Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A List of Print On Demand Services

Print on Demand companies allow you to sell printed products with your own artwork or photography online without covering the printing cost first.  Generally they allow you to create a store where you sell products with your designs, and they usually also have a public marketplace where all products by contributing artists are sold as well.  Items are only printed once a customer buys them.  You earn a mark-up or commission, but they handle the printing, shipping, etc.  





Zazzle
One of the major leaders in the POD world, this site has a great product selection and an established customer base.  See my full review of this site here.




CafePress
CafePress is one of the first and most popular Print on Demand Services.  It has a large selection of products and a good customer base but if you rely on that base in stead of your own shop you can only earn 10% profit.  See my full review of this site here.  
Spreadshirt
Another well established print on demand company, mainly for apparel. They have shops for both the UK and North America (US and Canada). Their American storefront is at Spreadshirt.com (linked above) and their UK site is at Spreadshirt.org. Unfortunately, you have to set up a shop in both if you want to sell in both markets.   
Image Kind
Image Kinds is mostly art oriented, and was acquired by CafePress several years ago but run is still run separately.

Deviant Art is primarily a social art sharing site with a focus on fan art, but they also allow you to sell prints and number of other printed items through their Print Shop.  Artists earn 20%, though you can pay for a premium account and set your own prices (and get your own products at base price). You can find out more about selling prints on their FAQ page.
Customized Girl
Customized girl offers a wide range of shirts, pants, shorts, and gift--and not just for girls, but for men and kids too (though I imagine women and girls are their main audience).  They have been selling custom clothes and gifts for many year, but just recently began to offer storefronts.  The storefronts are fairly simple--just your logo with products below.  Commission rates vary from 10 -15% depending on the product.  Customers can add customization to any of your products.  
SmugMug
This site has a program for photographers selling printed products with their photos.  It doesn't look like it has a marketplace--it's probably more tailored for professional photographers offering photo gifts to their customers, though I know of people who sell art through them as well.   Though it seems like they have a higher profit margin than most sites, so if you can promote yourself this might pay more. 
Printfection
Printfection's focus is apparel, and they have a good selection of styles and colors.  They also have a few other items like mugs, bags, and such.  See my full review of this site here
Lulu
Primarily for book printing.

Tone Threads
This is a POD specifically for musicians.  You can sell through your own shop/site or through BandCamp.com.
Boom Boom Prints
A print on demand shop aimed mainly at baby and kids clothes and room decor. 
This site offers a set commission rate of $3 to $6.50 per item on T-shirts, Phone Cases, and Prints.
Oarttes
POD site focusing on full bleed, artistic t-shirts. 
Print All Over Me
As the name suggests, this site features items that can be printed completely, all over every inch.
Deny Designs
A site primarily focused on home and decor design.  They are looking for artist but don't give many details about commission rates, how the site works for artists, ect
Screened
An eco-conscious service for selling T-shirts and Tote Bags. They have a very long print area for their shirts.  (Though not as much as CafePress's ALL OVER t-shrits...but those cost a lot more).  
PrintMojo
NOT technically a print on demand service since they do screen printing and embroidery and you do have to actually buy the T-shirts, but they print them, store them, and sell them for you.
Yersies
They mainly sell shirts and offer some features like puffy print and stitched designs (text or their pre-made designs only) as well as regular design printing.
T-shirt Monster
Canadian based - nice range of T-shirts.
My Soti
UK based POD offering t-shirts (men's, women's and childrens), posters, and lap-shades. You set your own mark-up.
Combotique
POD based in France (I've linked to the UK storefront so you can read in English) offering a wide selection of shirt styles, plus mugs, bags, and badges.  You can set your own profit margin, but it can't exceed 5 £ per shirt. 

StickerMule
Sell Stickers and skins in various shapes and sizes.
Spoonflower
Spoonflower sells fabric, wallpaper, and decals...and if you sell through them you get a flat 10% commission. You have to buy at least a $5 swatch for each design you sell to proof it. After that selling through them is free.

Galloree.com
Has a nice selection of shirts, and a smaller selection of gifts.  You set the mark-up.  There doesn't look like there's a public marketplace, so it's all on you for promotion.  

Shirt City
Shirt city offers three different printing products. In addition to shirts they offer hats, undergarments, and a nice variety of gifts including, mugs, colored dog shirts, lanyards, bags, mousepads, buttons vinyl decals. They don't seem to offer paper products (like stickers or cards).
MagCloud
Create your own magazines for 20 cents a page (you can add your own mark-up after that). Your book is listed in their marketplace and can be ordered in single quantities.
EnGreet
The just sell greeting cards. People can customize the cards and send them directly to their recipients, or order them to resend. You earn 20% commission.
RedBubble
RedBubble offers t-shirts, prints, and greeting cards.
Card Gnome
They only offer cards. Their cards are customizable, printed with organic ink on recycled paper, and mailed directly to the recipient. You earn $0.75 on most cards, $0.50 on discount cards.
Greeting Card Universe
Sell cards customers can customize and send directly to their recipient. You earn 15% - 20% (I think...percentage varies based on volume ordered).
Lollypins
Pins only! Artists receive a 15% commission.
Inktastic
You can sell a nice variety of shirts, gifts, stuffed animals, stickers and skins here. They have the best variety of baby and children's clothes I've seen, plus they have maternity. You earn 30% commission.
Minted
This is not actually a print on demand service, but worthy of mention. Like Threadless you can submit designs which are voted on, and if yours is chosen you can win prizes and also receive 6% commission. They also have a photographer program where photographers can set up a shop where their customers can buy prints, cards, etc. and they recieve a 10% commission.
Fine Art America
Sell art online through Fine Art America. Set your own prices and keep 100% of your profits. I believe they only do posters and canvas art, with various framing options.
Selling On Society6 | Society6
Society 6 allows you to sell a small set of products: art prints, iPhone cases, iPhone, iPod, iPad and Laptop skins, Tote Bags, T-shirts, Hoodies and Throw Pillows. On all but the Art Prints the commission is set for you.
Teespring - Crowdfunded Custom Apparel
Teepring is sort of a combination between a traditional print on demand shop and quick-starter--just for t-shrits. You set up a design on a t-shirt (just one, as far as I can tell) and then set the goal for how many t-shirts you want to sell, and then they print them when you reach that amount. The profit margins are much higher for these shirts than for a traditional POD. This seems really good POD for someone who has ONE t-shirt design, and a good way to promote it.
Wordans
You can sell apparel and iphones through this shop.
Arts Now
ArtsNow is a POD based in Hong Kong.  I used this service several years ago and at the time they had poor shipping practices (things arrived poorly packaged and damaged), inconsistent quality, and had some labeling issues that could make it illegal to sell their clothes in the United States.  See my full review of this site here.  



Custom Drop-Shipping Sites


These are similar to Print on Demand in that they but generally you have to provide the online storefront.




Submission Based Sites


The following sites take submissions from artists and pay you for your work if it's accepted. Though not print on demand, they also offer opportunities to artists wanting to earn money from their work.

Threadless
You can submit graphic designs and text slogans to Threadless and if any of yours are chosen you can earn $2,000 in cash, a $500 store credit, and $500 more any time the shirts are reprinted.
Vida
Vida sells ethically sourced* dresses, scarfs, shirts, and pocket squares...artists get 10% commission.    They require exclusive rights to sell your design in the selected product category that you create, but you are free to sell that design on products outside of that category (for instance, if you design for a top, you may continue to sell that design for all product categories other than tops.  They also support a social impact program which provides a crash course in basic literacy, specifically basic reading, writing, and Math skills designed for those who have never received schooling.

Good Joe
$1 of every shirt sale goes to artists, and $1 goes to charity. They accept artwork submission on a number of themes.
Minted
This is not actually a print on demand service, but worthy of mention. Like Threadless you can submit designs which are voted on, and if yours is chosen you can win prizes and also receive 6% commission. They also have a photographer program where photographers can set up a shop where their customers can buy prints, cards, etc. and they recieve a 10% commission.

Sandelei
This site is exclusively for flip flop sandals.  Designs must be approved before inclusion.  



Physical Art Venues


These are venues to sell actual, physical art pieces.


Tuesday, June 11, 2013

POD Resources

I hope you find the following sites, tools  and articles useful.  These shopkeeper resources used to be hosted on Squidoo, and the formatting came out a little wonky when I copied them over (so my apologies for the crazy font selection).  



VARIOUS PODS

BLOGS:

POD Person
Great blog with lots of freebies and tutorials.
Creative Artists Blog
A blog featuring artists who sell their work on print on demand websites.
Tees In A Pod
Excellent blog and pod-cast about the print on demand business.



VARIOUS:
POD Helper
A great site with helpful articles, news updates and a forum.
Creating Fan Art Through Print On Demand
Learn about the different branded products (like movies, t-v shows, video games) that you can legally create designs for through a POD fan portal.
52 Ways To Monetize Your Photos
Got a hard drive full of pictures? Wish you had a bank account full of cash? If you've got good photos, you've got an opportunity to make some useful

Check out the suppliers of print on demand ( POD ) services for Art Prints / Art Books & Catalogues. Review what artists think of them & traffic to their sites. Find...
The T-Shirts Forums
I love the T-Shirt Forum. I've gotten so many insightful, detailed, and helpful answers here.
Tee Banter
I just discovered this forum...but it seems to be pretty active! It's aimed more at buyers then sellers. In their own words: "Primarily an interest group for collectors and general t-shirt fans interested in discussing the huge variety of t-shirts out there." But there are sections obviously for sellers to post in. You can showcase your designs here but make sure to read the rules because there are specific ways to go about it.

CAFEPRESS
Beginner's Guide to Starting a shop on CafePress
A great three part guide covering opening a shop, designing, and adding products.
Success With CafePress
Great tips for making your CafePress shop successful.
Pictures fo Promote Tile Boxes
Beautiful artistic photos that show the inside of the tile boxes sold through CafePress.  A great resource if you're promoting these on your blog or website.

How To Run a Successful CafePress Shop
Some good tips.



PRINTFECTION



Tee Plates
Free Printfection themes! Completely customize your Printfection store without ever learning or writing a single line of CSS.

ZAZZLE
Design Image Guidelines 

How to Make and Use Your Own Zazzle Quick Create Template
A great tutorial if you want to use Quick Create in Zazzle to create products.
Zazzlit
This is a widget similar to the Zazzle flash panel which fits nicely in the side-bar of your site, and gives you more control over what products are featured.
Zazzle to Squidoo Tool
A tool for promoting your products on Squidoo.
Temporary Guide Files for New Zazzle Phones
Useful guide if making designs specifically for the new phones (and you want to make the dimensions exact.
Making a Zazzle Squidoo
How to make a great Squidoo for your Zazzle shop.
How to Show Off Zazzle Products Using Text Modules
A guide on how to show off your products in Zazzle text modules using Zazzle's affiliate tools...needs to be updated since recent Squidoo changes, since the sizes of Squidoo modules have changed.  But it shows how to alter the size on the images and that's still useful.
Posting Linked Images on Zazzle Forums - Video Tutorial
This is useful if you want to share your products on the Zazzle forum.
Special Days on Zazzle
A list of the "Special Days" categories on Zazzle.
Zazzle Paper Invitation Quality
A photographic description of the Zazzle invitation paper quality, with pictures capturing all different types of paper colors and textures and notes on the sturdiness of the different paper types.
Zazzle Invites Samples, Quality and Sizing
This covers all the paper types at Zazzle, and has really great examples.
Zazzle n' Tweet
An overview of twitter for Zazzlers.
Zazzlers with Twitter
Are you a Zazzler looking to network with other Zazzlers on Twitter? Find a list of Zazzlers who twitter here.
48 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Zazzle Shop
A great article on ways to get more people to your shop.