How to Set Up a Dropshipping Store with Print-on-Demand Companies (2023)

By omersimanovsky December 14, 2024 6 min read

Decide which products you want to sell

The first step in setting up an online store is deciding what products you want to sell. There are a variety of Print On Demand (POD) companies that offer a wide range of products, from t-shirts and mugs to phone cases and pillows. You can choose to sell a specific type of product or a range of products.

Choosing a niche

To succeed in a competitive market, it’s important to choose a specific niche. A niche is a specific area you’ll focus on, such as sportswear, maternity products, or items with social messages. Choosing a niche will help you focus your marketing and attract a specific target audience.

Choose a print-on-demand company (examples below)

Once you have decided what products you want to sell, you need to choose a print-on-demand company. There are many different print-on-demand companies to choose from, so it is important to do some research to find the one that best suits your needs. Some things you may want to consider include the quality of the products, the price of the products, and the shipping time.

Important note: When choosing a print-on-demand company, check out reviews from other customers. This can give you an idea of the quality of service and reliability of the company.

Create your own designs

Once you have chosen a print-on-demand company, you will need to create your designs. If you have already created designs, you can simply upload them to the print-on-demand company’s website. If you don’t have any designs, most print-on-demand companies offer design services or have a library of designs that you can use.

Design tools

There are many tools that can help you create professional designs. Software like Adobe Illustrator and Canva offer many options for graphic design. If you don’t want to design yourself, you can hire a graphic designer to help you.

Set up your online store

Once you have created your designs, you need to set up your online store. You can create your own website or use a platform like Shopify or Etsy. If you create your own website, you will need to choose a domain name and a hosting provider. Once your website is created, you will need to add your products and start promoting your store.

Promotional tip: Use high-quality photos of your products. Good photos can make the difference between a sale and a customer moving on.

Promote your store

There are a variety of ways you can promote your online store. You can use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote your products and drive traffic to your website. You can also use paid advertising methods like Google AdWords or Facebook Ads. You can also participate in online forums and directories related to your niche market.

Content marketing

Content marketing is a great way to attract customers. Writing blogs, creating videos, or podcasts can help you build a loyal audience. You can share tips, design ideas, or stories about your products.

1. Printful

The Printful plugin for Shopify offers a reliable and flexible solution for print on demand. Shipping is typically within two to five business days from the US, Mexico, or Europe, with half of orders processed in less than three days. Standard shipping in the US starts at $3.99 and takes three to four business days, and to Israel it takes around 4-5 business days, with shipping costs varying by product and discounted rates for additional items in the same order. Printful uses direct to garment, embroidery, cut and sew, and sublimation printing, depending on the product, and offers additional customization options such as tags, inserts, and stickers. The built-in swatch generator makes it quick and easy to customize a product, and Printful offers the most integrations with marketplaces and commerce platforms, including Shopify. They also provide a 20% discount on sample orders. Printful is recommended for both beginners and experienced entrepreneurs looking for a flexible and scalable solution for print-on-demand products, especially for phone cases and T-shirts. Their product catalog includes over 220 items, such as t-shirts, sweatpants, leggings, bags, mugs, phone cases, framed posters, and more. Additionally, Printful offers branding options, bulk discounts, and services from graphic design to marketing videos.

2. Printify

Printify is a POD service with the ability to customize products to your customers’ needs. With a wide product catalog and support for popular e-commerce applications, Printify becomes a convenient and efficient solution for online stores. They also offer the ability to connect with multiple product suppliers and customize products to your customers’ preferred shipping policies.

A note on shipping: Make sure you understand each carrier’s shipping policies. This can affect your customer satisfaction.

3. Gooten

Gooten is a POD service with custom products for online stores. They offer a wide range of products and point to excellent printing quality and customer service. Gooten also offers the ability to connect to several popular e-commerce platforms and provides a wide range of shipping options.

4. Teelaunch

Teelaunch is a POD service that focuses on promotional products for the mobile audience. With fast production times and excellent customer support, Teelaunch offers the ability to customize products to your customers’ needs. They also work with popular e-commerce platforms and offer the ability to connect with multiple product suppliers.

5. Scalable Press

Scalable Press is a POD service with a wide range of products, including apparel, electronics, and promotional items. With advanced printing technologies and fast production times, Scalable Press offers online stores extensive options for product customization and worldwide shipping.

6. Society6

Society6 is a POD service that specializes in art products, including posters, picture frames, and custom home products. Artists can upload their designs and earn commissions from sales, while customers can choose from a wide range of unique products. Society6 is a great option for artists looking to expand their reach and for online store owners looking to offer specialty art-centric items.

summary

The right print-on-demand partner can significantly improve your e-commerce business and make the process simple and efficient. With the top companies on this list, you can be sure that you will receive the highest quality, excellent customer support, and a wide range of customized products for your customers.

Additional recommendations

Consider offering handmade or custom-designed products.
Use sponsored advertising campaigns to increase exposure.
Be sure to update your products regularly to maintain freshness.
Build a community around your brand through social media.

Final summary

Starting an online store with print on demand is a great opportunity to enter the world of e-commerce. With the right tools and resources, you can build a successful business that provides unique products to your customers. Don’t forget to continue learning and developing to stay competitive in the market.

Surprising fact: Did you know that Printful, one of the most popular print-on-demand companies, processes over 1 million orders per month? This is an incredible number that highlights the popularity and reliability of POD services in the e-commerce market.