STRUGGLE WITH SELLING

I wonder if many of our struggles with "selling" what we offer really stem from one truth: we don't want to be sold to anymore. I don't know about you, but I am so tired of the inbox. Every day, I delete a flood of offers, usually from the same handful of businesses, all disguised as something valuable. Every now and then, someone shares an insight worth keeping, but mostly it's just noise. (Note to self: unsubscribe.)

I don’t see myself as a salesman. Maybe you don’t either. So how do those of us who don’t love shouting from the rooftops get our products and services noticed, without just adding to the chaos?

Years ago, I heard someone say, "if you know why someone would want or need your product or service, you won’t need a sales tactic." Instead you just explain how it helps them. Selling is just sharing value, it's an exchange.

That’s stayed with me. Because the truth is, when you design or create with purpose, your product doesn’t need a slick pitch. It simply needs the right words to connect with the right person.

Think about it this way, your product is a solution to someone’s desire, need, or story.

But what about Print on Demand or digital products? Do people really need these “simple” products? It’s easy to second-guess this thought process with everyday items like mugs or tea towels. Does anyone really need another mug?

The answer is yes. Not just for utility (we all need enough dishes and linens for our homes to function well), but also for meaning.

For example, I keep a set of mugs and tea towels in my kitchen because they’re practical. But when I buy for someone else, like a gift for my mother-in-law, I don’t just want to hand her a plain mug. I want to give her something thoughtful. Maybe a tea towel with hydrangeas, because she loves them, or a mug with an aloe plant, because that’s something we connect over.

Suddenly, it’s not “just a mug.” It’s a reminder of connection, thoughtfulness, and care.

And even for myself, I’ll sometimes pick up a seasonal tea towel, not because I don’t already have enough, but because I love having something special that makes my home feel warm and inviting.

Here’s the beautiful part, if you create around things that you truly love and enjoy, you’ll attract people that share that love. When you put hydrangeas on a towel or sketch a whimsical bird on a mug, someone out there feels seen. They’ll think, “Oh! That’s exactly what I was looking for. I didn’t even know I needed this.” And you'll have created a connection with them. They'll wonder what else you offer and even come back over time.

So if you are designing around things that you love and enjoy, then the people that love those things as well will be so thankful that you created products made just for them.

“To love what you do and feel that it matters, how could anything be more fun?” -Katharine Graham

You don’t have to be like everyone else. In fact, it's preferred that you aren't.

Simply... create from joy. Share what you love. Trust that the right people will connect with it. Because at the end of the day, your products aren’t just “things.” They are tiny bridges of connection, those reminders of love, shared stories, and beauty brought into ordinary life.

That’s worth more than any sales tactic.

Warmest regards,

P.S. Maybe you’ve been nodding along while reading this because you want to create and sell meaningful products. You just need a plan that feels doable. That’s exactly why I created my Designed Simply Membership. Inside, you’ll find clarity on how to create products that sell and you'll see the tried-and-true systems I use in my own Print on Demand business, so you can start moving forward with confidence. You can learn more here.