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Contents
December 2021 ............................................................................................................................................. 3
December at a Glance ................................................................................................................................... 5
December’s Offbeat Holidays with Keywords ............................................................................................. 11
Niche: Winter Wreaths............................................................................................................................ 17
Niche: Cryptocurrency Holidays and New Year ....................................................................................... 24
Niche: Aesthetic Christmas Trees and Reindeers .................................................................................... 31
Niche: Meditation ................................................................................................................................... 36
December Graphics .................................................................................................................................... 44
December: In Closing.................................................................................................................................. 46
Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................................... 49

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 December 2021

December is the best time of

year to consider the
unforgettable and insightful
words of F. Scott Fitzgerald:

“The test of a first-rate

intelligence is the ability to
hold two opposing ideas in
mind at the same time and
still retain the ability to function."

As a smart, battle-tested Mercher, you know that

the final weeks of the year require a thoughtful
compartmentalization of one's time and design
focus in order to avoid one of the biggest pitfalls of

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the Q4 sales season -- a precipitous decline in Q1
sales.

December 2021 should be as much about Q1 prep

as it is about a strong finish to Q4. In this month's
guide, there are two paramount goals: to prepare
you for the last minute Q4 surge and the narrow
areas of strong consumer interest to anticipate in
Q1.

Let's dive into December.

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 December at a Glance

December is the
calendar equivalent of
the age old question: Is
the glass half empty or
is it half full?
For many Merchers,
the answer will change
depending on which half of the month they are in
when asked that question.
The first half of December can be lush with
holiday sales. The second half could fall flat, as
shopping winds down and the land of milk and
honey suddenly dries up.

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It all goes back to the central argument of
December being a tale of two cities. If you play your
cards right and strike aggressively at both last
minute Q4 niches and early Q1 niches, you'll be in a
better spot than most to carry Q4 momentum into
the New Year.

• On either side of the equation, December -- the

12th and final month of the year -- is about
diversity of feelings, thoughts and emotion.
• For some, December is a stressful, somber time of
year. For others, it's all about light and joy.
Mental health suffers tremendously this time of
year. Alcohol consumption and domestic violence
see a drastic increase. On the other side of the
coin, there's optimism about a New Year. And

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 millions of people will make resolutions to ensure
than 2022 is better than 2021.
• Keeping all of these issues in mind while
simultaneously designing for niches and niche
audiences that experience these issues most
intensely is the key to success in POD everywhere
from MBA to KDP.
• This month, lots of ideas and niches are hot but in
the Northern Hemisphere, December is cold!
Officially kicking off winter, December is the
month with the shortest daylight hours. On the
other hand, in the Southern Hemisphere,
December brings with it the longest daylight
hours of the year.
• As always, for eCommerce and POD sellers,
December is dominated by the religious and
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 holiday niches, as well as cold weather themes.
Hot themes this month include snow, ice, holiday
observances and parties, worship services, acts of
charity and kindness, festive decorations, gift
giving, busy stores and retail sales, seasonal
foods/treats, family gatherings, stuffy noses and
sickness, and planning for the new year.
• This year, the travel niche has bounced back in a
big way, and sales are steadily climbing for
designs (on tshirts and novelty products)
pertinent to air travel, road travel, and vacations.
• Colors strongly associated with December include
red, green, white, black, blue and cream.
• December's zodiac signs are Sagittarius
(November 22 - December 21) and Capricorn
(December 22 - January 19).
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• December's birthstones are turquoise, zircon, and
tanzanite
• Prominent flowers in December include narcissus,
holly, and poinsettia
• Major observances/holidays over the coming
weeks include Hanukkah (November 28 -
December 6), Winter Solstice (December 21),
Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Eve
(December 31).
• The Month of December is:
o Art and Architecture o Made in America
Month Month
o Egg Nog Month o National Drunk and
o Handwashing Drugged Driving (3D)
Awareness Month Prevention Month
o Learn a Foreign o National Fruit Cake
Language Month Month

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o National Identity o Sign Up for Summer
Theft Prevention and Camp Month
Awareness Month o Stress-Free Family
o National Pear Month Holidays Month
o Noodle Ring Month o Tomato and Winter
o Procrastination Squash Month
Awareness Month o Tropical Fruits Month
o Read a New Book o Universal Human
Month Rights Month
o Root Vegetable o World AIDS
Month Awareness Month
o Safe Toys and Gifts o Write a Friend Month
Month

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 December’s Offbeat Holidays with Keywords

December 1: World Aids Awareness Day

• AIDS support • AIDS awareness

• AIDS facts ribbon
• World AIDS • AIDS and HIV
Awareness Day awareness
• Fight AIDS and HIV

December 2: National Fritters Day

• Dessert fritters • Funny fritters

• Fritters carbs • Apple fritters
• Donut fritter • Corn fritters

December 3: National Roof over Your Head Day

• Roofer pun • Roofing quote

• Roofer meme • 2021 / 2022 Roofer
• Roofer construction retired
• Roofing company
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December 4: Santa's' List Day

• Santa meme • Santa's checklist

• Santa Christmas • Santa's list
meme • Christmas list

December 6: Bartender Appreciation Day

• 2022 bartender • Bartending quote

• Bartender advice • Bartender mix
• Bartender • Bartender
appreciation weekends
• Bartending school

December 7: Letter Writing Day

• Doctor handwriting • Penmanship

• Funny handwriting • Mailing letters
• Handwritten letter

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December 10: Human Rights Day

• Human rights • Human rights quote

politics • Human rights
• Human rights activist
women • Human rights
• Human rights equality
awareness

December 12: Poinsettia Day

• Holiday poinsettias • Poinsettias

• Poinsettia Christmas flower
watercolor • Poinsettia wreath

December 13: Violin Day

• Violin practice • Violin music

• Violin player • Violin teacher

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December 14: International Monkey Day

• Christmas monkey • Monkey bananas

• Monkey meme • Monkey sarcastic
• Monkey quote

December 17: National Maple Syrup Day

• Maple syrup • Maple syrup

• Keto pancakes breakfast
• Syrup pun • Maple syrup
pancakes

December 18: Bake Cookies Day

• Christmas cookies • Santa cookies

tester meme
• Keto cookies • Christmas cookie
• Vegan cookies joke
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December 20: Go Caroling Day

• Caroling • Caroling choir

• Sarcastic Christmas • Caroling songs
caroling

December 24: National Egg Nog Day

• Egg nog meme • Egg nog lover

• Christmas egg nog • Drink egg nog

December 26: National Candy Cane Day

• Sarcastic candy • Bigfoot candy cane

cane • Candy cane meme
• Alien candy cane • Candy cane pun

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December 26: Boxing Day

• Boxing Day 2021 • America Canada

• Boxing Day Canada boxing day
• Boxing Day
Canadian

December 30: Bacon Day

• Bacon pig • Bacon keto

• Bacon beer • Bacon strips
• Bacon lover

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 Niche: Winter Wreaths

When it comes to seasonal graphics

that can be used on both sides of WINTER
WREATHS
Christmas, look no further than what's KEYWORDS

hanging on the front doors of homes Poinsettia wreath

Christmas wreath
all over the world this time of year.
Winter wreath
Holiday wreath
A wreath is an image we all instantly
December wreath
recognize -- and for good reason! January wreath
Winter aesthetic
Wreaths are closely associated the Wreath aesthetic

holidays. But, more broadly speaking, Snow wreath

Nature wreath
wreaths are associated with the entire
winter season. And a variety of niches can benefit
from the seasonal momentum of wreaths.

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The Incredible Reach of Wreaths

I've written about wreaths a

number of times over the years,
mostly in terms of the strong
sales potential they pack when
attached to seasonal themes like
patriotism for the 4th of July.

But when it comes to winter, wreaths are at the

pinnacle of their strength.

Adorned with a mixture of anything from flowers

and fruits, to burlap and twigs, wreaths are a
decorative staple of many seasons and special
occasions.

Welcoming and festive, a wreath and the elements

that feature prominently in its composition

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communicate more than any welcome mat or
greeting card ever could. In a nutshell, wreaths can
be used as symbols of anything and everything. And
that's why I use them in my POD designs with great
frequency today.

Prior to my endeavors in Merch By Amazon, I never

considered the utility or purpose of wreaths beyond
the Christmas season. It failed to enter my
unsophisticated mind that wreaths are extremely
popular in all four seasons. They merely have a
different look, feel, and purpose depending on
when and where they are used.

On Merch, we're seeing more and more text-based

designs where the message is encircled by a wreath
of flowers or other decorative elements pertinent
to the niche that the tshirt message relates to.
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For example, there are artistic wreaths featuring
brushes rather than greenery for artist tshirts.
There are sports wreaths featuring bats and
baseballs for baseball fans. There are even police
wreaths with handcuffs and guns for police officers
and police family members.

A simple wreath graphic (featuring different

adornments/graphics) can be used again and again
with unique messaging relevant to a host of niches.
And given the popularity of featuring these circular
staples of warmth and love on a tshirt, hundreds of
niches can be leveraged in a wreath-centric design.

Today, winter-themed wreaths will be the big

winners across POD. From tshirts and mugs, to wall
art and PopSockets, wreaths will do especially well

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when paired with quotes associated with the
following niches:

• Family • Recovery
• Weather • Time
• Religion • Hope and optimism
• Outdoors • Nature
appreciation • Birds and wildlife
• Awareness • Meditation
• Inspiration and • Serenity and peace
motivation • Nationalities
• New Year (2022 • Coffee / Comfort
themes) Foods and Drinks
• Women’s Causes • Real estate
• Strength

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Many people across the global landscape feel that
the circular shape of wreaths is significant in that it
represents eternity and the so-called "never-ending
circle of life." In POD, wreaths can be a great source
of royalties on a never-ending basis too, with the
winter months proving most opportune for this
design strategy.

KDP Opportunity: Journaling

increases during the winter for
individuals finding ways to be
productive with their time while
alone with their thoughts or
spending time in relative silence following the
hustle and bustle of the holidays. Wreaths are the
natural embodiment of calm and seasonal serenity.
Slapping a winter wreath graphic on winter-themed
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journals and notebooks targeting individuals who
wish to record their thoughts in quiet moments will
be quite popular with many audiences over the
coming months.

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 Niche: Cryptocurrency Holidays and New Year

On October 20th, Bitcoin reached a

new all-time high price north of CRYPTOCURRENCY
HOLIDAYS
$66,000, sparking a new wave of KEYWORDS

bullishness that continues to fuel

Cryptocurrency Santa

widespread interest in and obsession Cryptocurrency

Christmas
with cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin holidays
Bitcoin Santa
This interest will definitely spill over Bitcoin elf
Cryptocurrency meme
into the holidays and the new year Bitcoin pun

ahead. In fact, of all the niche Bitcoin 2022

Blockchain
opportunities on my radar for this entrepreneur
Snow Bitcoin
month, I believe Bitcoin could be the
most bankable when paired with seasonal / topical
themes.

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Let's look at three areas of opportunity I plan to
explore.

Christmas

Believe it or not, Bitcoin is a

hot gift this holiday season.
While most won't be lucky
enough to receive it (because
most gift givers can't afford to
give it), the desire and
demand for Bitcoin will be palpable and worth
leveraging in holiday themed designs.

Just imagine some Christmas-friendly designs that

are intertwined with Bitcoin themes. For instance:

• Santa with Bitcoin instead of milk and cookies

• Reindeer with Bitcoin logos on their noses

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 • Elves holding Bitcoin
• Bitcoins under a Christmas tree or on top of a
tree (instead of a star)
• Bitcoin-themed stockings
• Bitcoins inside of gift boxes / packages
• Quotes about wanting Bitcoin for Christmas

I strongly encourage you to take this niche

suggestion seriously, as there is so much demand
for cryptocurrency-related tshirts today on MBA
that I feel exceptionally confident that Christmas
crossover designs could work out very well.

2022 Crypto

How popular are cryptocurrencies with younger

audiences?

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Very! So much so, in fact, that one recent headline
really puts the growth of crypto into perspective:
"Millennials are quitting jobs to become crypto day
traders."

From Yahoo News:

"The fear of missing out (FOMO) on record-high stock

prices and the boom in cryptocurrency – or digital
currencies – has pushed more young Americans... to try
day trading and other kinds of investing for the first time.
For people who kept their jobs during last year’s COVID-19
recession and are flush with stimulus money and savings,
there’s an anxiety to cash in big on... cryptocurrencies."

Thousands and thousands of young investors and

entrepreneurs have set their sights on the crypto
market. In 2022, they will escalate their aims to find
success in this space. Along the way, many will even
leave their day jobs behind. A risky move? Perhaps.
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But it's where a major niche opportunity now lies
for Merchers.

We need more 2022-themed designs (on everything

from tshirts to coffee mugs) that focus on:

• Love of cryptocurrency trading

• Belief in Bitcoin
• Competitiveness in conquering cryptocurrency
markets
• Obsession with cryptocurrency prices
• The future of blockchain and cryptocurrencies
• Wanting to retire rich from cryptocurrencies

While we can't make designs about specific coins

(Bitcoin can be used but most others are protected
and can't be used or visualized without permission),

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my experience and sales track record confirms that
generalized cryptocurrency tees will sell quite well.

Winter Bitcoin Lifestyle

Bitcoin is the hot new niche to pair with everything

that's cold and cozy about winter. That means snow
globes and snowmen with Bitcoin logos and
cryptocurrency decorations. That means refences to
hot tea and hotter cryptocurrency markets. It even
means pairing familiar wintertime decor -- wreaths,
snowflakes, etc. -- with cryptocurrency / Bitcoin
messaging and appropriate imagery.

Bitcoin will remain one of the most profitable

niches throughout winter. Coupling cryptocurrency
with cozy aspects of winter is another "must" for

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any seasonal portfolio that wants to leverage
topical and lucrative niche trends.

KDP Opportunity: With 2022

right around the corner,
investors, speculators and
market researchers will need
new books to track their
research and efforts in the cryptocurrency space.
From trading fees and expenses logbooks, to
research notes about promising crypto companies,
there are many uses for cryptocurrency-focused
journals, diaries, notebooks and logbooks with a
2022 theme or title.

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 Niche: Aesthetic Christmas Trees and Reindeers

When it comes to holiday and winter

designs, there's a unique challenge
CHRISTMAS TREE
confronting Merchers that confounds AND REINDEER
KEYWORDS
and stymies progress.

The challenge? How to make seasonal Psychedelic

Christmas
designs that consumers are familiar Psychedelic Santa
Camouflage
enough with to buy while Christmas tree
Camouflage
simultaneously ensuring that they reindeer
Camouflage Santa
don't resemble the competition.
Leopard aesthetic
Christmas tree
In my opinion, seasonal design success Plaid aesthetic
Christmas tree
doesn't involve re-inventing the Rainbow Christmas
tree
wheel. But it does require us to
Rainbow Santa

redesign it. Patriotic Christmas

tree

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Some of my best-selling holiday
tees feature all the same
symbols and elements that we
have come to associate with Q4 -
- reindeer, Christmas trees, the
whole shebang. But I put unique
spins on these elements by creating novelty
silhouette / shape fills.

In place of the customary green tree branches or

brown reindeer fur, I fill these graphics with
patterns, themes, and imagery along the lines of:

• Psychedelic • Rainbow
• Camouflage • Liquid swirl
• Plaid • Patriotic
• Leopard print

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Crossover Holiday Niche Designs

Shape-filled Christmas symbol designs must be

paired with appropriate niches for the strongest
crossover niche sales potential on Amazon. In my
opinion, the silhouette fills listed above work best
when paired with holiday designs targeting the
niches referenced below (many more will work,
these are just some of the winners in my book).

• Psychedelic shape fill: EDM, Art, Mushrooms,

Celestial
• Camouflage shape fill: Military, Guns, Wildlife,
Animals, Police, Gym
• Plaid shape fill: Outdoors, Nature,
Meteorology, Hunting, Grilling, Animals, Sleep

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 • Leopard print shape fill: Sarcasm, Food, Beauty,
Style, Professions
• Rainbow shape fill: Optimism, LGBTQ,
Bohemian, Nature
• Liquid swirl shape fill: Minimalism, Health,
Fitness, Awareness
• Patriotic shape fill: Pro-America, Nationality-
themed, Business / Entrepreneurialism, Sports,
Professions

No Mercher should avoid making holiday designs

for fear of being another fish in a crowded pond.
What matters most is the ability to expand the
niche exposure of these holiday designs to rope in
their interests, hobbies, professions, etc. If your
niche reach is broader than just those holidays and
you manage to give your niche imagery a unique,
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stylized look that appeals to lovers of diverse
aesthetics, you may very well find yourself to be a
big and profitable fish in the aforementioned
crowded pond.

KDP Opportunity: Plaid winter

diaries are an important addition
to any seasonal KDP catalog. Not
only does journal writing and diary
keeping increase over the winter
months, but so too does interest in journals and
diaries that look and feel like winter. Today, plaid is
a signature pattern associated with the months of
November - February. Creating diaries that reflect
this appetite is a good idea, in my opinion.

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 Niche: Meditation

It may be an oldie but it's definitely

still a goodie. MEDITATION
KEYWORDS
I'm talking about meditation.

Interestingly, while some of you might Meditation peace

Meditation quote
have expected me to focus on fitness Zen circle
Nature meditation
in this December issue as it tends to
Meditation
instructor
be a hot niche in late Q4 and early Q1,
Meditation mind
studies and surveys suggest that Health meditation
Animal meditation
mental health and wellness will rival Garden meditation

physical fitness on common lists of Meditation

relaxation
2022 personal resolutions.

According to a report from The Conversation:

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 “In just the past few years, the mindfulness industry has
exploded in the U.S. Current estimates put the U.S.
meditation market – which includes meditation classes,
studios, and apps – at approximately US$1.2 billion. It’s
expected to grow to over $2 billion by 2022. Hospitals,
schools and even prisons are teaching and promoting
mindfulness, while over 1 in 5 employers currently offer
mindfulness training.”

2022 is going to be a banner year for meditation.

Here are a few design and messaging angles to
consider as you ease into this niche -- a niche with
lots of competition but also lots of room for
creative expansion.

Reasons for and Benefits of Meditation

Generally speaking, just about everyone knows

what meditation is. But not everyone meditates for
the same reason.
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"Many people think of it as a way to reduce stress
and develop concentration," Healthline explains.
"People also use the practice to develop other
beneficial habits and feelings, such as a positive
mood and outlook, self-discipline, healthy sleep
patterns, and even increased pain tolerance."

When it comes to meditation tees for Q4 and the

start of 2022, this is a season for the reason --
namely, I sense an opportunity in making tshirts
that delve into the reason why people meditate.

Understandably, the reasons can be serious or they

can be silly. For instance (not checked for example):

• I Meditate In The Morning Because It's Too

Early for Alcohol
• I Exercise for My Body. I Meditate For My Mind.

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 • Meditation is Why I Look Calm... and Why Your
Nose Isn't Broken

In addition to providing reasons for why the wearer

or onlookers should meditate, consider meditation
facts / beliefs -- another messaging theme that
meditation practitioners seem to embrace.

Without presenting medical advice, of course, you

could focus messaging on many of the supposed
benefits of meditation, including how meditation
may help the wearer:

• Improve memory • Slash stress

• Lower blood • Improve quality of
pressure sleep
• Boost focus and
attention span

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 • Increase • Overcome
neuroplasticity in addiction
the brain • Reduce effects of
• Reduce pain aging
(mental or physical)
For themes that are legitimate or laughable, explore
some reasons for meditation and I believe it can
help inspire creative thinking and original designs
for your meditation tees.

Location and Company for Meditation

For some avid practitioners of meditation, the

practice of meditating must take place in certain
conditions, in certain places, or even with certain
people or things in their presence.

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For example, a majority of individuals prefer
meditating in their happy places or locations that
are conducive to relaxation or calm by their
personal standards. Such locations may include:

• In a garden
• At a park
• Near water
• In nature
• On a patio / porch

For others, meditation isn't just about a location.

It's also about their company. It's increasingly
common for people who meditate to do so in the
presence of:

• A beloved domestic pet (dog or cat)

• Around fish or aquatic life

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 • With horses, goats or farm animals
• A spouse, child, best friend, or sibling
• A portrait of a lost loved one or their ashes

It all goes back to the reason for meditation. Some

people meditate to find peace -- an objective that
lends to the practice of meditating in nature or
surrounded by calming pets or animals. Others
incorporate their religious views and prayers in the
practice of meditation, which is why meditating in
the presence of imagery or symbols of a departed
loved one is also a common practice.

Meditation-focused tshirts and novelty products

that speak to or visually appeal to meditation
practitioners who have specific reasons, locations,
or company for their ideal meditation practices will

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likely appreciate your design attention, as most
Merchers are simply focused on generic meditation
tees that don't delve into the nuanced preferences
of a growing number of meditation devotees.

KDP Opportunity: 2022

meditation journals for moms.
Surveys and reports indicate that
that new mindfulness and
meditation practices / programs
will outpace new gym memberships for many
people -- especially women / moms -- at the start of
the new year. Creating 2022-themed meditation
journals for females could be a valuable Q4 KDP
opportunity.

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 December Graphics

To help you capitalize on the late

Q4 and early Q1 seasonal
opportunities outlined in this
month's guide, Adam Guballa at
Tshirtfella has produced a
bundle of graphics that should
help you straight away!

You can download Adam's excellent bundle here:

https://merchmomentum.gumroad.com/l/YeVZW/
82ulq3e

With Adam's online store up and running strong as

the busy season for POD gets underway, don't
forget to check out all the awesome new stuff at
tshirtfella.com!
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Helping out this month with our meditation and
mindfulness related tips, the team at Vexels is
providing a nice collection of images that will give
you an upper hand.

You can download the bundle here:

https://www.vexels.com/merch-momentum-
freebie/

While the evergreen resources and imagery for

Vexels are a goldmine in their own right, the team's
seasonal graphics are pure dynamite this Q4 as well.
Be sure to check out what's new from Vexels here:
https://www.vexels.com/

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 December: In Closing

Finding direction and

inspiration for niches and
design styles that will have
strong seasonal appeal and
sales potential in the new year
is invaluable at this point in Q4.

As you know, this quest must take us far beyond the

research we tend to perform on the platforms
where our goods are sold. In other words, I don't
turn to Amazon today for guidance on what will be
hot on Amazon tomorrow.

Since there's no crystal ball for POD, we have to

look to influencers and prominent media voices for
insight into specific niches and areas of consumer

46
interest. Their "predictions" often come true --
likely to some extent as a result of such predictions
being made before such a large microphone in the
first place.

In the coming days and weeks, you'll want to look

up and look out for news articles, blogs, and social
media content that focus on such topics as:

• Health Trends to Watch for 2022

• Top 10 Health Foods for The New Year
• Your First Look at the Top Hobbies of 2022
• These Fashion Styles Will Dominate 2022
• What Will Be The Biggest Pop Culture Events of 2022?
• These Aesthetics Will Be Everywhere in 2022
• The Must Have Essential Oils of 2022
• Self Help Trends Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2022

Beginning in November and lasting through January,

you'll see one prediction piece after the next. Let
47
these crystal ball pieces open your eyes to niches,
styles, aesthetics and other topics of interest that
your catalog may be overlooking. Every year, these
articles provide fresh insight and I've managed to
monetize the leads provided on numerous
instances.

Until next month, good luck, keep designing, and

please reach out any time if you have questions or
need help.

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 Disclaimer
Utilizing Merch Momentum Niche Drill and Keyword/Niche Leads

All information, content, and advice contained in this strategy guide is to be used
at your own risk.

Merch Momentum cannot guarantee that the design themes and suggested
niches/keywords are in all cases or applications compliant with Merch By Amazon
policies or will never be trademarked, copyrighted, or claimed as intellectual
property by another party in the future.

It is YOUR responsibility to regularly monitor all keywords, marketing and design

description language, and related imagery to ensure compliance now and in the
future. Resources such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office and
Trademarkia can be vitally important and helpful in your ongoing research and
due diligence.

While Merch Momentum makes every effort to ensure quality and compliance,
you are advised to perform your own independent research and due diligence to
ensure that all suggested designs and keywords comply with the policies and
mandates of Merch by Amazon (or any POD services) BEFORE you utilize the
advice and information contained in this guide to create and sell your apparel and
novelty product designs.

The commercial use of any advice contained within this publication is at your sole
risk.
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