Print On Demand – How To Start A T-Shirt Business With No Stock
Print on demand (POD) allows you to sell products with your designs on them such as T-shirts, mugs and tote bags. When a customer places an order your supplier will print and deliver the item.
You won’t have to pay for stock but you will incur some costs. No-one can guarantee you will sell any products.
How it works
- Create an original design.
- Upload onto your POD site and choose your product.
- Add to your shop/marketplace.
- Customer places order.
- Supplier prints, packages and delivers.
- You keep whatever is left after the printing costs, website fees etc.
Before choosing your provider check how they handle payments, returns, deliveries and customer issues.
What do I need?
- An original design or one you have permission to use.
- Account with POD provider.
- Shop or marketplace.
- Product descriptions and images to help customers understand what they are buying.
- A strategy to drive traffic to your listings.
Design for a specific audience
Avoid generic designs. Think about a specific audience with common interests such as teachers, gamers, gym lovers, pet owners or those with a certain hobby. Having a clear audience to target can make it easier to market your designs. However, how much you sell will depend on the quality, price, competition and demand.
Don’t copy brands, logos, characters or slogans
Don’t use any brands, logos, characters or slogans without permission. This could result in your listing being taken down. If you continue to do this your account could be at risk. Create original artwork or use images/fonts with clear licensing to use commercially.
Set a price
Start with the base price from your supplier. Then add in the marketplace fees, payment fees, tax (if applicable) and any additional costs. Ensure you still make a profit and the price makes sense. You can also order a sample to see the quality, size and delivery time before promoting.
How can I drive traffic?
- Post useful/fun content about your designs on social media.
- Post product images on Pinterest where appropriate.
- Create short videos showing the product or how you created the design.
- Improve your titles and descriptions to help customers understand what you offer.
Don’t spam groups and don’t make claims about the quality.
Expect some listings not to sell. Many sellers will experiment with different designs to see what gets attention and improve those with potential. Give yourself time to learn but keep track of your costs to see if it is actually working.
Print on demand can be a simple way to try out an online shop idea without having to hold stock. Start small and learn from the results. Don’t spend more than you are willing to lose.
