Guide to Print-on-Demand Services for Your eCommerce Business

Print-on-demand services transform how online businesses create and sell custom products. Instead of storing inventory, you can print products only when customers order them. This means no upfront costs for bulk production or warehouse space.

Here’s what makes print-on-demand services useful for eCommerce business owners:

You design products digitally – anything from t-shirts and mugs to phone cases and wall art. When a customer places an order, the print-on-demand service prints your design, packages it, and ships it directly to them. You never handle the physical product.

Who Can Benefit from Print-on-Demand?

Print-on-demand services handle all production and shipping logistics. You get professional-grade printing and production quality without investing in equipment. This lets you focus on what matters most: creating designs and marketing your products.

This setup works especially well for:

Artists selling their artwork on merchandise.
Entrepreneurs testing new product ideas.
Established businesses expanding their product lines.
Local businesses expanding into online sales with branded products.
Nonprofit organizations creating awareness campaign merchandise.
Corporate brands creating custom employee gifts and swag.
Educational institutions selling school spirit merchandise.
Book authors offering complementary products alongside their publications.
Event organizers producing limited-edition merchandise for attendees.
Influencers creating branded merchandise for their followers.
Niche creators targeting specific communities with personalized items.
Social clubs or groups selling unique items to members.
Bloggers diversifying revenue by selling themed merchandise.
Educators creating custom learning tools or course-related products.

Flexibility of Print-on-Demand Services

The real strength of print-on-demand service lies in its flexibility. You can start with just a few designs and test what sells. If something isn’t working, simply remove it from your store – no leftover inventory to worry about. When you find successful designs, you can scale up easily without any additional setup.

The flexibility of print-on-demand enables:

Quick product launches without minimum order quantities.
Easy design updates and new product testing with no wasted inventory.
Seasonal and trending designs without risk of leftover stock.
Global shipping capabilities without international logistics headaches.

What to Look for in a Print-on-Demand Service

Several essential factors to help you select the right print-on-demand service for your business are as follows:

Product Range and Customization

Product variety: The range of products offered by a platform can determine your niche. Look for services with diverse catalogs, including apparel, home decor, accessories, and more. A diverse product catalog allows you to cater to various customer interests and experiment with different markets.
Customization and branding: Brand identity is key. A strong branding helps your business stand out. Look for print-on-demand platforms that support customization options like private labeling, custom tags, packaging, and unique designs.

Logistics and Operations

Shipping times and costs: Fast and affordable shipping is key to customer satisfaction. Research the average delivery times and shipping fees for different destinations. Compare shipping rates to different countries if you plan to sell internationally. Look for providers that offer tracking information automatically.
Production locations: Check where your products will be manufactured, as this affects both shipping times and costs. Multiple production facilities can mean faster shipping to different regions. Look for providers with facilities near your target market.
Minimum order requirements: Check if the service requires minimum order quantities, as zero or low minimums give you more flexibility to test new products and fulfill individual customer orders without extra inventory costs.

Business and Integration Support

Integration capabilities: Your print-on-demand service should connect easily with your existing online store platform. The integration should handle orders automatically, update inventory levels in real-time, and sync product information in your product listings. It should work with your preferred e-commerce platform.
Pricing and profit margins: Know all costs involved in producing your items. Calculate your potential profits after deducting product costs, printing fees, and shipping. Compare base prices across different providers. Consider volume discounts if available.
Customer service quality: Look for providers with responsive and helpful support teams, as you’ll need reliable assistance when dealing with production issues, shipping delays, or customer complaints.

Leading Print-on-Demand Services

Modern print-on-demand services offer built-in design tools, ship worldwide, and provide integration with major eCommerce platforms. They may provide:

High-quality mock-up generators for professional product previews.
Multiple product options from t-shirts to phone cases and canvas prints.
Built-in design tools and templates for quick product creation.
Integration with e-commerce related tools and platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, Amazon, and Etsy to simplify online store management for businesses.

All of the above offerings from print-on-demand platforms make it possible to reach customers anywhere while maintaining consistent product quality.

Now, we’ll explore the leading print-on-demand services and platforms, mentioning their features, offerings, and what makes each one unique.

Printify

Printify is a versatile print-on-demand platform with a global network of print providers. It offer end-to-end solutions for businesses of all sizes and feature a large product catalog. With multiple printer options, Printify provides competitive pricing, letting you choose the best balance of cost and quality.

Print Provider Management

Multiple print providers: Unlike services with fixed providers, Printify lets you choose between different printers (or print providers) for the same product. This means you can select based on location, price, or quality ratings. You might choose a US-based printer for domestic orders and a European printer for EU customers to reduce shipping times.
Price comparison: Printify shows different prices from various providers for the same product. This transparency helps you maximize your profits. You might find that Provider A offers better rates on t-shirts while Provider B is more competitive for hoodies.

Product Catalog and Quality Assurance

Large product catalog: Printify offers a wide range of customizable products, including t-shirts, hoodies, bags, mugs, and more.
Quality options: Each product typically comes in different quality tiers. You could offer both budget-friendly basic t-shirts and premium organic cotton options to different customer segments.
Product quality control: Printify implements a multi-step quality checking process, including print quality verification and product inspection before shipping.

Design and Visualization Tools

Design creator: Their design tool strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and functionality. Even if you’re not a professional designer, you can:
- Add multiple design layers.
- Adjust colors and positioning precisely.
- Save design templates for quick product creation.
- Preview your design on different colored products.
Mock-up generation: Offers a user-friendly mock-up generator for product visualization.

To conclude, if you’re looking for affordability and a broad product selection, Printify is an excellent choice. It’s suitable for entrepreneurs starting on platforms like Etsy or Amazon.

Printful

Printful is known for its premium quality and comprehensive branding solutions. Its service includes white-label packaging and custom branding options. It is ideal for those aiming to establish a strong brand identity.

Branding and Customization

Printful lets you create a fully branded experience.

Packaging options: Printful offers branded packaging materials. You get multiple packaging choices, including premium boxes, custom inserts, and special occasion wrapping. You can create a unique unboxing experience for your customers.
Custom neck labels replace standard garment tags.
White-label experience: All shipping labels and packing slips can feature your brand name and logo.
Brand consistency: Maintains your brand identity across all customer touchpoints such as product tags, shipping notifications, etc. Their system ensures consistent brand presentation regardless of shipping location.
Custom product features: Allows for specialized additions like hem tags, sleeve prints, and all-over printing options to create truly unique products.
Custom pack-ins like business cards or thank-you notes.

Printing and Quality Assurance

Advanced printing methods: Printful uses direct-to-garment (DTG) printing equipment, ensuring consistent color accuracy and wash-fastness.
Quality assurance: Employs a quality control process that includes pre-printing file checks, during-production inspections, and final product reviews. Items are photographed before shipping as part of their quality documentation.
Sustainable practices: Implements water-based printing techniques and uses eco-friendly packaging materials. They also offer a range of products made from organic and recycled materials.

Logistics and Operations

Inventory management: Printful offers hybrid solutions where you can store some inventory for faster fulfillment while using print-on-demand service for other products or during demand spikes.
Warehousing solutions for hybrid fulfillment.
Fast global shipping network: Reliable and quick delivery to customers worldwide.
Strong Shopify partnership and integration.
Automated workflow systems: Features a highly automated workflow that reduces human error and processing time. Orders are automatically routed to the most appropriate fulfillment center.

For businesses prioritizing quality and branding, Printful is a perfect choice. Its robust branding options help you create a professional and cohesive brand presence. And, its global reach makes it ideal for scaling your eCommerce operations.

Gooten

Gooten specializes in high-quality photo products and home decor items. It prioritizes product innovation and operational efficiency. Gooten provides one of the most diverse catalogs in the print-on-demand space, with a focus on automation and scalability. Its automation features save time and help manage a growing order volume effectively.

Product Selection and Customization

Exclusive items: Gooten offers products you won’t find elsewhere, such as:
- Custom furniture pieces.
- Specialized home decor items.
- Exclusive drinkware.
- Unique accessories and gifts.
- Limited edition seasonal products.
Category diversity: Gooten spans multiple product categories from traditional apparel to unique items like custom furniture and large format prints. Their catalog is constantly updated with new and trending items.
Market-tested items: New products are thoroughly tested before being added to the catalog, ensuring they meet customer expectations.
Customization depth: Provides extensive customization options for each product, including multiple print locations, size variations, and color combinations.

Technical Capabilities

Smart order routing: With advanced algorithms, their system automatically:
- Selects the best production facility for each order.
- Considers factors like production time, shipping distance, and facility specialization.
- Optimizes for both cost and delivery speed.
Quality tracking: Gooten uses advanced monitoring systems to track quality metrics across all production partners, with standardized processes across their network.
Scalability features: Gooten provides tools and support for businesses looking to scale, including bulk order capabilities and automated order processing.
API integration: Offers robust API documentation and support for custom integration projects. Their API allows for complete control over the order fulfillment process.

Overall, Gooten is well-suited for businesses aiming to scale rapidly, thanks to its automation and extensive product variety.

Gelato

Gelato specializes in high-quality photo products, wall art, and business materials. It offers a unique approach with its focus on local production and global reach.

Production and Sustainability

Local production model: Gelato operates through a network of local print partners in 32 countries. Each facility maintains consistent quality standards while adapting to local market needs.
Sustainability focus: Gelato emphasizes carbon-neutral shipping and eco-friendly practices. Their system automatically calculates the most environmentally efficient fulfillment option.

Product and Market Adaptability

Wide product range: Their platform offers photo products, business cards, and other unique items alongside standard apparel.
Market adaptation: Offers region-specific products and customization options to meet local market preferences and requirements.

Design and Visualization Tools

Image library: Gelato integrates with Shutterstock, giving access to millions of professional images for design creation. Users can search and license images directly within the platform.
Production preview: Offers accurate digital proofing tools that show exactly how designs will print, including material texture and color accuracy.

Gelato’s local production model and focus on sustainability make it a great choice for eco-conscious businesses seeking fast local fulfillment and also targeting international markets.

Redbubble

Redbubble is a marketplace platform designed for independent artists and creators looking to sell unique products to a global audience. Artists upload designs, and Redbubble handles everything else – from storefront to customer service. This makes it ideal for creators who want to focus solely on design work.

With a global reach, Redbubble allows creators to showcase their unique designs on a variety of products like apparel, accessories, home decor, and art prints. It is an artist-focused platform with a royalty-based earning structure. Its platform is user-friendly, making it easy for artists to upload their creations and manage their storefronts.

Marketplace and Product Creation

Marketplace model: Unlike other platforms, Redbubble allows you to tap into an existing customer base without needing to manage your own store. It provides access to millions of active buyers looking for unique and creative products.
Unique products: Redbubble offers niche items like gifts, posters, and creative designs that stand out in the market.
Automatic product creation: One design automatically appears on dozens of products.

Artist Benefits and Visibility

Artist royalties: Competitive earnings for artists through royalty-based payments to ensure fair compensation for their work.
SEO benefits: Benefit from Redbubble’s marketing efforts. Your products appear in Redbubble’s strong search rankings.

In short, Redbubble is perfect for artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs who want to focus on designing rather than managing inventory or shipping. Its marketplace model offers a low-barrier entry into eCommerce with immediate access to an established customer base.

Apliiq

Apliiq specializes in high-quality, fashion-forward apparel customization, making it an ideal choice for brands focused on clothing.

Unlike many print-on-demand services that offer generic products, Apliiq provides premium apparel options, including custom t-shirts, hoodies, and other garments that cater to brands aiming to establish a distinct identity.

The platform emphasizes private labeling and branding, allowing businesses to create unique tags, labels, and packaging that reinforce their brand image.

Product Quality and Sustainability

Premium materials: Apliiq prioritizes high-quality materials and craftsmanship, collaborating with top manufacturers to meet rigorous standards. This ensures products are both stylish and durable.
Fashion-forward designs: Tailored for trendy, fashion-focused brands.
Eco-conscious production: Sustainable fabric and ethical manufacturing practices appeal to responsible consumers.

Branding and Customization

Private label solutions: Complete brand packaging including:
- Custom tags and labels.
- Size labels and care instructions.
- Hang tags and stickers.
Apliiq specializes in custom manufacturing techniques and unique design applications.
Custom details: Options for unique additions like:
- Specialty linings.
- Unique pocket designs.
- Special seam treatments.
Customization capabilities:
- With robust designer tools, brands can personalize every detail of their apparel.
- Supports choices in fabric selection and intricate design details.