How to Select the Best Print-On-Demand Company
Print on demand (POD) is a business model where products are printed when an order is received. When a customer places an order the product is printed, packed, and shipped by a third-party print-on-demand service. Many print-on-demand companies offer additional services like shipping products to your customers, online design tools, and seamless integrations with popular eCommerce platforms and marketplaces.
Whichever print-on-demand company you choose will play a crucial role in the success of your business. This means you have to make the right decision if you want to get the best job from a print-on-demand supplier. To know what makes a good print-on-demand supplier means you should know what to look for when selecting the one to work with. Let’s take a look at five crucial things to consider while choosing a print-on-demand company:
1. Quality products
No matter how stunning your designs may be if your products looks messed up after a week of delivery. This is why you have to shortlist a few of the print-on-demand companies you want their services and then order a few test samples from them. That’s how you can experience the products’ quality firsthand. When it comes to printed products, it’s also important to check whether the ink rubs off easily. Also try not to investigate the products you want to start selling now – try to get a sense of the quality of all the products on offer. You never know: You may wish to expand your product line in the future.
2. Fast shipping times
Services like Amazon Prime now offer customers rapid shipping times when shopping online. This means it you will not be able to establish a good brand reputation and earn repeat business from happy customers if delivery takes a long time or products arrive late. It then means it is vital to consider the average shipping time when choosing a print-on-demand company. Ideally, you want customers to receive their products within one week of placing an order.
3. Reasonable product costs and shipping rates
You have to consider the cost of the service you’re requesting for. Quality and speed are actually necessary aspects of a thriving business but then costs are even more critical. Choosing a print-on-demand company with high product and shipping fees may result in smaller margins – meaning that you’ll make less profit per sale. This can negatively affect your business growth, as you’ll have less money to reinvest into things like Facebook advertising. It is very good to pay attention to how much you’ll make per sale, rather than simply comparing print-on-demand services’ fees.
4. Customization and printing options
Print-on-demand companies often offer different customization options to customers. Depending on your needs, you may require plenty of customization and printing options or just a few. If you plan to sell products with simple logos or you plan to express your artistic potential with myriad designs it is very essential to also consider what customized packaging options each print-on-demand company offers. No matter the print-on-demand site you use, you have to make sure it suits your design and branding needs. This way you can get the best of the job you requested for.
5. Integrations with other platforms
Different print-on-demand services allow you to sell via various channels. Ideally, whichever print-on-demand company you choose will allow you to sell via multiple channels such as your own website, Etsy, eBay, and Amazon.
