Artists are no longer limited to selling their works in exhibitions and studios. If you’re a skilled artist or designer, you can monetise your skills by launching your print-on-demand business. Without managing inventory or shipping hassles, print-on-demand for artists is a game changer.
The online art market currently accounts for 8.4% of the total, up from 7.4% in 2015. In other words, the importance of selling art online has never been successful.
This article will show how artists can sell their art online and the best print-on-demand sites for artists.
Print-on-demand for artists
The creative power of artists allows you to have multiple sources of income. You can sell their original artwork or work on various client projects to maximise your talent. These types of jobs, however, are heavily contingent on how much time you have available to work. The more you work, the more money you can make. However, if you do not work, you will have no income. Even if you work extremely hard, your income is still restricted.
With a print-on-demand business, you’ll offer original designs printed on bespoke goods such as t-shirts, mugs, and wall art. You provide the artwork, and the print-on-demand service with which you collaborate handles fulfilment by producing and sending the goods to customers on your behalf.
Online, artists can sell printables and digital artworks using the best print-on-demand sites for artists. These are a few ways that artists might generate money by selling their work.
Artists can make money in addition to these traditional ways by selling items – physical products tied to their businesses or using their artworks.
Best print-on-demand sites for artists
1. Qikink
Qikink is India’s largest print-on-demand and dropshipping supplier and one of the best print-on-demand sites for artists. It is a single platform for meeting all of your customers’ needs. Qikink handles everything from fabric sourcing to stitching, printing, and delivery. Qikink has the most diverse product line and more than ten printing processes.
Qikink is free to use and works perfectly with your Shopify and Woocommerce stores. Simply sign up, generate product mockups using their in-built mockup creator, and advertise them to get started. When you place an order, Qikink fulfils it. It uses your brand name to print, pack, and ship your purchase to your customer.
Pros
- Order management dashboard for pros
- The most extensive product line
- Worldwide delivery is available
- Advanced printing technologies
- Cash on delivery is available
- Shopify, WooCommerce Integrations
- Free mockup generator
- Custom branding services
- Personalisation such as gift wrapping and custom notes
2. Gelato
Gelato has quietly gained traction in POD over the last few years. Gelato began with mainly paper-based POD items (posters, cards, calendars, etc.) but has since expanded to include a wide range of clothes and merchandise.
Gelato’s simple system, quick customer service, and expanding product selection make it an excellent Printify alternative. If your store sells more overseas than in the United States, or if art prints and posters are your specialty, Gelato is a better alternative.
However, this lack of control has its own issues, chief among them the inconsistency of product quality.
Pros
- A diverse choice of high-quality items is available
- Excellent customer service
- Premium plans make delivery cheaper
- The free everlasting plan is ideal for newcomers
- Integrates with various e-commerce systems (including Shopify, Etsy, and others)
- Shipping is expedited thanks to a global network of fulfilment hubs
Cons
- Shipping reductions are only available to residents of the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and a few other countries
- The free plan does not include any delivery reductions
3. Redbubble
Redbubble operates as a print-on-demand marketplace website. They are responsible for printing the goods, shipping it, monitoring the inventory, and other marketing operations linked to attracting customers to the site.
After registering with this print-on-demand platform, you may submit your artwork, select goods, and sell your products for free when a consumer purchases your goods, Redbubble prints and delivers them to the client’s door.
Pros
- A large established consumer base
- There is no need for marketing
- It is simple to get started
- Flexible profit margins
Cons
- There is a lot of competition
- Risk of others stealing your designs due to a lack of control
- Anyone on the regular plan has additional costs deducted from their revenues
4. Society6
Another print-on-demand platform where independent artists can sell their wares is Society6. Although it may not receive as much traffic as Redbubble, it is popular and has a distinct aesthetic.
There are also more floral prints, watercolour patterns, abstract art – and significantly less novelty pop-culture prints. If this is your aesthetic, it’s a terrific place to market your merchandise.
Society6 also has a large social media following and receives a good amount of organic traffic, making it simple to generate deals.
Pro
- A vibrant artist community
- Well-defined style
- Excellent branding choices
- Existing consumer base
Cons
- Not as well-known as Redbubble
- Less appropriate for selling pop culture designs
5. Printful
Printful is another print-on-demand firm that offers backend fulfilment services for your existing store. It’s the best Printify alternative for individuals who don’t mind paying more for higher-quality items.
Printful is well known for its Shopify integration, but it also works well with Amazon, WooCommerce, Etsy, and other e-commerce platforms.
It works similarly to Printify: you upload your designs and add them to a product, then start selling those products through your website, and Printify handles the printing, packing, and shipping on-demand.
Printful stands out as a fantastic alternative for artists for a few of reasons. The first is its built-in design tools—the Design Maker is amazing and simplifies creating product mockups.
Pros
- Consistently high printing quality
- Options for white-label branding
- A large product catalog is available
- Simple integrations
- Outstanding built-in design tools
Cons
- Expensive in comparison to other suppliers
- The free plan includes only a few marketing tools
6. Teepublic
Teepublic is yet another well-known print-on-demand marketplace. Redbubble owns it and is notable for its simple design upload process.
Teepublic’s main feature is its exceptionally rapid and simple upload and setting process. You can convert your designs into goods in a few clicks and begin selling.
Although there are fewer product categories than Redbubble and Society6, it still covers all the major ones: clothes, wall art, phone cases, mugs, stickers, totes, and so on.
Teepublic’s pricing approach is another way it distinguishes itself from its competitors. Because of the predetermined royalty rate, you have little choice over your profit margins: you’ll make $4 on t-shirts or $2 during sales.
Pros
- Simple uploading procedure
- Excellent for selling clothing
- Less competitive than other platforms
Cons
- No control over profit margins (set royalty rates)
7. Zazzle
Zazzle is the world’s second most popular POD marketplace, after only Redbubble. It receives over 10 million visits every month and serves customers from all around the world.
Selling on Zazzle is similar to selling on any other print-on-demand platform. You sign up, create your shop, upload your designs to the products you want to sell, set your royalty rates, and begin selling. Zazzle will handle the rest, including printing, shipping, and customer service.
The product catalogue on Zazzle is fantastic. It has all of the normal categories, such as drinkware and clothes, and some speciality offers you won’t find on many other sites, such as cornhole sets, flip flops, and hundreds of other items.
Talented artists may collaborate directly with clients and help bring their ideas to life through the Zazzle LIVE program and sell their own works.
Pros
- A large product catalog
- A well-known website with a significant established customer base
- Flexible royalties
Cons
- Tough competition
8. Merch by Amazon
Merch by Amazon is the company’s print-on-demand service. For unparalleled reach, sign up to sell products showcasing your designs on the world-renowned Amazon Marketplace.
Unfortunately, Merch by Amazon is an invite-only platform, so you can’t just sign up and start selling immediately. You must first apply to join, but if accepted, the process is straightforward. Simply upload your artwork, pick your listing price, and let Amazon handle the rest.
There are two cool aspects of selling POD merchandise on Amazon. The first is achieve. Amazon has far more customers than any other E-commerce site in the world, so as long as the product is good, sales should come your way.
Pros
- Broad reach
- Amazon is a well-known brand (greater customer trust)
- Outstanding conversion rates
- Prime provides fast shipping
Cons
- This is an invitation-only program
Read more
- 15 Best T Shirt Design Resources to Create & Sell T Shirts Online
- From Design to Sale: Creating and Selling Custom Canvas Prints
- 10 Tips To Create Great Print On Demand Designs For Your Online Store
- Top 11 T-Shirt Mockup Resources for Every Designer’s Toolkit
- What Makes A Good Logo Design & How To Design It?
Frequently Asked Questions
How does print-on-demand work for artists, and what does it mean to sell art without inventory?
Here’s how print on demand for artists’ works.
- Artists create designs that they wish to sell on products
- They create an online store
- Find a prin-on-demand supplier to print their designs
- They list the products online on their website
- Promote the products and get them fulfilled by the print-on-demand supplier.
In this process, the print-on-demand supplier prints the products only when the artist receives an order. Hence, the products need not be stocked up.
Where can artists leverage print-on-demand services to sell their artwork?
Here are 8 best print-on-demand sites for artists:
- Qikink
- Gelato
- Redbubble
- Society6
- Printful
- Teepublic
- Zazzle
- Merch by Amazon
What advantages does print-on-demand offer to artists over traditional selling methods?
Print-on-demand art prints are an excellent approach to increase the visibility of your artwork while keeping your prices low. You don’t have to worry about saving a huge number of prints because you can print as many or as few as you need. Furthermore, it is an excellent opportunity to test new designs before committing to a larger run.
How can artists ensure the quality and accuracy of their art reproductions through print-on-demand?
Take your time when looking for the best print-on-demand company. Once you’ve found the correct fit, contact your service provider and request proof of your work during purchase.
Even if you are utilizing a large commercial print site, seeing how a print-on-demand service prints and handles your work is critical. If you cannot acquire proof, order a print for yourself before printing for clients to ensure the quality and delivery of your artwork. Your buyers will be looking for high-quality paintings that will last.
Make sure you order prints yourself to see how your prints are shipped and take note of the print quality to ensure quality.
What factors should artists consider when selecting a print-on-demand platform to showcase and sell their artwork?
Here are some factors to consider when selecting a print-on-demand platform
- Quality of prints.
- Shipping time and rates.
- Product Variety.
- Customization options.
- Ease of use
With over 6+ years of experience in the industry, Ayushi excels in building strong customer relationships and guiding clients toward growth as a Brand Partnership Manager. She enjoys sharing her experience in her content.
