09/10/08

Can You Really Make Money While You Ride?

In a word, YES.  With all of the new companies with POD (Print On Demand), automated shipping and the like you can make money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while you are busy doing the things you love to do. 

I was first exposed to this concept when I started placing some of my designs on CafePress.com.  

Launched in 1999, CafePress.com has empowered individuals, organizations and businesses to create, buy, and sell customized merchandise online using the company's unique print-on-demand and e-commerce services.

Doing so allowed me to sell items that I did not have to produce, warehouse, ship, or maintain credit card services for.  Once a month they send out commission checks.  You do have to create and place your designs on their site.  You then choose from a very large selection of merchandise on which your design will be placed when an order comes in.

You can even start a free store that will let you try it out with one design on all of their products.  If you decide to you can upgrade to a premium store later.  I do feel that the premium store is well worth the price since it allows many designs on all items.

This is also great for individuals with ties to a club or church who is tired of having to order a minimum number of items to sell.  Since the item is not printed until it is ordered you do not end of with too many of one size and not enough of another. 

Many tell me they are not artistic and cannot draw or paint.  The good news is that these are not necessary to create sellable designs.  Check these out:

They offer true royalty-free images to use in your designs (most of the boxed software is not truly royalty free for commercial use, be sure to read the terms).  So not being able to draw or paint should not stop you from creative designs.  What you will need is a decent computer (you do not need a top of the line model), a graphics program such as Paint, Photoshop, or similar, and a desire to create a design that others may want to wear.  I'm sure you have seen people wearing shirts and you think to yourself, "If I were the designer I would have . . ."  This will allow you to test that thought.

Launched in 1999, CafePress.com has empowered individuals, organizations and businesses to create, buy, and sell customized merchandise online using the company's unique print-on-demand and e-commerce services.

What kind of designs sell?  You can check out some of my designs on THEIR SITE.  You can search others designs HERE.

How much can you make?  That depends on you but let me say that some designers are making over $100k a year.  Do I have your interest now?  And the great thing is that once you have your designs posted online you can continue to make money from them even while you take a vacation or work your regular job.  The biggest thrill I get is checking my emails after a day doing what I wanted to do and seeing that several items were sold and I made money while not working.  While you are playing you can think of new designs just remember to keep a writing pad or voice recorder nearby because little things you see will spur your imagination to create even more.

The book, The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Richby Timothy Ferriss, also pointed out more possibilities that I could use to make money without having to do the physical part.  I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in automating an income.  See Book Reviews for more.

I should also point out that this is not the only way to create an automated income and will be adding to this shortly.  Please check back.  If you have any questions or want recommendations just email me at bill@ridingforadventure.com.

How Do You Protect Your Joints From Overuse?

How Many Clothes Do You Carry?

On my cross-country ride I took:

2 - jerseys, 2 - cycling shorts, 3 - pair Wigwam Silver Tempo Pro Quarter Sock F6205, 1 - pair North Face pants with zip-off legs so that I could have long pants or shorts, 1 - Mountain Hardware button up shirt, 1 - Mountain Hardware Windstopper Fleece jacket, 1 - pair Mountain Hardware fleece pants, 1 - pair Power Stretch Gloves by Black Diamond, 1 - Neoprene Half Mask, Black.  This provided me with a good selection of clothing and I don't think I ever needed for anything else.  During summer months I would add a pair of swimming trunks and perhaps a sleeveless jersey or tanktop.  All of this clothing was quick drying (no cotton) and several times I washed them in the shower or sink, allowing them to dry overnight.  When possible I washed in a regular washing machine and dryer.