It is expected that the value of the customized T-shirt printing market will be $10 billion by the year 2025. And to add to the growth will be the printondemand business. If you are into this kind of business, a lot goes into making it a success. While you might think that it is a simple kind of business that does not need much devotion of time and analysis, it is the first mistake you are making in the process.
Similarly, there are many other kinds of mistakes that business owners running this kind of business make down the line. Here, let us highlight these very errors so that you do not commit such errors in the future and can take necessary measures to either reverse the damage that has already been done or work towards a better future and business prospect.
Common mistakes in print on demand business owners make
Check out these aspects that require your attention.
- You set up the business and expect prompt success
Many people think that running this business is easy and requires just a creative bent of mind and does not require dedicated time. But this is not the case. You must devote a fair amount of time and attention to make the business a success and improve sales. If you intend to run the print-on-demand business as a part-time venture, then perhaps you will have to put in a lot of time.
- Be unique and steer clear of generic stuff
This industry is huge and there are many basic designs that you will find aplenty. So, you must opt for a niche that is not explored and is unique. Stick to one domain for designs or themes or maybe two. There are many tools that you will find online that can help you to get access to the latest trends so that you can design your product accordingly.
Provide high-quality products to further make your brand unique and worth purchasing from. That includes the type of printing method you’ll be using and the type of printers that will be purchased specifically. Every printing method has its own printers, among the best are Mutoh DTF printers which are worth mentioning.
- Do not make false promises about delivery
Most of the giant e-commerce brands like Amazon deliver their orders within a week or two once the orders are placed. So, when you take orders and if you have a customer asking about the probable time of delivery and shipping, it is best to be transparent.
If your orders are getting delivered a little late and you are honest about it, you are at least not making false promises to your customers.
By doing so, your clients will know you mean what you say and that you do not try to mislead them. It will create a good image about your brand than making false promises about the time of delivery and then faltering on it. So, you deliver at a time that is possible on your part.
- You cannot be a one-man-army in this business
When you are running the print-on-demand business, there is a lot you must do. Starting from designing the products to marketing them to your target audience, you must be up to date with your orders and make sure that you deliver the same on time.
So, you will come across very few entrepreneurs that will do all the things on their own. Not all of them are capable to do it all on their own. This is because if someone has great design ideas, he may not have adequate time to market and promote them. So, it is teamwork at the end of the day. You must involve your like-minded team members in the business if you aim to climb the ladder of success faster. So, do not make the mistake of trying to put all your fingers into the pie.
- When policies are vague
Since this is a creative field, where you must design and market your stuff, it is best to be transparent and let your customers know how long the entire process will take. Also, work out different policies that will include important aspects like shipping, delays in shipping, refund policies, return policies, and so on. Now that the pandemic is still there laying down a lot of restrictions and limitations, it is best to clarify about returning products, which may not be acceptable by many. You must pay heed to such policies keeping safety parameters in mind.
- Selling only one type of product
If you want to make a mark in this field, do not stick to just one variety of products. Many print on demand entrepreneurs make the mistake of designing and promoting only T-shirts and stuff. However, try to incorporate into your product portfolio products that will appeal to a wider target audience.
In this way, you know that your scope of selling is much higher than concentrating the list of products and limiting them to only one or two.
