One of the things I’ve realized as I build my online t-shirt business is that it is important to stay ahead of the game. As far ahead as six months, at least. It’s important to think about what buyers will be looking for in six months. This may sound obvious to some, even to me. But I don’t have any Obama inauguration designs in my shop. Do you? It never crossed my mind.

But I was browsing through the Cafepress group on Yahoo and there was a posting from the affiliate manager at Cafepress. Something about how the day after the election was the single largest affiliate sales day in 2008, and how they are expecting high demand for election and inauguration gear leading up to January 20th.

Damn.

After hearing the success stories after the 2004 election, I had plans to build a large election themed shop for 2008. Maybe even two, one for each candidate. But last spring I just couldn’t get into it. I made a few crappy designs and lost interest. I then kicked myself when other shopkeepers were posting their crazy high election earnings. But by then it was too late, I thought. The election was over. I never in a thousand years would have thought to design some inauguration stuff.

So maybe I’ll put up a few designs and see if I can salvage the opportunity. But one thing’s for sure. I’m already planning a shop for 2012.

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