What you can learn today.
- Overview of 2021
- Why POD is still profitable?
- 7 Print On Demand industrial trends for 2022
- Pandemic impacts on the Print-on-Demand (POD) supply chain
- Featured POD company that is completely free at Shoplazza
Looking back into the year 2021, it was an utterly challenging, fluctuating and yet very profitable year for the print-on-demand industry. Now, we’ve already stepped into the second quarter of 2022, and many new exciting trends have surfaced in front of us. Today, we are here to talk about a few predictions for print-on-demand business from 2022.
The global Print on Demand Software market size is projected to reach US$ 10804.12 million by 2026, from US$ 1878.11 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 33.86% during 2020-2026.
Overview of Print on Demand 2021
Online sales keep their momentum of high growth throughout 2021 into Q1 2022. Yes, no exception! Retail sales are losing power due to strict pandemic public sanitary measures, social distancing and increment in online buying flexibility.
More of the working-age population is now pushed into self-organized work schemes, many people, therefore, look into eCommerce. The boom of eCommerce retail stores and marketplaces has just picked its momentum to rise high. With the rapid development of SaaS technology and the fast evolution of fulfillment and payment infrastructure, customers can literally purchase anything and get it delivered to their door as soon as the next day. Merchants can reach out to anyone local and global at the same time with tons of available and powerful tools on hand.
1. Convenience
2. Variety
3. Affordability
4. Efficiency
Yes, eCommerce business is definitely proliferating and this is exactly the reason you should also start to consider, “ is a fixed job still very fixed? Is a stable life still very stable?”
Every day, more and more people like you and me, are making their moves as eCommerce entrepreneurs! Building an online business has been made so easy, more than ever, simply sign up to Shoplazza to get access to a 7-day free trial and award-winning drag-n-drop store building system.
Why is POD still profitable?
No upfront startup funds = very low investment
Simply purchase Shoplazza basic plan at $28/mo, and public domain at a cost ranging from $20-$100 per year. After these basic requirements to go online, you are all set and ready to build your store and source your products.
No Inventory required
To start POD, you are not required to source products and purchase them, then keep them in your garage or basement. No! POD allows you to purchase based on whether you receive an order from a customer. Once a customer completes the order, meaning you get paid at the sales price, then you go to the POD vendor to place an identical order. At last, the POD vendor will package and ship out your product directly to your customer. Yes, it’s that easy.
You can sell as varied as you wish
Because there is no requirement to stock up or keep any inventory, you simply need to import product information and modify the price. That is why you can offer as many product variations as you wish. Even with Shoplazza basic plan, you can still get unlimited product display placements from your online store.
Let the POD vendor pack and ship for you
One of the greatest factors of POD is that your suppliers handle all packaging and shipping matters, you, as the designer, focus 100% on your brand and product design, as well as customer services.
There are a few things you must be aware of during 2022:
- Prepare, explore and test more niche-focused products for Generation Z, as an example.
- Try out better promotional tools and sales channels to market and remarket your products on the right platform, Facebook, Google ads and TikTok. They are all pre-built in with Shoplazza digital marketing package.
- Find and select a cost-friendly platform where you can get tons of free built-in tools while others pay a fortune with different other platforms. Come to Shoplazza, you get an all-in-one package starting only from $28!
Seven Print On Demand industrial trends for 2022
Trend 1: Diversify your product lines
Trends are so fast-changing, that they are pushing eCommerce business owners to diversify their products, designs, concepts, price strategies, contents and even audiences. A wider range of product lines may help you to test and sell to different niches and adjust to a hot or coming trend as soon as you spot them.
Popular POD products:
- T-shirts
- Backpacks
- Hoodies
- Mugs
- Yoga Clothing
- Phone covers
- Hats
- Socks
- Cosmetic bags
- Luggage tags
Homeware products:
- Yoga mats
- Aprons
- Pillows
- Wall art products
- Blankets
Stationary for home office:
- Journal books
- Notebooks
- Calendars
- Mousepads
Trend 2: Facemasks are inevitably becoming character showing the front.
Despite the uncomfortableness, we have to admit that there is a huge global market for facemasks and related products, like facemasks straps, adjusters and etc. Facemasks are now going beyond of their pragmatic daily use for personal protection, so seize the opportunity and start to draw your mask mockups.
Trend 3: TikTok ads
Let powerful TikTok connect with your audience is a huge move in 2022. People are spending tons of time just swiping their fingers on browsing different short videos. Use fun, engaging, casual, short videos to post and reach out to billions of TikTok users from Shoplazza's built-in TikTok app, just a few clicks to set up your TikTok business account to your online store.
Trend 4: Fast shipping
More supply chains are reviving, they allow you to offer better and cheaper shipping rates and duration. It definitely helps build a better customer experience.
Trend 5. Elaborate on your out-of-box marketing strategies
Opportunities pop up every second. Extend your digital presence to different platforms and create an omnichannel environment for your audience.
Trend 6. Omnichannel shopping is now a must-do practice
A cross-platform sales channel strategy is coming now a common practice.
- Optimize all your shopping channels for mobile users
- Offer personalized customer experience
- Use smart tools to track your performance
- Offer different buying CTA
Trend 7: Offer new or alternative payment options
Use vendors like Klarna, offering flexible payment options by diving one payment into several interest-free payments. This option greatly helps merchants who sell high-end POD products or in volume. Stretching huge payments into small ones is one of the most efficient ways to convert and close any funnels.
Check out the Shoplazza payment.
Pandemic impacts on POD supply chain
Stepping into year three of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are tons of challenges remaining for global supply chains and economies, for eCommerce merchants, including POD players. Here are some facts worth looking into.
Supply Limitations
Present supply chains are frequently disrupted, and it's not a surprise. The latest omicron outbreak in China — through global supply chains as manufacturers across various industries and shippers had to deal with local restrictions and lock-downs, now stricter public sanitary measures.
The overall cost of fulfillment, inventory and supplies around the world rose sharply since 2020, although it has recently been cooling off. But predictions of a further decrease could be premature, as omicron continues to cause price spikes throughout the global supply chain.
Major strains expected to continue in 2022 include shortages in container shipping and labour for staffing ports and finding carriers. The sky-high cost of transportation and labour is also impacting financial institutions and governments all over the world. The result has been a resurgence of inflation.
Aliexpress Pressures
The global pandemic has greatly boosted eCommerce and especially SaaS eCommerce store building platforms, like Shoplazza, the industry booms. It directly accelerated the adoption of digital shopping by Canadian consumers by almost whole several years.
Aliexpress is the No.1 product sourcing platform that reflects the entirety of China’s manufacturing capacity, as well as providing 90% retail products to global dropshipping vendors, like Dser, Oberlo, CJDropshipping and Erprolo. During the pandemic years, most of the Aliexpress sellers suffer from slow shipping with higher rates, complaints, returns, and terrible reviews becoming routine. Now, even during the wave of omicron across different provinces in China, Aliexpress still manages to offer a signature three-tire shipping rate service.
Here, throughout our webinars and routine communications to our global merchants, we always advise them to make plans ahead. Meaning purchasing in bulk and keeping a small quantity of inventory and shipping to customers directly from local, just to avoid long shipping delays and any unexpected surprises.
Featured POD company that is completely free at Shoplazza
Check out Shoplazza's featured blog to learn what we have and what we can offer with insights. Previously we covered two signature Print-on-demand Apps, HugePod and KakaClo. But choosing the best free print-on-demand companies to work with and bring your visions from design to life is time-consuming in terms of research. Each platform has its own distinct catalogue of products, shipping considerations, and unique features that will factor into your decision.
Products are usually ready to be shipped out within two to five business days from the different locations of HugePod global warehouses, while 50% of orders can be fulfilled within three days. Standard shipping to the US starts at $3.99 and takes three to four business days. Costs of shipping depend on the product with discounted rates for additional items in the same order.
The printing option offers direct-to-garment, cut and sew, and sublimation printing depending on the product. You can also freely add tear-away tags to any of your products, as well as inserts and stickers to your product packaging for an additional expense for a more branded customer shopping experience.
In terms of unique features, the built-in design mockup generator means you can design, publish to your customers, and get ready to sell within minutes.
Recommended for Both beginners and experienced entrepreneurs who want a flexible, well-rounded solution to start on that can scale with them.
Frequently asked questions about print-on-demand
What is a print-on-demand business?
A POD works with a 3rd party supplier to customize white-label products, but with your design and print and ship to customers directly, on a dropshipping-style per-order basis, branded with your own design and logo. Some of the most common products for print-on-demand include t-shirts, baseball hats, tote bags, mugs, home office supplies etc.
How can I quickly start my own print-on-demand business with Shoplazza?
Here is how print on demand works:
- Choose a niche product to sell
- Start with a design
- Design your brand
- Compare and select a POD vendor from Shoplazza AppStore
- Sign up to Shoplazza
- Set up your online store
- Market your products
Is print-on-demand still profitable in 2022?
On average, usually, businesses with typical order volumes can make $500 per month, while running a print-on-demand business. There always stands a chance to generate more if your marketing and designs strike a chord with your audience.
How do you decide on the price for print-on-demand products?
Here is a common practice regarding the strategies for pricing your print on demand products:
- Assess your overall cost (design, shipping, taxes, platform subscription fees, platform commission per order, etc)
- Carefully calculate a profit margin and your threshold based on the product cost: Product cost + profit margin = retail cost
- Calculate other possible expenses (digital campaigns and paid ads): Other monthly costs / your profit margin = minimum orders
- Set a retail price for your product that covers all your expenses and still leaves you with a margin
