What Is Print on Demand and Is It Good For Beginners In The UK?

Last updated: 07/02/2024 Written by: Ruby Layram

Print on demand is a popular UK ecommerce side hustle that is free to start and has the potential to make a six-figure income each year. With huge profit opportunities and a fairly easy set-up process, it is no surprise that print-on-demand has captured the interest of millions of entrepreneurs around the globe who are looking to make extra cash in 2024. So, what is print on demand and is it a good side hustle for beginners?

In this article we will explain what print on demand is and also take a look at whether or not the side hustle is a good option for beginners in the UK.

Print on Demand meaning

Print on demand (POD) refers to a business model in which products, typically items like books, apparel, and accessories, are produced only when an order is placed by a customer. This approach eliminates the need for large upfront production runs and excess inventory. With POD, items are created individually, often using digital print provider, allowing for customization and personalization.

For instance, in the apparel sector, print on demand platforms enable designers to upload custom print designs, which are then printed on garments as they are ordered. This method not only reduces waste but also provides opportunities for niche markets and independent creators to offer unique products without the financial risks of traditional manufacturing.

Print-on-demand is a type of eCommerce side hustle that allows anyone to design and sell their own products from the comfort of their own home. Products are sold through an online store and fulfilled by the print providers.

How Does Print on Demand Work?

To better understand what a print on demand service is, let’s take a look at how it works. For this example, we will use clothing. However, it is possible to use this model to sell a variety of products in 2024.

Read: Best print on demand products to sell in 2024

Print on demand (POD) for clothing operates by leveraging digital printing technology to produce apparel on a per-order basis.

When a customer places an order for a specific design or style of clothing, the POD provider receives the order and then begins the manufacturing process. Unlike traditional manufacturing, where garments are produced in bulk quantities, in POD, each item is individually printed and assembled after the order is received.

The process involves transferring the design onto the fabric using techniques like direct-to-garment (DTG) printing or heat transfer. Once the printing is complete, the fabric is cut and sewn into the desired garment, whether it's a t-shirt, hoodie, or any other apparel item. This online business approach allows for customization, as customers can choose the design, color, and size they prefer.

It's a sustainable and efficient way to produce clothing, as it eliminates excess inventory and reduces waste. This method is especially beneficial for small businesses, independent artists, and entrepreneurs who can offer unique and personalized clothing without the need for large upfront investments.

How to start a print on demand business in the UK

Print on demand is considered to be one of the easiest ecommerce side hustles to start in the UK. All that you need is a laptop, an ecommerce website, and a supplier. POD is a profitable side hustle that you can start for free and can easily become passive overtime.

In the next section of this article, we will take a look at how to start a print on demand side hustle in 2024 in 7 simple steps. For a more detailed explanation, check out our full guide on how to start a print on demand business in the UK.

8 steps to starting a successful print on demand business for fee:

1. Choose a niche. The first step is to research the market and choose a profitable niche. Clothing and apparel is very popular and easy to market on social media. Personalized gifts are also a good option that sell particularly well around Christmas time.

2. Create a Shopify store. One of the best platforms to use to sell your products is Shopify because it can be easily integrated with POD suppliers. Take advantage of Shopify’s free trial and create your own ecommerce site for free.

3. Design your products. The next step is to create a handful of sellable designs that you could print onto products. Create designs using free tools such as Canva to keep costs low. Save the designs as high-resolution files to improve print quality..

4. Sign up to Printful. Printful is one of best print on demand suppliers that can be integrated with Shopify. Create a Printful account and follow the steps to integrate it will your ecommerce store.

5. Upload your designs onto items. Next, upload your designs onto items that are offered by the Printful supplier. Take time to make sure that each item looks how you want it to and play around with different sizing, fonts, colours etc. Ensure that print quality if high.

6. List your products. Once you are happy with the products, list them on your Shopify store. Use keyword-optimized descriptions to increase search visibility. You should also decide on a fair retail price that is accessible to your target audience.

7. Use social media to market your products. Social media is the best way to market print on demand products and drive traffic to your store. Order samples of your products and create engaging social media content that encourages people to buy.

8. Print on demand fulfillment: When you make a sale, you supplier will take care of shipping and fulfillment. However, it is important to monitor this process to check that your customers receive their items successfully.

It may take several weeks to make your first sale. The initial weeks are often the hardest part of any new business - you put in substantial effort and make no money in return. This is where people usually give up right before their store starts seeing success.

If you want to start your own successful print-on-demand side hustle in 2024, don’t give up too soon. Wait at least 6 months before deciding whether or not to proceed with print on demand.

Is Print on Demand Good For Beginners?

Print on demand is a profitable side hustle venture that can be started with just a laptop. But, is print on demand good for beginners in the UK?

Print-on-demand is a good side hustle for beginners overall because it is free to start and low-effort to maintain. The main skills that are required to successfully run a print-on-demand store are social media marketing and design. It is possible to make money with print-on-demand without any prior experience or industry-specific knowledge. Beginners can expect to make upwards of £1000 per month if they stay consistent and invest in social media marketing.

Print on demand is often considered to be the best beginner-friendly alternative to dropshipping - which is one of the most popular eCommerce side hustles in the UK in 2024.

Here is an overview of why print on demand is a good side hustle idea for beginners.

No start-up costs

It is possible to start a print on demand side hustle for free. To do this, use the free version of Canva to create designs and take advantage of the Shopify free trial to create a professional eCommerce site.

Free side hustles are ideal for beginners because there is no risk of losing money involved. However, free side hustles usually require more initial effort than paid side hustles to become successful. It can take up o 6 months to make any money from print on demand.

Easy set-up process

Another reason that print on demand is a good side hustle for beginners is that it is fairly easy to set up. All you need to do is create an e-commerce store with Shopify, integrate your store with a supplier, and use free software to create sellable designs.

The hardest part of running a print-on-demand company is marketing your products. Social media marketing is fairly crowded with millions of small businesses competing for the attention of consumers. Running a successful social media marketing campaign takes talent and some knowledge of how the algorithms work.

Print on demand can become passive

Print-on-demand is a great passive side hustle to consider if you are looking for a way to make money even when you’re unable to work. Once you have set up the ecommerce store and listed products, it is possible to make sales in your sleep.

The manufacturing and fulfillment process is taken care of by suppliers which means that all you have to do is design products, list new products on your store and post on social media to promote your side hustle.

The opportunity to make passive income makes print on demand a great side hustle for mums or other busy adults that are in need of extra cash.

Pros and Cons of Print on Demand in The UK 2024

Another good way to decide whether or not print-on-demand is a good side hustle to start in 2024 is to look at the main pros and cons. Here is an overview.

Pros:

• Print on demand has low start up costs.

• Print on demand is a versatile side hustle idea with possibilities for all types of sellers. Choose from hundreds of products to sell.

• POD has been proven successful by big brands.

• Print on demand businesses are easy to maintain.

• It is possible to make passive income through print on demand in the UK.

Conclusion

Print-on-demand is a profitable eCommerce side hustle that involves printing designs onto products and shipping them as and when orders are placed by customers. The printing and fulfillment process is handled by printing suppliers which means that sellers can focus on creating great designs and promoting their stores on social media.

In this article, we have established that print on demand is a great side hustle for beginners in the UK 2024 that could easily turn into a source of passive income.

To be successful, invest in social media marketing and post new designs to your store regularly. We also recommend using a reputable platform such as Shopify to set up your print on demand business.

With good designs and consistent marketing, it is possible to make a lot of money with print-on-demand in 2024.

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