analytics during these tests. Printful’s built-in statistics tool helps track monthly revenue, order volume, and profit. Pair that with your eCommerce platform’s data to get a complete picture of your product’s performance.

What are the best product research methods for POD sellers?

The most effective product research methods for POD sellers involve a combination of several approaches. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones: 

Marketplace product research

Many POD sellers and dropshipping stores sell on online marketplaces because they come with built-in traffic and clear demand signals. To research effectively on these platforms, focus on search trends, sales rankings, and top-performing listings.

Each marketplace caters to a different audience and offers unique insight, so your product and market research should adapt to how each one works. 

Etsy

• Best for niche or personalized POD products.

• Explore Etsy Trends to see what listings are gaining traction.

• Type product ideas into the search bar and check autocomplete suggestions for what customers are actually searching for.
  
  

TikTok Shop

• Best for impulse-buy or trending products, especially for younger audiences. 

• Browse the Shop tab to view the best-selling print-on-demand products. 

• Use TikTok Search to explore videos around your product idea – check engagement levels to assess demand.
  
  

Amazon

• Best for practical, seasonal, or giftable POD items. 

• Research product trends in Best Sellers, New Releases, and Movers & Shakers categories.

• Use the Frequently bought together section to identify bundle opportunities and meet customer needs better. 
  
  

eBay

• Best for evergreen, niche, or collectible-style POD items. 

• Use the Product Research tool to track listing performance across categories and regions.

• eBay Store subscribers can get free access to Sourcing Insights and find profitable products with low competition.
  
  

Trendspotting on social media

Want to sell things people are excited to buy? Social media is one of the best places to spot trends early and conduct new product research. 

If your niche overlaps with your personal interests, your Instagram Explore or TikTok For You page is already a live feed of what’s gaining attention. See what’s gaining likes, shares, and saves – especially recurring themes, viral audio, or fashion trends that keep showing up. 

Alternatively, use platforms like Pinterest Trends or TikTok Creative Center to explore trending keywords, visuals, or hashtags that are rising in popularity. 

These tools can spot print-on-demand design themes, slogans, or seasonal moments worth turning into products.

Social listening and community research

Sometimes, trend-based ideas aren’t enough to fill a real gap in the market. That’s where social listening comes in. 

Social listening means paying attention to what people are saying in online spaces – not just what’s trending, but why it matters to them. This lets you spot niche markets or unmet customer needs that haven’t yet turned into products.

This can look like:

• Joining niche Reddit threads, Facebook Groups, or Discord communities where your target audience hangs out.

• Reading online reviews on platforms like Trustpilot to learn what people love – or what’s missing.

• Looking for repeated questions, complaints, or inside jokes that reveal what matters most to your customers.
  
  

Some sellers go one step further by doing primary research on their target customers. They may:

• Send products to niche influencers for feedback.

• Create short questionnaires to collect insights from survey respondents.

• Run informal focus groups to test ideas or gather opinions before launching.
  
  

These steps can take more time, but even one small action can help you design a product that connects with your audience.

Competitor analysis

We’ve already touched on what to look for during competitor research, but where do you actually go to find this information? 

Fortunately, there’s no need for any fancy tools to get started. Just search your product idea on platforms like Etsy, Amazon, or even Google. Scroll through listings, read reviews, and note what stands out.

For deeper insights, try marketplace tools like eRank, EverBee, and Koala Inspector. They let you input a product or store and view helpful data like pricing strategies, estimated revenue, and top-selling listings. 

Keyword research tools like Ahrefs can also show you what searches your competitors rank for in Google. This helps you understand what terms people are actively searching for and whether there's organic demand for your product idea.

Additionally, check out ad libraries on platforms like TikTok. Search by brand name or product type to view which ads are active and the number of unique viewers they receive. It’s a great way to understand what products are getting attention.

Read more: Useful market research tools for your business

Best product research tools for POD – from beginner to advanced

Let’s look at some of the best product research tools for POD sellers to speed up your process. 

Google Trends

How it works: Go to Google Trends and enter a product idea or topic to see how interest in it has changed over time. Filter by location, time range, category, and search type to spot patterns. 

Skill level: Beginner – free and easy to use. 

Best for:

• Identifying up-and-coming profitable products and print-on-demand niches. 

• Understanding regional or global popularity. 

• Spotting seasonal interest peaks. 
  
  

Pinterest Trends

How it works: Search a keyword in Pinterest Trends to see how interest in that topic changes over time, what related searches are trending, and who’s engaging with it.

Skill level: Beginner – free, visual, and easy to navigate. 

Best for:

• Discovering trends in fashion, weddings, home decor, and holidays. 

• Understanding what your target audience is saving and searching.

• Spotting early interest in niche topics.
  
  

TikTok Creative Center

How it works: Visit TikTok Creative Center to explore trending hashtags, sounds, creators, or videos by region. Filter by industry, timeframe, or sort by engagement metrics like likes, shares, or comments.

Skill level: Beginner – accessible for all TikTok users. 

Best for: 

• Finding viral content ideas and emerging trends. 

• Spotting language, humor, or product descriptions that resonate with younger audiences.

• Identifying design styles that get high engagement.
  
  

Read more: From bland to brilliant: T-shirt description examples and eCommerce best practices

Printful’s Product Catalog

How it works: Access it through the Printful website or directly in your account dashboard. Browse products by category or view AI-powered product recommendations with high profit potential.

Skill level: Beginner – integrated into your POD setup.

Best for:

• Finding reliable, high-performing print-on-demand items.

• Reading real customer and merchant reviews on product quality.

• Experimenting with different designs across potential products.
  
  

EverBee

How it works: Create an EverBee account to access tools like Keyword Research for Etsy SEO and the Profit Calculator to estimate margins. Paid plans unlock detailed data on sales, revenue, and top-performing shops and listings.

Skill level: Beginner to intermediate – free plan available, with advanced features on paid tiers. 

Best for:

• Finding winning POD product ideas based on real Etsy data.

• Discovering high-converting keywords to improve visibility on the marketplace. 

• Validating product pricing, demand, and profit potential to make money on Etsy. 
  
  

Koala Inspector

How it works: Install the Koala Inspector Chrome extension, visit any Shopify store, and instantly view data like top products, monthly traffic trends, and store activity. 

Skill level: Beginner to intermediate – free plan includes 15 tokens to unlock special insights. Upgrade to a paid plan to get unlimited tokens and track up to 50 stores. 

Best for: 

• Analyzing successful Shopify stores in your niche.

• Tracking product launches and popularity over time.

• Seeing which Shopify apps they use, including POD integrations.
  
  

eRank

How it works: Sign up on eRank and connect your Etsy shop to research keywords, track competitors, and compare listings. Also, get insights on which keywords are driving traffic to your shop and what buyers are searching for across Etsy, Amazon, eBay, and more.

Skill level: Beginner to intermediate – free plan available, with expanded features in paid subscriptions. 

Best for:

• Tracking your competitors’ daily sales and keyword trends.

• Comparing your performance against marketplace-wide trends.

• Optimizing listings using data from top-performing Etsy shops.
  
  

Niche Scraper

How it works: Create a Niche Scraper account to start searching for trending products on AliExpress and Shopify. Amazon data and some advanced features require a Pro membership.

Skill level: Beginner to intermediate – quick signup, but many features require a paid plan.

Best for: 

• Finding trending products based on recent order volume and competition levels.

• Analyzing top-performing stores, including traffic and revenue estimates.

• Exploring niche ideas with weekly and yearly revenue reports. 
  
  

Sell The Trend

How it works: Sign up on the Sell The Trend website for a 14‑day free trial – credit card or PayPal required. Use its dropshipping product research tool to explore trending items, check competition levels, view potential profit margins, and more. 

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced – it’s a paid tool with robust analytics and multiple research features. 

Best for: 

• Finding fast‑rising products based on marketplace and ad performance.

• Discovering high‑potential niches with detailed market insights. 

• Validating demand before launching a product using data from other sellers. 
  
  

Read more: Print-on-demand statistics and trends you can't miss

Ready to discover your next best-selling product?

Here’s a quick recap on how to do product research for your print-on-demand store:

1. Identify your niche and audience so you know who you're selling to. 

2. Analyze demand and market size using tools like Google Trends to confirm real interest.

3. Research competitors to spot market gaps and stand out in your niche. 

4. Validate profitability by calculating margins, fees, and expected revenue.

5. Test ideas with Printful’s no-inventory setup and refine your designs based on real data.
   
   

Now it’s time to apply what you’ve learned. Explore Printful’s Product Catalog and start your new product research today – your next bestseller is just one idea away.