Print on Demand - Design and Sell

Print on demand is a specialized kind of "custom" product provider. The "print on demand" (POD) services provide the product, you provide the content. It may be a book or CD, or designs applied to products such as t-shirts, hats, mugs, stickers, etc. The designs could be anything from a picture of your dog to political slogans to logos to cartoons and as much more as your imagination can provide. There are no minimum orders and (usually) no set up costs. Providers create the custom "product" only after receiving an order. There are a number of POD services that allow you to not just custom create products but also sell them.

The POD creator as seller programs tend to have a similar structure. You, the creator, use a graphics application to create a design. Then on the POD web site you pick a product (like a t-shirt) and "apply" the design so that the image you created shows on that product. That helps the customer know what it will look like. The degree to which a creator can control how the image is used varies. In some cases the creator selects specific products. In other cases the creator posts the design and the customer may have an opportunity to select the product and even modify the design by adding or removing text or other design elements.

Most POD sites also provide a "gallery" or "shop" where you can display a collection of your designs. If a customer decides they want to buy the product with your design on it, they buy it from the POD web site. The POD company collects the payment, creates and ships the product with your design, handles customer feedback and problems, and puts your markup or commission in your account.

Some POD sites allow you to choose your own markup (profit), others have a set commission (profit) ranging from 5% to 20% of a the retail price (what the customer pays). Usually there is a holding period on that commission in case the customer decides to return the item. If there is a return usually you lose the commission.

These sites offer tremendous opportunity because they normally allow you to plunge in without paying any direct costs. Unlike the typical startup business you can skip the investment in inventory that may or may not sell. The system also provides an inexpensive test market for new designs. Even if you want to sell directly to your customers, and get the price breaks that come from volume purchase, the POD model can save you lots of money. Release the design to the POD site first, see how it sells, then decide whether to add it to your inventory. The POD service also offers expanded sales potential for artists and photographers creating individual items for specific customers. Because the products are not made until they are ordered it is easy to present the customer with more choices. If the customer orders a sweatshirt with a picture of their dog on it, but they see stickers, buttons, additional apparel, and other items when they go to purchase the chances are good that they will order one or more additional items.

Here are some print on demand sites that allow you to submit and sell your own designs on their site.

ImageKind (USA - specializes in high quality framed prints, posters and similar items)FAQ
Printfection (USA - mostly apparel) FAQ
Zazzle (USA - apparel, mugs, buttons, magnets, posters, cards and similar items) FAQ
CafePress (USA - apparel, mugs, buttons, magnets, posters, cards and similar items) FAQ
Comboutique (Europe - apparel, buttons) FAQ
InnerTee (USA - apparel - artists submit design elements which are "mixed" to create the final desired product) FAQ
Greeting Card Universe (USA - greeting cards) FAQ
Skreened (USA - apparel only) FAQ
E-shirt (USA - apparel) FAQ
Shirt City (USA, Europe, Japan - apparel) FAQ
Spreadshirt (Europe and USA - apparel) FAQ
T-shirtme (UK - apparel) FAQ
Lulu (USA - books, CD, DVD, calendars and similar items) FAQ
Redbubble (Australia - framed prints, artwork, other items coming) FAQ

Explore some of the shops and galleries I've opened.

For indepth exploration of the POD T-shirt industry see Custom T-Shirt Talk