🎄 What You Really Need to Know
- Best Money Maker: Metal Sled Ornament (profit: $7.75 each)
- Strongest Option: Acrylic Ornament (won't break when dropped)
- Budget-Friendly: Metal Circle Ornament ($8.82 total cost)
- Real Success Story: One seller made $3,800 from just one design
- Money-Saving Secret: Printify Premium membership saves $2 per ornament
- Perfect Price Point: Sell for $16.95 + $4.95 shipping
📑 What's in This Guide
- The Christmas Ornament Market in 2024
- All About Ornament Materials
- The Amazing Metal Sled Ornament
- Clear Acrylic Ornaments
- Metal Circle and Shape Ornaments
- Ceramic Ornaments
- Wooden Heart Ornaments
- How to Price Your Ornaments Right
- Shipping Tips and Tricks
- Making Designs That Sell
- Where to Sell Your Ornaments
- Common Questions
The Christmas Ornament Market in 2024 🎄
Hi! I'm Simran, and I've been making and selling Christmas ornaments since 2016. Let me tell you something amazing: people are buying Christmas ornaments all year round now! One seller I know made 548 sales of just one ornament between January and June. That's not even during Christmas season!
My Real Experience: When I started selling ornaments, I only listed them in October through December. Big mistake! Last summer, I tried selling "Christmas in July" ornaments and made over 200 sales. People love buying ornaments for birthdays, anniversaries, and even as memory keepers throughout the year.
All About Ornament Materials 🎨
I've tested every type of ornament you can imagine. Here's what I've learned about each one:
| Type | Good Things | Not So Good Things | How Much It Costs | Who Loves It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Sled | Looks expensive, very strong | Costs more to make | $12.32 | People who want something special |
| Acrylic | Clear like glass but won't break | Shows fingerprints easily | $10-12 | Families with young kids |
| Metal Circle | Great for photos, affordable | Feels lightweight | $8.82 | Photo gift buyers |
| Ceramic | Traditional look | Can break in shipping | $8-10 | Traditional gift givers |
| Wood | Natural, rustic look | Limited color options | $5.98 | Country style lovers |
Popular Christmas Ornament Collections for 2024 🎄
Before we dive into the details, here are the most popular collections you can explore right now:
Personalized Family Ornaments
Browse Classic Collection →- Acrylic baubles with custom names
- Family tree designs
- First Christmas commemoratives
- Starting at $9.32
Political Commemorative Collection
View Political Collection →- Limited edition designs
- Patriotic themes
- Collector's editions
- Special pricing from $9.32
Budget-Friendly Family Ornaments
Shop Affordable Collection →- Custom family designs
- Multiple family sizes
- Premium quality, affordable prices
- All under $19
The Amazing Metal Sled Ornament: The Top Seller 🛷
This is the newest ornament from Printify, and it's already my best seller. Here's why people love it:
- Costs: $8.33 + $3.99 shipping = $12.32 total
- Made of solid metal that feels heavy in your hand
- Comes with a beautiful brown burlap string
- Colors print exactly like they look on your computer
- Looks like something from an expensive store like Hallmark
Real Story: Last month, I sold 89 sled ornaments to a company for their employee Christmas gifts. They chose this one because it looked more expensive than it actually was. The metal finish really makes it look special.
Money Breakdown for Sled Ornament:
- Your Cost: $12.32
- Selling Price: $16.95
- Shipping You Charge: $4.95
- Total Customer Pays: $21.90
- Your Profit After Fees: $7.75
Clear Acrylic Ornaments: The Unbreakable Choice 💎
The acrylic ornament is perfect if you're worried about breakage. Here's what's special about it:
- Looks like glass but won't break if dropped
- Bigger than most other ornaments
- Comes with a pretty gold string
- See-through design looks great on any tree
- Perfect for showing photos or double-sided designs
Shipping Tip: I dropped one of these during a video test - it bounced! That's why I never worry about them breaking in shipping. I just wrap them in tissue paper and they arrive perfect every time.
Metal Circle and Shape Ornaments: The Budget-Friendly Option 🏅
These are the most affordable ornaments that still look great. Here's what you get:
- Four shape choices: circle, oval, Christmas tree, or bell
- Super crisp printing - perfect for detailed designs
- Costs only $3.33 (plus $5.49 shipping)
- Very light - cheap to ship
- Great for photo ornaments
Photo Success Story: I made $2,400 last year just selling photo ornaments using the metal circle shape. People love adding family photos or pet pictures, especially for "Baby's First Christmas" gifts.
Ceramic Ornaments: The Traditional Choice 🎨
Ceramic ornaments come in heart and circle shapes. They're tricky but can be worth it:
- Heart Shape:
- Clean, crisp designs
- Colors are slightly brighter than digital designs
- Popular for family ornaments
- Circle Shape:
- Most traditional look
- Can have print quality issues
- Need extra care in shipping
Important Warning: I stopped selling ceramic ornaments during summer months. The heat during shipping can sometimes affect the print quality. I only offer these from September to December now.
Wooden Heart Ornaments: The Natural Choice 🌳
The wooden heart ornament is special because it's made from real wood. Here's what you need to know:
- Costs $5.98 with Printify Premium ($8.13 without)
- Comes in 6 different shapes
- Has a small magnet on the back
- Made from real wood
Important Details I Found: The string it comes with is a waxy paper material and comes pre-tied in a knot. You'll need to untie it to put it on the ornament. This takes extra time when filling orders.
Things to Watch Out For:
- The heart shape is longer on one side than the other
- White backing behind letters shows through
- Small splinters around the string hole sometimes
- Design looks slightly raised, like a sticker
How to Price Your Ornaments Right 💰
Basic Pricing Formula That Works:
| Ornament Type | Your Cost | Selling Price | Shipping Fee | Your Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Sled | $12.32 | $16.95 | $4.95 | $7.75 |
| Acrylic | $11.00 | $15.95 | $4.95 | $7.25 |
| Metal Circle | $8.82 | $13.95 | $4.95 | $7.50 |
| Wooden Heart | $5.98 | $12.95 | $4.95 | $8.95 |
My Best Pricing Secret: I always include the shipping cost separately instead of building it into the price. Why? People compare base prices first, and my ornaments look cheaper in search results. They still pay the same total, but I get more clicks and sales.
Shipping Tips and Tricks 📦
How to Pack Different Ornaments:
- Metal Sled:
- Wrap in bubble wrap once
- Add tissue paper for nice presentation
- Can ship in a padded envelope
- Acrylic:
- Tissue paper is enough
- Use rigid mailer to prevent bending
- Ceramic:
- Double bubble wrap
- Must use a box
- Add "Fragile" sticker
Money-Saving Tip: I buy all my shipping supplies in July when stores put Christmas stuff on clearance. I save about 75% on tissue paper and boxes this way.
Making Designs That Sell Well 🎨
Most Popular Design Types:
- Family Designs
- Family names with "Est. [Year]"
- "Baby's First Christmas" themes
- Family member count designs
- Pet family portraits
- Special Events
- Wedding commemoratives
- New home celebrations
- Memorial ornaments
- Graduation years
- Current Events
- Solar eclipse themes
- Year-specific memories
- Local event commemoratives
Color Tips from Experience: Dark red and green show up best on metal ornaments. On acrylic, metallic colors like gold and silver look amazing. For wood, stick to darker colors because light ones don't show up well.
Where to Sell Your Ornaments 🛍️
| Platform | Good Points | Watch Out For | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | Lots of buyers looking for ornaments | 20¢ listing fee per item | Custom and personalized designs |
| Your Own Website | No listing fees | Need to bring your own traffic | Bulk orders and returning customers |
| Amazon Handmade | Huge customer base | Higher fees | Non-personalized ornaments |
Platform Success Story: I made my first $1,000 on Etsy just selling memorial ornaments. People searched for "memorial Christmas ornament" even in March and April.
Common Questions People Ask ❓
About Quality:
Q: Do these ornaments look cheap?
A: The metal sled and acrylic ornaments look like store-bought quality. The metal circle ones are good but lighter weight.
Q: Will the design scratch off?
A: No. The designs are printed directly onto the material, not stickers. I've had my test ornaments for over a year with no scratching.
About Ordering:
Q: How long does it take to get ornaments?
A: Usually 5-7 business days from ordering to delivery with Printify.
Q: Can I order just one ornament?
A: Yes! There's no minimum order amount.
About Designs:
Q: Can I put any photo on these?
A: Yes, but photos work best on metal and acrylic ornaments. The resolution needs to be at least 300 DPI for good quality.
Most Common Question I Get: "Will it arrive before Christmas?" Start putting your Christmas shipping deadlines in your listings as early as October to avoid last-minute stress.
Final Expert Tips for Success 🌟
- Start selling ornaments in July when people aren't thinking about Christmas yet - less competition
- Save money by signing up for Printify Premium as soon as you sell 15 ornaments a month
- Take your own photos of the ornaments - they look better than computer mock-ups
- Keep track of which designs sell best and make similar ones
- Always order a sample before listing a new ornament design
Final Piece of Advice: Don't try to sell every type of ornament at once. Start with one style (I recommend the metal sled), master it, then add other types as you grow.