The Art (and Science) of Creating T-Shirts That Sell Like Crazy | Michael Essek

Video Description

#543 What if you could turn funny ideas into a six-figure print-on-demand empire? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, UK-based entrepreneur Michael Essek shares how he went from graphic designer to globally successful t-shirt seller using platforms like Redbubble, Amazon Merch on Demand, and Etsy. Michael breaks down the numbers game behind early traction, the art of creating viral designs, and how humor, trend awareness, and adaptability became his superpowers. You'll learn why over-designing can kill creativity, what separates a funny joke from a bestselling shirt, and how his idea-generation platform Idealy is helping creatives shortcut success. Whether you're a designer, copywriter, or curious entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical tips! What we discuss with Michael: 0:00 The Journey Begins: From Web Design to T-Shirts 4:25 Early Successes and the Power of Print-on-Demand 8:50 Scaling Up: Amazon Merch and Business Growth 13:15 Diversifying: Art Licensing, Brands, and Education 17:40 The Numbers Game: Quality vs. Quantity in Design 22:05 Finding Your Niche: Trends, Jokes, and Audience 26:30 Originality vs. Inspiration: Standing Out in the Market 30:55 Brand Strategy: One Umbrella or Many Mini-Brands? 35:20 The Creative Process: Iteration, Perfection, and AI Tools 39:45 Tools, Tips, and the Future: AI, Quality, and Final Advice Thank you, Michael! Check out Michael Essek at ⁠MichaelEssek.com (https://www.michaelessek.com/)⁠. Check out Idealy at ⁠Idealy.app (https://idealy.app/)⁠. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training (https://www.millionaireuniversity.com/training)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And follow us on: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/millionaire_university_mu/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MillionaireUniversityMU/) Tik Tok (https://www.tiktok.com/@millionaireuniversity_mu?lang=en) Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyG31bPcrqhbjvGsuz-JaXw) Twitter (https://twitter.com/Millionaire_Uni) To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors (https://www.millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors) . Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here (https://www.millionaireuniversity.com/podcast) ! #entrepreneurship #printondemand #tshirtdesign #creativebusiness