I sold calendars last year, this year, none. (only two calendar posters). So I decide not to make calendars for next year.

I've sold calendars. My first year I don't think I sold any, but last year I sold quite a few.

Why do people pick my calendars above some of the other choices? I'm not entirely sure. When I designed my calendars, I try to look at what other people are buying in the stores. I get collections of related pictures together. I also try to make the pictures match the seasons.

Not sure other than that. They do sell though. The calendars that I have sold are art and photos, not word art or drawings, but I bet people sell calendars with drawings too.

I haven't made any calendars, but I do buy them, usually at the end of the year or beginning of the new year. As a customer, I've noticed that the calendars I really like usually sell out early in the stores. I like art calendars. I get tired of the tried and true which you always see... Monet, Van Gogh, Impressionists, and I often look for something different in art. Sometimes I've bought photograph calendars, like one time I had one of mountain peaks which was incredibly inspiring.

It's not that easy to find good calendars in stores, especially if you're late buying... and especially now that some of the bookstore chains that had good calendars are gone. Sometimes I've ordered them online like from Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their calendars can be expensive. I will shell out money for an inspiring calendar, though, and so will other people, evidently cuz they sell out so fast. I hate it when I miss out. It used to be (before POD) that you couldn't find anything worthwhile after February or March.

I hate the free give-away calendars. They're cheap, ugly, and boring. Who wants to look at those? It's exciting to turn over a new picture when the month changes and live with it for a month.

I don't know if this information is up to date, but a friend told me that calendars are more popular in Europe than in the U.S. because in the U.S. there are so many freebees.

Once I framed some Tibetan Art images from a European calendar. The pictures were of thankas and were rare and unusual.

Another thing I look for is space to write on the calendar because I'll make notes there. I hang them on the back of my side door, an office door or a bulletin board, where I see it.. kind of a notepad reminder. Making notes there helps remind everyone in the household what's going on... Hope this gives you insight into calendar buyers!

Edit: Looks like Zazzle has good calendar sizes. Also, when buying them towards the end of the year or the beginning of the new year, I'm late and the best ones in the stores are already gone. The only things left are stuff like ginger-house teddy-bears, sports, or overdone themes. Nothing gorgeous and heart-stopping.

So... my conclusion is make some great calendars!

I don't buy wall calendars. But when I did, I liked art by my favorite artists. I could try that for 2013.

Thanks for your input.

Marian

One of the commenters in this thread used flickr photos in his or her calendar. flickr photographers have different use terms. Many allow the use of their photos under certain conditions.

Marian

I make and sell calendars using my own images. Zazzle's calendars are of excellent color and paper quality. The pages are of a satin finish, not a high gloss, and they look very nice. Zazzle always offers sale promotions on calendars toward the end of the year when people are looking to buy them for gifts. I would suggest making a few for your own store. You never know what people are looking for or what may strike their fancy!

I agree. My organ calendars are very much a niche market but I try to make them as much an art product as possible, with classy photos of instruments that organ buffs would love to see. I usually try to put them into some sort of theme such as organs with ceilings, or the organist's view of pipes, or up close and personal and so on.
Will wait to see how it goes this year with a next batch as well as the old ones.
I'd love to see some of those smaller desk calendars that you can get (the ones that can sit inside a CD-case like holder.)