For real though, in case you haven't heard, Zazzle is Updating Their User Agreements (as of April 1). Yep, all of them. You can read the new versions right here.  PSA: those blue links at the top are separate agreements—not a table of contents. Ask me how I found that out. 😅 

If you've been feeling a little panicked (or completely overwhelmed) reading through Zazzle's updated agreements, you're not alone. The legal jargon is dense, the implications aren't super clear, and the timing is definitely not ideal.

I was originally going to try to break it all down for you, but…

 A) I feel like a lot of folks have done that in the forums and in various places online; plus, I’m not a lawyer so I definitely want to make sure I don’t mislead you by my own potential misunderstanding;

B), I can really only speak in generalities and a good dose of speculation - so I don't want a ton of people coming for me if they disagree with my assessment of the situation. 🙃 I'm a lover not a fighter! 💖 

And C) if you know me at all you know I'm a mindset girlie, and I really (REALLY) feel like this is an opportunity to talk about that instead. My newsletter, my rules! 😅

However, because I know that for some of you, this is the first you're hearing about all of this, I will give you the short(ish) “I’m not a lawyer and I make no guarantees” version of what has transpired in the past week or so. 

It’s still a bit long (hello, have you MET me? 🫣), so if you're not interested in this feel free to skip on down! You know I won't judge ya! 

You still here? Okay then, here we go. There are 3 notable changes.

1. Excess Royalty Fee (ERF) Changes 
Zazzle used to charge an ERF on royalties above 15%. Starting April 1, that threshold drops to 10%. Should you lower your royalties? {{shrugs}} I can't answer that for you. We all have different pricing and royalty strategies, so your “sweet spot” depends on your own pricing and goals.

Want to play with the numbers yourself? This forum post has a free calculator by a trusted seller (yes, I’m recommending the forums...but just this once.🫣).

But I DO want to say this, and I mean it in love! Cutting your royalties is probably not the solution. If your product isn’t selling at 20% royalty, it probably won’t magically take off at 10% or 5%. Pricing might play a role for some niche audiences, but if a design isn’t converting, the royalty rate isn’t usually the root issue. Cutting your rates in a panic rarely leads to clarity - it just adds to the chaos. Make calm, informed choices.

2. New Ambassador Program
The affiliate program is getting a facelift. Instead of two tiers, there'll now be one program - Ambassador Program - that gives everyone access to higher referral earnings. The old 35% rate (previously only available through Promoter 2.0) is now more widely accessible (and in some cases goes up to 50%!). There's still some confusion about cross-promotion and referral rates, but overall we are getting more opportunities to earn on our own marketing. Time to double down on your marketing, friends!

3. Zazzle’s Marketing Cut Is Increasing 😬
This is the big one: Zazzle will now take 35–50% (up from 20%) when they market and sell your product. Yes, that means your earnings will probably take a dip - at least until you figure out your new plan. There are some other changes with this, too - including the way Zazzle calculates that amount (it used to be commission + royalty, but now it's more of a "total amount up to X%" kind of a thing).

Again, I can't tell you if this means you should raise/lower your royalties. If you want help deciding, go back to that calculator post. And if you get a chance, support the seller who made it!

So… is this the end of Zazzle? Short answer: nope.
Look, if you start scrolling too deep, you're gonna hear the usual suspects shouting “Zazzle is dead!” or “They’re robbing us blind!” 

Loud noises everywhere.

Here's the truth: you can't build a business expecting the rules to never change. That's not just business—that's life. And honestly? You're built for this. You can adapt. You can pivot. You can tune out the desperate energy and focus on what you can control.

I believe in that version of you. And I’m walking that same path.💖💪🏻

Here's what I’m doing about it:
1. I'm not panicking. I've been around long enough to survive a few Zazzle shakeups (RIP postage stamps and volume bonuses 😅), and I'm still here. Still earning. Still growing. I'm choosing calm over chaos, clarity over noise, and I'm deliberately looking for the abundance that's still everywhere on this platform. 

2. I'm sticking to what works. That means consistently creating well-designed products (that customers are looking for), making solid cover images, and promoting. I use Pinterest, Snuggle Hamster Designs, and Benable. (I'll talk more about Benable in a bit.)

Shameless Plug: If you don't have a system of your own yet, Zazzle Unleashed is where I show you mine. Grab it for only $9.

3. I’m adjusting and pivoting smartly. For me (again, keeping in mind what I said earlier (twice!) about not being able to make royalty decisions for you), that means raising my royalties a bit after running my own numbers. I found my “sweet spot” using a couple of calculators, and I'm testing it out. So far? No drop in sales.🎉 If anything, they might be up—but I'll know more after my monthly review.

Time for a Mindset Reset 
Yes, change can feel overwhelming. Algorithms shift. Policies get updated. Royalties shift. Sales go up and down. And your brain wants to scream, “Is this even worth it anymore?!”

But here’s the thing: You get to run your own business. You get to design, to experiment, to earn income from your creativity. You get to define what success looks like for you! That's not small—it's incredible!

So before you go into “desperate tweaking mode” and start wildly raising or lowering your royalties, redoing your whole store (or deleting it altogether), or doom-scrolling the forums… pause. Breathe. Zoom out.

✨ There is still so much opportunity on Zazzle. (I still maintain that it's the best platform for making passive income! I'm looking at you, Etsy! 👀)

✨ You don't need to out-hustle everyone—you need to stay focused on YOUR path. (If you're in Zazzle Unleashed, this is your Rich Strike moment!)

✨ You don't have to feed the panic. Choose abundance. Choose calm. Choose consistency.

Overthinking is just fear in a bad disguise. You're smarter than that. You've got what you need—and if you're unsure, you know where to find support. 😉

Just a quick reminder that we design a couple of months out, so if you are a seasonal creator, your focus right now should be on holidays and events happening in June and July. In the USA, that's Father's Day (June 15 in the USA) and Independence Day (4th of July).

If you focus more on evergreen (year round) products, it's still also good to remember that people still buy seasonally. What I mean is, if you're putting greenery on a product right now - whether it's an invite or a pillow - think about putting summer or early autumn greenery on it. 


Speaking of promoting...want to know what new promotion platform I'm excited about right now? Benable! 

What’s Benable, you ask? Benable is a super easy way to organize and share your favorite links — like a personal recommendation page. I heard someone say it’s as if Amazon Storefront and Pinterest had a baby. 😅

It’s perfect for Zazzle sellers who want to group products by theme (think weddings, gifts, holidays) and send people to one clean, clickable page. You can include your affiliate links, showcase your designs, and use it as a Pinterest-friendly hub — no tech skills needed. 🎉

It’s FREE to use, but currently there is a waitlist…however, you can skip the waitlist create an account by signing up using my invite link: https://benable.com/i/Y5J8P (yes, that’s an affiliate link…but I did mention that it’s free, right?)


The "Berry" design trend is having a serious moment right now! Here's what I think is fueling this recent "burst" in popularity:

🍓It taps into cottagecore and coquette aesthetics. Both of these trending styles thrive on a dreamy, romanticized version of rural life or femininity. Berries - especially strawberries - fit perfectly into that world. Think: gingham picnic blankets, ruffled dresses, handwritten love notes, fresh jam on toast. It's just so pretty!

🍓 It works across seasons. Unlike obvious seasonal objects such as  snowflakes or pumpkins, berries can swing across spring and summer and even into fall with the right palette. Add a little brown or rust and you’ve got autumn. Keep it pastel and it leans spring. Go bold and it works in summer.

🍓 It feels familiar, but fresh and whimsical. Berries have been around forever in design, but right now they’re being styled in new ways: faux-embroidered strawberries, hand-drawn blueberries, vintage botanical illustrations, even minimalist berry icon sets. It feels classic, but with a modern twist.

So my gift to you this month is a mini pack of 4 darling strawberry graphics for you to use! There are 2 cute strawberry clusters and 2 seamless strawberry patterns - perfect for making adorable invitations, planners, mugs, and more! And as always, our freebies come with our generous commercial use license (it's in the file), which includes PLR terms! Just click here or on the image below to grab it and get to designing something sweeeet! 🍓


I really hope you enjoy this mini pack, and I hope you make a million bucks with your "berry awesome" designs! 🍓😅