My wife is a stay at home mom and gets bored during down time. She wants to start using Etsy and I just wanted to hear any input? She’s not looking to make $100k per month and only approx $1000 to help with expenses. She showed me a video of the apparel cloning system with some guy named Devin. To me it seems like a lead into more expensive training/mentoring. Any thoughts? Thank you
2 Likes
Hey Nicodemo,
Thank you for the question and a warm welcome to the forum 
There’s a couple of Etsy pros on here so I’m sure you’ll have some more hands-on advice from them, but from my side, I’ve not played around with Etsy too much. I haven’t heard of the “Apparel Cloning System“ but I have heard of Devin Zander.
Can’t for the life of me remember in what context I had become aware of him though! He does seem to be legit (I posted a quick summary on him at the end of this post)
So … I did a very quick dive into the course you mentioned using my trusty little AI sidekick and here’s what we came up with:
What “Apparel Cloning System” actually is
-
It’s a print-on-demand (POD) training + system marketed under Skup (Devin Zander & co.). Skup positions it as a way to “find & create winning products” quickly, using AI to generate lots of designs cheaply.
-
The pitch is basically: find what’s already selling, then “clone”/remix it into your own version (often via AI tools).
Your instinct on “this leads to expensive mentoring” is spot on …
Skup’s site actively funnels people into strategy calls and then toward coaching.
Also: Skup’s own Terms of Use say the Incubator/Coaching program is non-refundable (“all purchases are final”).
Refund policy: read the fine print
For the self-paced Apparel Cloning purchase, their refund policy includes:
-
30-day window
-
Must have watched all videos in full (they track completion) or refund is denied
That’s not automatically “bad,” but it’s stricter than the casual “try it risk-free” vibe some people assume.
The biggest practical risk: “cloning” + Etsy = IP pain
If someone is literally copying best-selling designs, even with “AI tweaks,” the real-world risk isn’t theoretical:
-
Etsy takes IP seriously and has a formal notice/takedown process.
-
Etsy warns that repeat infringement reports can lead to loss of account privileges (shop restrictions/closure).
-
Etsy also prohibits counterfeit/unauthorized goods, including using a brand’s name/logo/protected design without permission.
-
Etsy’s Creativity Standards also emphasize “made by a seller” items must be based on the seller’s original design, and they require AI disclosure when AI is used.
So if “apparel cloning” nudges beginners into “copy what’s selling,” that can turn into DMCA notices, listing removals, or shop shutdowns. (Even if you thought you changed it “enough.”)
Are there legit positives?
Yeah - conceptually, a structured system can help a total beginner:
-
Understand POD workflow (mockups, production partners, fulfillment, customer service)
-
Learn product research + basic ad testing
-
Avoid staring at a blank Canva screen forever
And Skup has a lot of positive customer reviews as a company on Trustpilot (support/coaching responsiveness is a common theme).
(Reviews don’t guarantee outcomes, but they’re a useful signal for “is it a total ghost operation?”)
… and as promised, here’s what surfaced on the man behind the enterprise:
Bottom Line on Devin Zander
Legitimate entrepreneur with a history of building e-commerce tools and courses.
Skup is a real company with multiple products and a track record in the Shopify/print-on-demand space.
Business model is sales + upsell heavy. Most buyers are pushed toward coaching and paid upgrades after the initial course.
Not magic. Success stories exist, but they typically involve hard work and real selling - not “instant income.”
Some products (like Apparel Cloning) use language (“clone what sells”) that can be risky on platforms like Etsy if not approached carefully.
I hope that helps a bit. To be perfectly honest, I think you can easily learn all this stuff yourself without having to pay any money up-front. These concepts are pretty basic, when it comes down to it
Here’s a few DMC forum threads for further reading:
1 Like
Hi - welcome to the forum! I run my own Etsy shop, and also list and create designs for a client. These are both digital download shops, as, in my opinion, Print on Demand is extremely competitive and not something I want to get into.
Cloning other designs is not recommended, as the Etsy algorithm will not promote something that is a clear copy. However, it is possible to take some elements of a best-seller and change them to create a new design. This does take some knowledge of how to prompt AI in a meaningful way and a critical eye that understands colors and fonts. It really isn’t as easy as it’s made out to be!
Can you learn how to do this? Yes, there are plenty of YouTube videos that take you through the basics. However, to see any success, you also need to understand how to spot upcoming trends, as they fade pretty quickly. When you see a best-selling design on Etsy, it was probably created and listed at least 3 months earlier - you need to add products well in advance of upcoming holidays.
Now, let’s break down the financial aspect. First of all, you need to work with the t-shirt supplier, who will probably charge $12 to $14 to print and ship the product. Plus, Etsy charges various fees - the initial listing fee, a transaction fee, and a payment process fee. These add up to approximately 10%. So, let’s say you sell a t-shirt at $22, which is pretty average - your approximate profit would be $6 to $7.
I know this sounds all doom and gloom, and not worth it, but it depends on your expectations and an understanding that it takes hard work to create and list hundreds of designs. Here is a realistic plan. I’m happy to answer any questions!
Week 1:
-
Open shop (this isn’t free, I don’t know what the current cost is)
-
Choose a specific niche, such as dog mums, gardeners, or sarcastic teachers.
-
Upload the first 15 listings
Weeks 2–4:
-
Add 5–10 listings per week
-
Aim for 40–60 total listings
Month 2:
-
Keep adding designs
-
Turn on small Etsy Ads ($1–$3/day) for your best sellers
-
Aim for 80–100 listings
By the end of 60 days:
- Many beginners see their first consistent trickle of sales, maybe $30 to $35.
3 Likes
Top tip right there! I knew you’d have lots of valuable insights Diane
3 Likes
Hi Diane. Thank you for your detailed breakdown on the costs and everything. It sounds like Etsy is viable as something to do in my wife’s spare time. I just didn’t want her to pay another for training that leads into more upselling of additional courses.
We’re also now finding several people who offer some type of Etsy training at various cost levels. Etsy also has many free resources for learning as well as other online sources.
Great forum here and I appreciate your time!!
3 Likes