Print-on-demand is one of the best ways to start a Shopify business because the barrier to entry is low:
The startup costs are minimal (you only have to cover the product costs for items you sell and the Shopify fee)
You don’t have to deal with any production hassles because your print provider takes care of them for you
If that sounds like something you want to try out, let’s get into the fundamentals of how to sell print-on-demand on Shopify. This article will cover the 9 stages of launching a successful Shopify store with print-on-demand. Each stage has smaller steps and additional information to help you understand the why behind the how.
How to sell print-on-demand products on Shopify: 9 steps
Buckle up, it’s time to get your dream dropshipping business started. Here’s how to dropship on Shopify.
1. Create a Shopify account
Source: Shopify
First things first, create an account on Shopify. You get a 3-day free trial to explore the platform and begin setting up your business with Shopify before committing to a subscription plan. Here are your options:
Source: Shopify
After signing up to Shopify with your email, Facebook, or Google account, Next, you’ll be asked a few questions about your business. Answer these questions to help Shopify tailor your experience, but none of these settings are permanent.
Then, you’ll be taken to your Shopify dashboard. There, you’ll have to choose your print-on-demand store name. This name will form the basis of your Shopify domain, but you can change this later if needed.
A custom domain (e.g., www.yourstorename.com) helps establish credibility and makes it easier for your potential customers to find you. You can buy a domain through Shopify or third-party domain providers, or connect one you already own.
Source: Shopify
Before you can finish setting up your store, you need to choose a print-on-demand service that’ll handle your orders. Let’s discuss how to make the right choice.
2. Choose a print-on-demand company
Having a reputable and trustworthy print-on-demand company means your shoppers will get high-quality products and have a high potential to become repeat customers.
Here are a few tips to help you choose the right print-on-demand partner:
Sample products first: Order samples from potential providers to evaluate product quality, printing accuracy, and packaging. Getting samples is a way to step into your customers’ shoes and see what the ordering and tracking process and shipping speed are.
Compare shipping rates and times: Note that 68% of online shoppers say fast shipping is the most important factor in their experience. Compare the shipping rates and delivery times of different providers, especially if you want to attract customers internationally.
Check for integration with Shopify: Pick a print-on-demand company with a smooth integration with Shopify. This will save you time and hassle in managing your store. Printful’s integration with Shopify, for example, allows automatic order processing and easy product syncing.
Read reviews and join communities: Look for reviews, customer feedback, and testimonials from other Shopify store owners. Joining online communities or forums can provide insights into the experiences of others with different print-on-demand companies.
Consider product variety: Explore the product catalog’s diversity for different print-on-demand companies. A diverse catalog means more future growth opportunities for your product line. However, you should investigate whether the products are printed by the print-on-demand company or outsourced to third-party vendors, as this can affect the consistency of product quality.
Printful owns the production process and offers a wide range of products, from apparel and shoes to tech accessories, home decor, and drinkware, giving you plenty of options to diversify your store.
Printful’s Catalog. Source: Printful
Once you’ve found a print-on-demand provider, you can move on to the next stage of building your business with Shopify—creating your store.
Valuable read: 12 Emerging Print-on-Demand Business Ideas to Get Started with Right Now
3. Build your own online store
Building your Shopify store starts with selecting a theme that aligns with your brand. Shopify offers both free and paid themes that are mobile-friendly and easy to customize. Explore all the themes in the Shopify Theme Store, filtering by industry and layout style.
Source: Shopify Theme Store
If you’re looking for a low investment, pick one of Shopify’s 13 free themes. Before settling on a theme, check its rating and view the store demo on the desktop and mobile view.
Valuable read: Best Free Shopify Themes
Source: Shopify
Once you’ve chosen a theme, use Shopify’s theme editor to customize the layout, colors, and text. Focus on creating a user-friendly homepage highlighting a few products and clear call-to-action buttons.
Pro tip: Ensure your store’s navigation is intuitive, with clear categories and a search function for effortless shopping.
Next, install essential apps from the Shopify App Store to have your store running smoothly. For a print-on-demand business, consider these key apps:
Printful: For managing products and orders
SEO optimization apps: To improve search engine visibility
Email marketing tools: To build and engage your target audience
Customer review apps: To build trust and social proof
Valuable read: 15+ Inspiring Shopify Store Examples
4. Choose products and create designs
You don’t have to be an expert or a designer to craft beautiful custom products. What you need is an understanding of who you’re designing for.
In the past, we’ve covered what makes a Shopify bestseller, which we highly recommend you read to know how to find products to sell. Here are 5 key characteristics of a product that’s likely to sell well:
Clear target audience
Strong market demand
Low competition or a solid unique selling point (USP)
High fulfillment quality and reliability
Legal compliance
Valuable read: What to Sell on Shopify: 10 Best-Selling Product Niches And 30+ Product Ideas
Now, once you have your products selected, you have to customize them. And it ain’t hard. Here are 6 steps for creating a print-on-demand start to finish:
Research and identify trends
Define your niche
Sketch or plan your designs
Choose your design software
Create your designs
Optimize your designs for printing
Pro tip: Same as with Shopify theme’s you don’t have to buy paid tools to create gorgeous products. For example, you can use Printful’s Design Maker or Canva for free.
Source: Printful’s Design Maker
Valuable read: How to Create Designs for Print-on-Demand Even If You’re Not a Designer
The main thing to remember about creating designs is to experiment and have fun doing it. Test different designs in your store to see what resonates most with your audience.
5. Add high-quality images
Adding high-quality images to your store is essential for making a strong first impression and driving sales.
Use high-resolution images: This gives your store a professional appearance and allows customers to zoom in for detailed views, which is especially important for products with intricate designs.
Showcase multiple angles: A comprehensive view of the product will make your customers more confident about what product they’ll receive. Include front, back, and side views, as well as close-ups of important details like stitching or print quality.
Include lifestyle photos: In addition to standard product photos, include lifestyle images that show the product in use. These images help customers envision how the product will fit into their lives, increasing the likelihood of purchase.
Consistent backgrounds: Use consistent backgrounds across all product images to maintain a cohesive and professional look. A plain white or light-colored background is often best, as it keeps the focus on the product.
Optimize for fast loading: Ensure your images are optimized for the web to avoid slow loading times. Use tools to compress images without sacrificing quality, ensuring a smooth and fast user experience.
By following these steps, you’ll create a visually appealing store and build trust with your customers.
To keep the upfront costs at a minimum, you can generate true-to-life product images with the Design Maker. To do it, design a product and save it as a template. Then, go to your Printful Dashboard, find the product you need mockups for, hover over it, and click on the 3 dots in the upper right corner. Select Download mockups, Basic mockups, and the mockups you want for your product listings or social media channels.
Source: Printful
Valuable read: 11 Things You Didn’t Know Printful’s Design Maker Could Do
6. Set competitive pricing for your products
You must balance being affordable for your customers and profitable for your online business.
Competitive pricing doesn’t automatically mean being the cheapest—it means offering good value relative to the quality and uniqueness of your product.
Valuable read: 25 Best-selling Print-on-Demand Products
To determine your retail price, research your market and understand what similar products are being sold for. Then, calculate your costs, including the base price from your print-on-demand provider, Shopify fees, shipping costs, and any other expenses you have. To that number, add your desired profit margin. A good profit margin for print-on-demand businesses typically ranges from 20% to 40%.
Finding the optimal price can take some time. Be patient, test different price points, and monitor sales to find your sweet spot.
7. Write compelling product descriptions
Want to turn browsers into buyers? Write detailed, interesting, unique product descriptions. Here’s how:
Focus on benefits: Instead of just listing features, highlight how the product benefits the customer. E.g., instead of saying a t-shirt has a crew neckline, you can say, “The simple crew neckline makes it a versatile piece that’s easy to wear for any casual occasion.”
Use clear, engaging language: Write in a tone that matches your brand, whether it’s casual and fun or professional and informative.
Be specific: Include details like materials, dimensions, and care instructions. Specificity builds trust and helps customers make informed decisions.
Incorporate keywords: Use relevant keywords naturally within your descriptions to improve search engine optimization (SEO) and help your products rank higher in search results.
Tell a story: If applicable, tell a brief story about the product’s inspiration or creation process. This adds a personal touch and can make the product more memorable.
When you add products to your Shopify store from Printful, you’ll get a pre-written product description.
Source: Printful
You can then spruce it up with Shopify’s AI tool for product descriptions: Shopify Magic.
Source: Shopify
Valuable read: From Bland to Brilliant: T-Shirt Description Examples and Ecommerce Best Practices
8. Test your Shopify store before the launch
Before launching your Shopify store, testing is crucial to ensure everything works smoothly. Here are the key areas to test:
Checkout process: Go through the entire checkout process yourself. Test different payment methods (credit card, PayPal, etc.) to ensure they work correctly.
Product pages: Check that all product images load properly, descriptions are accurate, and variants (like sizes and colors) are correct.
Mobile responsiveness: View your store on multiple devices, including smartphones and tablets, to ensure it looks and works well on all screen sizes.
Shipping and taxes: Confirm that shipping rates and tax calculations are applied correctly based on customer locations (do that by changing your VPN).
Email notifications: Test order confirmation emails and any automated messages to ensure they’re sent correctly and have accurate information.
Loading Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test your store’s loading times. Fast loading times improve user experience and reduce bounce rates.
Perform these tests to catch any issues before your store goes live.
9. Analyze and refine your sales strategy
Last but not least, you must iterate after your store’s live.
Start by reviewing key metrics:
Conversion rates
Average order value
Customer acquisition costs
To do it, use Shopify’s built-in analytics and Google Analytics to track traffic sources, popular products, and customer behavior on your site.
Source: Shopify
After you have some data, focus on promoting best-selling products and growing the marketing channels that bring you the most customers.
How much does it cost to set up a Shopify print-on-demand business?
Setting up a Shopify print-on-demand business typically costs between $60 to $200. This includes Shopify’s monthly fee starting at $29, domain registration, and paying your print provider for the products you sell. The costs vary depending on the apps, print-on-demand service, and marketing efforts you choose to invest in.
What print-on-demand companies work with Shopify?
The 9 best print-on-demand services for Shopify:
Printful
Gooten
Lulu
Spocket
Zendrop
Apliqq
Gelato
Printify
ShineOn
If you’re interested in other print-on-demand companies for your Shopify online store, check out the Shopify app store.
How many print-on-demand apps can you use on Shopify?
You can use multiple print-on-demand apps simultaneously when selling on Shopify, although you may run into issues like raising your product costs or confusing your shoppers with multiple tracking numbers. If you choose to use multiple print-on-demand apps, we recommend picking up to 2 companies.
The ball’s in your court now!
Now you know how to start a print-on-demand business on Shopify. Our best advice is to approach this process step-by-step. Thinking about all of the things you must do can quickly overwhelm you. Instead, gradually go through each step we’ve laid out in this article.
Happy selling!
Read next: How To Increase Shopify Sales: 7 Top Tips
Want to start making money with a low initial investment? Find out how to sell print-on-demand on Shopify!
Amazon’s Impact on Global Supply Chains and Logistics
Amazon, the global e-commerce behemoth, has transformed not only the way consumers shop but also the intricacies of global supply chains and logistics. Since its inception in 1994, Amazon has grown from a small online bookstore to a trillion-dollar enterprise that has disrupted industries across the globe. Its influence extends far beyond retail, profoundly impacting supply chains, logistics, and even the environment. This article explores Amazon’s multifaceted impact on global supply chains and logistics, examining how the company has reshaped these industries and what this means for the future.
The Evolution of Amazon’s Supply Chain
Amazon’s supply chain is one of the most sophisticated in the world, characterized by its efficiency, speed, and scale. The company has invested heavily in technology and infrastructure to build a supply chain that can deliver millions of products to customers in a matter of hours or days. This rapid delivery is made possible by a vast network of fulfillment centers, sophisticated inventory management systems, and a logistics arm that rivals traditional carriers like FedEx and UPS.
One of the key innovations Amazon has introduced is its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service. FBA allows third-party sellers to store their products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers, with Amazon handling the picking, packing, and shipping of these products. This service has not only made it easier for small businesses to reach a global audience but has also significantly increased the volume of goods flowing through Amazon’s supply chain. As a result, Amazon has become a central hub in the global supply chain, connecting manufacturers, suppliers, and customers across the world.
Disruption of Traditional Logistics
Amazon’s influence on logistics is equally profound. The company’s relentless focus on speed and efficiency has forced traditional logistics providers to rethink their strategies. In many cases, Amazon has bypassed traditional logistics networks entirely by building its own. Amazon Logistics, the company’s delivery arm, has grown rapidly in recent years, with a fleet of planes, trucks, and delivery vans that allow the company to control every aspect of the delivery process.
This vertical integration has enabled Amazon to offer services like same-day and two-hour delivery in many urban areas, setting a new standard for speed in the industry. Traditional logistics providers have struggled to keep up, leading to increased competition and innovation in the sector. For example, companies like FedEx and UPS have had to invest in new technology and infrastructure to remain competitive, while others have formed partnerships with Amazon to leverage its vast logistics network.
Amazon’s logistics network has also expanded globally, with the company establishing regional hubs and fulfillment centers in key markets around the world. This global expansion has allowed Amazon to offer faster and more reliable delivery services in regions where traditional logistics infrastructure is underdeveloped. In many cases, Amazon has played a role in building out this infrastructure, partnering with local logistics providers or investing in its own facilities.
Impact on Global Supply Chains
Amazon’s impact on global supply chains extends beyond logistics. The company’s demand for speed and efficiency has rippled through the entire supply chain, from manufacturers to suppliers to retailers. This has led to significant changes in how companies operate, with many adopting new technologies and strategies to keep up with Amazon’s pace.
One of the most significant changes is the increased reliance on automation and technology in supply chain management. Amazon has been at the forefront of this trend, investing heavily in robotics, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to optimize its supply chain operations. For example, the company’s use of robotics in its fulfillment centers has reduced the time it takes to pick and pack orders, while its AI-driven demand forecasting tools help ensure that the right products are always in stock.
This emphasis on technology has influenced other companies to follow suit, leading to a wave of digital transformation across the industry. Manufacturers and suppliers are increasingly using data analytics and AI to optimize their operations, while retailers are adopting new technologies like blockchain to improve transparency and traceability in their supply chains.
Another significant impact of Amazon on global supply chains is the shift towards a more customer-centric model. Amazon’s focus on the customer has forced companies to rethink their supply chain strategies, with many now prioritizing speed, convenience, and flexibility over cost. This has led to the adoption of new fulfillment models, such as just-in-time inventory and dropshipping, which allow companies to respond more quickly to changes in customer demand.
The globalization of Amazon’s supply chain has also had broader implications for international trade. By connecting sellers and buyers from different parts of the world, Amazon has made it easier for companies to access global markets. However, this has also led to increased competition, with companies now competing on a global scale. This has put pressure on manufacturers and suppliers to lower costs and improve efficiency, leading to changes in how goods are produced and distributed around the world.
Environmental and Social Implications
While Amazon’s impact on supply chains and logistics has been largely positive in terms of efficiency and convenience, it has also raised concerns about the environmental and social implications of its operations. The company’s emphasis on fast delivery and the constant movement of goods around the world has contributed to increased carbon emissions and environmental degradation. In response to these concerns, Amazon has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and has invested in initiatives like electric delivery vehicles and renewable energy projects.
However, critics argue that these efforts are not enough, and that Amazon’s business model is fundamentally unsustainable. The constant pressure to deliver goods faster and cheaper has led to concerns about the working conditions in Amazon’s fulfillment centers and the treatment of delivery drivers. Reports of long hours, high injury rates, and low wages have sparked protests and calls for better labor practices across the company’s global operations.
The Future of Supply Chains and Logistics
As Amazon continues to grow and evolve, its impact on global supply chains and logistics is likely to deepen. The company’s investments in technology and infrastructure will continue to set new standards for speed and efficiency, forcing other companies to innovate and adapt. At the same time, the environmental and social challenges associated with Amazon’s operations will require the company to rethink its approach to sustainability and labor practices.
In the future, we can expect to see more companies adopting Amazon-like supply chain strategies, with an emphasis on speed, technology, and customer-centricity. However, these changes will also require a greater focus on sustainability and ethical practices, as consumers and regulators increasingly demand more responsible business operations.
Conclusion
Amazon’s impact on global supply chains and logistics is undeniable. The company has reshaped the industry in its image, setting new standards for speed, efficiency, and customer service. While these changes have brought many benefits, they have also raised important questions about sustainability and labor practices. As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon will continue to play a central role in the future of global supply chains and logistics, driving innovation and change across the industry.
