Even if you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like everything’s already been done
Let’s be honest for a second…
If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen thinking,
“I need a new idea—but everything I think of feels overdone,“
you’re not alone.
That feeling? Totally normal.
And if you’re selling print-on-demand (POD) products on Etsy, you’ve probably asked yourself at least once:
How do I come up with something people actually want to buy…
…without spending hours researching, guessing, and second-guessing?
That’s what today’s post is all about.
We’re going to walk through how to use ChatGPT to brainstorm, validate, and refine print-on-demand niche ideas that actually stand a chance on Etsy.
This isn’t about chasing trends or copying what everyone else is doing.
This is about getting clear, focused, and strategic so you’re not wasting time designing products for a niche that won’t sell.
Let’s break it down.
First, What Is a Niche (and Why It Matters More Than Ever on Etsy)
If you’re new to this idea of “niching down,” don’t worry.
A niche is simply a focused segment of a market.
So instead of selling “t-shirts,” you sell “funny t-shirts for moms who love iced coffee and Target.”
Instead of “wall art,” you offer “retro-style motivational prints for small business owners.”
The more specific, the better.
Especially on Etsy, where standing out matters. If your shop is too broad, you’re competing with everyone. But when you niche down, you start showing up in front of the right buyers at the right time.
And this is exactly where ChatGPT can help.
Step 1: Ask ChatGPT to Generate Niche Ideas Based on Interests or Themes
Let’s start with a simple but powerful prompt:
Prompt:
“Give me a list of niche print-on-demand product ideas for Etsy based on popular hobbies, professions, or lifestyle interests.“
ChatGPT might come back with things like:
- Funny gifts for dental hygienists
- Yoga-themed mugs with positive affirmations
- Dog mom t-shirts by breed
- Wall art for home bakers
- Camping and RV travel journals
- Shirts for plant lovers who also love cats
- Feminist retro-style kitchen decor
Already feeling a little spark? That’s good.
From here, pick a few that stand out to you. Maybe because they feel fun to create. Maybe because you already know the audience a little. Or maybe you’re just curious.
Follow that curiosity.
Step 2: Dig Deeper into the Niche to Find Specific Product Ideas
Now that you’ve got a niche direction (let’s say: funny gifts for dental hygienists), it’s time to explore what products might actually sell.
Prompt:
“Give me 10 funny phrases or slogans that would appeal to dental hygienists. Include puns or humor related to their job.“
You might get answers like:
- “Floss Boss”
- “Brace Yourself – I’m Hilarious”
- “I see numb people”
- “Plaque to the Future”
- “You can’t handle the tooth!”
Now you’re not just thinking “t-shirts for hygienists”…
You’ve got actual designs taking shape.
You can repeat this same prompt for any audience:
- Teachers
- Gardeners
- Grandparents
- Truck drivers
- Book lovers
- Cat moms
And it works for all kinds of products: mugs, hoodies, tumblers, journals, stickers, tote bags.
This is where the magic happens and when your niche meets creativity.
Step 3: Check Etsy to See What’s Already Out There
Here’s where you want to step out of ChatGPT for a second and head to Etsy.com.
Search for the product and niche combination you’re exploring.
For example:
- “Funny dental hygienist mug”
- “Yoga teacher t-shirt”
- “Cat mom sticker pack”
You’re not looking to copy anyone. You’re doing idea validation.
Ask yourself:
- Are people already buying products in this space?
- Are reviews strong (and recent)?
- Are there lots of similar designs or is there room for a fresh take?
If the results are filled with bland or overdone designs, that’s a good thing.
Why? Because you can step in with something better. Sharper. More original. That’s your opening.
You can even ask ChatGPT for ideas to make your product stand out.
Prompt:
“I want to create a unique mug for dental hygienists that doesn’t feel overdone. What are some fresh angles, design styles, or messages that haven’t been used as much?“
This is how you go from just another seller… to someone worth favoriting.
Step 4: Use ChatGPT to Understand the Buyer Behind the Niche
Here’s something a lot of sellers miss:
The niche isn’t the product.
The niche is the person you’re creating for.
Let’s take our dental hygienist example again. You can ask:
Prompt:
“Describe the personality, pain points, and gift-buying habits of someone looking to buy a gift for a dental hygienist.“
This helps you figure out:
- What kind of humor works (cheeky, clean, sarcastic?)
- Who’s buying? (Coworkers? Friends? Patients?)
- When they’re buying (Graduation? Work anniversaries? Holidays?)
- What kind of messaging hits home
Knowing your customer, even just at a basic level,makes everything sharper. Product. Listing. Design. Title. Keywords.
You’re no longer guessing. You’re speaking directly to a real person.
Step 5: Stack Prompts to Build a Whole Product Line
Here’s a trick: once you’ve got a niche that’s working, don’t stop at one product.
Ask ChatGPT to help you expand.
Prompt:
“Create a product collection for dental hygienists that includes 5 mugs, 3 tote bags, 4 sticker ideas, and 2 printable designs. Include slogans or design ideas for each.“
Now you’re thinking like a brand, not just a one-hit wonder.
You’ve got options to bundle, upsell, or cross-promote—all within the same niche. Etsy loves that. Buyers love that. And it makes your shop feel cohesive and trustworthy.
You can repeat this for every niche you test.
Step 6: Use AI to Save Time Without Sounding Generic
Let’s keep it real for a second.
There’s a big difference between using ChatGPT to help your ideas—and just letting it spit out something bland and boring.
You want to stay in the driver’s seat.
- Add your personality.
- Edit or tweak the output.
- Ask it to rewrite ideas in your shop’s tone.
- Use it like a creative partner—not a factory.
This is especially important when writing your Etsy listings, product descriptions, and shop announcements. You can ask ChatGPT to write those for you—but make sure they sound like you, not a robot.
Prompt:
“Write a fun and friendly product description for a mug that says ‘Floss Like a Boss.’ Target audience is coworkers buying a funny gift for a dental hygienist.“
And then say:
“Now rewrite it to sound more like a real human who loves clever gifts.“
Tweak until it feels right.
Bonus: ChatGPT Prompt Stack for Niche Discovery
Here’s a quick starter pack you can save and reuse:
🧠 Niche Discovery
“Give me 25 niche Etsy POD product ideas based on hobbies, professions, and lifestyle interests.”
🔍 Deep Dive into a Niche
“List 10 popular sayings, inside jokes, or quotes for [niche]. Keep it fresh and clever.”
🎨 Product Expansion
“Create a collection of [product types] for [niche], with slogan ideas and design directions for each.”
🎯 Know the Customer
“Describe the buyer who would purchase a [product] for someone in the [niche] niche. What are they looking for?”
🛒 Etsy Research Prompt
“Based on Etsy trends, what types of [product] are popular for [niche]? What angles are overused and what’s missing?”
Use these prompts regularly. Combine them. Modify them. Build your own creative system.
Final Thoughts: Start Small, Then Scale
Here’s the truth:
You don’t need a million-dollar idea to get started.
You just need a niche that’s specific, a message that resonates, and a product that stands out, even just a little bit.
That’s enough to test, to validate, to build around.
And with ChatGPT in your corner, that part of the process gets so much easier. You’re not stuck staring at a blank screen. You’ve got a tool that helps you think, create, and move faster.
So next time you feel stuck?
Ask a better question.
Refine your niche.
Build one product idea.
And then keep going.
You’ve got this.
Before You Go
If you found this helpful, consider bookmarking it or sharing with a fellow Etsy seller who could use a little creative boost. And if you want more tools like this then stick around, I’ve got more coming your way.
See you in the next one.
— Darryl