Let’s be real—phone cases and tote bags are everywhere in 2025. Almost everyone has at least one, and people love showing off unique designs that match their vibe. The cool thing? You don’t need to own a printing machine or spend big money to sell them. Thanks to print-on-demand (POD), you can just focus on the creative part—designing—and let the platform handle the production and shipping.
Yep, this is a perfect side hustle for high schoolers who love art, doodling, or even just playing around with Canva.
What is Print-on-Demand?
Print-on-demand is a system where you upload your design (like on a phone case, tote bag, or even hoodie), and when someone buys it, the platform automatically prints and ships it to the customer. No inventory, no packaging—super low risk.
Some popular POD platforms:
- Redbubble
- Teespring
- Printify
- Etsy (connected to POD services)
Why It’s a Smart Side Hustle in 2025
- No upfront cost → you don’t need stock, just your creativity.
- Global market → your designs can be bought by people worldwide.
- Trendy items → phone cases and tote bags are everyday essentials.
- Low effort after setup → design once, earn every time someone buys.
- Creative freedom → you decide the style: cute, aesthetic, funny, or minimal.
What Kind of Designs Work Well?
- Aesthetic quotes → short texts with cool fonts.
- Minimalist doodles → simple line art or icons.
- Pop culture vibes → inspired by trending memes or shows (but avoid copyright!).
- School life themes → “exam mood,” “study aesthetic,” “coffee & books.”
- Customizable ideas → leave space for names or initials.
Skills You Need
- Basic design (Canva, Photoshop, or Procreate if you like drawing).
- Knowing what’s trending (check TikTok aesthetics or Pinterest).
- Creativity (combine colors, fonts, and layouts).
Don’t worry—you don’t need to be a pro artist. Even simple, clean designs can sell well if the vibe is right.
How to Get Started
- Pick a niche → Decide on a theme (aesthetic, motivational, kawaii, etc.).
- Create designs → Use Canva or drawing apps.
- Upload to POD platforms → Choose products like phone cases or tote bags.
- Promote → Share designs on TikTok, Instagram, or Pinterest.
- Engage your audience → Ask followers what design they want next.
Potential Earnings
Let’s say a phone case sells for $20. On POD, you might earn around $5–7 profit per case.
- If you sell 20 cases in a month → that’s $100–140.
- Add tote bags (profit ~$8 each), and it stacks up.
- As your designs grow, you can have multiple products selling passively every month.
Why Teens Will Love This Hustle
- Flexible → create designs whenever inspiration hits.
- Fun → it feels like making art, but with extra cash.
- Portfolio-worthy → looks great if you want to study design or marketing later.
- Scalable → one good design can sell for years.
💡 Bottom line: Designing phone cases and tote bags with print-on-demand is a side hustle that’s equal parts creative and profitable. You don’t need huge capital—just ideas, a laptop/phone, and some time to design. Imagine turning your doodles or Canva experiments into real products people around the world carry every day. That’s next-level cool. 🚀
