Starting an online T-shirt business needs a huge upfront investment in inventory. Right? No. Using the Print on Demand business model, you can sell T-shirt designs without any huge investment.
Print on Demand is a method used to print T-shirts after receiving an order. So you will not be left with unsold inventory. The burden of dead stock or inventory risk is the highest risk factor in selling T-shirt designs online.
This risk can be completely taken away if you prefer to use Print on Demand for your T-shirt business. You can design and sell T-shirts, whereas your Print on Demand Websites like Qikink does printing and shipping.
How do you design and sell t-shirts online?
- Choose Products
- Prepare Designs
- Setup online store
- Signup with Print on Demand Supplier
- Upload Designs and Push Products
- Custom Branding
- Sample Order
- Marketing
- Order Fulfilment
- Policies and Support
1. Choose Products
The product is a T-Shirt here. The beauty of the Print on Demand and third-party fulfillment (Dropshipping) model is you can choose as many products as you want, like Half Sleeves, Full Sleeves, Hoodies, Sweatshirts, Joggers, and more.
Choose a variety of products from the catalog of the Supplier. Know their specifications like cloth type, cost, fit, GSM, wash care, print placements, print types, etc.
Make a list of products to sell on your website with the above specifications. Do the same with other suppliers in the market and compare them. Choose the supplier who has more options to diversify later.
2. Prepare Designs
It is okay if you do not have design skills. But it’s an advantage if you have. There are places as below to get designs for your T-shirt business online.
- Vexels
- Creative Market
- 99designs
- Upwork
- Fiverr
Multiple free and paid design resources are available to sell t-shirt designs online. But putting your creativity to work to use those resources to make great T-shirt designs and mockups is essential.
3. Setup Online Store
Now that you have designs, decide where to sell t-shirts. Setting up an online store is an easy task with little tech knowledge. Many online resources are available for popular stores, like Shopify, from setup, domain mapping, and payment integration.
Check this one from Shopify: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Qfdn44rB4.
There are also other storage options like Wix, Squarespace, and Dukaan. Also, you can explore more customizable options like WooCommerce and Magento. These require separate hosting accounts.
4. Signup with Print on Demand Supplier
Print on Demand T-shirts need a third-party supplier who will fulfill your t-shirt orders. These manufacturers or Printing Companies stock up inventory and invest in huge digital printers.
Choose the print-on-demand service supplier after analyzing the following
- Experience in the industry
- Range of on-demand products,
- Cost
- Printing Types
- Product and printing quality
- Customer support
- Integration options
Print on Demand Supplier is a partner for your business. They should make your T-shirt business profitable with true manufacturers’ pricing, on-time services, and delivering promised quality every time.
5. Upload Designs And Push Products
Now that the online store, designs, and Print on Demand website are ready, you can fill your store with the products. Upload your designs into the Supplier’s web portal. Create Products from the designs. Check the following while creating products.
- Print Size
- Print Placements
- Print Cost
- Product Colors and Sizes to add
- Shipping Cost
- Mockups
Once the products are created, push the products to your online store using the push product option. Your online T-shirt store is populated with products ready to sell.
6. Custom Branding
Products are made in the factory, but brands are made in the mind.
Imagine your customers receiving a T-shirt without any brand mention anywhere on the product. Leave alone delighting them. How will they remember you and order from you the next time they need a T-shirt? Branding is the key to repeat purchases. Customers will try to purchase a product from the first brand they remember. Be there.
Explore all the custom branding services provided by your Supplier. The following are the standard branding options,
- Neck Label
- Hang Tag
- Thank you card
- Branded Packaging
Suppliers like Qikink provided free custom branding on the packet in the form of stickers. That’s a great place to start. The neck label is most important for apparel; it stays with the product and reminds them of the brand name.
7. Sample Order
The Print on Demand and Dropshipping model is where your supplier will ship the order directly to your customer. You will not see the product. So, it is essential to order a sample for yourself and check the quality of the product, printing, packing, and branding. Get orders from friends and family, get them to your address, and distribute them.
8. Marketing
The promising way to use social media to market your dropshipping store is via social media ads. It requires a clear understanding of your typical customer and to show ads in precision on social channels. Check your return on ads spent (ROAS) and try the following ways to reduce the money spent on ads.
- Email Marketing
- Social Content and Engagement
- SEO with Topical Authority
- Influencer Marketing
- New Product Launches
- Affiliate Marketing
9. Order Fulfillment
This part of the business is to be automated. But for a market like India, this needs a slight manual intervention if you sell via Cash on the Delivery method (COD). Orders with incomplete shipping data and very high-value orders may get returned without customer acceptance.
So, having a manual checkpoint before passing the COD orders to the supplier will avoid such losses. Though the return to origin(RTO) of COD orders is not entirely avoidable, keeping it within a minimum limit is essential.
Also, check the invoices to ensure the orders are charged correctly. It is time to perform a formal accounting process to reconcile the payments and costs incurred to realize profits.
10. Policies And Support
A clear return policy is critical in the Print on Demand business. Mention the product page’s delivery time estimates, replacement, and refund policy. The product page clearly shows essential information like Size Chart, Fabric, and Fit details.
Have an informed person on the support or handle it yourself. You can automate the support queries via free ticket systems. Respond to all support queries with as detailed information as possible and within your TAT always.
Conclusion
It’s possible to make money if you do things right in print-on-demand business. The guide outlines ten steps to help you build a strong business and attract loyal customers.
The essential things are offering high-quality products, excellent customer service, and good marketing to stand out from competitors.
It may take time and effort, but your print-on-demand T-shirt store can become a successful business with persistence. Best of luck to you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the online t-shirt market in India considered an attractive avenue for entrepreneurs?
The Indian online t-shirt market is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs due to the high demand for customized and trendy t-shirts. With the print-on-demand model, starting the business with low investment is possible, reducing the risk of dead stock.
Is prior design experience necessary for readers to benefit from this guide?
You don’t need previous design experience to benefit from this guide. It includes a list of online resources to get designs for your t-shirt business and offers tips on putting your creativity to work to create great t-shirt designs and mockups.
How can individuals effectively showcase their t-shirt designs on online platforms?
To effectively showcase your t-shirt designs on online platforms, use high-quality images, create informative and engaging product descriptions, and target the right audience. The guide also suggests promoting your business through social media ads and collaborating with influencers.
Does the guide offer insights into market trends and customer preferences in India?
The guide provides insights into market trends and customer preferences in India. It suggests analyzing the range of on-demand products, printing types, product quality, and customer support offered by print-on-demand suppliers to choose the right partner for your business. It also emphasizes the importance of custom branding to create a brand identity that resonates with your customers.
With over 10+ years of experience in the industry, Our founder has dedicated his career to helping brands achieve exponential growth through innovative print-on-demand solutions.
