Image source: Unsplash.com
It’s easy to set up a t-shirt business with all the tools available these days, but can you make money with print-on-demand? The answer is definitely yes.
Print-on-demand continues to grow, and those with marketing and graphic design skills can make a lot of money by choosing this method. Of course, you do not have to have both skills.
Some freelance designers could become your partner if you know the market and vice-versa. But what makes print-on-demand such a great choice? There are quite a few advantages.
Advantage #1 – Freedom for Creativity
Some graphic designers have limited options when they are working for a company. It is the same thing over and over, five days a week. Not having an opportunity to express yourself can become a shackle that might lead to big problems along the line.
On the other hand, when you are working on a personal project, such as a print-on-demand store, you can thrive as a creator and establish an environment that is not suffocating your personality and is boosting creative confidence.
Advantage #2 – Opportunities to Establish Relationships
Image source: Unsplash.com
Working with print-on-demand will mean that you get opportunities to establish a network of connections. It starts with suppliers and people you might hire down the line – SEO agencies, marketers, freelance graphic designers, and influencers who will advertise your brand on their channels.
Establishing a good relationship with other people is necessary for the future, as you will want to scale the business and raise brand awareness.
Advantage #3 – No Worries About Inventory
Inventory management is one of the biggest downsides when you are running a brick-and-mortar store. There are no guarantees that you are going to sell everything in the required amount of time. Moreover, someone has to be in charge of monitoring everything consistently since even a slight mistake could snowball out of control and lead to a lot of issues.
Sure, there is software that automates some processes, but you have an option not to bother with the inventory as you are in the position of a middleman.
Advantage #4 – Lack of Big Investments
Image source: Unsplash.com
Continuing with the point about not needing to worry about the inventory, there are practically no investments that would require a lot of money. You need a website, a domain name, and ideas for custom merchandise.
You can look to invest some funds in marketing and search engine optimization when the business starts to pick up later, but worrying about such things when you are starting is not necessary.
Advantage #5 – Chance to Scale the Business
If you are looking to develop a project that is not limited by the profit ceiling, print-on-demand is a good candidate. You can scale your business by increasing the website traffic and raising brand awareness so that more and more people are aware of what you are selling.
Establishing authority is difficult as there are companies that have already made a name for themselves and are in front of you. Nevertheless, if you are consistent and stick to the plan, only the sky is your limit.
Of course, thinking about such grand things is not something to bother with at first. But when you notice that you have hit a wall, look to start writing a blog and cooperate with other brands, especially influencers on social media.
Advantage #6 – Automation of Most Processes
When you are past the initial process of setting up the store, most of the processes involving maintenance are automated. That leaves you more time to spend on marketing and optimization, as well as creating new designs.
Advantage #7 – Variety of Products
Image source: Unsplash.com
Most people start with one product idea, such as t-shirts. It is easier at first because you might not have the resources to create product pages for multiple types of merchandise.
However, once the business starts to grow, you can introduce more than just t-shirts. Mugs, hoodies, calendars, phone cases, key chains, and anything else that has a space for a print on it can sell. Not to mention that introducing new products will keep things fresh help with scaling the store and bring more profits.
Advantage #8 – Money Saved on No Employees
For the most part, you can run the store yourself without relying on anyone else. Not having to pay employees a full salary means that you are the biggest beneficiary of the business.
Sure, there might be instances when you are hiring a graphic designer or someone who can create a successful marketing campaign. But when you compare the expenses that companies spend on paying their employees, print-on-demand is an attractive option.
