What is print-on-demand, you ask? Simply put, it is a printing technology that allows businesses and individuals to order small quantities of custom-printed items without investing in large amounts of inventory.
This printing method has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the rise of online marketplaces and the demand for personalization. This blog post will explore everything you need to know about print-on-demand!
What is Print-On-Demand Business?
A Print-On-Demand business is a company that uses digital printing technology to print customized products ordered by customers. The most popular product printed on demand is t-shirts, but other everyday items include mugs, phone cases, notebooks, and more.
Entrepreneurs who wish to sell distinctive or personalized goods without the headache of conventional manufacturing and delivery should start a business of this nature. Additionally, POD sites allow you to start selling your products with very little initial outlay.
There are two main types of print-on-demand businesses: dropshipping and fulfillment.
Dropshipping businesses don’t carry any inventory. Instead, they partner with a print-on-demand manufacturer who prints and ships the products directly to the customer on behalf of the company.
On the other hand, fulfillment businesses carry some inventory and ship products to customers. This type of business is often called a “merchant printer.”
How Does Print-On-Demand Work?
Most print-on-demand businesses use what’s called a “print provider.” A print provider is a company specializing in printing and shipping customized products to other firms.
To start a print-on-demand business, you must first create or source products. Once you have products, you need to design them using graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.
Once your designs are ready, you upload them to the print provider’s website, and they handle the rest! The print provider will print your designs on the products and ship them directly to your customers.
You can always move from using a print-on-demand site to storing your inventory if one of your ideas takes off and you start to produce a significant amount of revenue, or you can continue to use these services while looking for other methods to expand your audience. Your decision is yours.
Print-On-Demand Business Sites
1. PODTurbo
One of the print-on-demand business sites is PODTurbo. They are a fulfillment company that specializes in printing custom t-shirts.
Using the automated system offered by PODTurbo, you may create, develop, and distribute print-on-demand products across numerous sales channels with little effort.
There’s no need to manually create and post the products to numerous marketplaces, which would take hours. It’s not necessary to spend a lot on hiring. Waiting weeks for your virtual assistant to do the tasks you gave them is unnecessary.
You may quickly and easily publish thousands of products to many marketplaces, such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and more, without needing virtual assistants or required technological skills.
Your products will be automatically scheduled and uploaded to the markets via the PODTurbo system. No longer must products be manually designed and uploaded! PODTurbo will take care of it all for you!
2. Laser Chili
Another well-known example is Laser Chili, an online marketplace that allows users to create and sell customized products. Among the various top-notch print-on-demand services, Laser Chili stands out. This print-on-demand shop specializes in bracelets and engraved products, allowing customers to personalize and sell multiple items.
To make Laser Chili, follow these four simple steps. Pick an item that can be personalized, such as a bracelet or a set of wallet cards. After that, upload a design and add your preferred goods virtually to it using the Mockup Generator.
You can upload your design in just a few clicks and see it in action on high-resolution pictures. The third step is the product’s general release. You can add your personalized item to your online store if you’re satisfied with it.
Laser Chili’s multi-million user base is simple to contact because the app is compatible with the most well-liked online marketplaces, such as Etsy and Amazon.
The manufacturing, packaging, and shipping processes will all be automated after receiving an order. Manual fulfillment is, therefore, no longer required.
3. Printful
As a leading supplier of print-on-demand services, Printful is well known.
There are more than 220 products available with various printing techniques like sublimation, embroidery, and direct-to-garment printing. Adding stickers, inserts, and tags to your packaging is another personalized method.
Printful’s mockup generator makes customization simple for all popular shopping carts, including print-on-demand Shopify and Etsy. In addition, delivery turnaround times typically range from 2 to 5 business days.
4. Gearbubble
Like Shopify, you may use the GearBubble Pro platform to create your online business. After the 14-day trial, you can choose one of these packages with GearBubble Pro.
An admirable Shopify replacement is GearBubble Pro. Compared to Shopify, it is easier to use and requires fewer plugins and additional installations.
You can create your products on GearBubble, market them through the GearBubble shop, and combine those sales with those from other external marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.
5. Printify
One of the most popular websites, Printify, makes it simple for consumers to start a print-on-demand drop-shipping business. With this print-on-demand service, you may manufacture and market specialized products with top-notch prints and designs.
Manufacturing, printing, invoicing, and shipping are the only parts of order fulfillment for which you are no longer accountable. So that you can concentrate on your store’s marketing and branding, let Printify handle these responsibilities.
Popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and eBay can all be integrated with Printify. Additionally, it provides several add-ons that may be used to promote sales on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Printify offers a wide range of more than 200 high-quality items from international printing businesses. The primary benefit of this website is its inexpensive prices, which can save you up to 20% on a few things.
Even though many print-on-demand services may appear similar at first look, you must carefully analyze the ones you select based on the products you want to manufacture, the location to which you will send them, and the retail prices you want to offer, among other criteria.
What Are The Benefits of Print-On-Demand?
There are many benefits of starting a print-on-demand business. First, it’s a low-cost way to get started in eCommerce. You don’t need to invest in large quantities of inventory upfront, so you can test different product ideas without breaking the bank.
Second, print-on-demand is a great way to offer personalized products. With dropshipping businesses, you can let your customers choose from various product options and add their text or photos before checkout. This level of customization is not possible with traditional manufacturing methods.
Finally, print-on-demand is a hands-off business model. Once you’ve designed your products and set up your store, you can largely automate the fulfillment process. This frees up your time to focus on other aspects of running your business.
Final Thoughts
Print-on-demand may be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a low-risk way to get started in eCommerce.
With print-on-demand, you can create unique, personalized products without investing in large quantities of inventory upfront. Plus, it’s a hands-off business model that can be automated once you get things up and running.
Now that you know what print-on-demand is and some of the benefits and popular platforms, it’s time to decide if this business model suits you. If you’re ready to give print-on-demand a try, be sure to check out some of the resources below to get started.