The online design world feels noisy right now. Instagram reach is down, Etsy sales are slower than usual, and every other week someone posts that “DIY is dead” or “SEO is dead” or “templates are oversaturated.”
If you’ve been thinking about starting a Showit template shop — or you already have one and feel discouraged — this post is for you.
Recently, a student inside my Build + Scale Your Six-Figure Showit Template Shop course asked me a series of incredible questions about the future of Showit, template shops, DIY culture, and marketing in 2026.
My answers felt important enough to share publicly because I know so many designers are wondering the exact same things.
So let’s get into the real state of the industry, what’s changing, what’s not, and why I still believe Showit template sellers have a strong future.
Is the Showit market oversaturated? Is there still room for new sellers?
Short answer: yes, it’s competitive. But oversaturated? Not even close.
Here’s the truth:
There is always room for designers who have:
- A smart, specific niche
- A unique style
- Strong branding
- Consistent marketing
Most designers don’t niche deeply, don’t develop a recognizable visual style, and rarely market consistently. Those three things alone put you ahead of 90% of shops.
The people who stand out — win.
Oversaturation is not the problem. The economy is.
“I’m seeing a decline in sales. Is the Showit industry slowing down?”
Yes — but not for the reasons people think.
Pretty much every industry has seen declines since late 2024, including:
- Digital products
- Course creators
- Software companies
- Ecommerce
- Beauty and skincare (my husband and I own a beauty brand — sales slowed there too)
Even Showit itself announced a decline in their own sales in 2025.
This is not a Showit problem or a template industry problem.
It’s an economy problem.
People are still starting businesses. People still need websites. People still want templates.
They just have less money flowing right now, so they take longer to buy or they choose payment plans over paying in full.
Which leads me to the next question…
“Do people still want DIY websites? Or is DIY dead?”
DIY is not dead.
In fact, when the economy tightens, DIY becomes more popular because people want to save money.
There will always be people who:
- Don’t want to hire a designer
- Don’t know how to build a website from scratch
- Want a gorgeous site quickly
- Want something affordable
Templates solve that problem.
DIY demand is not going away — if anything, it’s increasing.
“Is it too late to start a Showit template shop in 2026?”
No. Not even close.
In many ways, starting now is actually smarter.
Here’s why:
1. You have no overhead yet.
Existing businesses have higher expenses they must cover each month.
New sellers? You get to be lean and profitable from day one.
2. You’re entering during a “reset” period.
Every industry goes through cycles.
We’re in a slower cycle — which means:
- Less competition
- Lower ad costs
- Lower pressure
- A bigger appetite for value-driven products
People entering now will be perfectly positioned for the next upswing.
3. You don’t need Instagram to blow up.
Instagram reach is terrible for everyone. But it’s still useful for:
- Building trust
- Showing you’re a real person
- Featuring your work
- Selling through DMs
Growing a big following isn’t the goal anymore. Showing proof of activity is.
4. Etsy is still a great visibility tool for beginners.
Has Etsy slowed? Yes.
Is it still one of the best places to get new eyeballs on your templates? Also yes.
If you’re new — starting on Etsy gives you traffic you’d never get on your own website.
5. SEO is not dead — it’s evolving.
The new SEO now includes:
- YouTube
- ChatGPT / AI search
- Niche communities
- UGC on TikTok + IG
You want AI tools to recommend you by name.
That happens when you create:
- Helpful content
- High-quality blog posts
- A strong brand presence
- Clear product descriptions with consistent language
Yes — you CAN get found through AI search even if you’re small.
“Do I stand a chance on Pinterest with a brand new account?”
Yes — 1000%.
Pinterest is the platform I’d invest the most time into in 2026.
Why?
- Pins live forever
- You don’t need followers
- Templates perform incredibly well
- Pinterest is basically a visual search engine
- Even small accounts can go viral
- Paid promotion is extremely affordable compared to Meta ads
This is where the majority of your long-term traffic can come from.
“What kind of Instagram content works best for template shops?”
Here’s what I see performing well (and what I recommend to my students):
1. Behind-the-scenes design process
People love watching creative work.
Post things like:
- Choosing fonts
- Color palette options
- Layout sketches
- Before/after demos
2. Polls and engagement questions
Examples:
- “Which homepage style should I create next?”
- “Do you prefer serif or sans-serif branding?”
Let your audience feel like they’re part of the creation.
3. Client + customer transformation posts
If someone rebuilds their site using your template, that sells your product better than anything else.
4. Personal connection content
People don’t want faceless template shops anymore.
They want:
- Real stories
- Why you started
- Your design philosophy
- Your behind-the-scenes
And when you’re dropping a new template?
5. Build hype
Use IG Stories to tease:
- “Something big is coming”
- Mood boards
- Sneak peek videos
- Preview mockups
- Why you created this specific template
You don’t need a huge following — you need strong storytelling.
“If you had to start completely over today, how would you launch your template shop?”
Honestly, my channels would stay the same.
Here’s what I would change:
1. I’d offer payment plans from day one.
Yes, some people default.
But the extra sales are worth it.
2. I wouldn’t waste time on Creative Market.
It’s crowded and takes a cut.
New designers rarely perform well there.
3. I would focus heavily on:
- Etsy
- Email marketing
- Pinterest ads (cheap + effective)
- Creating truly niche templates
- A strong brand style that feels recognizable instantly
Your marketing doesn’t need to be complicated — it needs to be consistent.
Final Thoughts: The Showit Template Industry Is NOT Dead — It’s Changing
If you’re thinking about starting a Showit template shop, or you already have one and feel a little discouraged, here’s what I want you to know:
- The economy slowed down — not the industry.
- DIY is not dead.
- Showit is still a growing platform with a loyal, creative user base.
- New niches open every year.
- Pinterest is a goldmine for template sellers.
- You don’t need a huge Instagram following anymore.
- Yes — you absolutely can still stand out.
There is still so much opportunity for designers who know how to create beautiful, strategic templates and market them consistently.
And if you want the full blueprint — including:
- How to niche smart
- How to design templates that actually sell
- How to market your shop across Pinterest, Etsy, and Instagram
- How to create a standout visual brand
- How to drive consistent traffic and sales
You might love my course: Build + Scale your Six-Figure Showit Template Shop
Melissa Lunt is the founder of Superhero Design, a template shop specializing in high-converting Showit website templates for coaches, photographers, and creative entrepreneurs. With over 10 years of experience designing brands and websites, she helps business owners launch beautiful, strategic sites without the designer price tag or tech stress. Melissa is passionate about creating handcrafted templates that don’t just look custom—they actually book clients. When she’s not designing, you’ll find her drinking coffee, spending time with family and exploring the outdoors.
Explore Showit templates and launch resources at superherodesign.co.
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