What Is Print On Demand?
Print on Demand (POD) falls under the eCommerce business model where you can create and sell custom products without the headaches of managing inventory and shipping.
The products are only manufactured once an order is placed, which allows for custom-made products to be created and sold without the need to handle the production or shipping. Third party suppliers handle the production and fulfillment for you.
How Does It Work?
This business model works in a way where you may not need any money upfront to start using print on demand. POD services create products only when someone places an order and the great thing about this is that you won’t find any additional stuff lying around. Payment to the POD service provider is typically made after a customer places an order, making it a more cost-effective way to run a business.
There are a few techniques for printing patterns on customizable items, such as:
- Screen Printing – This works by creating a stencil for each color and then pushing the ink through the screen onto your item, one color at a time.
- Direct-to-Garment (DTG) Printing – DTG printers apply ink directly onto the fabric and are typically used for intricate designs.
- Heat Transfer Printing – Basically, you’re printing your design onto transfer paper and using heat to push through the ink on to your product, like a t-shirt.
- Sublimation Printing – This involves transferring a design onto a sublimation paper and using pressure to transfer the ink.
The Process Of Creating And Selling Custom Products
Research
The first step is to research everything print on demand related. You can start by going on to the top stores like Shopify and Printful to see their setup. This will give you a rough idea of what to expect.
Consider the following:
- Scan through the products of these stores and see what their offerings are, like clothing and accessories. Having a clear understanding of what type of products you want to sell will help you decide what platform is right for you.
- Look at the quality of the products and the kind of materials used.
- Check the total costs involved in using each platform, including production, delivery, and the profit margins you can expect.
- To make running your online store smooth, see how each platform works with other tools, such as Shopify and WooCommerce.
Design Selection
An extremely important step that requires great attention to detail. This is where you let all your creativity loose. Everyone likes pretty things, so the prettier your product, the more eyes will be on it.
Consider the following:
- Try to make your products as attractive as they can be and focus on making them high-quality rather than opting for quantity.
- Pick designs that your target audience will consider worthwhile to them. Remember to keep their interests at heart.
- There are many software and tools you can use to help you design unique artwork, such as Canva or Adobe. Make the most of these tools at your disposal.
- Think about collaborating with other designers as they can bring in new perspectives. You also have the option to hire a freelancer on platforms like Fiverr.
Store Setup
The most exciting part, setting up your online store! The set up may be different depending on the platform you have picked, but here’s the process for setting up your store on Etsy:
- Go to Etsy.com and sign up for a seller account.
- Click on “Open Your Etsy Shop” and answer the questions that you are prompted with. Choose your shop language, country and currency.
- Once the store is set up, you can add products and write descriptions for them.
- Add a store logo, complete the “About” section, add payment and shipping methods.
- Now, it’s time to promote your store. You can market it through social media, email marketing or any other platform you have where you can promote your products.
- #Tip – Make your store attractive and easy to navigate through so customers can have a friendly user experience and want to come back and shop with you again.
Marketing Your Store
In order to attract potential customers, you’ll need to market your store. There are many marketing strategies you can use to boost your store’s visibility and attract potential customers.
Consider the following:
- Run Ad Campaigns – Ads increase the visibility of your store by driving traffic to them. Google ads are a great way to promote your business.
- Promote On Social Media – This is where you have access to a large amount of people. You can use platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok to showcase your offerings.
- Email Marketing Campaigns – The good old fashioned way! You can send emails to folk to let them know about your online store.
With print-on-demand, the higher your social media following is to promote your store and the bigger budget you have for paid ads, the greater the chance of success. This is not something a majority of people have or can afford. Not only is marketing your products time-consuming but it can also get expensive really fast!
This is where the Digital Rental Method comes in handy, teaching you how to rank organically (for free) with SEO strategies and eliminating the need for a large social media following and significant financial investments.
What Are The Costs Involved With Print On Demand?
There are 3 main costs involved with print on demand:
- The costs of your products, such as blank products and printing fees.
- Platform fees, which depend on what POD service you choose. So, you’re looking at transaction fees, subscription fees and any other additional costs.
- Expenses associated with your marketing campaigns, like running ads and promoting on social media.
The Benefits And Challenges Of Running A POD Business
Print on demand is a business model that is no stranger to challenges. It has its own flaws as well as strengths. Let’s start with some benefits:
No Upfront Investment
The most appealing reason to get into the print on demand business is that you’re not required to have a bunch of cash to invest upfront. You don’t need to purchase any expensive printing system or manage any inventory.
Quick Setup
You simply set up your online account, upload your unique products and you’re ready to rock and roll! It’s only a matter of minutes as long as you have your products ready.
Freedom To Customize Products To Your Likings
Creativity knows no bounds! You can design your products however you like, which means all you have to do is focus on the creative side of things and not worry about the logistics. You will find success stories of people who have made a fortune designing pillowcases, blankets and stationery. So, put on the thinking cap because your designs are limited only by you!
Let’s take a look at some of the challenges:
Low Profit Margins
Since print on demand services produce single items or small batches, there’s a higher cost per item. This means there are high production costs involved. Not to mention the material and labor costs, which also eat into your profit margins.
However, if high profit margins are on the top of your list when searching for a business model to get into, I recommend taking a look at the Digital Rental Method where the profit margins are at a staggering 90-95%!
Lack Of Control Over Production And Quality
Print on demand relies on third parties for printing and fulfilling the orders. This means you don’t have much control over the production and quality of the product compared to what you would get with traditional manufacturing.
Shipping Times And Costs
There may be customer dissatisfaction due to print on demand products having a longer shipping time and expensive shipping costs, especially for international orders.
Who Can Take Advantage Of Print On Demand?
Since POD services offer you a cost-effective way to start a business, start-ups can take advantage of this opportunity. Let’s say you’re a small apparel store selling customized clothing, you can use POD and offer a wide range of products without investing a huge amount of money for large quantities.
It can work well for eCommerce entrepreneurs who operate within niche markets by offering a range of custom-designed products to the market, such as pet supplies, eco-friendly items, or hand-crafted astrological-themed jewelry.
If you’re a content creator or author looking for a way to publish your work, whether it be fiction, non-fiction or content you have experience with, you can bring your work to the table without dealing with risks that often come with traditional publishing models.
Independent artists and designers can make the most of this opportunity to showcase their unique work without the significant financial risk involved in traditional manufacturing methods. They can put their artwork onto canvases, apparel, or prints.
Top Print On Demand Services Available Online
Starting a print on demand business is easier than ever before due to a wide range of platforms that are available for you to access. I have compiled a list of the top 3 print on demand services out there after conducting in-depth ‘print on demand platform comparison’ research.
Here are a few services that are available to you:
Printify
Printify was founded in 2015 by James Berdigans, Artis Kehris, and Gatis Dukurs in Latvia. The name comes from a combination of Spotify and other leading giants in the digital world. Printify ended up raising $50 million in the investment rounds, which means it was destined for greatness right from the start.
The company has a great amount of success stories, such as a designer reaching $700k in his first year using the platform. Printify offers a print on demand service where users are given the freedom to start designing and perhaps one day, create their own success story.
It’s a massive platform with over 500,000 sellers using their services to create custom-designed items.
Printful
Printful was founded in 2013 by Davis Siksnans and Lauris Liberts as a subsidiary of the Draugiem Group. The company merges popular eCommerce platforms, such as Shopify, Etsy, and Woocommerce to simplify the selling process. Printful originated from a business called StartupVitamins and now has over 200,000 customers from around the globe.
It operates its fulfillment centers in the USA, Mexico and Europe, which means there is efficient order processing and worldwide shipping. The company offers a wide range of products for customization, including clothing, posters and accessories.
Redbubble
Redbubble was founded in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, by Martin Hosking, Peter Styles, and Paul Vanzella. The platform lets independent artists showcase their artwork by offering a wide range of products to customize, such as home decor, clothing and accessories.
The company has a global reach with fulfillment centers in the USA, UK, Australia and Europe. This makes shipping a lot easier. It has over 700,000 artists contributing their work and Redbubble encourages people to use their platform to sell their art.
Print On Demand Success Stories
There are many print on demand success stories online about people achieving their financial goals. Let’s take a look at a few below for a source of inspiration.
Afro Unicorn – This is a store created by April Showers, a single mother who previously ran a few unsuccessful businesses, such as real estate and insurance. She didn’t let these failures stop her from achieving her financial goals as she pursued them relentlessly and eventually ended up finding monumental success within the print on demand industry.
She has one of the most successful stores in this industry with her unicorn themed designs representing African American women and children. Her products are available to purchase in mega stores, like Walmart and Target, having 500 licensed partners worldwide.
Passion Fruit – Liz Bertorelli created this store with the goal of making enough money to get herself a French Bulldog. I’ve never seen a greater goal in my life! Little did she know that this store would end up becoming a leading LBGTQ+ Canadian business.
This print on demand store celebrates pride, offering many items of clothing and accessories.
Famous In Real Life – Mike Pasley is the owner of this store who came into this business with marketing and graphic skills. He’s definitely well equipped, that’s for sure. He went on to use his expertise to create a business that sells funny prints on apparels.
In his first year of running a print on demand store, Mike earned over $700,000 in revenue, showcasing how profitable POD services can be.
These are just some of the examples of successful individuals who ended up turning their dreams into reality and there are more success stories each day. People come from all types of backgrounds and print on demand has given the world an opportunity to showcase their creative talents and create something beautiful from it.
Mistakes To Avoid In The Print On Demand Business
Here are a few mistakes you should avoid to maximize your potential of success:
- Choosing Quantity Over Quality. You can actually get your account banned if you start uploading a large amount of designs rapidly. Therefore, prioritizing high-quality designs is a better strategy to opt for to keep your account stable as well as produce products your customers will cherish.
- Expecting Immediate Results. People often think that as soon as they create and upload their designs that sales are going to barrage in through the door almost immediately. This is far from the case as it takes time to build a unique portfolio as well as market it. Remain patient, focus on creating wonderful pieces and let the rest take care of itself by choosing the right marketing strategies.
- Not Ordering Product Samples. It’s very important to order a sample of your product before you make an order to ensure that the quality, materials and durability meet your expectations. It can turn into a significant loss that can ruin your online presence if your products end up being substandard.
- Disregarding Marketing And Design. You’ll need to market your store so there are more eyes attached to your products. The more people are aware of what you have to offer, the more sales you will get. Additionally, humans are attracted to pretty things, so make sure your designs are as attractive as you can make them to be so they can grab people’s attention.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a way to check the quality of the printed products?
Yes, you can request a sample of your product before they are produced to ensure they align with your expectations.
What type of products can I sell through the print on demand (POD) service?
There is a wide range of products you can choose from, such as clothing, home decor, accessories, home and garden, and more.
Are the profit margins high in the print on demand business?
The profit margins depend on what type of product you are selling and the print on demand marketing strategies you are using. However, you’re looking at an average of 15-35%.
What Is The #1 Alternative To Print On Demand?
As great as print on demand is for making money online, it requires a huge time investment without an actual guarantee that you’ll make some money from it. To increase your chances of success, you’ll need to input a large volume, which means more time spent working and less time doing things you enjoy in a day, like spending time with your loved ones or pursuing your hobbies.
Over at Center For Worklife, there have been many programs and business models covered related to financial freedom and as much as print on demand can “maybe” get you the finance aspect, the freedom part, not so much.
However, the best alternative to print on demand in my personal opinion is the Digital Rental Method.
It offers you freedom and flexibility that you can only dream of. It’s similar to print on demand in a sense that you’re creating a digital asset but the difference is that you’re renting it out. Both of these business models earn a living through digital means.
But, the stark difference lies in the fact that the money you generate with the Digital Rental Method is all passive, which means you don’t have to continuously work night and day, pumping out volume after volume like with print on demand.
This is because the income isn’t tied to your time so you don’t have the necessity to keep on working because the money is going to come in regardless!
I mean, you can choose to continue working if you want to scale your business, but if you’re happy with what you have made for yourself, you’re pretty much just enjoying time with your family and watching the money roll into your bank account each month.
