Want to start a print on demand business? Here are 5 tips to absolutely crushing it!
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Today, I want to share with you 5 tips to making money with Print on Demand.
Actual, real money.
If you don’t know what Print on Demand is, it’s exactly how it sounds. The way it works is: when a customer places an order on a design/artwork from your store, it gets printed on demand on whichever product the customer has selected.
For example: Here is a top I’m wearing with this adorable pug-coffee design that I printed myself on a plain white t-shirt.
To do this, I simply found a design, placed it on a white t-shirt using a print on demand fulfilment app like Printful, who then go on and print it on an actual t-shirt after a customer places an order.
(By the way: notice how I said “after a customer places an order”? Like dropshipping, this is a huge advantage because you’re not wasting any money on inventory until you’re CERTAIN that a customer is willing to pay for your design)
The other great thing about Print on Demand is that you don’t even need to build a store from scratch. You can use simply create designs and add them to your existing store.
Now you know what print on demand is: how do you make money from it?
To help me answer this, I asked POD expert, Michael Shih, who has made over $1 million dollars with this exact model, to give us his some of his wisdom on how to build a great income with POD – and also what to avoid as a beginner.
Let’s get started.
With Print on Demand, conversions are extremely important: even more important than with dropshipping.
Why? It’s because with Print on Demand, the price to purchase the products is higher. This means that to make similar profit margins, you need to be able to price your items higher than with Aliexpress dropshipping.
To be able to ask for higher prices, it’s important that you are selling extremely engaging products that elicit an emotional reaction from a customer.
Take this camera lens mug for example:
People don’t buy it because it’s made out of food grade plastic…
…they buy it because they want to see the hilarious look on people’s faces when they’re drinking out what they think is a real ‘camera lens’.
When you inspire an emotion – whether it’s envy, jealousy, excitement, happiness – you create a strong desire in the customer to buy. Which, in turn will increase your conversion rates.
A very effective way to do that is to involve the customer in the product creation process and let them customize it themselves by uploading photos and custom engraving it. Shine On and Print Tech are two examples of apps that allow you to do this.
Here’s something that most people do not realize: Highly successful dropshipping stores aren’t successful because one product.
People like Michael, who was able to turn $3,583.08 in ad spend into $14,436.78 in sales have a totally different approach.
The secret to how he did it? Getting customers to purchase more than one item from his store.
The Bulk Product Discount App is a great way to get customers to buy more than 1 item from you.
First, it adds a table to your store, showing the customer what discount they’ll get on the sale.
Then, it will automatically calculate the discount when the customer adds multiple items to their cart (no coupon codes required).
This works especially well for items where customers have a reason to buy more than 1, such as throw pillows, which when bought in multiples create a synchronized look.
A big advantage with print on demand is you do not need to be a designer, neither do you have to create your designs yourself.
Instead, what I, and many other successful people in print on demand do to find profitable designs is hire a designer to create them for you.
If you read my previous blog on how to make money with Print on Demand, this tip might confuse you as I recommended using sites like Shutterstock where you can quickly purchase great designs from.
While using Shutterstock to quickly and easily find designs to use for your store works well in the beginning…
…as your store grows, people will be able to copy you and download it for themselves.
This is the difference between beginner and advanced Print on Demand stores.
To really scale up, it’s inevitable that as you grow you’re more likely to shift away from purchasing illustrations sites like Shutterstock, and start working with designers.
Having a designer will allow you to create and test designs quickly and cheaply. It isn’t safe to rely on one design; you want multiple designs that you can use and test. The first design might not hit the nail – but the 4th, 5th, or 6th might. But if you only have one design you would have never known, or it would take you a heck of a long time than if you were to leverage one designer.
Upwork.com, 99Designs.com and Freelancer.com are all great places to find good designers.
This is, so, SO important.
Do not ever use fanart as your designs for Print on Demand products.
It is illegal to create and sell artwork that is derived from copyrighted characters and trademarked logos.
It doesn’t matter if your artwork isn’t identical: if it’s very clearly a piece of fan art based on the Llama pinata in Fortnite, then it is illegal.
Funnily enough, it is very common to see people use Fanart for Print on Demand products. Are they allowed to? No, they aren’t.
And even if other brands don’t have a specific “fan art” policy on their site, like Epic games (creators of Fortnite) above, keep in mind that it is – by default – illegal unless you get explicit permission.
While it may appear tempting to use fanart – because you already know there are millions of raving fans ready to buy – you can get yourself caught up in a very, very sticky situation.
Remember: Just because it is common, doesn’t mean that it is OK, and eventually they will get shut down.
To finish off, here’s a simple but sneaky Pinterest Hack to find winning designs.
In the search bar, type in ‘[niche] tattoo.’
From here, you’ll find a range of unique designs that people are PASSIONATE about. This is much smarter than just typing in ‘niche designs’, which other people who do print on demand are probably already searching for.
Want to learn the blueprint wildly successful dropship stores follow to make six-figures?
In it, I’ve included:
The incredible growth of print-on-demand in recent years raises suspicions about “Is print-on-demand still profitable in 2024 and upcoming years?” or “Does it reach the highest development and gradually level off?”. If you cannot find convincing answers to the above questions, this article is for you.
Print-on-demand is still definitely profitable to new and experienced sellers in 2024 and the near future. It can be a lucrative venture when coupled with the right on-demand company, distinctive and top-notch designs, and effective marketing tactics.
According to this Print On Demand Market report, in the 2024-2032 period, the market will witness a CAGR of 22.7% and value at $48.4 billion. This future of print-on-demand is promising, making it a good business to make money.
And from Teeinblue statistics and survey, the average print-on-demand profit falls between 15% and 60%, with the majority favoring the 25% to 50% range. It's crucial to acknowledge that profit margins vary based on niches, POD provider selection, and marketing and sales effectiveness.
The global print-on-demand market keeps growing fast (Source: imarc)
However, that bright future isn’t the whole picture. You should research the present niche markets to know “Is there any chance to join and open new print-on-demand stores in 2024?”
Print-on-demand is NOT going to saturate soon. The increase in income, internet coverage, smartphone usage, interest in fashion, and personalized products boost the future of print-on-demand.
Although existing merchants are taking up the majority of the market, there are still great chances for starters. The market always has gaps that you can take advantage of:
In 2024, you can start with sustainable high-quality items.
Find a new print-on-demand niche and become the first seller
💡 You may also like: Best-selling Niches and Designs for Print-on-demand Merchants in 2024
In addition to the fast growth, 5 other reasons to start your print-on-demand business this year are:
Managing a print-on-demand shop is less risky, yet with higher ROI. Owners don’t need to invest in an offline store, manufacturer, or inventory. They also don’t have to deliver products to buyers.
Your business connects the first and the second step of the print-on-demand process
As mentioned in the first section, owners can get an average profit margin of 15% to 60%. If the newer one has great designs and effective marketing strategies, the ROI will even be higher.
The cost of starting a print-on-demand store is much less than for manufacturing, agriculture, architecture, etc. Are you curious “How much does a print-on-demand business cost?” Here are all of the costs for starters:
Print-on-demand product ideas are as immersive as stars in the universe. You can sell designs for everything people need. From basic items like clothing, sneakers, mugs, and decorations to high-end products like jewelry, cars, watches, etc.
Tips: Choosing a niche with a high-profit margin can help to build a strong business.
T-shirt is one of the most popular print-on-demand product in the US (Source: Statista)
Selling online gives you the chance to work whenever and wherever you want. You can also run a business online without renting an office.
Moreover, it is much easier to change products by season and year. The core thing you should notice is the design quality.
The process of designing, personalizing, adding products, creating campaigns, paying, and sending orders to fulfillment partners are both highly automated. Thanks to that, you can manage your time more effectively to create more revenue or have your hobbies.
The future of print-on-demand is promising. However, there are still disadvantages to overcome. Let’s discover Teeinblue’s expert tips in the section below to earn profit from your POD store!
Achieving high revenue in selling print-on-demand products hinges on mastering the selection of three key factors: products, print-on-demand (POD) company, and marketing strategies. Before you get into ideas in the next sections, cultivating the right mindset is essential for success. Check them out!
It is not necessary for the owner to handle everything. Focusing on making the most out of your strengths is expert advice. Don’t worry that other tasks cannot run. It brings more value when you have a team in that every member has different strengths.
Find your strongest skills and start
For example, if designing is your best skill, it is wise to focus on creating amazing artwork. Then, consider working with a web developer and an advertiser.
Remember to prior to this step at the beginning. Everything you prepare is for the target audience. You need to identify their favorite, purchase behavior, financial ability, etc. Then, you can create products they love as well as improve service quality.
You also need to know where your customers are. The fastest growing market is Asia Pacific, including Japan, China, Singapore, and India. The largest market is still North America, including America and Canada.
Tips: Carrying out a survey on social networks or reading reviews of competitors is the best and fastest method to know your customers.
To win immense competitors in the market, a strong brand is key. Consistency in policy and action not only impresses new buyers but also keeps loyal customers. This is a solid start for growing business sustainably.
Tips: Pay attention to improving product quality and customer service. While the customer is depressed because of bad providers, this sustainable strategy is definitely useful.
Start a print-on-demand business with a professional logo
There are always free choices for website, design, or marketing. Free website creation platforms are ideal resources for beginners to know about print-on-demand. It also helps to save money.
You can take amazing free resources below:
After building a strong brand in your customer’s minds, it’s time to diversify and sell more products. In this way, you can get more revenue and earn more profit.
And don’t forget to add product personalization options. This is the hottest trend in the upcoming years. A report from Salesforce shows that 65% of customers prefer customized items to normal products. Among Gen Z, this rate is even 74%.
Customer can upload their photos, write their text on the products
When researching on different websites or asking other people, you may be curious about contradictory opinions. It makes you think more but helps to obtain useful results.
Tips: To avoid incorrect information, it is better to consult POD experts, high-reputation statistics sites, market research, etc.
Every start is hard and challenging. Print-on-demand cannot make you a millionaire or bring you profits without creativity, meticulousness, and great patience.
Don’t rush and expect that the print-on-demand store will give you a high profit after a short time. You may encounter troubles when setting up your store or launching the first campaign. But don’t worry, the second try will go smoother.
What ideas will bring you success in 2024? Offering eco-friendly items, basic apparel and athleisure, art, and home decor as gifts is the easiest way to tap into the print-on-demand market and earn first sales.
More and more people choose eco-friendly products for their lives. A PwC survey in 2021 says that 50% of global consumers have lived greener. This number in 2019 is just around 40%.
You can catch the going sustainable trend with compostable phone cases, clean generators, wooden tech accessories, hemp and cork-based vegan leather for pets, self-watering planters, etc.
Recycle phone case is a great idea
The need for clothes to wear from home to the street seems not to stop. Basic apparel is the favorite item of busy and simple people because it is not only tasteful but also comfortable. Top high-margin print-on-demand basic apparel are T-shirts, hoodies, polo shirts, and leggings.
Don’t forget to add athleisure to your print-on-demand store. With the growing trend of people embracing a fitness-oriented lifestyle, offering comfortable and stylish workout athleisure can be a lucrative addition to your product lineup.
Tips: The advice is to choose one product at the beginning and update seasonal trends.
It is cheap and fast to buy an art print instead of drawing or taking a photo. Print-on-demand art is also beautiful, high-resolution, long-lasting, and easy to personalize. That’s why these products are becoming more and more popular.
It’s worth trying the below trends:
Wall art is a great niche
Home decor items are never outdated because people always want to keep their house new and worth living in. Therefore, selling print-on-demand these product will still be profitable in 2024.
Here are the hottest niches for home decoration in 2024: Christmas ornaments, mugs, posters, doormats, pillows, blankets, baskets, drinkware, acrylic decor gifts, etc.
You’ve got the answer to “Is Print-on-demand Still Profitable?” and a basic guide to making a profit. Consider our suggestions below to start creating your own store.
Shopify provides everything you need for an e-commerce website. It allows you to design, customize, manage, and advertise your business.
It is easy to use and affordable for every merchant. Don’t worry if you are a beginner, their team will enthusiastically support you from the first step.
Shopify is one of the best e-commerce platforms in the world
Print-on-demand providers are your partners who provide white-label products, printing services, shipping services, etc. They are also called POD fulfillment companies.
9 companies that receive the highest rate includes
💡 You may also like: Top-notch POD Companies Integrated with Teeinblue
Product customization apps help you to enhance customer experience. Now, Teeinblue is one of the best POD product personalizers. The app allows you to:
In conclusion, making a profit from a new print-on-demand store is absolutely possible. The keys to success are choosing the right niche, creating high-quality designs, choosing the best POD companies, and launching effective marketing strategies. Still wondering about “Is print-on-demand still profitable in 2024?”, don’t hesitate to join Teeinblue Global Community for POD Personalization to have further discussion.
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