How a 22-Year-Old Earned $126K Selling Sweatshirts on Etsy in 3 Hours a Week

Introduction

At 22 years old, Emma Larocque leveraged her background in digital marketing and graphic design to build a passive-income powerhouse on Etsy. What started as a side project alongside her social-media freelancing quickly exploded into a six-figure business by focusing on on-demand embroidery, smart pricing, and eye-catching designs. Within a few months, Emma was logging just three hours a week while earning over $126,000 in sales.

Getting Started with Minimal Investment

Fresh out of college with a bachelor’s in business management, Emma knew she didn’t want a 9-to-5 grind. She picked up social-media clients on Upwork, managing Instagram and Pinterest. On nights and weekends, she researched low-cost side hustles and found Printful, a print-on-demand partner. Within days she linked a new Etsy shop to Printful, uploaded her first cap design, and made her first sale in April 2022.

Finding the Right Product–Embroidered Sweatshirts

After a few one-off product tests, Emma focused on embroidered sweatshirts. Using Adobe Illustrator, she drafted simple yet on-trend designs—pop-culture references, seasonal motifs, and text slogans. She priced sweatshirts at $41.62, striking a balance between profit and competitiveness. Printful handled each stitch and shipment, freeing her from inventory headaches.

Driving Traffic and Sales with Etsy Ads

Emma reinvested roughly $40 daily into Etsy’s on-site ads and off-site ads on Google and Pinterest. Because Etsy only charged per click, the ad spend remained profitable—she didn’t pay for impressions that didn’t convert. By November 2022, her embroidered sweatshirts had gained traction and consistent five-figure months began rolling in.

Scaling to Six Figures

A single design went viral in late November, boosting revenue from $2,800 in October to $55,200 in December. Early 2023 saw another $48,000 in profit within five weeks, pushing total sales past $126,000. By March, she’d sold over 3,700 units of that design alone, cementing her shop’s credibility with positive reviews and repeat buyers.

Maintaining a Passive Model

Today, Emma spends about three hours weekly answering customer questions and uploading new designs. She avoids hands-on production, sticking with Printful’s fulfillment to keep operations lean and passive. Consistency is crucial—regular uploads signal activity to Etsy’s algorithm and maintain visibility without additional promotion.