7 Steps to Set Up a Print-on Demand Business
While it’s super easy for big companies to produce stock in big numbers and store them, startups simply don’t have the capacity to do the same as there is a risk of product stocks being wasted due to low sales. A good business idea is to have an get on-demand stock ready so that you don’t have to keep anything spare with you.
Print-on Demand is one such business which is gaining ground lately and can be easily set up if you follow certain steps. If you’re a small team and want to start one, we have detailed 9 steps in this blog post that you should go through:
1. Do your Design Research
Unless you’re an artist, you will have to invest your time in researching designs which are trending and in-demand. Get a sample made for each and test the market to see which one works. You can also collaborate with artists and designers and get an insight on what the current trends are.
Once you know what is working, you can plan further accordingly.
2. Study about popular products
Do some research on the kind of products people like. It isn’t necessary that your choice is the same as the rest of the people. The product you choose should have potential of earning a profit.
3. Get connected to a Supplier or Manufacturer
Find a supplier who can design and manufacture your product. Have a long term vision when you are looking for one so that your operations can run smooth without any hiccups.
4. Prepare a Proper Catalogue
Photograph the products and compile them together with their details in a catalogue. This will make your marketing communication convenient.
5. Find a Marketplace
There are multiple e-commerce websites where you can register as a seller such as AliExpress, eBay, Amazon, Etsy etc. Since these websites already have traffic coming in, visibility of your business becomes easy. It is recommended that you first research which platform best fits your criteria before opting for one.
6. Put up the Catalogue
Make a list of all the products being offered by you and put them up for the customers to see. Also, use keywords so that relevant persons can notice your business and you attract traffic. It is advisable that you add USP of your products in the catalogue to make them stand out.
7. Invest in Social Media Marketing
Social Media is an excellent tool to advertise your business. Setting up an Instagram Account or Facebook page is super easy and one of the most effective ways to get noticed. You can select your target market and the audience you want to advertise to as per their location, gender and interests. The accounts you set up must be business accounts so that you have access to all creator tools.
8. Make sure the Customer Service in Timely
In order to develop a good reputation with your customers, partner with a courier service that can deliver your orders timely.
9. Develop your own E commerce platform
Social Media is one of the best ways to gather an audience and spread the word. Once you’ve built an audience that is loyal and big enough along with reliable suppliers, the next step is to launch your own e-commerce platform. This will give you control and more insight into the consumer behavior to improve your services. One disadvantage of your own e-store is that you will competing with big brands like Archies and Hallmark. However, integrating web-to-print aspect in the business will put you at an advantage.
If you would like to delve deeper into the details regarding print-on-demand business, go for more here.
