What do your favorite band's T-shirt from a concert, the company mug you were given on your first day of work and the poster you bought from an illustrator you follow on instagram have in common? Chances are, each of these items was designed in print on demand.
If you, too, are interested in getting into the business of selling personalized print on demand products, our detailed guide is a good place to start. Browse through the table of contents or read it all in one go!
Content of the article
2. Who is print on demand aimed at?
- 2.1. Designers
- 2.2. Self-employed entrepreneurs and graphic designers
- 2.3. For companies and individuals
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of print on demand?
4. How to get started with print on demand?
- 4.1. How to choose a print on demand supplier?
- 4.2. How to create designs
- 4.3. How to sell your print on demand products?
5. How to succeed in print on demand?
1. What is print on demand?
Increasingly popular over the last 10 years, print on demand is a real revolution in the world of e-commerce.
1.1. Definition
Print on Demand, also known as POD, is a business model that allows you to sell your own custom designs on different types of products (T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, caps...) under your own brand.
Your print on demand provider prints your design on a product only after receiving the order. This means you don't pay for the product until you sell it, so you don't have to carry inventory and make an initial investment.
Plus, once the sale is made, your POD provider takes care of everything from printing to shipping. The process is 100% automated.
1.2 Differences between print on demand and dropshipping
Just like dropshipping, with print on demand, you don't need to buy large quantities of products when you start: the products are printed only once after they have been ordered. So what is the difference between these two fulfillment methods?
Dropshipping is a model of selling products online without having them in stock. This order management system does not necessarily involve customization. It can for example consist in reselling watches bought at low prices on Aliexpress.
Print on demand is selling customized products with your own designs in Redbubble without having them in stock. For example, selling merchandising products, products with your logo, your creations printed on clothes... Unlike dropshipping, POD involves a process of printing a design on clothes or accessories.
Print on demand is a variant of dropshipping with a higher degree of personalization. In recent years, more and more brands are offering customization options to their customers.
2. Who is print on demand for?
Print on demand is not just for one type of profile: companies, individuals, celebrities... The profiles are very varied: anyone who wants to earn more money can start a print on demand business.
2.1. For creators
Print on demand is ideal for creating merchandising (or derivative products) for creators (Youtubers, influencers, gamers, etc) who already have a fanbase. It's a great way to monetize your audience.
2.2. To self-employed entrepreneurs and graphic designers
You want to start your own business without taking too many risks? Are you a freelance graphic designer and want to market your designs on custom products? If you are creative and a marketer at heart, the POD is ideal for you: all you need is a niche and/or design idea to get started!
2.3. For companies and individuals
- Single orders
Print on demand allows you to create unique personalized gifts with your own designs or photos and no minimum order. Give a personalized onesie to your nephew or a personalized mug to your grandmother as a Christmas or birthday gift!
- Bulk Orders
This is also the perfect kind of gift for a group celebration or event: EVJF, team building, etc.
Do you find yourself in one or more of these categories? Then read on!
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of print on demand?
Every printing technique has its advantages and disadvantages and POD is no exception to the rule.
3.1. The advantages of print on demand
Let's start with the main advantages of print on demand:
- No inventory. The concept of print on demand is the opposite of the logic of mass production. Each product is printed only after it has been ordered. So you'll never be left with a stock of unsold products.
- Reduced investment. With POD, you don't need to invest in expensive equipment like a printer. The supplier takes care of all the production part, which consists of printing or embroidering the designs on items. All you need is a computer and an internet connection to fine-tune your website and promote it through a marketing strategy.
- Little risk. Having no physical inventory gives you great flexibility to test new design ideas because you have nothing to lose if you don't make sales. You can experiment with different designs or product types.
- Order management and logistics handled by the supplier. Your POD provider is more than just a supplier - they handle the printing, packaging and shipping of each order. The degree of customization varies from supplier to supplier, but everything is done so that your end customer doesn't realize that their order has been processed by a third-party provider.
In short, by working with a print on demand provider, you have more time to focus on your marketing strategy.
3.2. The disadvantages of print on demand
Let's move on to the main disadvantages of print on demand.
Higher price per item. Since print on demand is based on the principle of unit orders or small volumes, the cost of products is higher than for bulk orders. Nevertheless, you set your prices according to the sales margin you wish to achieve. It is up to you to offer attractive designs and to promote them effectively.
Longer processing times. Products must be manufactured before they are shipped. Therefore, lead times are longer because you have to add the order processing time to the delivery time. Our average order processing time is 3 days plus shipping time, which is 4 days on average.
Choose products with fast delivery to France in order to increase the satisfaction of your customers.
Dependence on the supplier. The supplier is in charge of managing your orders and shipping, so you don't see your products. Therefore, it is essential that you order samples of your products before you start selling. This will ensure that the quality of the product and the printing are up to par. In short, avoid putting all your eggs in one basket by varying your product catalog.
In short, print on demand allows you to experiment with new ideas without taking risks. However, keep in mind that processing orders as they come in means longer lead times.
4. How do I get started with print on demand?
Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of print on demand, let's move on to the different steps to get started with print on demand.
4.1. How to choose a print on demand supplier?
Choosing the right POD provider is critical to the success of print on demand because the role of the provider goes far beyond the production of the items.
Criteria for choosing a POD provider
We have selected 5 important criteria to consider to help you choose your print on demand supplier:
- Delivery
- Printing
- Degree of personalization
- User experience
- Product catalog
Check out our comparison chart of the top print on demand providers
4.2 How to create designs
It goes without saying that design plays a crucial role when it comes to creating custom products on demand. The hardest part is coming up with a design that is both original and has good marketing potential. But the good news is that you don't need to be a graphic designer to create designs.
If you already have some knowledge of graphic design, you can create your T-shirt designs with Photoshop or an alternative.
4.3 How to sell your print on demand products?
- Influencers on instagram
- Contests
- Press Relations
5. How to succeed in print on demand?
- First, get educated: read everything you can about print on demand (testimonials, tips, articles, etc.) and marketing techniques.
- Work on your natural referencing. Do keyword research, detail your product sheets, and create optimized content on your keywords through blog posts. If writing content is not your cup of tea, you can hire writers through platforms like Redacteur.com, Malt, or Fiverr.
- When creating your designs, be bold while respecting copyright rules.
- Stand out from the competition. You can for example emphasize the storytelling (the "why") of your brand or your graphic charter.
- Be transparent in your communication. This is especially important in print on demand because you have to add the processing time of the products to the delivery time.
Now it's your turn!
I hope this success story has inspired you and that you are more motivated than ever to reach this level! This complete guide to succeeding in print on demand gives you the keys to get started. But take the time to do some market research and choose your niche carefully.
Finally, be patient and don't get discouraged if you don't make many sales at first. All good things come to those who wait.
Share your progress in the world of print on demand in the comments!
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