Every wardrobe has at least one T-shirt hung in it, and I’m not wrong if I say that it is one of the most comfortable pieces of clothing you own.
Likewise, t-shirt print on demand in India has grown in popularity. Revenue in the T-Shirts segment amounts to US$6.83bn in 2023. According to Statista, the t-shirt market is expected to grow annually by 3.91% (CAGR 2023-2027).
This guide will discuss T-shirt print on demand in India and its scope.
What is t-shirt print on demand in India?
When you engage with a third-party provider to modify white-label products with your own graphics, the process is known as print on demand or POD. With print-on-demand services, you can sell products individually with your brand name or a unique design printed on them. You may do this through your website.
You won’t pay for a product with print-on-demand sales until an order is placed and the third-party supplier prints it. Your print-on-demand provider will take care of all aspects of an order after it is placed by a customer, including printing and shipping.
How does print-on-demand work?
When a customer puts an order through an online store that offers print-on-demand, the production process starts. It does away with managing inventory and making things by predetermined specifications. Businesses make significant financial savings because they don’t need bulk buying. The business model operates as follows:
- The customer enters your store, peruses the merchandise, and selects the “buy” button.
- Your chosen print vendor receives notice and deducts a specific sum from your account to cover manufacturing and other related charges.
- The production process starts, and the product is sent to the designated place when it is finished.
- The supplier is solely responsible for all post-sale tasks, including packaging and delivery. It’s a fantastic choice for first-time business owners testing out their concept.
Is on-demand t-shirt printing India profitable?
You can question whether the market is still lucrative while deciding whether to start an on-demand t-shirt printing India business. T-shirts are still in style, as evidenced by a fast glance in your closet. Still, it’s also useful to know that they continue to be a lucrative business thanks to the expanded range of consumer groups and manufacturing resources, such as print-on-demand (POD) services.
The US t-shirt market, which is expanding due to greater-than-ever online purchasing rates, generated $38.88 billion in sales in 2022 alone and is anticipated to grow to almost $50.59 billion by 2027. Additionally, the US custom t-shirt printing market is anticipated to expand between 2023 and 2030 at an excellent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1% due to the growing demand for original designs.
Custom t-shirt printing has become a staple across all e-commerce platforms and marketplaces. One in five consumers is willing to pay 20% more for a customised product, which has proven increasingly popular among various customer demographics. Nowadays, a personalised t-shirt business might be more successful than one that sells plain shirts!
Pros and cons of t-shirt print-on-demand India?
Pros of T-shirt print-on-demand India
1. Sell your designs
Nobody else will sell t-shirts identical to yours if you sell ones you have designed yourself. In addition to giving you a creative outlet, it will give you an advantage over other e-commerce businesses.
2. Low investment
Nothing is more frustrating than starting a small business and going bankrupt. Owning an e-commerce business has the advantage of requiring relatively little initial expenditure.
3. Seamless service
Customers can order your products if you pick your on-demand printer correctly. Integration from the on-demand printer to your eCommerce site should be possible. As a result, when one of your customers orders a product, the on-demand printer deducts a fee from the payment, prints the item, and ships it to the consumer.
4. Variety and quality
If you own an eCommerce store, you should be cautious of fly-by-night businesses, so look for an on-demand provider that has been operating for a while.
Cons of T-shirt print-on-demand India
1. Low-profit margins
Since the designs are printed on demand, the products may cost you a little more and reduce your profits.
2. Shipping timeline
Delays due to shipping may cost you a customer’s trust and loyalty. Testing out the fulfilment time and being transparent about the delays will help you save some customers.
Top 3 print-on-demand t-shirt companies in India
While there are many print-on-demand t-shirt companies in India, here are the top 3 you can consider per your requirements.
Key features and description
Qikink is India’s largest print-on-demand and dropshipping supplier. It is one platform to fulfil all your customer demands. From the sourcing of fabric to stitching, printing and shipping, everything is taken care of at Qikink. Qikink owns the broadest product range and 10+ printing technologies.
Qikink is free to use and integrates seamlessly with your Shopify and Wcoocommerce stores. To get started, simply sign up, create product mockups with their inbuilt mockup generator, and promote them. When you receive an order, Qikink fulfils your order. It prints, packs and ships your order to your customer with your brand name.
Founded in 2019, Vendorboat specialises in offering high-quality dropshipping items in various categories. They aim to empower businesses and drive their success in e-commerce by focusing on quality and ease.
Printful offers a wide choice of customisable products to get you started. Their services span from mockup generators to logo creation. Printful’s catalogue has everything you’re searching for to sell.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the t-shirt print-on-demand business model, and why is it gaining popularity in India?
T-shirt print on demand is a business model where you sell your supplier’s products with your designs on your store. And when your customer makes a purchase, your print-on-demand provider prints, packs and ships the order under your brand name to your customer directly.
According to statistics, the market for printing T-shirts will grow to $3.1 billion by 2025. Companies like Teespring, Redbubble, and others have already reached their zenith on a global scale. The best part is that many Indian businesses are developing successful business models for t-shirt printing.
How does the print-on-demand trend contribute to the growth of e-commerce in India?
Starting a business using a print-on-demand model is growing tremendously. A few reasons for its growth are no product investment, lower risks and low startup cost. Anybody can start a business using print-on-demand services. Hence, there is no barrier to entering and exploring the eCommerce world.
What are the advantages of starting a t-shirt print-on-demand venture in India?
Fast Turnaround, High Quality – You can promptly print only what you need with on-demand printing. Because of advances in digital technology, the print quality is excellent enough to satisfy even the most demanding print buyer.
Reduce Shipping Costs – POD printing allows you to ship only the amount of product you print,
Reduced or Elimination of Warehousing / Storage – By printing only what is required when it is required, warehouse and storage expenses are lowered and occasionally eliminated.
Improved Customer Communications – By printing in smaller batches but more frequently, there is the chance to update collateral with each print run, ensuring that materials remain current.
Are there any specific challenges or considerations when entering the print-on-demand market in India?
There are 3 key challenges one has to face when entering the print-on-demand market in India,
- Your print-on-demand supplier reliability: If your supplier stops manufacturing the product, you must either find a replacement or remove it from your store.
- Product quality: Since you don’t see the product during the entire printing process, you can’t verify and know what your consumer will receive. The consumer won’t be aware of a third party. Therefore, you’ll have to deal with the reviews.
- Delivery time: You cannot control how the goods are packaged and shipped; thus, you cannot determine the precise arrival date.
How can entrepreneurs tap into the rising trend of t-shirt print-on-demand and succeed in the Indian e-commerce market?
Here’s how you can start a t-shirt print-on-demand business India:
Step 1: Choose a niche
Step 2: Create your designs for t-shirts
Step 3: Find a print-on-demand supplier
Step 4: Set up an online store
Step 5: List your products
Step 6: Market your products
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.
