How to sell Print on Demand products on Shopify

Learn how to launch your store with Shopify

 

 

Print on Demand (POD) is a low-risk business model that has become quite popular over the last years. This modality of dropshipping allows sellers to generate an income without assuming significant costs.

As in any business, it’s good to have some previous knowledge. In our Ultimate Print on Demand Guide, you’ll find all the information you need to take into account if you consider starting a POD business.

Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform that you can use to start your POD store. If you’d like to learn the basics before you get started, keep reading!

On this article:

Why should I sell Print on Demand products with Shopify?
What do I need to build a store with Shopify?
How to create a store with Shopify?
How to integrate Shopify with your POD store

Why should I sell Print on Demand products with Shopify?

 

As we have explained before in this article, there are two alternatives when it comes to starting a POD business. The first option, and the easiest for beginners, is to open a store in a popular marketplace, like Merch by Amazon, or Redbubble. But if you want to start your business as a seller of the record, then you will have to create an e-commerce page for your store. Once your website is ready, you’ll be able to integrate it with a POD fulfillment service, like Printful, Printify, or Gooten.

 

 

Shopify allows you to create, personalize, manage, and integrate your e-commerce store. This company aims to offer online sellers a variety of services to develop their business. These services include the management of essential aspects, like payments, marketing, and shipping. There are also advanced features, like customer engagement tools.

You can use Shopify to design your online store. There is no need to be an expert on coding. On this platform, you’ll have access to 70+ professional themes that you can personalize for your website. It’s also possible to customize your site and to add all the branding elements that you need. If you prefer to have a 100% custom web design but still don’t feel like coding, no problem, you can also hire a professional web designer through Shopify.

 

What do I need to build a store with Shopify?

 

There are two essential things that you need to create a store: a name and a product photo.

The first thing you’ll need is to have a name for your business. Otherwise, you won’t be able to buy a business domain. Having a domain is not technically necessary, but we strongly recommend to buy one. A professional domain will help you make your business seem reliable in the eyes of your potential clients. In any case, the initial name you give to your store does not have to be the definitive one.

 

 

The second essential you need to provide is, at least, one product photo. Customers want to see what they are buying before making a transaction. You can always grow your catalog, but it’s good to start with at least one picture. The better the quality of the image is, the more reliable your business will look like.

Some other elements can help your business make a good impression at the start. To help you decorate your website with quality, copy-right free images, Shopify created Burst. If you need to design a professional logo for your brand, check Hatchful. This tool, also by Shopify, is a beginner-friendly logo maker.

 

How to create a store with Shopify

Shopify offers a free 90-day trial period. This means that you have three months to try the platform and see if it works for you. Getting started is straightforward. You just have to register on the platform and reply to some questions. Let’s look at the process step-by-step.

 

 

The first step is to add an email address and a password. You’ll also have to add a name for your store. For the sake of this tutorial, we have chosen a random name (“podipedia”). Adding a name for your store is compulsory, but this name does not have to be definitive.

 

 

 

After submitting your email and password, you will have to reply to some questions. First of all, Shopify will ask you if you are already selling. These questions are just for them to have an idea about your profile. You don’t need your account to get approved: the trial period is for everyone. Reply honestly: it will also help you set realistic expectations.

 

 

Shopify will ask you about your current revenue. Choose the option that fits your current situation best. Once again, this answer will help the platform to get to know you better. This way, they can adapt to your needs.

 

 

There are two more questions you have to answer. Shopify wants to know what kind of products do you want to sell. If you are just experimenting, you can choose “Other” or “I haven’t decided yet.”

If you are designing a store for a client, check the box at the end of the form. If that’s not the case, you can just leave it. Once you are done replying to all the questions, you can press “Next.”

 

 

There is one last step to complete before you can start enjoying your trial period. To get paid, you must add some personal data. Fill in the final form with your address and contact details. If you already have another website, you can also add it at the end of the form.

 

 

Congratulations! Your trial period has just started. On your screen, you will see your Admin Dashboard. As you can see in the image above, Shopify is asking us to add our VAT information. This happens because we are operating from the European Union. Depending on your location, you will receive a different message -or any message at all-.

 

 

To upload your first product, go “Products” in the left menu. Click on “Add Product.” Your screen will display a new menu. Here you have to add all the information related to your product: title, description, media, and pricing. You can also add tags and metadata that will help potential customers find your product.

 

 

To modify the aspect of your online store, go to the end of the left menu. Press “Online store.” A dropdown menu will appear. Press “Themes.” Here you will find an overview of the current theme. You’ll also have access to the Theme Library.

If you’d like to edit the appearance of the page, press the blue button that says “Customize.”

 

 

The customization tool is straightforward. You won’t need to use code to change the aspect of your site. Just check all the parameters and modify their aspect the way you want.

How to integrate Shopify with your POD store

 

 

The integration process depends on the POD fulfillment services provider. The most popular platforms, like Printify and Printful, offer direct integration options for Shopify stores. This way, every time an order is placed in your Shopify store, your partner will be able to produce the items and send them to the customers.