I remember it clearly as if it were yesterday, my first $100.

How can someone forget something like that?

The Beginning (2021 Summer)

Back in 2021, I was working as a graphic & motion designer when a friend of mine at work told me about Merch by Amazon. The concept was simple: upload your designs, and whenever someone ordered a t-shirt or hoodie, you got paid.

Since this matched my skills perfectly, I jumped in.

1. Uploaded my first designs… no sales.
2. Tried again, tweaked, replaced, improved… still nothing.
3. Until one day, the notification hit: my first sale.

That feeling? Out of this world. Only those who’ve had it will understand.

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Struggle, Learning, and Small Wins

Back then, there wasn’t much information available. And if there was, most people hid it. So, I started sharing what I learned on YouTube. Within 6 months, I grew to 4K subscribers and monetized my channel.

Meanwhile, my Merch journey looked like this:

1. My best seller brought 3–5 sales per month.
2. After a year, I finally reached $100 in earnings and withdrew it.
3. That was my first-ever online income.

It wasn’t much, but it meant the world to me.

The Break & The Comeback

Then life hit. I lost my job. Paused YouTube. Stopped uploading.

Fast forward to late 2023, I came back with a new job, a new workplace, and a fresh mindset.

1. Tier 25 unlocked more slots.
2. I created variations of designs that had sold before.
3. Sales picked up: $100–$300/month, with some days hitting $70.
4. Evergreen niches + holidays + US & UK markets boosted growth.

I climbed to tier 100, then became eligible for 500 and 1K. Scaling felt possible. I dreamed of hitting $3K/month.

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Through my journey, I learned so many lessons the hard way, things I wish someone had told me when I first started.

But you don’t have to struggle like I did. That’s why I created the Merch By Amazon Starter Pack, a toolkit built to make things easier for you.

Inside, you’ll find everything you need to search, create, and publish designs with clarity and confidence, no fluff, no wasted time, just the tools to help you move faster. This isn’t about shortcuts; it’s about starting strong.

💡 Save hours, create faster, scale smarter.

👉 Grab it here

The Mistake That Cost Me Everything

Here’s where it went wrong.

Earlier (2021), my KDP account got banned for “misleading keywords.” I thought it was over. But in 2024, I decided to try again, using the same bank details tied to my Merch account.

Big mistake.

1. Within a day, my new KDP account was banned.
2. Soon after, my Merch account was flagged.
3. Just like that, years of work… gone.

I never received my last ~$300 payout. It crushed me.

But with time, I realized: it wasn’t the end, it was the beginning. Because along the way, I’d learned priceless skills: SEO, niche research, design strategies, market analysis, and how actually to sell online.

The Real Lesson

Your first $100 online will change your perspective forever, but don’t let greed or shortcuts ruin your growth.

I was reckless. I paid the price.

Now, I’ve moved on to Shopify, brand building, and new ventures. But I’ll never forget what Merch taught me:

1. Consistency wins.
2. Research matters.
3. And every mistake is fuel for the next chapter.

🔥 Take it from me: your first $100 is just the beginning. But only if you play it smart.

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For more Branding, Marketing, Motion and Storytelling, you already in the right place

Written by: Saiid of @saiiddesigns