Starting an ecommerce store can leave new entrepreneurs with many questions: How do I start? What supplier do I use? How do I market my product? What do I sell? The list goes on. While I cover many of these questions in my e-course, in this article, I’d like to focus on one particular method to kickstart your ecommerce journey—Print on Demand, or “POD.”
Print on Demand allows you to design your own products, and the supplier creates the product for you once an order is received. The supplier also handles fulfillment, making it a form of dropshipping, but with the added benefit that you get to create the product yourself.
POD has grown in popularity over the past few years, and with more suppliers entering the market, you have plenty of options to choose from. This is great for testing products, systems, user accessibility, shipping times, and vendor response times. It’s also wise to have a backup supplier in case your main supplier runs out of stock or stops offering a product.
But with so many suppliers out there, how do you find the right one? Many website providers like Shopify and Wix offer apps that seamlessly connect POD suppliers to your store. After designing your product within the supplier’s app or website, the product can sync automatically to your storefront. Depending on the supplier’s functionality, you can still edit the design, pricing, and even the color of the product after it’s been uploaded.
In this article, I’ll share some of the POD suppliers I’ve used and why I like them. Please note that these are my personal opinions, and this is not a sponsored post.
Note: Most suppliers do not allow you to create a design within their system (with a few exceptions), so you’ll likely need to create your design using another application like AdobePro, Canva, or a similar tool.
Printful
User-friendly interface and easy design configuration.
Offers clipart and other designs (some for a fee).
Some products allow personalized product integration.
Quick and reliable vendor service.
Ships and produces products from both the US and overseas locations.
Wide range of products available.
Offers subscription pricing for lower product costs.
Main office located in Charlotte, NC.
Multiple mockup options.
Integrates with custom design apps like Customily (a paid app).
Printify
Slight learning curve; not as user-friendly.
Wide range of products to choose from.
Setting up orders and products isn’t as seamless initially.
Ships from the US and other international locations.
Integrates with custom design apps like Customily.
Shine-On
Excellent customer service for vendors.
Quick shipping.
Headquarters located in St. Petersburg, FL.
Wide variety of products with more being added regularly.
Specializes in jewelry.
Offers personalized options directly on certain products.
Provides Shine-On themed pages for better selling results (optional).
Multiple mockup images and UGC (user-generated content) options.
Integrates with custom design apps like Customily.
PrintedMint
Slight learning curve for product design.
Wide range of product options.
Limited mockup imagery.
Customization options for shipping items, such as ribbon and crinkle paper color, adding a fun touch to the customer’s unboxing experience.
InkedJoy
Some products are manufactured in the US, but most are from China.
US Express shipping typically arrives within 7-10 business days.
Offers a variety of unique products not commonly found with other suppliers.
Allows for personalization, but requires a third-party app.
These are just a few of the suppliers I’ve personally used and continue to use. There are countless others like TeeLaunch, Gelato, and more. I encourage you to test them out to see which ones you prefer, both in terms of product offerings and what your customers will love.
If you’d like assistance with your store, feel free to contact us and book a call. We offer everything from one-time consultations to step-by-step guidance over an extended period.
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