In these pandemic times, online businesses and other online services have been proved as the backbone of life. It has taken us to a point where we understand the importance of online services. When we talk about online businesses and the marketplace, it seems quite a complex boundary to get into. Print on demand has been booming, but what does print on demand mean, and where can you get started?
There are so many problems associated with manufacturing, packaging, and shipping. The entire thing takes a lot of effort. However, with the help of print on demand (POD), one can easily handle these problems. Printing large orders were more accessible as most giant companies used to run on build-to-order business models.
But when it comes to publishing a lesser number of copies, it is not economically favorable to use the traditional printing methods. Print on demand allows printing of smaller quantities. It was only developed after the beginning of digital printing. POD is one of the easiest ways to get into the market and establish a place there.
It needs no initial investment of money or in-depth knowledge of business management. You can go on any e-commerce platform and check for several POD companies.
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What does print on demand mean
Print on demand is a way to sell apparel and custom printed items. And allow you to automatically send your orders to a company that will print the packages and ship the orders for you. Most POD companies will work utterly free except for the cost you pay for the items and shipping as you make sales.
You can sell anything on POD, such as hoodies, jackets, phone cases, or anything. Several e-commerce platforms construct and host your entire online business efficiently. You can visit these POD companies that you can select and start working with them with just one click.
How does print on demand works?
Many people like the idea of print on demand but generally don’t get the idea of its system structure. You visit an e-commerce website, and then you can look into the app store there to find hundreds of print-on-demand companies. You have to install them, upload your products there, and start making sales.
As soon as you get an order, two things happen; the first is that the customer gives you money to travel to your payment processor. At the same time, your e-commerce platform will send that order to your POD provider.
The POD provider will print and ship that order over to your customer. Also, the POD will instantly charge you money to your bank account. They will charge you the wholesale cost of the item. After all this, your e-commerce platform will pay you out for that order reimbursing you for the money you spent. At the wholesale article on the POD company giving you whatever profit is left on top of that. This process may take some time.
How to start a print-on-demand business?
POD is a domain of drop shipping in the dropshipping business model. According to a report, the global POD market size is projected to reach US$ 10804.12 million by 2026. It was US$ 1878.11 million in the year 2020. This competition in the pod business is increasing exponentially.
There are multiple aspects of starting a pod business. You can begin a pod to test a business idea. If you want to try a new product for an existing business, you can go with the pod.
Furthermore, if you want to monetize your already built audience, the pod can also help you. You must know that pod is about customizing white label products. It means that a purchaser or a marketer uses its branding rather than the manufacturer’s branding.
You have to look upon the essential factors, such as what kind of product you want to create, the retail price you will offer, and where you will be shipping.
Advantages of POD
It creates products easily. Therefore, you can carry on and capitalize on the new trends since shipping is taken care of by other people.
So you have to focus on handling the customer care service and marketing. You can test your ideas add or move products as less risk is involved.
Disadvantages of POD
Your cost per item will naturally become higher than when you were to buy in bulk.pod services are known to have lower profits. Also, you will reduce your ability to customize products to some extent as it will depend upon the vendor.
8 best print on demand sites to sell your designs
When you find a design that is working for you to increase the sale, what you can do is you can scale it across different websites. These are a few sites and their glances to get started with your business ideas.
1. Merch by Amazon
It is a free site, and you can get cited. You don’t have to do marketing because Amazon is the most extensive website globally. They bring about 3 billion visitors a month.
Think of a keyword and build your products around that keyword because many people cross those keywords almost every day.
2. Redbubble
It is a purely safe and legit site. Redbubble, in coordination with partners with energy specialists, invests in programs that help the environment and offset the carbon emissions from shipping products.
It would be best to upload 50-100 designs before you expect sales as it is a gigantic website. The more products you have, the more likely you will come in search. Also, you do not need a business license or business entity.
3. Cafe press
The Cafepress platform is free to set up your store and list custom-designed products for sale. However, running the store is not entirely free. You have to pay the monthly fee for your Cafepress store.CafePress offers two ways to receive your payments- by check or PayPal.
4. Zazzle
It is an online marketplace with huge POD customizable products. You can sell Zazzle store goods directly online.
It offers flexible designs and a wide variety of fonts and clip art. Also, an annual free-shipping subscription is available.
5. Bonfire
Bonfire is free and easy to use. You can either launch a campaign or purchase shirts in bulk with supply. You can create your designs by uploading custom artwork in their design tool. Launch your campaign to sell continuously. You can choose your batch time frame(2-21 day batches, or Print on Demand). Your supporters could also leave an optional donation or tip if you enable fundraising features.
6. Society 6
It is also an online marketplace where product filters can control your customer’s lending experience. Using the sort by menu, you can use your product filters to get more specific with your department or product.
7. TeePublic
It is also an online marketplace. In TeePublic, there are some types of keywords that are banned. Words that don’t provide value to search. e.g., ‘cool’
Keywords that are increasing redundancy. e.g., ‘t-shirt’ as you can guess, this word is already applied by website filters. Words designed to get clicks,e.g., ‘best selling.’
8. Shopify
It is an e-commerce platform. Inside the Shopify app store, you can find different POD companies. There is a 14 day free trial over the Shopify platform. You can go over Shopify and check it out.
9. Spreadshirt
It was founded in 2002 in Leipzig, Germany. It allows sellers to use their designs and establish independent shops. One can also use customized tools to create their designs.
Shopify vs. Teespring which one should you use
Teespring: It was founded in 2011. Here, you can create your products through platforms’ launchers, publish them to your online store and make a profit whenever a customer does service. You can sell printed products on Teespring as well as on other platforms too.
Shopify: An e-commerce site that was founded in 2004. It allows you to launch your online store and pod business. You can sell products through sales channels on social media platforms. This platform supports POD via third-party integrations.
The setup process
Shopify: After creating an account on Shopify and setting up a store there, you need to choose an ideal POD platform to link product suppliers.
Teespring: The setup process here is relatively straightforward. Register for an account, create your designs, upload them with the product launcher, and publish them to your online store.
Product designing
Teespring: It facilitates quick product design. There are 2 section layouts-one for the design page and the other for the design options. Maximum size of 50 MB is allowed if you want to upload designs. You can also preview tabs before publishing.
Shopify has several applications like Fancy product designer and Lumise- Product Designer. It performs better with designing.
Price ranges
Teespring products are not that expensive. However, in Shopify, the cost of products depends on the product supplier. So, there are chances of getting lower prices as the options increase.
Production
Shopify’s manufacturing and production depend on the supplier or the POD platforms. All of them offer a variety of printing and production methods, and they print at a variety of printing locations. Whereas, Teespring offers (Direct garments) and screen printing. You have to determine which is suitable for printing your products.
Packaging
Teespring provides ( clear plastic bag and custom backer card) type of packaging. While the clear plastic bag is the cheapest, the custom backer card enables you to add unique designs to the packages. In Shopify, your POD will decide product packaging and branding. For white labeling, you can choose a POD that supports it. One can package and brand products with Shopify options only if they have them as inventory.
Shipping and delivery
Shopify enables POD applications to determine the shipping of products. You would only get to set the shipping rates. On Teespring, shipping is charged per the customer location and product type.
Profits
Teespring becomes more profitable when it is about the POD business. The profitability of a POD business on Shopify depends on the POD application you are using. In teespring, there are monthly pricing discounts.
Conclusion
POD is a proven tool for your idea of online business. Whether you are a beginner, want to expand your existing business, or are thinking of setting up a brand. POD is worthy of these ideas. You can be creative with your products and add versatility to your business setup.
I hope these insights were knowledgeable and helpful to you. Kindly add your valuable thoughts in the comments. Also, if you feel any information worth mentioning here, feel free to add them.
Thank you!
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Hi, i’m Akash shaw creator of Adsvast agency , Hello, I am a perfectionist with deep love for aesthetics,
a graphics designer with expertise in logo design and branding.
My only goal with Notamartwork is try to help others to freelancers to get jobs and learn how to do freelancing.