The hard truth is that most print-on-demand Etsy sellers are stuck in a race to the bottom. They sell standard, generic t-shirts for $15, make a $2 profit, and have to sell hundreds of units just to pay the bills.
This route is very hard to be sustainable long term.
But there is a different way to play the game. Instead of selling "commodities", you can sell "premium products" with real brand names like Nike, Under Armour. This is something that wasn't possible until recently.
Imagine selling a product where the customer doesn't hesitate to pay $60, $80, or even $100. The work to create the listing is the same, but your profit per sale is 3x to 5x higher.
In this guide, I'll walk you through this new, relatively untapped innovation in the POD category, and how you can take advantage of that.
Let's get started.
The "Store-Bought" Quality Advantage
When a customer shops online, especially on Etsy, one of the biggest fears is quality. They worry about whether it's going to fit well, whether the material is good, and whether it's going to last.
The easiest way to overcome this skepticism is to use brands they already know and trust. Gelato has introduced a new range of products that includes household names like Nike, Under Armour, TravisMathew, Champion, and Sport-Tek. They even use DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing for these items. This technology creates bold, full-color prints that stay vibrant even after 50+ washes.
When a customer sees that your custom sports tshirt is an authentic Nike, the trust barrier goes away. They know exactly how it will fit and they know the quality is "store-bought" standard.
You are offering a product that rivals what they would buy at a high-end retail store, but now with customisation to make a unique product that they couldn't find in shops outside.
What You Can Actually Sell
Most POD suppliers only offer generic blanks. Gelato gives you access to a supply chain that is usually reserved for big corporate merch companies.
Here are just a few of the high-ticket items you can now sell:
- For the Fitness Niche: The Under Armour Athletic Crewneck or the Nike Performance Tee. These are built for intense workouts with moisture-wicking tech.
- For Teams & Groups: The Sport-Tek Long Sleeve or Champion Powerblend Hoodies.
- Accessories: Premium headwear like the Nike Unstructured Twill Cap or the Yupoong 5-Panel Trucker.
Building Trust: How to Prove You're Selling the Real Thing
If you are asking a customer to pay $60+ for a sports shirt on Etsy, they need to be 100% sure they aren't getting a fake. Here is my recommendation:
1. Use Specific Model Names - Don't just write "High-Quality Performance Tee" as that sounds like marketing talk. Instead, use the exact manufacturer specifications in your description. For example: "This garment is the Nike NKBQ5231, featuring Dri-FIT moisture management technology and a heat-transfer label for tag-free comfort". Be specific.
2. Highlight the "Trust Marks" in Your Photos - Most premium blanks have visible branding that proves they are genuine. The swoosh/tick of Nike, the "C" of Champion, etc. Make sure at least one of your listing photos have a closeup of that.
3. Be Explicit in Your Description - Don't be vague. Add a specific "Quality Guarantee" section in your product description. Write something like: "We prioritise quality above all else. This item is an authentic [Brand Name] product, sourced from authorised distributors and custom-printed with our/your unique design"
The Elephant in the Room: Trademarks and Safety
This is the most important part of this strategy. You must be careful.
While it is legal to buy an authentic Nike shirt and resell it, Etsy has strict rules about Trademarks. If you list a product with the title "Nike T-Shirt", you are using Nike's brand name to drive traffic to your listing. This can lead to a trademark strike and get your shop suspended. Here are somethings to keep in mind so that you can sell safely:
- Do not start your title with the brand name. Instead of "Nike Golf Polo," use "Premium Custom Performance Polo".
- Focus on the features. Use terms like "Moisture-wicking", "Athletic Cut", and "Performance Fabric".
- Mention the brand in the description. You can (and should) clearly state in your description: "This product is printed on authentic Nike Dri-FIT apparel". This assures the customer of the authenticity without abusing the trademark in your SEO tags.
Why Selling Premium POD Products is Good in 2026
This approach solves the three biggest problems new Etsy sellers face:
- Saturation: Everyone is selling standard Gildan 5000 t-shirts. Because this is relatively new, only a few Etsy sellers are selling custom Under Armour or Nike gear. The competition is much lower.
- Margins: On a standard t-shirt, you might profit $2-5 on an item, but on a high-end brand name item, it's much more possible to increase your profit margin to about $20-35 per item. You'll need much fewer orders to hit your income goal.
- Access: Until now, accessing these brands required you to be a licensed promo distributor with bulk order minimums. Gelato lets you sell them one by one, with no inventory.
