Review of Zazzle

Have you ever wanted to make a special gift for someone using a photograph you have taken?  If so, Zazzle is a great way to go!

Sea after Storm Throw Pillow
by mbgphoto

The above pillow was made on Zazzle using a photograph I took in Florida.  There is one photo on one side of the pillow and a second photo on the opposite side of the pillow.  Whether you'd like to make a special gift for someone or whether you'd like to open a store and make a little extra money the information on the rest of this post will help you to get started.  This information was taken from a presentation I gave to my photography club.

What is Zazzle?

Zazzle is a program where you can get paid for doing what you love best, creating photographs and art!  It is free to set up, you don't have to carry any inventory and Zazzle handles all the production and customer service issues.  Zazzle has three ways to make money, as a designer, a maker or an associate.  I work as a designer and will concentrate on that aspect in this post.

Designer Program

1. Upload your photograph or artwork onto products.  Over 250 different products are available.
2. A customer likes your design and buys it.
3. Zazzle processes transactions and handles all customer service.
4. Zazzle prints and ships to customers.
5. Zazzle sends you a payment for a percentage of sales.

Pricing System

1. You choose any royalty rate from 5% to 99%
2. Base price is increased by that amount so you earn your royalty.
3. Base Price +Your Royalty Percentage=Retail Price

My Experience with Zazzle

1. Started my first Zazzle store in 2008
2. Currently have 3 Zazzle stores: mbgphoto, lighthouseenthusiast,and Butterflyblittz.
3. Example of sales on photo from 2007 of Cabo San Lucas.  From that one photo $1607.28 in royalties.  Sold

• 836 mugs
• 333 magnets
• 52 luggage tags
• 23 ornaments
• 16 keychains
• 2 puzzles
• 12 buttons
• 2 postcards
• 
  

Cabo San Lucas Magnet
by mbgphoto
• I currently have over 6800 products in my three stores and I sell something most every day.  Sometimes it is only a postcard and sometimes it is a bigger sale.    Here are some examples of my products.

Scenes from Madison County Iowa Calendar
by mbgphoto

Card

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Ceramic Ornament

by lighthouseenthusiast

Getting Started on Zazzle

1. Go to zazzle.com
2. Click on sell on Zazzle in top left hand area
3. Choose from Designer-Maker-Associate

Steps in Designer Program

1. Create a Zazzle Account
2. Open Free designer store and pick a store name
3. Create design, choose product, upload image, create text if desired, resize image as desired.
4. Post design for sale "Post for Sale"
5. Enter key words so customers can find your product. Good key words are essential.

Enjoy!!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Review of Gifts Related to Harvest in California Wine Country

It's Harvest Time in Paso Robles Wine Country

Harvest time in wine country is the most exciting time of year. If you live on a road with at least a dozen wineries within four miles, as I do, there is something going on almost every weekend, and usually competing events. There are First Crush events and Harvest Celebrations. That means concerts and food, and lots of wine tasting. You can smell the aroma of crushed grapes as you drive past. 

Grapes Ready for Harvest, © B. Radisavljevic 

Watching the Harvest

Since I live so close to so many vineyards, I've had opportunities to watch the grape harvest, especially at my neighbor's winery, Croad Vineyards.  That link will take you to more photos and videos of the Croad harvest as I saw it. Earlier this year I also had the opportunity to watch the bottling truck in action.

This video shows you how the wine actually gets into the bottles as I witnessed it. 

The Grape Vines at Harvest Time

The vines themselves are laden with purple fruit. Usually by harvest time the leaves have turned into the various shades of red, rust, and  gold. After the grapes are harvested, they are gathered in plastic bins for processing.  They may go into a machine such as the one in the poster below at Zenaida Cellars in Paso Robles to have the stems removed. People stand by to make sure  everything works properly and nothing is missed.

One of the most popular wineries in autumn is Niner Estates, home to Heart Hill, pictured on a poster below. The natural heart-shaped grove of oak trees was on the hill long before the vineyards were planted around it. It's beautiful at any time of year, but in fall around harvest time the vines frame the heart with autumn colors. Heart Hill appears on many of my Zazzle products, including postcards, necklaces, keychains, plaques, ornaments, and more. They can be customized to remove, change, or add your own text. 

 Poster: Heart Hill, Paso Robles, in Autumn Poster Harvest Time Poster Sorting and De-stemming at Zenaida Winery Poster Grapes and Harvest Poster

& 

You can find more scenes from harvest time on Zazzle products in my collection Harvest Season in California Wine Country

Visit Paso Robles Wine Country

The City of Paso Robles and the surrounding rural areas of Templeton and San Miguel are home to over 200 different wineries. If you are a wine lover, it's worth a trip here. If you come, you will want to try some of the award-winning wines at Sculpterra Winery. While you are there you can enjoy its famous sculpture garden and enjoy its Sunday afternoon concerts. It's one of my favorite places. It's about ten miles east of the city of Paso Robles. 

The wineries closest to my home are Croad Vineyards, Niner Estates, ZinAlley, Donati Family, and Aron Hill -- all on Highway 46 or close to it. Other 46 West wineries where I often shoot photos for my Zazzle products are Zenaida Cellars, Castoro Cellers, Peachy Canyon, and Doce Robles. If you click through to my Zazzle collection linked to above, you will see photos from some of those wineries on my products. 

More Photos of Wine Country During Harvest Season

Doce Robles Scene During Harvest Season, © B. Radisavljevic  

Croad Vineyard at Harvest Time, © B. Radisavljevic 

Hay and Autumn Vineyards at Doce Robles, © B. Radisavljevic
This scene appears on many of my products 

I hope you've enjoyed your virtual tour of wine country at harvest time. Be sure to pick up a souvenir from this trip at California Wine Country Memories and Gifts. 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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