Print-on-Demand Courses
Review

Free Print-on-Demand Education From Industry Experts

Easy
  • Last updated 15/06/2025
by Awkward Styles

What you'll learn ? Overview

Masters Academy isn't your typical online course, it's Awkward Styles' educational platform that brings together five established print-on-demand experts who share condensed versions of their premium courses. We spent hours reviewing the platform and discovered it's essentially a "try before you buy" approach to POD education.

The academy features instructors with proven track records: Heather Johnson (Top 1% Etsy seller), Kerry Egeler (Shirt School founder), Ryan Hogue (Passive Income School founder), Leslie Cole (Evolshen Freelancing), and Will Haimerl (PPC-Coach.com with over 7 figures in POD sales). Each instructor contributes bite-sized courses ranging from 28 minutes to 76 minutes.

What makes this platform interesting is its strategic positioning. Rather than creating their own comprehensive course, Awkward Styles curated content from established educators in the space. This gives learners a chance to sample different teaching styles and methodologies before potentially investing in full courses from these instructors.

The content covers essential POD topics: niche research, design formulas, marketing strategies, keyword optimization, and common mistakes to avoid. While the courses are brief (most under an hour), they're designed to provide actionable insights rather than comprehensive training.

We noticed that the platform serves dual purposes: educating newcomers to print-on-demand while naturally showcasing Awkward Styles' services. It's content marketing done thoughtfully, though potential students should understand that deeper learning requires additional resources beyond these introductory modules.

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Is this course for you?

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Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

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Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

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Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

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Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Complete beginners curious about print-on-demand who want to explore different teaching styles before investing in comprehensive courses, or those specifically interested in using Awkward Styles for fulfillment

Instructor

Awkward Styles

Print-on-Demand and Fulfillment Company Legitimacy Score: 8/10
Awkward Styles is a print-on-demand, fulfillment, and dropshipping company focused on helping entrepreneurs build and expand their own clothing, accessories, and home decor businesses. Founded in 2014 in Los Angeles, California, the company has grown from a small Etsy and eBay seller to a major player in the print-on-demand industry, offering services through their own platform as well as integrations with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce.
Awkward Styles began its journey in 2014 when the founders launched their own online store on Etsy and eBay. By 2015, they expanded to Amazon, ranking among the top 5000 Amazon sellers in the USA by 2017. In 2018, they launched their print-on-demand services via API, allowing integration with various e-commerce platforms. The company has continuously expanded its product offerings and marketplace presence, now including Walmart and Wayfair among its sales channels.
• Ranked #4429 on Inc. 5000's list of the United States' fastest-growing private companies
• Improved ranking to #2475 on Inc. 5000's list in a subsequent year
• Ranked 310th in Financial Times' The Americas' Fastest-Growing Companies 2022
• Placed 108th in The Inc. Regionals 2022: Pacific Coast
• Began producing licensed designs for major brands like Nickelodeon and SmartStudy
N/A
Awkward Styles cultivates a robust digital footprint, regularly sharing content on YouTube about their print-on-demand services, product tutorials, and e-commerce tips. Their channel features instructional videos on account setup, product creation, and platform integrations, catering to aspiring and established online entrepreneurs.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration0
  • 📶 DifficultyEasy
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

None stated, suitable for complete beginners


💻 Requirements

Internet connection, computer or mobile device


💸 Hidden Costs

While courses are free, implementing strategies requires: Awkward Styles subscription (or other POD service), e-commerce platform fees (Shopify/Etsy), design software, marketing budget


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

No direct instructor support, general Awkward Styles customer service available for platform questions

Course content

  • Heather Johnson's Course: 5 lessons (28m 39s) - Etsy selling strategies, niche selection, store optimization
  • Kerry Egeler's Courses: Two courses with 7 videos each (21m 33s and 19m 5s) - Shopify/WooCommerce setup, design principles
  • Ryan Hogue's Course: 10 lessons (1h 2m 51s) - Passive income strategies, scaling techniques, automation
  • Leslie Cole's Course: 5 lessons (32m) - Social media marketing, branding, customer engagement
  • Will Haimerl's Course: 19 lessons (1h 16m) - PPC advertising, paid traffic strategies, ROI optimization

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

Users appreciate the free access to industry expert content, though many recognize these are taster courses rather than comprehensive programs. The sentiment is generally positive among beginners who view it as a risk-free introduction to POD.

Praised points

  • Expert instructors with proven track records in the POD industry
  • Zero cost entry removes financial barriers for beginners
  • Multiple teaching styles let students find instructors who resonate with them

Criticisms

  • Limited depth due to condensed format (courses under 90 minutes)
  • Platform bias toward Awkward Styles' services
  • No interactive elements like assignments or direct instructor feedback

Testimonials

"She is sooo nice and the course has been such a bless to me. I'm keep trying to learn about how to grow my store and Heather helped me." - Florence

"I'm just starting into this business and this course helped me a lot to understand how print on demand works and how to get started" - Julio

"I'm just starting with pod and I saw Rich's channel on youtube and found he has this course here. It's a great instructor and I'm really happy of what I've learned." - Savahna

"Great overview of a complicated topic, broken down into focused, impactful segments. Super helpful." - Annie

"Shimmy is really funny and you learn a lot from it. The course is totally worth it and I'm happy." - Dania

Social insights

Reddit discussions about Awkward Styles focus primarily on their print services rather than the academy. When mentioned, users acknowledge the educational content as a helpful starting point but emphasize it's not sufficient for building a complete POD business.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

Instructors claim significant success (Heather as "Top 1% Etsy seller," Will with "over 7 figures in POD sales"). While we couldn't independently verify all claims, these instructors have established presences in the POD community with their own courses and YouTube channels.

Price History

Consistently free since launch

Upsell Practices

Soft promotion of Awkward Styles' services throughout, but no aggressive upselling within the academy. Instructors may promote their full courses externally.

Student Success

Limited verifiable success stories from academy students specifically. Testimonials focus on learning value rather than business results.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Basic web-based interface on Awkward Styles website, functional but not feature-rich like dedicated learning management systems

Content Accessibility

Video-based lessons streamed online, no download options mentioned

Mobile Compatibility

Website is mobile-responsive, videos playable on mobile devices

Technical Requirements

Standard internet connection, modern web browser

Red flags check

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Complaints

No significant complaints about the educational content itself. Some users report issues with Awkward Styles' print quality and delivery times, which could affect trust in their educational offerings.

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Refund policy issues

Not applicable (free content)

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Marketing practices

Transparent about the platform's purpose, offering free previews of instructor content while promoting Awkward Styles' services. No misleading income claims or aggressive upsells found.

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Community feedback

Limited dedicated community around Masters Academy. General Awkward Styles feedback is mixed regarding their print services, but educational content receives positive mentions when discussed.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

For free content, Masters Academy offers solid value as an introduction to print-on-demand. You're getting condensed wisdom from five established educators without financial risk. However, the brevity means you won't develop comprehensive skills, treating these more as extended previews than complete courses.

Conclusion

We found Masters Academy to be a legitimate educational resource that serves its intended purpose: introducing beginners to print-on-demand concepts while showcasing both Awkward Styles' services and the instructors' teaching styles. With a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating from 117 reviews, users generally appreciate what's offered.

The platform's strength lies in its zero-cost access to proven instructors. Where else can you sample courses from five different POD educators without spending a dime? The weakness is equally clear: with most courses under an hour, you're getting appetizers, not full meals.

For complete beginners, this represents a risk-free way to explore POD basics and identify which teaching style resonates. For those serious about building a POD business, consider this a starting point that requires supplementation with more comprehensive resources.

The connection to Awkward Styles' print services creates some bias in the content, but it's transparent rather than deceptive. Overall, Masters Academy earns its 7.3/10 legitimacy score by delivering what it promises: free, introductory POD education from credible instructors.

FAQs about this course

Yes, all courses on Masters Academy are 100% free with no hidden fees. However, implementing the strategies taught will require investment in POD services, e-commerce platforms, and potentially marketing budgets.

Access appears to be lifetime as long as the platform remains active. There's no mention of time limits or expiration dates for the free content.

No, these are condensed preview versions. For example, Ryan Hogue's full course might be 20+ hours, while his Masters Academy contribution is just over an hour.

These courses provide basic foundations, but most successful POD businesses require deeper knowledge. Consider these as introductions that help you decide which instructor or methodology to pursue further.

No, while the platform naturally promotes Awkward Styles' services, the strategies taught are applicable to any POD platform like Printful, Printify, or Teespring.

We recommend starting with the instructor whose focus aligns with your goals: Heather for Etsy, Kerry for Shopify/WooCommerce, Will for paid advertising, or Ryan for passive income strategies.

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$ 0
Total score: 7,2/10 ⭐
  • Duration0
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Release Date01/2022
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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Our Methodology

At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

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