Top Best Print on Demand Sites For Pattern Designers in 2024
Table of Contents
What is Print on Demand for Surface Pattern Designers?
Ever wonder how surface pattern designers are turning their passion into profit without breaking a sweat? Well, let us tell you, print on demand has been a game-changer for creatives like us. We remember the days when setting up an online store meant investing in inventory and crossing our fingers that it would sell. Talk about stress! But here’s the kicker: print on demand products have flipped the script. It’s like having a magic wand that turns your designs into real products only when a customer hits that “buy” button. No more dusty boxes of unsold merch cluttering up the garage!
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just dipping your toes into the world of surface pattern design, understanding print on demand could be your ticket to turning those digital doodles into cold, hard cash. Curious? Let’s dive in and unpack this business model that’s revolutionizing the way designers work.
So, what’s the deal with print on demand? In a nutshell, it’s a business model where you create your own designs, but you don’t print a thing until someone actually buys it. Pretty neat, right? You can set up your own store or use POD marketplaces, and when demand makes itself known, boom – your design gets printed and shipped. No inventory, no fuss. It’s like having a personal manufacturing genie at your beck and call!
Benefits of Print on Demand for Graphic Designers
Let’s talk perks, ’cause print on demand is packed with ’em for us graphic designers and surface pattern pros. First off, no upfront costs or inventory risks. We’ve been there, sitting on boxes of unsold merch – not fun. With POD, that’s ancient history. Plus, we get to zero in on what we love: design and marketing. The POD company handles all the nitty-gritty of production and shipping. It’s like having a personal assistant for the boring stuff. And here’s the kicker – we can sell a crazy wide range of products. T-shirts, mugs, throw pillows, you name it. Our designs can live on practically anything, and we don’t have to store a single item. How cool is that?
Top Best Print on Demand Sites
Alright, let’s get down to brass tacks. We’ve done our own research and boy, have we tried a bunch of print on demand companies. Some were great, others… not so much. But hey, that’s how you learn, right? Whether you’re into art licensing or just want to slap your designs on some cool products, there’s a POD site out there for you. We’re gonna break down some of the top players in the game. These are the cream of the crop when it comes to POD sites, at least in our experience. So let’s dive in.
We’ve spent quite a bit of time with Printify, and let’s just say it’s been an interesting journey. Coming from an IT background, we were initially drawn to their automation capabilities. The platform integrates beautifully with various e-commerce sites – something that made our tech-loving hearts skip a beat.
Here’s what really caught our attention: their massive network of print providers. It’s like having a backup for your backup! When one printer is swamped (which can happen during the holiday rush season), you can switch to another.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Their quality control can be hit or miss, depending on which print provider you’re using. We’ve had some face-palm moments when orders arrived looking… well, let’s just say “different” from what we expected. Pro tip: always, ALWAYS order samples from different providers before committing. We tested many types of “socks” and found the ones through this method. Don’t skip the important stuff!!
Their pricing structure is pretty competitive, though. After crunching the numbers (thank goodness for those spreadsheet skills from our corporate days), we found their profit margins were actually decent. Just keep an eye on those shipping costs – they can sneak up on you like a ninja in the night!
Printful integrates with practically everything – super handy. They offer a wide range of products, which is great for us pattern-happy folks. And their platform? Pretty user-friendly once you get the hang of it. But like any relationship, it’s had its ups and downs. Sometimes their shipping can be a bit… unpredictable. Still, overall, it’s been a solid choice for our POD needs.
Ah, Redbubble. It’s like that well-established cousin who’s been in the game forever. Their competitive pricing is a big plus. We’ve found our designs can actually turn a decent profit here. And let’s face it, their reach is pretty impressive.
Standing out on Redbubble can be tough. It’s like trying to be heard at a rock concert sometimes. One must work at the tagging game to get noticed. And while their product range is decent, we occasionally wished for more options. Still, for a straightforward POD experience, Redbubble’s not too shabby. Just be prepared to put in some elbow grease to make your mark!
First off, their product quality? Pretty darn good, especially for things like tote bags and art prints., They offer a wide range of products, including canvas prints, and throw pillows. We were pleasantly surprised when we got our first samples.
Now, to start selling on Society6, you’ve gotta jump through a few hoops. Their upload process can be a bit finicky – we may have let out a few choice words while figuring it out. But once you’re in, it’s smooth sailing.
One thing we love? The artist community vibe. It’s like a virtual art fair sometimes. But fair warning – the competition is fierce. We’ve had to really step up our game to stand out. And their promotional tools? Could use some work, if we’re being honest. But overall, Society6 has been a solid player in our print-on-demand portfolio. Just be ready to put in some legwork to make it work for you.
Other Notable Print on Demand Sites
Look, we could go on all day about print on demand sites. There’s a whole bunch out there, and as a surface pattern designer, you’re spoiled for choice. We’ve dipped our toes in quite a few. Zazzle’s got a huge product range, but man, their interface can be a headache. Spreadshirt’s cool if you’re into apparel. And don’t sleep on Merch by Amazon – that’s where the big bucks can roll in if you nail it.
Truth is, where you start selling depends on your style and goals. We’ve had hits and misses on all of ’em. Our advice? Try a few, see what sticks. Just don’t spread yourself too thin – been there, done that, got the stress-induced gray hairs to prove it!
- Teepublic: A print-on-demand site that specializes in apparel and accessories.
- Designbyhumans: A print-on-demand site that specializes in apparel and accessories.
- Zazzle: A print-on-demand site that offers a wide range of products, including apparel, accessories, and home decor.
Creating and Selling Print on Demand Products
Alright, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of actually making this print on demand thing work. We’ve learned a thing or two about creating products that sell, and it isn’t always pretty. First off, forget about slapping your design on every product under the sun. We tried that – big mistake. Focus on what works for your art. For us, Wall Art, Socks (with the option of customization) and Tote Bags to round out our line up …..but those shower curtains? Not so much.
Quality matters, folks. We learned the hard way that high quality products and prints make all the difference. Your target audience can smell a cheap product a mile away. And speaking of audience, know who you’re selling to. We spent way too long trying to please everyone before we figured out our niche. Trust us, it’s a game-changer when you nail down your ideal customer.
Best Products for Print on Demand
So, what sells best on print on demand sites? Well, apparently, it depends on who you ask. But from our experience, wall art is a solid bet. We’ve had some nice wins with canvas prints and posters. T-shirts are another crowd-pleaser – people always need tees, right?
But here’s the kicker: don’t just follow the crowd. Avoid the urge and don’t make the mistake of trying to sell everything and ended up spreading yourself too thin. Be patient and give it a lot of thought and research. Focus on products that really showcase your designs. In the meantime, also check our Shop to see how we’re doing. Throw pillows might be a good option but underestimate the power of a good phone case design either. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between what you’re good at and what people want. Trust us, it makes life a whole lot easier! Apparel: T-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags are popular products for print on demand.
Selling Digital Pattern Designs
Offering custom services can be a game-changer. People love customizable products – who knew?
We suggest to keep an eye on Google Trends. You can check what’s hot before you start designing. It’s like having a crystal ball for pattern popularity.
And don’t be afraid to sell your patterns as-is. Some folks out there just want the digital files to do their own thing. Diversifying like this has really helped smooth out our income. Trust us, it’s worth exploring!
First things first: treat your pattern design business like a proper business. We’ve seen too many talented artists struggle because they’re all creativity, no strategy. Set up a solid workflow. Track your designs, sales, and customer feedback. Those project management skills? They’re gold in this industry!
Here’s something we wish we’d known earlier: diversify your selling platforms. We started on Spoonflower, thinking that was enough. Wrong! We suggest selling on multiple platforms – Creative Market, Patternbank, and even our own website. It’s like not putting all your eggs in one digital basket.
Creating the patterns is just half the battle. You’ve got to nail your keywords and descriptions too. Think like your customer. What would they search for? SEO search optimization!! “Blue floral pattern” is fine, but “Vintage navy botanical repeat pattern for home decor” is better. See what we did there?
Remember the power of collections. Instead of random standalone patterns, create cohesive collections. It’s like telling a story through your designs. Plus, it gives buyers more options to mix and match. Win-win!
One last thing: don’t forget to protect your work. Now we have clear terms of use for everything we sell. Better safe than sorry, right?
Marketing and Selling Print on Demand Products
Paid Advertising
Let’s talk about getting your stuff in front of eyeballs, specifically through paid advertising. Now, we’ll be honest – we were pretty scared of this at first. Spending money to make money? Sounded like a recipe for disaster. But boy, were we wrong! Even with a small budget it can really make a difference. Facebook, Instagram and Pintrest offer paid advertising and at a reasonable price.
Here’s the thing – advertising lets you target your ideal buyers like a heat-seeking missile. Be smart about it and d don’t be afraid of higher prices if it means you can actually turn a profit.
Lastly, track your results! Trust us, a little data goes a long way in the ad game.
Influencer Marketing
Here’s the deal: find influencers in your niche. These people have audiences who are already into what we’re selling. It’s like having a friend vouch for you at a party – instant cred!
Additionally, it’s not all about follower count. You can have better luck with micro-influencers who have super engaged audiences. They might have fewer followers, but their fans actually listen to them. And let’s be honest, their rates are way more budget-friendly for small fish.
Just remember, authenticity is key. Make sure they understand your brand/vibe before you commit.
Affiliate Marketing
So, let’s chat about affiliate marketing. Basically, you partner with folks who promote your stuff and get a cut of the sales. Sounds simple, right? Well, it’s got its quirks. It’s like having a whole team of mini sales reps out there.
Here’s the kicker: independent designers can be your best affiliates. They get what you’re doing and can speak to your audience. Just be clear about expectations and payouts.
And don’t forget to give your affiliates the tools they need. We whipped up some banners and sample posts, and it made a world of difference. Trust us, a little effort goes a long way in making your affiliates feel like VIPs.
Content Marketing
Alright, let’s chat about content marketing. We’ll be real with you – when we first started, we thought slapping up a few blog posts would have customers beating down our virtual door. Boy, were we in for a surprise!
Content marketing is like tending a garden. You gotta nurture it, and it takes time to grow. We started by sharing our design process on social media. At first, it felt like shouting into the void. But slowly, people started engaging. We even had a post about our pattern-making mistakes go viral – talk about turning lemons into lemonade!
Here’s a pro tip: don’t just talk about your products. We learned that the hard way. Now, we share tips on using patterns in home decor, behind-the-scenes peeks at our design process, and even the occasional personal story. It’s all about building that connection, you know?
And don’t forget about SEO. We used to think it was all technical mumbo-jumbo, but it’s actually pretty crucial. We’ve seen our traffic grow since we started focusing on keywords our customers actually use.
Remember, consistency is key. We try to post regularly, even when it feels like no one’s listening. Trust us, they are. It just takes time. So keep at it, and before you know it, you’ll have a loyal following of pattern-loving fans!
Starting a Print on Demand Business
Getting Started with Print on Demand
We’ve been there, done that, and boy, do we have stories to tell. First things first, don’t try to be everything to everyone. We made that mistake and ended up with a product line that was all over the place. Focus on what you’re good at.
Creating designs that resonate is key. We thought jumping on every pop culture trend would be our ticket to success. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Find your niche and rock it. And remember, just because you can create a product doesn’t mean there’s demand for it. We learned that the hard way with our ill-fated line of designer oven mitts. Trust us, do your research before you dive in. It’ll save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Running a Sustainable Print on Demand Business
Let’s get real about running an eco-friendly print on demand biz. We’ll be honest, we didn’t think much about sustainability at first. But man, did we have a wake-up call when we saw the waste our business was generating.
Now, we’re all about reducing waste wherever we can. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. We’ve switched to print on demand partners who use environmentally friendly inks and materials. Sure, it cut into our profits a bit at first, but our customers love it.
If there is an eco-friendly option we suggest going with it. It will actually help your brand image. Turns out, people dig businesses that care about the planet.
Future of Print on Demand
Let’s gaze into our crystal ball and talk about the future of print on demand. We’ve seen some wild changes in this industry, and it’s only getting crazier. First off, the growing popularity of home decor items is through the roof. We’re seeing demand for everything from custom curtains to personalized doormats. It’s like everyone suddenly decided their house needed a makeover!
But here’s where it gets really interesting: artificial intelligence and machine learning are shaking things up. We’ve been experimenting with AI-generated designs, and it’s mind-blowing. It’s not replacing human creativity (thank goodness), but it’s definitely changing the game.
As artists, we should understand how this algorithm works now, so we can understand the future. With our services, you can navigate the algorithm economy with confidence. Our Creative Digital Lift Services empower artists to thrive in the digital landscape, ensuring your work reaches its intended audience. economy…Pretty cool stuff check us out.
