If you're an entrepreneur looking to start an ecommerce business, you may have come across the term "print on demand." But now you may be wondering what exactly is print on demand, and how does it work? In short, print on demand (POD) is a business model that allows you to sell custom-designed products without the need for inventory management or upfront costs.
With POD, products such as apparel, accessories, or home decor are produced only when an order is received. This eliminates the need for you to hold inventory or invest in expensive equipment. Instead, you work with a print provider to create your designs, which are then digitally printed on-demand. This allows for customization and flexibility, as you can easily update your designs or add new products to your store without worrying about excess inventory.
Overall, print on demand is a great option for entrepreneurs who want to sell custom-designed products without the hassle of inventory management or upfront costs. By working with a print provider, you can easily create and sell unique products that resonate with your audience, all while minimizing risk and maximizing profits.
What is Print on Demand?
The Basic Concept
Print on Demand (POD) is an innovative business model that allows individuals to offer a wide range of products with no managing inventory. With POD, you can create custom designs for products such as clothing, accessories, home decor, mugs, art prints, phone cases, puzzles, and more. Essentially, you create the design, post it, the customer orders it, and the POD company prints and fulfills orders as they come in. Because it is printed once ordered (aka demanded, therefor the name) there is no inventory to keep track of or store.
How It Differs From Traditional Printing
Traditional printing involves ordering a large quantity of products upfront and then storing them until they are sold. This can be a risky and expensive approach because it requires a significant investment in inventory. If you don't sell the products, you'll likely be left with unsold inventory that takes up valuable storage space and ties up your capital.
POD, on the other hand, allows you to create products on demand, which means only what you sell is produced. This approach eliminates the need for large upfront investments in inventory, reduces the risk of unsold products, and allows you to focus on creating designs and marketing your products to your target audience.
Overall, POD is a flexible and cost-effective way to start a business that allows you to offer a wide range of products or test new designs without the need for maintaining any inventory.
The Print on Demand Process
If you're new to print on demand (POD), it can seem like a scary process. However, it's a straightforward and efficient way to bring your creative ideas to life. Here's a breakdown of the POD process:
Design Creation
The first step in the POD process is to create a design. You can either create your own design or hire a graphic designer to do it for you. Canva is a great option for new and experienced designers. Graphics can be purchased from Etsy, or other design markets like Creative Market or Creative Fabrica. Keep in mind that your design should be unique and resonate with your target audience. Once you have your design, you'll need to upload it to your POD platform.
Product Selection
Once your design is uploaded, you'll need to select the products you want to sell. POD platforms offer a wide range of products, including t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, and more. You can choose which products you want to offer based on your target audience and what you think will sell.
Pricing
Setting the correct price is important for success. With POD, you often have to cover shipping fees from the POD company to the customer, so it's important to make sure you either build the cost of shipping into the product, or charge separately for shipping. Your price should also include a markup for your labor. If you are not making a profit on the product, you need to raise the cost or find a cheaper production method.
Order Fulfillment
When a customer places an order, the POD platform will automatically print the product and fulfill the order on your behalf. This means you don't have to worry about inventory management or shipping. The POD platform takes care of everything for you.
One word of warning here - I highly advise you order sample pieces of the product. Sometimes the printed version does not look as we expect, or the quality is not up to par. Samples can often be ordered at cost or really cheap. You want to catch any issues with production before your customers do.
Shipping and Delivery
Once the product is printed, it will be shipped directly to the customer. The shipping time will depend on the POD platform and the shipping method selected by the customer. Some POD platforms offer expedited shipping options for an additional fee.
In summary, the POD process involves creating a design, selecting products, order fulfillment, and shipping and delivery. It's a simple and efficient way to bring your creative ideas to life without the hassle of inventory management and shipping.
Advantages of Print on Demand
If you're considering starting an ecommerce business, print on demand may be a good way to start out. Here are some advantages of POD:
Reduced Inventory Costs
One of the biggest advantages of print on demand is that it allows you to reduce your inventory costs. With traditional printing methods, you would have to order a large quantity of products in advance and store them until they are sold. This can be expensive and risky, especially if the products don't sell as well as you expected. With print on demand, you only print what you need when you need it, which means you don't have to worry about excess inventory or storage costs.
Customization and Personalization
Print on demand also allows you to offer customization and personalization to your customers. This means you can offer a wide variety of products with different designs, colors, and sizes, without having to worry about the costs associated with traditional printing methods. POD allows you to try out a new design or product with your market before committing to a large order of inventory. You can attract new customers, and make yourself stand out against the competition.
Print on Demand for Artists and Designers
Artists and designers can utilize print on demand as a great option for selling their work online, and create unique and high-quality products for little to no cost. This means you can focus on creating art and designs that your customers will love, while leaving the printing and shipping to the print on demand service.
Challenges of Print on Demand
Now that we've talked about the benefits of POD, we have to talk about the challenges that a lot of people deal with. Here are some of the most common challenges you'll encounter:
Quality Control
Since you're relying on a third-party supplier to print and ship your products, you aren't there to perform quality control before sending it out. If you work directly with a supplier, you'll need to establish clear quality control guidelines and hold them to it. It's important to work with a reliable supplier with a good track record of quality control.
Shipping Times
Print-on-demand products are usually created after the customer places an order, which means that shipping times will probably be longer than if you had the product on hand. This can be frustrating for customers who are used to fast shipping times, especially in the two-day Prime world. To get around this challenge, you'll need to set clear expectations for shipping times on your website and communicate them clearly to your customers. Stay on top of shipping times, especially around the holidays or peak times, and update your customers accordingly.
Print on Demand means products are created and shipped on demand, reducing storage needs and ensuring timely delivery.
Product Range Limitations
Print on demand suppliers may not offer the same range of products as traditional suppliers. For example, some suppliers may not offer certain types of apparel or accessories. This can limit the types of products you can offer to your customers. It's important to research different suppliers and find one that offers the types of products you want to sell.
Print on Demand Platforms
If you're looking to start a print on demand business, choosing the right platform is essential. There are many different print on demand platforms available, each with its own unique features and benefits. In this section, we'll explore some of the most popular print on demand services and provide some tips for choosing the right platform for your business.
Popular POD Services
Here are some of the most popular print on demand services available:
- Printful: Printful is a popular print on demand platform that offers a wide range of products, including clothing, accessories, and home decor. They have a user-friendly interface and offer integrations with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.
- Printify: Printify is another popular print on demand platform that offers a wide range of products, from clothing to phone cases. They have a large network of print providers and offer competitive pricing.
- Gooten: Gooten is a print on demand platform that offers a wide range of products, from t-shirts to mugs. They have a user-friendly interface and offer integrations with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Etsy.
Choosing the Right Platform
When choosing a print on demand platform, there are a few things to consider:
- Product selection: Make sure the platform offers the products you want to sell. Some platforms specialize in certain products, so make sure to choose one that fits your needs.
- Pricing: Look for a platform that offers competitive pricing. Keep in mind that pricing can vary depending on the product and the quantity ordered.
- Ease of use: Choose a platform with a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.
- Integrations: If you're using an ecommerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce, make sure the print on demand platform offers integrations with your platform. This makes things so much simpler whenever it comes to listing and purchasing your products.
By considering these factors and doing your research, you can choose the right print on demand platform for your business.
Hopefully, you better understand the concept behind Print on Demand, or POD. It's a flexible solution for those looking to bring their ideas to life with low costs and without sacrificing space. Print on demand can be a great way to start an e-commerce business with low overhead costs and minimal risk. However, it's important to understand the challenges you may face and take steps to mitigate them. If you work with a reliable supplier, set clear expectations for shipping times, and research different product options, you can build a successful print-on-demand business.