How Much Do Artists Earn Selling Prints and Artwork on Society6, Redbubble, Etsy, and Similar Platforms?

The amount an artist can earn from selling prints and artwork on digital platforms such as Society6, Redbubble, and Etsy depends on a variety of factors, including the artist's experience, the popularity of their artwork, and their marketing efforts.

Key Factors Influencing Artist Earnings

Several elements contribute to the earnings of artists on these digital marketplaces. These include the length of time they have been selling, the popularity of the artwork's subject matter, the artist's active online audience, and the level of marketing efforts put forth.

Standard Royalties and Fees

The industry standard for print-on-demand (PoD) companies is typically a 10% royalty for the artist on each sale. However, some platforms such as Redbubble and Society6 allow artists to set their own margins, with a minimum of 20% being recommended to still make a profit, after considering platform fees.

Society6

On Society6, the royalties are straightforward, with a 10% margin on sales. Unfortunately, shipping fees will inevitably reduce the artist's earnings. When setting a 10% margin, it is essential to acknowledge that the artist would earn very little, if anything, after shipping fees are accounted for.

Redbubble

Redbubble, on the other hand, charges higher fees on their Standard tier accounts, amounting to up to 50% of earnings in the early stages of the business. Redbubble's rationale is to encourage originality and drive traffic to the artist's shop, aiming to move to the Premium tier free from fees. This move is meant to deter wannabe artists and scammers who use stock images and clipart to generate sales quickly.

Strategic Pricing on Redbubble and Society6

For artists utilizing Redbubble or Society6, it's important to strategically set their margins. For instance, in my case on Redbubble and Society6, I maintain a margin of 20%, but I have made an exception for stickers. Considering the bulk discount offered by Redbubble for buying 10 stickers, the royalty is slashed by 50%, so I increased the margin to 50% to benefit financially from the sale.

On Society6, I have been a member since 2017. In the early days, art prints were the only items where I could set my markup, and I decided to set it at around 30%. The ability to set marginals on all items was introduced in 2021, and I maintained the 20% markup that I used on Redbubble, recognizing its benefits in terms of customer satisfaction and profit margins.

Etsy: Navigating the Platform

Etsy offers a more customizable pricing model, requiring artists to factor in not only the listing fees and Etsy's commission but also sales taxes, material costs, and shipping expenses. As a commission of around 6% is commonly charged by Etsy, along with the cost of materials and potential shipping charges, artists must meticulously calculate these expenses to find a profitable margin.

Testing Multiple Platforms for Optimal Sales

It is advisable for artists to explore multiple platforms to identify which ones suit their specific artwork and audience. Different platforms have varying levels of fees, customer base, and sales trends. By maintaining a presence on several platforms, artists can build and expand their brand and audience.

Conclusion

The earnings of artists selling prints and artwork online vary widely based on the platform, the type of artwork, and the artist's marketing efforts. Understanding the fees, fees structure, and strategic pricing can significantly influence profits. By conducting thorough research, artists can maximize their earnings through efficient pricing and diversified sales channels.