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Print-on-Demand Companies and Sites

By 11 October 2024October 13th, 2024No Comments
Print-on-Demand Companies and Sites

20 Best Print on Demand Companies You Can Consider in 2025

Are you struggling to find a way to enhance your direct mail marketing efforts? What if we told you that you can make every direct mail piece speak directly to the clients while saving time and reducing cost?

Yes! This is possible when you partner with a print-on-demand company. The company will print and ship customized products like letters, postcards, and more on your behalf. By tailoring your messages, images, and designs to specific clients, you can make your communication more relevant and engaging.

There are numerous POD companies in the market, and finding the right one can be a daunting process. In this blog, we have discussed the 20 best print-on-demand companies and the factors to keep in mind when selecting the right one. We will also look into the benefits of partnering with POD companies.

Print-on-Demand Companies and Sites

Key Takeaways

  • Print on demand is an eCommerce model that individuals and businesses can use without worrying about inventory or upfront costs.
  • You can customize a wide range of products through print-on-demand services such as apparel, accessories, and home decor.
  • It eliminates the need for significant investment in starting a business.
  • Check product range, quality, pricing, customer support, and ease of integration.
  • There are many reputable print-on-demand companies in the market such as PostGrid, Printful, Society6, and CustomCat.
  • Try to avoid certain mistakes, such as selecting the wrong product or design, not conducting audience and competitor research, and copying someone else’s designs.
  • With PostGrid you can design, print, and mail customized letters, checks, invoices, postcards, and more.

What is Print on Demand?

It is an ecommerce business framework that allows individuals and businesses to create and send customized products with their designs on them. This involves partnering up with platforms that print and ship products to your customers on your behalf. It is a white-label approach, so you can add your name and logo to the letters, postcards, self-mailers, etc.

Print-on-demand products can be an excellent tool for marketing your business. You can incorporate them into your direct mail marketing strategy. You can craft messages that address specific pain points, or interest of the client on letters and postcards. This targeted approach will make the customer feel valued and foster a deeper connection.

Moreover, recipients are more likely to engage with businesses that address unique needs and challenges. Thus, a POD direct mail will enhance engagement and boost the response rate.

It is a white-label service, so you can add unique elements to it. This will enhance brand recognition and relevance.

Incorporating print-on-demand products in your direct mail marketing can be a cost-effective choice when you have fluctuating needs. You can also use POD products when you are looking to test direct mail campaigns but don’t want to commit to large stocks.

Top 20 Print on Demand Companies

1. PostGrid

It is one of the best print-on-demand companies in the market that simplifies offline communication. You can design, print, and mail several collaterals such as letters, postcards, self-mailers, and more. With a worldwide mailing network, PostGrid allows sending print-on-demand material nationally and internationally.

You can add our POD  products to your direct mail marketing strategy to make communication engaging and useful. Let us assume you are a financial service firm catering to small-scale businesses. You can send customized letters to each client highlighting new investment opportunities. You can tailor each letter with financial insights relevant to the recipient’s portfolio. Clients will learn about plans that will directly impact their financial goals. This will increase the likelihood of a positive response.

With our POD products, you can save significant money. You don’t have to stock up your inventory with pre-designed letters, and postcards. This means when your brand messaging evolves or there is a shift in the business model, you won’t have a pile of outdated marketing material. The POD direct mails allow you to adapt to new messages without wasting resources. Moreover, your promotional material will always align with your current branding, thus maximizing your ROI.

You can also combine PostGrid’s print-on-demand direct mail with your online marketing tools for a cohesive and targeted campaign. Continuing with the aforementioned example, let us assume you want to educate your target audience about cash flow management and drive them to a dedicated landing page. You can send a customized letter talking about the need for cash flow management in their industry. You can add a QR code with the link to the landing page. This will help build strong relationships, drive customers towards actionable outcomes, and boost conversion rate.

Features

  1. PostGrid allows the designing, automated printing, and mailing of various products. You can send letters, invoices, postcards, thank you notes, compliance notices, surveys, appointment reminders, checks, etc.
  2. You can customize every aspect of the material either by uploading your design or using the built-in HTML editing system. The on-demand printing partner allows you to add your company logo or a personal message to every product.
  3. It fulfills bulk design, print, and mail requests in one go while ensuring the delivery of quality products. 
  4. It speeds up the designing and printing process by integrating with the CRM tool and finding all the necessary details. Moreover, it offers Zapier integration with more than 1600 applications.
  5. You can use the products as direct mail marketing collateral for cost-effective, and personalized targeted marketing.
  6. You can also keep track of your direct mail campaign performance through the dashboard. This will help you analyze the performance of their campaign at various customer touchpoints. You can check what is working, and what is not and carefully devise future marketing strategies.
  7. It allows real-time tracking of every product to know the status. 
  8. The products are designed, printed, and mailed in a HIPAA and SOC-II-compliant environment. This ensures that the privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of the customer data are maintained. 
  9. With a two-day SLA, PostGrid ensures the timely delivery of products. 
  10. It also offers point-of-entry address verification for more than 250 countries. It verifies, validates, standardizes, and autocompletes addresses according to the local postal standards to ensure the product reaches its intended destination. You can opt for individual address verification or verify over 1 million addresses in one go.

Pricing

It offers two plans- Starter and Enterprise. In the starter plan, the per-piece pricing for letters, checks, and postcards is $0.97, $0.82, and $0.10 respectively. You also get over 500 monthly mailings, over 10 templates, and a standard tracking facility.  You can sign up to begin designing, printing, and mailing products with this plan. The Enterprise plan offers unlimited templates, express mailing, single sign-on, extensive tracking capabilities, and more advanced features. You can reach out to the sales team to get a quote. 

2. Printful

It is one of the top print on demand companies with which you can design and sell custom products like T-shirts, mugs, and phone cases. 

Features

  1. It uses various techniques to print on products such as direct-to-garment, embroidery, cut and sew, and sublimation. 
  2. With its notable mockup generator, you can determine how the design will look on the products.
  3. It has over 340 items in the product catalog. 
  4. It smoothly integrates with all leading eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, etc. 

Pricing

Prinful has a pay-as-you-go payment structure, which makes it one of the most cost-effective solutions. You can select the free plan which includes a logo maker, mockup generator, and global shipping. You can also get the Growth and Business membership to enjoy features like fixed discounts, custom packaging, warehouse service, and more. However, each of them has a certain sales threshold that you need to achieve to qualify for the membership.

3. Printify

It is one of the renowned custom print-on-demand fulfillment sites that aims to provide cost-effective solutions to eCommerce businesses. You can use Printify to access an extensive network of POD suppliers. This allows you to choose the suitable provider that best fits your budget and product requirements. 

Features

  1. You can choose from the catalog of custom products which includes homeware, jewelry, apparel, and more. A standout feature of Printify is that it also offers eco-friendly products. So if your business focuses on sustainability and environmental issues, you should try Printify. 
  2. It has a user-friendly interface.
  3. It offers high-quality printing.
  4. It seamlessly integrates with multiple eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, eBay, and more.

Pricing

It offers a wide range of pricing options. You can select the free option or go with premium which starts at $24.99 per month. You can also get a custom quote under the Enterprise plan.

4. Gooten

If you are an eCommerce business looking to scale your operations, you should consider Gooten. You can integrate it with your store and start selling customized products directly to your customers. However, you will need a developer to integrate with Gootent API. 

Features

  1. It has a catalog of over 280 products. You can design and print shirts, wall art, drinkware, blankets, shower curtains, and stationery. 
  2. The automated tracing solution allows tracking the location of customer’s orders.
  3. It is known for its careful and high-quality packaging of fragile items.
  4. It has an easy-to-use user interface.
  5. It has over 50 manufacturers spread across 70 locations. Although most of the Gooten products are made in the USA, it also offers international fulfillment options. 

Pricing

You can sign up to Gooten for free, without having to pay any monthly or set up fee. It also offers a paid partnership under its Very Important Merchant loyalty program where you can get customized pricing.

5. Redbubble

It is one of the largest POD marketplaces that helps independent artists sell their unique pieces of art to international customers.  

Features

  1. It has a diverse catalog including products like clothing, homeware, accessories, and more. 
  2. It offers a hassle-free setup and has an intuitive design interface.
  3. Its organic reach makes it a profitable platform for independent artists who do not have a huge following to showcase their designs to the target audience. Being a marketplace, Redbubble does not integrate with other online stores or marketplaces. This can make it off-putting for those with an existing online store. However, solo artists can use RedBubble to create their storefronts on the site and personalize them as per their brand.

Pricing

You can join Redbubble for free and you only pay when an order comes in. You can calculate your profit margin considering the base price which is set. As long as you earn over $20, you will get your payment every month. However, if you earn less, the payment will be transferred to next month. 

6. Society6

Its focus on art and artists makes it stand out from top POD companies. With its artist-centric approach, it empowers creators to monetize their designs without worrying about shipping or manufacturing costs. Similar to sites like Redbubble, this is another print-on-demand service provider that has its marketplace and does not offer integration with other stores. After signing up, you can set up your store and customize it. 

 Features

  1. Aside from the standard customized products available at different marketplaces, Society6 also offers a wide range of canvas types and frames.
  2. Since it houses a vibrant community of artists, you can engage with them and receive feedback for growth.

Pricing

It is free to use but you have less control over pricing than other print on demand services. Soceity6 decides the retail price and gives you 10% of the price when you sell your product. However, this does not include the printed art for which you can set your profit margin. Keep in mind that there is a 30-day clearance period. You will receive payment one to two months after you have made a sale. 

7. Gelato

Gelato allows the creation of customized products. It can be used by individual creators, businesses, and even enterprises. 

Features

  1. Gelato offers more than 90 products including wall art, mugs, photo books, and stationery.
  2. What sets it apart from its competitors is the speed. It promises 72-hour delivery.
  3. It smoothly integrates with online stores including Wix eCommerce and third-party marketplaces.
  4. For environment-conscious businesses, Gelato also offers sustainable customizable products.

Pricing

You can sign up to Gelato for free and you only have to pay when a customer places an order. However, the product price does not include the shipping cost. To avail of shipping discounts, you can purchase one of its subscription plans. Each plan offers different shipping discounts. Take for instance, when you sign up for Gelato+Gold you will get 3 months of free global shipping and 30% off on shipping of the first 49 products per month. Moreover, you will also get 50% off each order when you cross 50 orders a month. 

8. Zazzle

It is a print on demand marketplace that allows selling a wide range of personalized gifts, custom products, and design options. It is suitable for eCommerce business that wants to sell products for corporate fundraisers, marriages, or birthdays. Since it is a marketplace like Redbubble and Soceity6, it does not integrate with other online stores or marketplaces. 

Features

  1. The catalog consists of more than 1300 products.
  2. It offers a high level of personalization. For example, it lets shoppers decide on product color, style, and material before purchasing.
  3. It offers an associate program that lets sellers earn a percentage of sales if they promote Zazzle on their blog or any other channel. 

Pricing

You can sign up on Zazzle for free. It allows designers to set their price 5% to 99% above the base price. As mentioned before, associates can earn 15% commission sales through an affiliate marketing program. If you have made over $100 in lifetime earnings, you will qualify for the Pro model which offers more features to broaden commercial possibilities.

9. SPOD

It is known for its quick fulfillment time, simple shipping model, and competitive pricing. It is suitable for merchants who want to design shipping standards for upselling and cross-selling opportunities. 

Features

  1. It offers a wide range of printing options such as digital direct, laser transfer, sublimation, and special flex.
  2. It ships the product within 48 hours.
  3. It lets customers personalize the purchase either with their images or over 50 thousand free in-built designs.
  4. It seamlessly integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. The order desk also allows integration with eBay, Etsy, and Amazon. It also offers a SPOD API.

Pricing

There are no installation charges or any hidden costs. You will pay the order value and shipping cost. This can vary according to the type of shipping such as standard express, or express, and the type of product.

10. Apliiq

It offers a wide range of customized apparel products. This makes it suitable for entrepreneurs or artists looking to start their online clothing line. With several customization options, any creative person can create private-label clothing products.

 Features

  1. You can create branded products by adding your label, logo, or embroidered patches.
  2. It offers various printing options like digital and screen printing, cut and sew, and applique options.
  3. You can design the internal lining of the products and add features like pockets and patches.
  4. It offers wholesale discounts, which makes it an ideal platform for entrepreneurs looking to start a fashion line.

Pricing

The pricing varies according to the product and the design. There are no minimum requirements or compulsions for signing up for a subscription plan. If you are looking for detailed pricing, you can directly reach out to Apliiq for instant quotes. 

11. Amazon Merch on Demand 

It is known for its cost-effectiveness and scalability. You can design and sell a wide range of products like clothes, accessories, and more. Its ability to effortlessly scale and meet the growing demands makes it a good choice for artists and entrepreneurs.

Features

  1. Sellers earn a royalty on each purchase. It is calculated based on the product prices after the production cost. 
  2. It offers a wide range of temples, colors, graphics, and color palettes. However, sellers are free to create their designs as well.
  3. Being on the leading search engine platforms, Amazon Merch On Demand can help sellers reach a global audience. 
  4. All the products are eligible for Prime Shipping. This will ensure quicker delivery.
     

Pricing

Unlike most of the POD service providers, Amazon does not have a fixed pricing tier or an upfront cost. They will charge you a commission on every item that is sold. 

12. AOP+

It mainly focuses on all-over print products. This involves printing the design on the fabric. It is then cut out and sewn on the final product. You can design and sell products such as women’s clothing, men’s apparel, phone cases, wall decor, accessories, and more. 

 Features

  1. It offers integration with Shopify, Etsy, and BigCommerce.
  2. You can add the branding elements to the product and the packaging.
  3. The clothes are made from organic material and it employs vegan-friendly printing.
  4. There are no minimum volume requirements.

Pricing
You can sign up and start selling with AOP+ for free. They only charge for the products that you sell. However, if you want shipping discounts, you can opt for a Super membership or Hero membership. Aside from extended features, a Super member gets a 5% discount on all product prices by paying $11.99/month/brand. A Hero member, on the other hand, can enjoy advanced features with 10% discounts by paying $19.99/month/brand. 

13. Teelaunch

If you plan to be the head-to-toe customized product solution provider for your customers, you should consider Teelaunch as your print on demand partner. You can sell mugs, backpacks, jewelry, phone cases, phone chargers and more. With printing factories in major countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Spain, it serves multiple merchants simultaneously.  

Features

  1. You can create designs for more than 300 products such as t-shirts, headphones, Bluetooth speakers, shoes, and more.
  2. You can add branding elements like logo and name. 
  3. You can see mock-up images to check how the design will look like in real life.
  4. It is available on Shopify and Etsy stores.
  5. Aside from the website, it also offers an API that can integrate with WooCommerce and BigCommerce.

Pricing

You can sign up and use Teelaunch for free. There is no subscription fee required. 

14. CustomCat

Independent creators and businesses looking for a service that offers attractive pricing with scalability should consider CustomCat. You can create designs on products like jerseys, pet accessories, laptop sleeves, sweatpants, drinkware, and more.

Features

  1. It has over 550 products in the catalog.
  2. It employs various printing options such as 3D dye diffusion, direct-to-garment, sublimation, and embroidery printing.
  3. Alongside a website, it offers an API.
  4. It smoothly integrates with all leading platforms such as Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.

Pricing

It offers two plans- CustomCat Lite and CustomCat Pro. With CustomCat Lite, you can access the entire catalog at wholesale prices. CustomCat Pro, on the other hand, gives you advanced features such as 20% to 40% off on list pricing at $30/month. 

15. TeePublic

Originally owned by Redbubble, TeePublic now has a separate site and maintains its accounts separately. You can create and sell designs for a diverse product range such as clothes, accessories, pillows, tapestries, wall art, and more.

 Feature

  1. It allows designers to set their prices.
  2. The company uses 100% biodegradable, water-based, and vegan-friendly ink for design.
  3. Every cloth and accessory is designed in an OEKO-TEX environment. This ensures that the product is harmless to human health.

Pricing

There are no membership tiers. Similar to most of the print on demand companies in this list, you will only be charged when a customer places an order.  

16. JetPrint

It is known for offering unique products such as watches, shoes, jewelry, and more. Aside from an extensive product catalog, JetPrint is known for its competitive pricing and for helping businesses scale as they expand without any operational or logistical hiccups.

Features

  1. It has an easy-to-use interface.
  2. It offers smooth integration with Etsy, Shopify, and WooCommerce.
  3. You can check how the image will look in real life through high-quality mock-ups.
  4. Once the design is created, it automatically generates a series of product photos showing it from all angles.
  5. It offers integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and Wix. 

Pricing

There is no signup fee. However, they have fixed product costs and the shipping cost varies according to the country. 

17. TPOP

It is based in Europe and offers customized products such as apparel and accessories. You can create designs for and sell aluminum bottles, hoodie dresses, tank tops, baby onesies, metal and ceramic mugs, and more. 

Features

  1. It offers several branding options like branded forms, packaging, and package inserts. 
  2. Once your brand reaches over 100 sales, you can add branding elements to the inside of the products.
  3. It employs environment-friendly shipping practices, such as recycled slips and zero-plastic packaging.
  4. You can customize your store’s color platter, and change the font, and logo.

Pricing

You can join it for free. There is no transaction fee or commission. It also offers two paid subscriptions. The Plus subscription starts at 30 Euros per month. Under it, you can add a blog, and your domain name and access exclusive mockups. The Pro plan starts at 70 Euros per month and offers unlimited product creation, 3 collar markings, external integration, and exclusive products.

18. Sellfy

It is an eCommerce platform that doubles up as a print on demand services. You can sell a wide range of products like phone cases, apparel, bags, mugs, and more. It also allows selling e-books, illustrations, artwork, and online courses.

 Features

  1. There is no learning curve as the store can be set up in minutes.
  2. You can sell physical products, digital items as well as subscriptions.
  3. You can control the profit margin by setting up the price of the product.
  4. It uses CPSIA-compliant ink that makes the product safe for clothing.
  5. You can place a sample order to check the quality by paying the base cost

Pricing

There are three pricing plans each with its own set of features. The starter plan offers unlimited products, the ability to connect to your domain, and email marketing at $22 per month. The Business plan starts at $59 per month and offers product upselling, affiliate marketing, and the removal of Sellfy’s name from products. The Premium plan costs $119 per month and offers product migration and priority support.

19. Printy6

Based in China, this print on demand company offers a wide range of attractive and affordable products such as clothing, accessories, and homeware. Due to the competitive pricing, Printy6 has now more than 300,00 merchants using it to sell print on demand products.

Features

  1. It integrates with leading online stores such as WooCommerce through a free application.
  2. It employs an environment-friendly printing process.
  3. There is a money-back guarantee policy for products with issues in quality.

Pricing

Printy6 is free to use and there are no minimum requirements. You will only pay when a customer places an order. 

20. Prodigi

For businesses and artists that prioritize quality, Prodigi is one of the best print on demand companies. It offers cloud-based software and a print API to sell customized products worldwide.

 Features

  1. It manufacturers orders closes to the delivery address, thus minimizing costs and reducing delivery time.
  2. It integrates with all leading eCommerce platforms. 
  3. You can choose from over 500,000 products.
  4. You can create realistic images of the product using its mock-up generator. 

Pricing

There is no set-up fee or monthly subscriptions. If you want to see their current price list, you will have to sign up for a Prodigi account.

Advantages of Print on Demand (POD)

Easy Setup

The majority of POD services have an easy setup. You need to create a profile, upload your designs and products and you can start selling as the orders come through. Some sites allow free setup while others charge a registration fee. To use print on demand services for sites like Merch by Amazon you have to be accepted to their exclusive program.

Increased Open and Read Chances

With POD, you can create visually appealing marketing mail that will stand out in the recipient’s mailbox. Including details like adding the recipient’s name or a relevant image will entice the customer to open and read the mail.

Enhanced Response Rates

When customers receive personalized letters, postcards, and other marketing material that speak directly to their needs, they are more likely to engage. Tailored messaging addressing specific pain points will make them feel valued. They will be encouraged to take prompt action such as making a call or requesting more information.

Effective For Nurturing Leads

By providing high-quality and personalized information consistently, your print-on-demand direct mail products can help effectively nurture leads. When prospects receive thoughtful communication that is tailored to their needs, they will be more engaged and move further in the sales funnel.

Faster Turnaround Time

Items are only printed when an order is placed, allowing immediate production. You can launch marketing campaigns more rapidly in response to market trends or clients’ needs. This agility will allow you to capitalize on opportunities, ensuring your messaging is relevant and effective.

Financially Rewarding Business

According to a study done by Precedence Research, the market for the print-on-demand industry was $8.05 billion in 2023 and accounted for $10.21 billion in 2024. The study predicts that the market is expected to reach $87.13 billion by 2033. This is an exponential increase of 26.9% from 2024 to 2033. 

No Need to Spend Money on Inventory and Equipment

Investment in inventory and equipment can be a significant financial burden, especially if you are a small business. A traditional retail model will require you to purchase printing and fulfillment equipment. Moreover, you will have to maintain a sufficient supply of products. This not only ties up capital but also increases the risk of overstocking in case the items don’t sell.

When you partner with print on demand sites, inventory management, and equipment maintenance become their responsibility. This allows you to focus on creative development and customer engagement instead of logistics. 

Moreover, print on demand platforms only charge you when an order comes in. This gives you the flexibility to experiment as much as you want without worrying about the fear of incurring losses on unsold items. This agile business model allows you to quickly adapt to market trends, seasonal demands, and customer preferences without any financial strain.

Can be Ordered as and When Needed

In the traditional retail models, you have to pile up inventory to cater to the unpredictable demands of the customers. But by working with the best POD sites, you can fulfill orders as and when needed. This gives you the freedom to launch a product without the fear of overstocking or wasting resources on unsold items.  Moreover, just-in-time production also empowers you to react to market changes and adapt accordingly. It also lets you implement real-time feedback to your product offerings. By being customer-focused you will increase satisfaction and foster brand loyalty.

Help Establish Your Brand

As mentioned before, print on demand is a white-label process. With no reference to the third party on the product or the packaging, you have a vast opportunity to build your brand. You can incorporate your logos into your product. This will help create a brand identity. A strong brand identity will make customers confident in purchasing from your store. Moreover, the unique, engaging, and consistent style of your brand will make it easy for customers to remember you. Your distinctiveness will help you stand out from the crowd. 

Easy Product Design and Testing

Print on demand platforms give you the ease of changing products and designs flexibly. For instance, when shoppers are ordering a certain product in high volume, you can scale up and sell more. Conversely, if a product is not doing well, you only incur a few orders. You have the opportunity to analyze the market and identify which product is doing well and expand accordingly. 

Hassle-Free Operations

The print on demand websites handle the logistics, including printing, shipping, and tracking. This will unburden you from taking out time and investing efforts in resolving issues such as delivery delays. Similarly, any product issue will be the responsibility of the provider.

Moreover, there is no need to hire staff for inventory management, quality control or to fulfill orders. You can start alone or with a small group of designers. The third-party service provider will take care of labor management. Knowing that the logistics are in the hands of the experts, you can focus on creating high-quality designs and introducing new products. 

Customized Products 

This flexibility to customize products can appeal to diverse customers looking for unique items that reflect their style and personality. Customers can choose colors, and styles or even add text or images to the product. This makes the shopping experience engaging, which enhances customer satisfaction. 

Can be Distributed Worldwide on Demand

Best print on demand companies have facilities in different parts of the world. A customer can be sitting anywhere and they can get the product printed and shipped from the local facility. You can tap into the international markets without the logistical challenges associated with traditional shipping. Moreover, you can leverage audience segmentation to create products and designs tailored to specific regional tastes. 

Enables Targeting Niche Market

Print-on-demand lets you cater to niche markets that might be underserved by traditional retailers. You can create tailored products for specific interests or communities and gain a dedicated following. Moreover, offering niche products helps a creator or business stand out from the crowd. This enhances positioning in the market and the brand identity.

What to Look for in a Print on Demand Service Provider?

Product Range

In the beginning, we recommend starting with a niche product. However, as your business grows, you should offer a different range of products. Look for a provider with a vast product range so that they can accommodate your growing needs in the future.

Quality

Evaluate the type of machinery they used to design the product. Also, check whether or not they use qualified ink and embroidery material to design products. We recommend asking for samples to gauge the quality.

Personalization

Ask about the level of personalization that the company offers. They should use a white label approach and add branding elements like your name and logo to sell custom products. 

Ease of Use

The best print on demand companies usually have an easy-to-navigate dashboard that saves time and prevents frustration. Look for a tool that offers in-built features to modify the image size, layout, and customization options. If a provider suggests an add-on software, do not consider them. Print on demand providers nowadays also come with real-time tracking and analytical capabilities. Ask if the providers offer those as this will help in managing orders and your marketing efforts. 

Customer Service

Running an eCommerce business requires swift action to customer’s queries regarding order fulfillment. This can impact customer satisfaction. When you reach out to the provider, they should be able to revert within 24 hours. You can ask questions such as how much time they take to respond to the queries.

Experience

Choose a print on demand service provider that has established itself long before. The seniority of the print on demand service provider in the industry showcases they have proven their product quality and service to the customers. They will be proficient in understanding and handling customer’s and merchant’s grievances. Moreover, an experienced provider will adapt to the technological evolution which is why they have survived.

Delivery Time

The speed of Shipping and delivery plays a critical role in deciding the fate of your business. The longer the shipping time, the more dissatisfied your customers are going to be. It is important to keep in mind that the print on demand service has a production time. Look for a provider that has low production time and offers quick shipping. Take, for instance, SPOD’s production time is 48 hours and it ships within 2-5 days.

Manufacturing Location

The location of the print on demand provider will determine the shipping cost and the delivery time. The nearer the location, the better. This will depend on where your target audience resides. For example, if you want to sell in the US, then you can opt for CustomCat, Printful, and Printify. However, if you want to do your business on an international scale, we suggest going with PostGrid. It has a global network of print providers and you can design, print, and mail collaterals internationally. 

Reviews

They help you know about the product range, product quality, delivery time, customer service, and other aspects of the provider. You can look up reviews on various platforms. Take for instance, the Shopify App Store is one of the best ways to get a detailed review of various providers who sell print on demand products online.

Demo

Request for a demo. Keep in mind that the print on demand business will process your demand for a demo the same way your customer’s request for a demo will be supported. This will help you determine how the print on demand provider behaves with the customers. If they refuse to provide a demo, this will suggest that either their product is of low quality or they are not supportive. Either of these cases denotes they are not worth building long-term relationships.

Refunds and Return Policy

Customers might return a product due to several reasons. Maybe they did not like the customized print, the quality of the product was not up to the mark or the delivery time was too long. In either case, your ability to provide a smooth return and refund can affect customer satisfaction. To avoid any misunderstanding, you need to clearly lay down the return and refund policy. 

Evaluate the kind of return and refund policy your provider offers. Mostly there are three cases.

  • A refund of 100% of the product value is offered in case the product quality is not good.
  • A partial refund is offered when the customer wants to return the product
  • No refund is issued in case the customers want to return a completely fine product or the customer cancels an order after demand fulfillment.

Integration With Other Online Stores and Marketplaces

Make sure that the provider is compatible with the eCommerce platform you plan to use such as Etsy, Shopify, or Amazon. If you intend to sell on multiple marketplaces, make sure that the print on demand provider can integrate with all of them for centralized order management. 

Pricing

Your goal should not be to find the cheapest provider but to find the best print on demand service that provides the best quality and profit margins. But you have to look beyond the base price. There are various costs that companies charge to print the product. Discuss the following costs in your inquiry.

Shipping Cost 

Some print on demand sites work with postal services like USPS when they have to deliver a large volume of products. This impacts the shipping cost. When you pay high shipping free, you make less profit per sale. There are multiple aspects impacting shipping costs. It might be high during holidays. It may also vary based on per item or weight. 

Moreover, you also have to remember that high shipping costs are one of the significant reasons for cart abandonment among customers. 

Choose a print-on-demand services that offer flat rates that do not change, regardless of the volume, season, or how frequently you place the order. Flat rates also make the cost predictable, put you in charge of cost control, and simplify the ordering process.

Subscription Fees

Most of the print on demand websites are free. However, some offer extra services with paid plans. Take, for instance, you can subscribe to Printify’s plan. It will cost you $24.55 per month and you will get $20 off on all products. 

Custom Branding

Adding your name or logo to the product will also increase the charges. 

Marketplace Listing

There will be additional charges if you want to market your store on sites like Etsy. You will have to pay a listing fee per product. There is also a platform and payment processing fee associated with marketplaces. 

High-Volume Discounts

Some print-on-demand companies offer discounts to high-volume sellers. Take, for instance, Yoycol offers a 2 to 5% monthly discount if your sales exceed a certain threshold.

Conclusion

Using print-on-demand products in your direct mail marketing strategy can enable highly personalized and targeted communication. You can customize messages and designs ensuring each piece resonates with specific clients. The faster turnaround time of POD products can empower you to swiftly respond to market changes and ensure your direct mail marketing strategies are agile and impactful.

With PostGrid print-on-demand services, you can print and mail customized, high-quality, and diverse products at competitive pricing. Moreover, its address verification solution ensures that the print-on-demand product reaches the right destination. Want to see us in action? Request a demo now.