I Tried Selling AI Art For 30 Days (Realistic Results)

Mark on Business
21 Jun 202307:46

TLDRThe video shares the journey of an artist selling AI-generated wall art on Etsy. After an initial suspension and slow start, the creator uses various tools to streamline the process of listing and scaling digital art. Despite the challenges and a financial loss in the first month, the artist remains determined to adapt their strategy, focusing on print-on-demand and diversifying their product range to turn the business around.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The creator opened an Etsy shop to sell AI-generated digital artwork made with a text-to-image AI called mid-journey.
  • 💰 The shop initially faced a suspension from Etsy, but was reactivated after three weeks without a clear reason provided.
  • 🚀 The creator underestimated the time and effort required to prepare listings, only starting to list products after the shop was reactivated.
  • 🤔 Overestimating the demand for the initial product offerings led to a lack of sales, which prompted further research and expansion of the product range.
  • 🖼️ The creator used paid tools like Topaz AI for upscaling low-resolution art and mockcity.com for mock-up generation to improve the workflow.
  • 💸 Despite the initial investment in tools and assets, the creator experienced a loss after the first month of operation due to low sales and associated fees.
  • 📈 The creator learned the importance of regularly uploading new listings and maintaining momentum in the online shop.
  • 📊 The creator plans to transition the shop to a print-on-demand model to target a larger audience and potentially increase sales.
  • 📈 The goal is to turn the shop into a profitable business by the end of the year, with the creator committed to improving and expanding the product offerings.
  • 🛒 The creator's experience highlights the challenges of selling digital art online and the need for continuous effort and adaptation to achieve success.
  • 🏷️ The use of AI in art generation is a unique selling point, but the creator found it necessary to adapt their business model to better fit market demands.

Q & A

  • What type of artwork is the creator selling in their Etsy shop?

    -The creator is selling AI-generated wall art in digital format, specifically as digital files that customers can take to their local printing service for printing and framing.

  • Which AI tool does the creator use to generate the artwork?

    -The creator uses a text-to-image AI called Mid-Journey to generate the artwork.

  • How much does the creator pay per month for the commercial rights to the AI-generated artwork?

    -The creator pays ten dollars a month for the commercial rights to the AI-generated artwork.

  • What was the initial challenge the creator faced after opening their Etsy shop?

    -The initial challenge was that the Etsy shop was immediately suspended after opening, without any violation of Etsy's policies or a specific reason provided.

  • What was the creator's first mistake after the shop was reactivated?

    -The creator's first mistake was not using the time during the shop suspension to create products and have the first listings ready to post.

  • How did the creator expand their product offerings to increase sales?

    -The creator expanded their product offerings by adding abstract art, contemporary art, and oil paintings to their shop.

  • What were the three tools that significantly improved the creator's workflow?

    -The three tools were Topaz AI for upscaling images, mockcity.com for automatic mock-up generation, and XnConvert for resizing images into different aspect ratios.

  • What was the total revenue and loss the creator experienced in the first 30 days of operation?

    -The creator made $27 in 30 days, but after deducting fees, they were at a net loss of $15.

  • What changes does the creator plan to make to improve the business?

    -The creator plans to turn the shop into a print-on-demand business, upload new listings regularly, and expand the variety of products offered to target a wider audience.

  • What was the creator's experience with Etsy ads?

    -The creator started running Etsy ads for one dollar a day, and after a few days, they began receiving a few orders.

  • What is the creator's ultimate goal for their Etsy shop?

    -The creator's ultimate goal is to turn the shop into a profitable business and a stable source of income by the end of the year.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Launching an AI Art Etsy Shop

The creator discusses their experience of opening an Etsy shop to sell AI-generated artwork. They share their analytics, including the challenges faced and the tools used to upload 75 listings in just a few days. The art is generated using Mid-Journey, a text-to-image AI, and sold as digital files. The creator pays a monthly fee for commercial rights and retains a 90% profit margin. However, they acknowledge the harsh realities of selling digital wall art and the initial suspension of their shop.

05:00

📉 Trials and Tribulations of Selling Digital Art

The creator reflects on their journey of selling AI-generated art, highlighting the initial mistakes and the learning curve involved. Despite the Etsy shop's suspension, they did not prepare products during this time and only started listing in May. They initially overestimated the value of their pop art posters, which did not sell as expected. After further research and expanding their offerings to include abstract art and contemporary pieces, they made their first sale. However, the creator faced challenges with the manual process of upscaling and mock-up creation, which was time-consuming and inefficient.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI-generated artwork

AI-generated artwork refers to pieces of visual art that are created using artificial intelligence, rather than by human artists. In the context of the video, the creator is using AI from a platform called Mid-Journey to generate images that are then sold as digital files. This represents a significant shift in the art world, as traditional art is typically produced by human hands and creativity.

💡Etsy shop

An Etsy shop is an online store on the Etsy platform, which is a marketplace for handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. The video's creator opened an Etsy shop to sell digital versions of AI-generated artwork, aiming to capitalize on the popularity of the platform among crafters and art enthusiasts.

💡Digital format

Digital format refers to a type of media that is in a form of computer data, as opposed to a physical format. In the video, the AI-generated artwork is sold in digital format, meaning customers receive files that they can print themselves or take to a local printing service, rather than receiving a physical print.

💡Commercial rights

Commercial rights refer to the legal permissions granted to an individual or entity to use a piece of intellectual property, such as artwork, for commercial purposes. In the context of the video, the creator pays a monthly fee to Mid-Journey for the right to sell the AI-generated images they produce commercially.

💡Print-on-demand

Print-on-demand is a business model and process where products, such as prints of artwork, are only produced when an order is received, eliminating the need for the seller to hold inventory. This model is highlighted in the video as a more viable approach for the creator's shop, as it allows for physical product sales without upfront costs or storage issues.

💡Mock-ups

Mock-ups are visual representations or templates that are used to display how a final product, such as artwork, would look in a real-world setting. In the video, the creator uses mock-ups to showcase their digital art in a framed environment, which helps potential customers visualize how the art would appear in their own homes.

💡Upscaler

An upscaler is a tool or software that increases the resolution of an image without losing quality. In the context of the video, the creator uses an upscaler to enhance the low-resolution AI-generated art to make it suitable for high-quality printing.

💡Etsy ads

Etsy ads are a form of online advertising provided by Etsy that allows shop owners to promote their products within the Etsy platform. These ads can target specific customer segments and are designed to increase visibility and drive sales.

💡X and convert

X and convert is a free tool that is used for image resizing, particularly for maintaining the aspect ratio and quality of images while adjusting their dimensions. This tool is highlighted in the video as a game-changer for the creator's workflow, as it allowed for efficient resizing of multiple images into various required sizes for different art listings.

💡Profit and loss

Profit and loss refer to the financial outcomes of a business venture, where profit indicates earnings in excess of costs, and loss indicates costs exceeding earnings. In the video, the creator discusses their financial results from selling AI-generated artwork, revealing a net loss after accounting for fees and initial investments.

💡Market research

Market research is the process of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information about a market, its customers, and the industry in which a business operates. In the video, the creator conducts market research to understand the potential demand for their AI-generated art and to identify pricing strategies.

Highlights

The art piece was created by AI and sold on Etsy in digital format.

The creator opened an Etsy shop on April 4th but faced an immediate suspension.

The shop was reactivated after three weeks of suspension.

The creator used mid-journey AI for text-to-image generation, paying $10/month for commercial rights.

The art was sold as digital files, allowing buyers to print and frame them locally.

The creator kept a 90% profit margin but faced lower earnings compared to physical prints.

The first mistake was not preparing products during the shop's suspension.

The second mistake was overestimating the value of the initial products, which were pop art posters.

After expanding offerings to include abstract art and contemporary pieces, the first sale was for $3.

The creator initially faced a loss due to the costs of the abstract shapes and Etsy fees.

To improve workflow, the creator found three tools that significantly changed the shop's operations.

Topaz AI was used for upscaling low-resolution art, though it was a paid tool.

Mock City was discovered as an online mock-up generator, greatly easing the process.

X and Convert was found to be a free tool that could resize images into multiple aspect ratios without distorting the image.

Despite efforts, the shop initially struggled with visibility and sales, leading to a temporary switch to Etsy ads.

The creator made $27 in 30 days, but after deducting fees, was at a $15 loss.

The creator plans to transition the shop to a print-on-demand business and expand product offerings to reach a wider audience.

The goal is to turn the shop into a profitable business by the end of the year.