Print On Demand looks fun right? Selling branded product without thinking about the shipping or the production is a real opportunity, but is it not too shiny to be that good? In this article, we will go deeper about Print on Demand on Shopify : Is it worth it? What are the pros and cons? How to get Started? Let's go!
What is Print On Demand?
Print on demand is a store operation method that allows owners to sell products with their brands using a third party who is usually a supplier. It remains a convenient way to incorporate one’s unique creativity onto a product and then proceed to sell it to interested customers without having to put in the work required to purchase inventory or ship it out on an online shop.
Different platforms specialize in setting up eCommerce websites for print on demand stores, and among them is Shopify. Shopify helps owners set up their print on demand business and have it working at maximum potential in no time. To learn whether this is a business venture that might work for you, then read on.
Should You Launch a Print On Demand Store in 2022?
Deciding on a business venture can be stressful. The amount of risk and investment that a good business demands does not cut potential entrepreneurs any slack. Print on demand stores are like many other businesses but have unique advantages.
Before considering whether to invest time and money and a whole lot more blood sweat and tears into the business, it is important to consider the following:
Is Print On Demand on Shopify Still Profitable?
Shopify presents entrepreneurs with a wide range of business options, all tailor-made to suit their requirements. However, what does this mean for the undecided?
One of the most important criteria to consider when deciding whether or not to launch a business is the expected profit margin. It is true to say that the main reason why any business is in existence is to make a profit.
With regards to print on demand, then the answer has never been simpler. Business analysts all over the world acknowledge the upward trend displayed by recent print on demand sales, which translates to increased profit. The print on demand business is definitely profitable and ripe for the picking of anyone with the necessary skillset and ambition.
The success of a Shopify Print On Demand Store can be attributed to:
People love new brands
Like any new fashion craze, new brands that maintain the utmost levels of quality are bound to catch on like a wildfire. This is very different from a lot of other brick and mortar businesses where making the initial sales is an uphill task.
Print On Demand Allows owners to build their brand and marketing
Print on demand is not just a means to improve sales for suppliers. Business owners have a role to play in its success and therefore have the opportunity to build their brand and carry out their marketing to increase sales. This leeway for the active participation of the owner guarantees that hard work rarely goes unrewarded.
More People are Buying on the Internet
The internet is an important weapon in the arsenal of any business owner, or prospective entrepreneur. When used correctly, it has the potential to reap plenty of benefits. The fact that print on demand stores depend heavily on the internet allows them to utilize this resource to the maximum, and the large number of buyers thronging to eCommerce stores is only the beginning.
Is Print On Demand More Profitable than Dropshipping?
The method of operation employed under print on demand borrows largely from dropshipping. However, even with this in mind, there are a lot of marked differences between the two business ventures.
- Dropshipping varies greatly from print on demand in that it has a lot less pressure on the owner to carry out product marketing and branding. Little or no modifications can be made to products that are up for sale in drop shipping stores. On the contrary, print on demand stores simply uses the supplier’s products as a template on which they can impart their creativity.
- Print on demand businesses are usually more profitable in the long term. The responsibility of building the brand that will provide a basis for the sale of products rests squarely on the owner’s shoulders. Businesses with a strong brand are less volatile and therefore more likely to survive for longer and earn profit for an equally long time.
- Drop shipping businesses, on the other hand, are better options for those who are out to make quick sales. As much as this might sound enticing, the business usually runs on a short-term basis and therefore dies out within a few weeks.
Pros and Cons of Print on Demand on Shopify
As previously mentioned, print on demand stores share common characteristics with many other businesses. Like any other business, these stores have pros and cons, and before making a decision, a proper understanding of the pros and cons is mandatory.
Pros
Create products quickly
Mounting your brand onto a product can be done quickly and efficiently. It is possible to use your brand, or procure the services of a friend or freelancer to build you a brand that is forwarded to the supplier for creation.
Shipping and Fulfillment is taken care of
Characteristic of print on demand, after a successful purchase, then the baton is transferred to the supplier who handles everything to do with logistics, including shipping of the product and fulfillment of the order. This allows owners to make sales in different locations without stress.
Low investment
The honey in the pot boils down to the amount of capital required as an investment. Print on demand enables business owners to start making sales without having to procure large amounts of inventory and takes away warehousing costs. This provides the opportunity for entrepreneurs to start and run the store all while incurring a relatively negligible dent in their wallets.
Low Risk
With every business comes the risk of failure. However minimal, this risk is always present. Print on demand stores however have comparatively lower risk as compared to other businesses. The risk associated with having a pile-up of slow-moving products after buying in bulk is completely eradicated. The lack of physical products also takes away the risk of damage while in storage among many more risks.
Cons
Low profit margins
It is expected that the best sellers on your print on demand store might also coincidentally be in high demand with the supplier. These products tend to go for a higher price, and this deviates profit margins towards an undesirable direction. To counter this, one may be forced to buy in bulk which is not always an option.
Less control over shipping
Handing over the shipping to the supplier has its downsides. Among them is that business owners cannot regulate the shipping prices, surprise additional shipping charges at the end of an order deter customers and taking on the cost of shipping might not be a profitable solution either.
Special requirements for products might not be easy to pass on to the supplier and this may lead to damage of products. The owner, therefore, cannot guarantee the quality of the product after a fulfilled order.
The standard customer unboxing experience
In the race to build a unique and captivating brand, the customer’s unboxing experience is an important aspect to securing return customers. When the product processing and packaging is done by the supplier, it is near impossible for owners to add a personal touch to the whole unboxing experience.
Limited product customization
This means that as much as the owner gets to add their own brand to the product, much of the manufacturing process is standard and allows little room for customization. This might deter customers in search of custom products.
How to Start a Print On Demand Business on Shopify
Once you settle on print on demand as your desired business venture, then starting it is the next step. This can be achieved by following these simple steps:
Choose Your Niche and Products
Before embarking on a print on demand venture, it is important that you settle down to think about what niche you would like to involve yourself in, and the products you will bring up for sale in your store. It is important to be specific and target a specific audience instead of targeting the general population. This enables people to identify with your designs and therefore you stand a chance at increasing your sales. The product that bears your brand design is also important. Different niches might be into different products.
Create Your Products’ Design
Getting a niche and identifying products of interest is like gathering wood for a fire, once complete the next step to get that fire going is creating a design for your brand that will go onto your products. This can be done using simple apps like photoshop, canva, or even adobe illustrator. If designing is not your cup of tea, then hiring a freelancer to do it for you is a probable path for getting things done.
Select the Best Platform to Sell Print On Demand
The match that lights up your fire is the platform you choose to base your print on demand store on. These platforms help you materialize your ideas by connecting you with suppliers and doing a larger chunk of the heavy-lifting. Though they might appear similar, these platforms are better suited for specific print on demand stores.
Printify
Printify is an excellent choice for owners with designs meant for t-shirts and hoodies, however, an added advantage of this platform is the variety of other products that one can print on. Printify presents owners with the opportunity to label their brands on jewelry, caps, and even shoes. The platform boasts of hundreds more other white label products unique to Printify.
Printful
Printful is another excellent platform for print on demand stores. One interesting fact about Printful is the partnership it has with many major brands. Business owners on Printful, therefore, enjoy access to high-quality products like American apparel. It also allows owners to partake in the unboxing experience by incorporating their own unique ideas.
Gooten
Gooten offers a variety of products to choose from for print on demand stores, some of which can only be sourced from the platform. It also has a highly advanced but easy-to-use tool that allows owners to have a glimpse of the final appearance of their products after printing.
In conclusion, print on demand businesses can be precarious, but by following simple steps and doing proper research, it is possible to thrive in it.
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