I actually joined as an artist
I actually joined as an artist, I finally created a portfolio I was excited to list, designs I KNOW are good because I have ran tests on them with my clients before I even began my POD adventure. I could print myself, I have the equipment, just not the time anymore so I was really thrilled to find Threadless. Especially since they claim new artists have the same opportunities as their few select artists they seem to be keen on. But I have learned very quickly this is not the case. I have entered a few of their contests and I know one of my designs had more votes that some of their chosen winners, so I call their voting system a joke because it is. Recently I had three designs shot down because they claimed I made them with AI but I am a graphic designer and I take pride in the fact I DO NOT use AI and I refuse to. This company makes artists feel welcome but unless we sell anime inspired junk we have zero chances to actually become profitable. I truly believe this company has a very select few artists they like (cuz its about what they like not the customers) and only those artists stand a chance. So if you are an artist hoping to be taken seriously by this site, well good luck. Reality is you need to find a way t get the employees of Threadless to notice you and after learning things I have learned, they only pick their friends. I have someone on the inside who has filled the rest in for me, so if I could give zero stars I absolutely would. And if the company actually cares to read this, heed my advice, you're not competition to sites like Redbubble because you choose to feature the same exact crap over and over, for a POD site you fit one niche, a niche that is honestly losing steam, maybe if you gave new designs an actual chance you could become true competition for the larger POD sites and you could make your artists happy. As a matter of fact I am willing to pay a subscription fee if it helps you weed out the artists flooding your site with AI junk. I am steps away from creating my own POD site where I can take new artists just as seriously as I had hoped you'd take me. Oh, another issue, if I or my customers search my products they cannot find them, an issue I have read many others have. How can we prove we can get sales if no one can find our work?! SMFH, yu could have something great but not if you stay on this same path.