Are you an entrepreneur looking to build an online business? Can’t find opportunities with huge potential to do so? Then, let us help you. A Guide to Start a Print-On-Demand Online Store article is perfect for you. Whether you’re an artist, writer, programmer, or investor, physical products may be a great way to make money from your creativity.

The print-on-demand (POD) concept provides a speedy and streamlined procedure because you can still make your products distinct. But, you don’t have to create or keep those items until someone orders a product from your store.

Over the last 4 years, the print-on-demand business has grown by 12 percent. Furthermore, according to a recent poll, 45% of print-on-demand business owners saw an increase in sales in 2020. [1]

This article will help you through the process of starting your Print on Demand business with Shopify and Ecwid. So keep reading to find which platform might be better for your business.

What Is Print-On-Demand?

Print-on-demand or “POD” refers to the process of customizing products using pre-existing or even new designs. When a client places an order, the product is printed with the design to produce a one-of-a-kind finish. A third party often handles printing and shipping. They function similarly to drop shippers, but they also provide the extra service of printing the items as needed

Before Print On Demand, you would have to stock a pile of previously produced T-shirts. It gets costly when several designs are in various sizes that you may never sell.

Consider a warehouse full of plain T-Shirts, Mugs, Clothes, Phone Cases, Rugs, and other items with no graphics on them. This warehouse will serve as the “unlimited inventory.” When the order arrives, you utilize one of the numerous Print On Demand companies to fulfill the order. They print and mail the design, and you keep the revenue.

There will be no need to stock any inventory anymore. You have access to thousands of products that you can print on. The only limit is your imagination. You might have 10 or 10,000 things in your shop.

Shopify Vs. Ecwid

Shopify and Ecwid are both tools for selling products online. Both platforms enable users to establish an online store, publish items, and manage inventory ongoing without any technical expertise.

The main distinction between these two services is that Ecwid introduces ecommerce to an existing website. In contrast, Shopify guides you in creating a standalone online store from scratch.

Furthermore, Ecwid provides out-of-the-box capability, whereas Shopify requires you to download their free “Digital Downloads” app to sell digital goods.

Before we proceed further, we’d want to go over the basics of both these two e-commerce giants, as well as how they vary in the services they offer. 

SHOPIFY

Shopify is a very popular eCommerce website builder, allowing you to create a website with various customization choices. It is a total solution for immediately getting your online business up and operating. It was founded in 2006 and has powered over 800,000 shops with over $100 billion in consumer sales. [2]

It includes essential features such as a blog, a drag-and-drop builder, a large selection of applications from the Shopify App Store, themes, and much more.

It also serves as the storefront for a print-on-demand store. It pairs up with an app that provides POD services, and the items are listed on the Shopify website.

Shopify pricing spans from $29 per month to $299 per month. However, the Basic plan for $29 per month option does not provide you with a whole multifunctionality of online store. The $79 monthly Shopify account offers incredible value for reputable online companies. However you most probably need to install apps which adds functionality to your e-store but at the same time best ones have monthly fee which can easily double or even triple your monthly costs at the end if you really want to take your store to another level.

Pros

• It is incredibly user-friendly, which is highly beneficial with a large workforce.
• It has several professional-looking templates to help users get started.
• It has a 14-day trial period, during which you do not have to pay for anything.
• It offers experienced assistance if you want support with store setup or development.

Cons

• It has a transaction fee, which makes it expensive.
• It has a limited trial period which is very short.
• Cheapest monthly option is very limited in functionality.

ECWID

Ecwid is an e-commerce platform that allows you to construct and build online businesses. It is well-known for integrating into any platform and successfully improving sales. It initially appeared on the market in 2009 and has since assisted over 1 million online entrepreneurs. [3] 

It can create an instant online store that does not need hosting. Furthermore, it may be utilized as a widget to convert your existing website, social network page, or mobile app into an online store.

Ecwid is an abbreviation for ‘E-commerce Widget.’ As a result, customers may either install the extension directly or acquire a few lines of code to add to their existing website or social network profile. It makes it a brilliant choice for any company trying to use many online sales platforms.

The Ecwid Forever Free plan includes an Instant Site Builder, allowing you to sell your items online without needing a website or coding skills. It also has a business plan for $39 and an unlimited plan for $99. Furthermore, unlike Shopify, it does not charge a transaction fee or a portion of each transaction performed by the user. (4)

I was very impressed the intuitive and simple dashboard & site editor yet feature rich for free e-store solution. Despite limitation of 5 products for free version you are able to build your store with the amount of time you need without money running out every month which puts pressure to launch your store without it being throroughly tested and finish up.

Pros

• It allows you to convert an existing asset into a website.
• Very intuitive and simple dashboard and store editor
• It permits you to utilize your preferred website creation system.
• It has no limits on product selections.
• It offers a shop management mobile app that allows you to design and launch your storefront, monitor inventory, and even handle sales.
• Free plan is not time limited.

Cons

• It offers limited design options, possibly making it inappropriate for growing businesses.
• It does not estimate shipping expenses.
• Free plan has resctriction of 5 products to sell.

How to Build a Print-On-Demand Store

The above section discusses print-on-demand and which online platforms would be suitable for launching the business. However, getting down to the practical parts of launching this business is not as simple as it seems; significant effort is necessary. The sections below will help you get a print-on-demand business off to a good start.

1.    Select Your Niche and Products

You’d be amazed how many people launch an internet store without first determining product profitability. The most crucial hurdle you will encounter in your eCommerce career is determining a viable niche.

Choosing a niche that corresponds to your style, skills, or interest is critical to the success of your print-on-demand business. It also assures that you will be devoted in the long run because it is something you genuinely care about.

Finding a niche includes determining the audience you want to attract and picking the items that best match their interests. If there is minimal discussion in a specific niche-based community, it is unlikely to develop a print-on-demand business around it. It would be best if you find one engaged with numerous discussion threads.

2.    Find the Right Product to Sell

You will also need to research to determine the correct products to sell inside your chosen niche.

Do you want to establish a print-on-demand t-shirt business? A niche of young folks might be excellent. Funny or sarcastic writing, or one of your creative designs, might work.

In the same way, if you’re thinking of starting a business selling print-on-demand business cards, be sure your target market is of professionals. Selling personalized business cards to an audience of 18-24-year-olds will be difficult.

3.    Create an Online Store Account

To give your clients a branded experience, you must join up for an e-commerce provider such as Shopify or Ecwid and develop your online store’s website.

Regardless of how you go about it, you’ll want to pay close attention to the quality of your website in the eyes of the consumer. You’ll need to select a shop theme, upload your logo, and configure your page. Setting up an internet business is as simple as it gets.

After that, you should acquire a domain name through your online store to guarantee you’re generating a trustworthy, efficient, and distinctive brand experience.

4.    Choose a Right Print-On-Demand Supplier

To make your print-on-demand products, you’ll need to collaborate with a print-on-demand supplier. The supplier you choose will be the one you will need to contact regularly concerning orders, fulfillment, refunds, and many other facets of the business.

Many print-on-demand providers have plugins that interact directly with most e-commerce systems, allowing you to connect your store directly to your supplier. It makes order management more manageable and smooth.

Do your research before choosing a POD provider – read reviews, visit online forums, and get advice from experienced POD entrepreneurs to determine the judgment for the supplier you’re considering.

Printify

Printify is a print-on-demand business that offers standard t-shirt and hoodie choices. It also has a worldwide vendor network, allowing unique white-label items. You won’t find jewelry, watches, shoes, and water bottles anywhere else. The platform offers over 200 goods for printing.

While Printify is free to use, a premium subscription is available for $29 per month to provide 20% off all items. It is an excellent alternative to scale up later and boost your profit margins.

Notable Features

• A vast network of print providers.
• Easy-to-use.
• Library of over 250 products.
• Best product costs and market.
• Automatic syncing option.

Printful

Printful is one of the top-rated Print-on-Demand dropshipping and warehousing services. It offers to manage your Print on Demand business from start to finish. Their professional team handles all hard lifting such as storage, equipment, and shipment.

It now offers over 290 high-quality goods ranging from clothes and accessories to homeware to help you get started on your eCommerce adventure.

It’s completely free to begin, and you only pay Printful when you sell a product. It takes 2–7 business days to develop a product and fulfill an order once you receive it.

Notable Features

• Discounted samples
• Control over profits
• Built-in tools
• High-quality products
• Product personalization

5.    Develop a Marketing Strategy to Promote your Business

Unless and until you advertise a business, it will stay unknown. Your print-on-demand business will be just another website in a massive online environment until you build a mechanism for your consumers to find it.

To create sales from your print-on-demand business, you must spread the word about it. Here are some marketing tactics on which you may rely:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a method for improving your organic position on Search Engine Results Pages. It includes producing high-quality content, analyzing focus keywords, obtaining backlinks, and other activities.
• Having a social media presence is fantastic for reaching out to and engaging your target audience. Customers are always searching for businesses on Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, and other platforms.
• You can also work with influencers eager to promote and advocate your product if it matches their style and ideals. They will assist you in fast gaining the trust of your target audience.

Advantage of Print-On-Demand Over Conventional Ecommerce

A print-on-demand business has several advantages. For one thing, if you utilize a distribution center, you won’t have any stock to deal with. The supplier handles all stock and transportation. It can result in lower pricing for items, printing, and delivery. 

Furthermore, it implies that you can devote your full attention to marketing your business and expanding your revenue sources. Some more advantages include:-

• One of the most significant advantages of print-on-demand is generating and selling unique designs.
• Several plugins, layouts, themes, and tutorials are available to help you build your online business.
• With the print-on-demand business concept, even $100 will get you started.
• There will be numerous opportunities to build and grow your custom shirts, caps, and hoodies business, whatever route you take.

Metal Signs – Print On Demand – What products to sell

Yes, like odd title says there is hundreds of products to sell in Print On Demand world. Here is a small list of the products you might think of selling.

Print On Demand

• Metal signs – print on demand
• Face mask
• Stickers
• Baby Clothes
• Mugs
• Pet Collars
• Laptop Bags
• Tote Bags
• Shoes
• Dresses
• Greeting Cards
• Necklaces
• Clothes of all sorts
• Yoga Mats
• Blankets
• Sneakers

CONCLUSION

Traditional e-commerce company strategies typically need a significant financial commitment and a significant amount of time to get up and to operate. 

You must also often deal with inventory management, product packing, shipping, and other complex activities. Print-on-demand is one of the best cost-effective e-commerce company solutions a new website owner can implement.

Like any other online business, selling custom printed items needs a comprehensive game plan that considers price, marketing, branding, and service. Your print-on-demand provider cannot handle everything for you. 

Give yourself a chance for success by researching other print-on-demand businesses to see what works and what doesn’t.

REFERENCES

1. https://www.printful.com/blog/print-on-demand-report-2020-statistics/
2. https://www.shopify.com/plus/customers
3. https://litextension.com/blog/ecwid-review-litextension/
4. https://www.ecwid.com/ecwid-vs-shopify
5. https://www.shopify.com/blog/print-on-demand
6. https://www.ecwid.com/print-on-demand
7. https://www.printful.com/
8. https://printify.com/