Whether you’re starting a new business or looking to expand your range of products, navigating through your print on demand options can be tough. With over 300 ecommerce integrations available in Order Desk, it’s fair to say that we’re the experts in working with print on demand companies, so we’re here to offer some guidance!
Before we dig into any recommendations, let’s make a checklist of the things you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
☑️ Product Quality
First and foremost, your products are a reflection of your business. A great way to get repeat customers and positive word of mouth is to make sure you’re giving them a quality product that doesn’t feel cheap. The print quality should be clear and consistent across all your products, and ideally the material should be very durable. The easiest way to accomplish this is to request samples from a vendor whenever possible, so you can make this determination first-hand.
☑️ Customization
Does your design need to look good on a red shirt, but like, a really specific shade of red? How about full bleed artwork? Does it need to go on the sleeve of a garment? You’ll find that these questions can help you quickly narrow down your options, as product customization and personalization options will greatly vary depending on the vendor.
☑️ Shipping
This is another aspect that can make or break your online store. High shipping costs can turn customers away from the checkout screen, so you’ll want to make sure you’re working with a vendor that will offer reasonable prices for your shipments. One way you could do this is by ensuring that the vendor supports the countries you want to sell to, and it might even mean that you’ll need to work with multiple vendors to help you reach different countries.
Shipping and fulfillment times are also a big deal, especially when it comes to the busier times of the year, where order cut-offs and product availability become all the more urgent. You’ll want to make sure you’re communicating with your print on demand vendors during these times, and we actually have an entire article dedicated to that here if you want to read more about how you can better prepare for the holiday peak season!
☑️ Support
An ideal vendor will offer a reliable and responsive support experience, as you want someone you can trust to help you resolve any issues that may arise. Make a note of each support channel they offer, including any specific phone numbers or email addresses for clients such as yourself, along with their support availability.
For example, if it’s 5pm in your time zone and there’s a problem with one of your orders, what’s going to be the quickest way to get in touch with them? Is it too late to call? Do they have a live chat option available? Readiness can be the best shortcut to giving you peace of mind.
Now let’s highlight some of our most popular print on demand integrations across each product type. They might not at all be the best fit for you and your business in the end, but this will be a great starting point for you in the very least!
T-Shirts and Apparel
Printful
- Products include apparel and accessories such as hats, bags, phone cases and socks, as well as home goods like mugs, towels, wall art and pillow cases.
- Operates out of the US and Latvia, with international shipping.
Spreadconnect (Formerly Spreadshirt/SPOD)
- Specializes in custom apparel, wall art, and accessories.
- Based in Leipzig, Germany, with international shipping.
Drinkware
Gooten
- Provides a diverse range of custom drinkware including mugs and bottles, along with home decor, pet products, and apparel.
- Based in New York, NY, with international shipping.
Pic the Gift
- Products include apparel, blankets, drinkware, kitchen accessories, pet products and more.
- Based in St. Louis, Missouri, with international shipping.
Home Decor and Gifts
Printverse
- Products include drinkware, phone cases and home and office decor.
- Operates out of multiple locations across the US with international shipping.
merchOne
- Specializes in printing and shipping custom prints in a variety of sizes and materials, from categories such as wall decoration, home & living, apparel, and accessories.
- Operates out of the US and Europe, with international shipping.
If you’d like to see an even greater list, check out our ever-growing list of print on demand providers in our knowledge base for more details. And as always, our support team is available to lend a helping hand should you need it!
