Print On Demand

Print on Demand (POD) refers to a system of online business platforms where suppliers manufacture and ship products ordered by customers. POD serves to create uniquely designed products, tailored marketing resources, and personalized products that meet customers' preferences and satisfaction without any need for physical inventory or related investment.

It allows for enhanced flexibility in terms of product offerings, eliminating the need for upfront funds for inventory handling and storage. It opens up new gateways and sources of earning for talented artists, small businesses, and graphic designers at a bare minimum investment. 

Print-on-demand (POD) is a unique business model in which custom products are delivered to customers after they receive orders. As a result, it ends the necessity of any immediate and hefty investment in inventory and its management while leading to large flexibility in a diverse range of product offerings. An online platform connects the creator's sellers or suppliers with the customers looking to buy printed products.

Customers can create designs for printing on products. After that, the design has to be printed with the help of suppliers and then directly shipped to them. As such, the process of POD has reduced waste and facilitated a quicker turnaround time for the product. However, the POD business comes with specific implications:

1. Minimizes hazardous waste, saving the environment from pollution as it helps production only when needed. 
2. Eliminates any straightforward inventor, decreasing costs for customers and suppliers.
3. Leads to a high degree of customization of the design and then ordering them to satisfy their satisfaction and loyalty. 

Various companies like Etsy & Amazon Print on Demand have started an era of printed goods and products where anyone with any design and idea can start designing and get printed products like t-shirts printed on demand as per their choice. Therefore, it has become a beautiful platform of choice for small businesses, musicians, artists, graphic designers, and individuals to start their online businesses, expand their accessibility amongst customers, and enhance their revenue streams.   

It has impacted the financial sector by removing the need for any upfront stock investment, reducing operational and labor costs for customers and suppliers, and leading to savings. Also, POD has become a newer source of stable revenue streams for small businesses, artists, and individuals by enabling customized product sales.

An online POD business has become a low-risk and lucrative medium to enter into and earn from the e-commerce market, which can be started as follows:

• First, select the particular market, niche, and type of products to sell online, like home décor, apparel, or accessories.
• Using online apps like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator to create unique, eye-catching products.
• Choose the best and most reliable POD platforms like Printify, Printful, or Gooten for POD business.
• Next, create and set up an online store using any of the popular eCommerce websites like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Etsy.
• Then, upload designs to the selected POD platform, select items, and set prices.
• After that, the promotion of the store has to be done using email marketing, social media, and video platforms to generate traffic, attract customers, and drive sales. 
• Lastly, the POD platform should be used effectively to manage production, packing, and deliveries while earning profits from production costs that are subtracted from the maximum retail price.

Let us use a few examples to understand the topic.

Example #1 

An online article published on 25 March 2024 discusses the top print-on-demand companies in 2024, highlighting their unique specialties. All their unique qualities serve to help entrepreneurs sell their tailored products at low risks. The assessment of these companies for the listing went through consideration of various factors like financial viability, customization options, niche features, operational flexibility, customer reviews, and product quality.

The top 6 listed companies included:

1. Printful: Having the best features of white labeling.
2. Printify: Excellent concerning shipping speed.
3. Gelato: Exceptional related to global reach. 
4. Redbubble: Leader in the artist-driven online community.
5. Society6: Top most portal having unique products), 
6. Amazon Merch on Demand: finest tool for Amazon integration.

Example #2

Let us assume that a graphic designer, Jane, located in Old York City, decides to sell her designs as artwork on tailored merchandise. Hence, she approaches online POD service provider Artprintco, a leader in the POD industry famous for its fast shipping and excellent, flawless print quality. The Artprintco platform provides Jane the facility to easily upload designs that customers can buy on different items of their choice, like t-shirts, posters, and mugs. 

Jane succeeded in receiving more than 500 orders of her designs because of Artprintco’s efficient shipping and global reach. Further, the platform's customization tools, diverse product provision, and packaged branding have aided Jane in building a strong and viable brand image. However, the excellent services of Artprintco's platform come with a 10% commission charge on every sale, ascertaining that Jane gets a sound profit margin. Additionally, good customer reviews of Jane's prompt delivery and vibrant print works have boosted her reputation.

Let us use the table below to understand the pros and cons of POD:

Both types of e-commerce business have specific differences, as per the table: