Is Print on Demand Still Profitable in 2024?

Is print on demand still profitable in 2024? The simple answer is yes, if you have the right strategy. There are plenty of statistics that show print on demand (POD), still generates a great income for many retailers. But I know for a fact not every seller makes a profit.

You need to choose the right niche, build an effective brand, and choose the right POD partner to ensure you’re delivering high quality products.

Here’s everything you need to know, based on my experience working alongside hundreds of POD sellers, and even a handful of print on demand companies.

Is Print on Demand Still Profitable? The Facts

Let’s start simple. On a broad scale, the ecommerce market is growing at a phenomenal speed, estimated to reach a value of $47.73 trillion by 2030. That’s a CAGR of 12.22%. The print on demand market, while smaller, is growing even faster.

Grandview Research predicts a CAGR of 25.8% from 2023 to 2030. This alone shows that there’s still plenty of potential in print on demand.

Certain areas of the POD are also experiencing increased demand. For instance, the custom t-shirt printing market is growing at a rate of 11.1%, highlighting a focus on personalized products. In fact, Salesforce research shows that 65% of customers say they prefer customized items to normal products, and among Gen Z, this number increases to 74%.

New trends are also constantly emerging to fuel POD growth, such as a growing focus on sustainability (POD helps to eliminate waste), and reduced interest in fast fashion.

Is Print-on-Demand Saturated in 2024

In my opinion, print-on-demand is growing more saturated. The simplicity of the business model, with its minimal initial investment costs, low risk, and convenience for new sellers has made it an extremely popular option for all kinds of creators.

However, not all of the competitors in the market will be a major threat. There are still a lot of business owners in the POD space who aren’t investing as much time and effort into creating unique products as they should be, so there are plenty of options to stand out.

Plus, there are still plenty of niches left to fill. For instance, sustainable fashion is continuing to generate high demand, and many POD companies, like Printify are introducing new customizable product options (like custom coffee), to give vendors more scope on what they can sell.

How to Make a Profit with Print on Demand

Based on my experience, POD can be profitable, but it requires the right strategy. Not every business owner will be successful. Here are my top tips to boost your chances of success.

Choose a Niche Market

Selecting the right niche is a great way to reduce your need to compete against a lot of established brands. Rather than trying to create basic products that appeal to everyone, focus on a specific group, and go deeper with your unique value proposition.

For instance, big niches like pet products and clothing are still profitable, but they’re also highly competitive. If you want to make a profit you’ll need to focus on a specific sub-group, like customers looking for high-quality, healthy pet food, or sustainable clothing.

Conduct extensive research using forums, social media, tools like Google Trends, and even SEO platforms like SEMRush and Ahrefs to find out what people really want.

Pick Winning Products

Once you’ve selected the right niche, the next step is choosing the right products. The best products for print on demand will be those that are affordable to create, but have big profit margins. Some key areas worth focusing on, based on my research, include:

Eco Friendly products: Studies show customers are overwhelmingly prioritizing eco-friendly products. A focus on sustainability will help you to align your brand with the values that customers have right now, boosting your chances of profits. Athleisure: In the last couple of years, the athleisure market has grown significantly, with customers searching for comfortable clothing that addresses both their everyday needs, and their desire to exercise regularly for fitness and wellbeing. Unique prints: Unique printing options, such as all-over-print, and embroidery will help to differentiate your products from the wide range of solutions available elsewhere on the market. Create Compelling Designs

Attractive designs are crucial to profitable POD selling. If you’re not an artist yourself, find someone to work with who can create images relevant to your target audience. Alternatively, take advantage of artificial intelligence to help you produce unique images.

Don’t rely exclusively on the free design assets offered by many POD vendors (I see companies doing this far too much). Give your customers something they won’t find anywhere else. Create a diverse library of designs to appeal to a wide range of customers and tastes.

Additionally, make sure you’re focusing on quality. Crisp, high-quality prints, on luxurious items will earn bigger profits than basic prints.

Choose the Right Partner

This almost goes without saying, but not every print on demand provider offers the same quality or creative freedom. Choose a partner that allows you to experiment with different printing methods, offers access to innovative design tools, and puts product quality first.

For instance, Gelato is ideal if you’re focusing on the eco-friendly niche, with its focus on sustainability. Printify is fantastic for accessing AI-powered design tools, and Printful is well-known for its commitment to quality.

Evaluate providers carefully. You can find some extensive reviews on this website that should help you to make a more informed decision. One other thing to prioritize is quick development and fulfillment, faster delivery leads to happier customers.

Sell on the Right Platform

Choosing the right channels for selling is a good way to boost your profits. While a print on demand marketplace can save you some money building and running your ecommerce store, it immediately exposes you to a lot of competition, and makes it harder for your brand to stand out.

Creating your own website with a site like Shopify gives you more freedom to build a memorable brand, and manage things like customer service effectively. Plus, with tools like Shopify, you’ll be able to experiment with a wider range of sales channels.

For instance, you can use the built-in POS solution to sell products in-person at marketplaces and events. You can also link your store to marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon, or sell through social media channels to increase your revenue.

Establish a Strong Brand

Speaking of branding, remember it’s your brand that will forge deeper relationships with customers, earning their loyalty, word of mouth marketing, and opportunities for growth. Focus on building an effective brand with a memorable name, and logo.

Take advantage of the branding options your printing vendors offer, like custom inside and outside labels, packaging, and inserts to transform the unboxing process. Remember that an effective brand also relies on your commitment to customer service.

Show customers that you put their needs first, by offering speedy delivery, quickly responding to queries, adding FAQ pages to your website, and interacting with your community.

Invest in Marketing

Finally, remember that your print on demand products won’t sell themselves, no matter how impressive your designs and options might be. Invest heavily in marketing. Use SEO and content marketing to ensure you appear on the search engine results pages for the right search terms.

Build a thriving community on social media, working with influencers to boost your brand reach, and using both paid and organic marketing campaigns.

Nurture your customers through email marketing, and convince them to become advocates for your brand with loyalty and referral programs. The companies that make the biggest profits are always the ones with the most effective marketing campaigns.

MORE: Best Print on Demand Product Ideas

Is Print on Demand Still Profitable in 2024?

So, is print on demand still profitable in 2024? Absolutely, but only if you do it right. There are plenty of great examples of profitable POD brands out there, like GearBunch, which produces custom athleisure products and leggings for a wide audience.

They make profits by tailoring their items to different customer needs, and delivering exceptional service.

Sharp Shirter captures attention with quirky designs and all-over-print tees. They also donate a portion of their profits to sustainable initiatives, which helps them to earn customer quality.

Even iLikeMaps generates great results by allowing customers to personalize their products, creating a more unique purchasing experience.

Making a profit with print on demand is certainly still possible in 2024, but you need a comprehensive strategy that combines the right niche, products, partners, technologies, and marketing to ensure you’re getting the right results.

Don’t expect a “get rich quick scheme”. POD might have a low barrier to entry, but it still takes work to make a profit.

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