When selling print-on-demand products online, you have a lot of options. You need to consider your goals and the type of product you’re selling in order to determine the best marketplace for your business.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some popular options for starting a print-on-demand business and why they might fit with different types of sellers.
Print-on-demand marketplaces
A print-on-demand business is a perfect solution for sellers wanting to list custom products, such as t-shirts and posters—without committing to large inventory or fulfillment costs.
Popular print-on-demand marketplaces differ in their business models and pricing structures. That’s why it’s important to understand each one before deciding which one is right for you.
Still not sure which online marketplace is right for your print-on-demand products? Here’s a quick overview of the most popular marketplaces and some factors you should consider when choosing one:
Amazon
Amazon.com is a leading general retailer that offers a wide range of products and services. It has more than 300 million active users and has been operating since 1994.
Amazon is ideal for print-on-demand sellers because it’s easy to set up, use, and manage. They have a huge customer base, an easy-to-use interface, and plenty of marketing tools to promote your shop.
It has millions of visitors every day, most of whom fit into one of two groups: shoppers who are looking for something specific or shoppers who are browsing.
The first group — those looking for something specific — can be targeted with advertising campaigns on Amazon’s platform. The second group — those browsing — can be targeted with sponsored products or even promoted listings.
This is why Amazon is so appealing to print-on-demand sellers. It is possible to target both groups with ads that promote their products. This allows them to be noticed by potential customers who might not otherwise see them.
You can also access a range of different services, including Amazon Prints and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
FBA allows sellers to send inventory to Amazon warehouses and have it shipped out at no cost or risk. Amazon’s FBA service can’t fulfill some products because of their weight or size restrictions, but many are eligible for this service.
If you sell on Amazon, you can reach more buyers than you would with any other print-on-demand platform. However, their marketplace has a lot of competition.
The Amazon marketplace has thousands of independent merchants selling artwork on a variety of products. It’s easy for shoppers to find their favorites, but it can be harder for sellers to stand out from the crowd.
You can make your product stand out by choosing an effective design and optimizing the listing on Amazon.
Etsy
Another mega-site that lends itself well to print-on-demand products is Etsy. Unlike Amazon Marketplace, though, Etsy is a popular print-on-demand marketplace for independent artists and craftspeople.
They help sellers of all ages sell handmade or vintage items, art, and supplies — including many print-on-demand products like T-shirts, mugs, and phone cases. As one of the most popular websites in the world, you can be sure that millions of people will see your products every day.
Etsy is the world’s most vibrant handmade marketplace. It’s home to over 60 million items from more than 4 million sellers around the world. The platform has been around since 2005 and today has over 86 million members worldwide who participate in buying, selling, and trading on their platform.
If you have a crafty product—like a unique piece of art or jewelry—Etsy is an excellent choice if you want to sell your work online without having a website of your own.
Etsy is ideal for print-on-demand sellers because it has a large audience of buyers who are interested in buying handmade items from independent artisans. While there are some restrictions on what you can sell on Etsy, this platform allows you to create a storefront where you can sell anything from clothing to accessories and even home decor items like pillows or wall art.
eBay
Founded in 1995, eBay is one of the largest online marketplaces for buying and selling goods, with over 109 million monthly visitors around the world.
You can sell print-on-demand products on eBay as well. eBay gets a lot of traffic and exposure. If you’re new to selling online, there’s no doubt that it’s a good place to get started.
If you’ve been successful on Amazon, then consider opening an eBay account as well. You’ll be able to leverage your existing sales and reviews by selling through both sites.
Printful
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive platform, then Printful may be the best option. The company offers everything—from product listing and order management tools to shipping labels and personalized branding options.
Print-on-demand marketplaces like Printful, which offer printing services for businesses and individuals, have become increasingly popular in recent years. The idea is that you create your own product designs and upload them to the platform. You then choose the size and material, and the marketplace will print it as soon as an order is placed.
You can also use Printful’s extensive product catalog to expand the range of products that you sell.
The company has been around since 2013, so it’s also relatively mature in terms of marketplaces available today. They offer excellent customer service, quick turnaround times, and high-quality products.
If you are starting a print-on-demand business, big marketplaces make it easy to get products in front of buyers.
Print-on-demand marketplaces such as Amazon and Etsy have millions of customers, so your designs will likely be seen by people who didn’t even know they wanted something like what you’re selling.
They have a huge audience of potential customers and years of experience working in the print-on-demand business. However, there are factors to consider before jumping in.
So, what’s the best marketplace to sell print-on-demand products?
Ultimately, the best choice of print-on-demand marketplace will come down to your budget and business goals.
All are great options, but which one is right for you will depend on what’s most important to you—pricing, selection, marketing tools, customer service, or something else.
The upshot is that these big marketplaces are viable options for running a print-on-demand business; you just need to determine which one will bring you the most value.