In this episode, I’m discussing how I’m going to be creating a print on demand (POD) business called Pup Beach!
Hey, friends! Welcome back to The Becky Beach Show! I’m so excited for today’s episode because we’re going to dive deep into something that could completely change the game for you if you’ve been creating and selling digital products like printables, planners, or stickers. Today, we’re talking Print-On-Demand or POD – a way to take the digital designs you’ve already made and turn them into physical products without having to handle any inventory or shipping. If you’ve ever wanted to expand your product line without the headaches of managing physical goods, this episode is for you!
I’ll also be sharing all the details about my new business venture, PupBeach.com, where I’m blending my love of dogs and my passion for boho-style designs to create unique dog products using Printify. We’ll break down how I plan to sell through Shopify, Instagram, and even TikTok – which now integrates directly with Printify for seamless selling.
So grab a coffee, get comfy, and let’s jump into the wonderful world of print-on-demand!”
Segment 1: What Is Print-On-Demand and Why It’s Perfect for Digital Product Sellers
“Let’s start with the basics – what exactly is print-on-demand? If you’re already a digital product creator, you’re used to designing things like planners, stickers, or eBooks that people download and print at home. But with print-on-demand, you’re expanding that by turning your designs into physical products that get printed only when someone orders them. It’s basically like digital products meet e-commerce, but without the need to keep stock, pay for inventory upfront, or handle shipping.
You create the design, upload it to a print-on-demand service like Printify, and when someone places an order, the product gets printed, packed, and shipped directly to the customer by the POD service. This means no inventory risk and no upfront costs beyond setting up your designs.
This business model is especially great for digital creators because:
- You already have the designs: All those digital designs you’ve been making for your planners or stickers can easily be repurposed for physical products. Why not put your planner designs on custom notebooks? Or take those sticker designs and turn them into prints, mugs, or phone cases?
- Low financial risk: You don’t have to buy hundreds of units of a product and hope it sells. With print-on-demand, you only pay when someone buys the product.
- Hands-off fulfillment: Once your design is uploaded, the POD platform handles everything – printing, packing, and shipping. You can focus on creating more designs and marketing your products instead of dealing with logistics.
For my own venture, PupBeach.com, this is perfect. I can focus on creating boho-inspired dog patterns in Procreate, and Printify takes care of the rest – from printing dog beds and bandanas to shipping them to my customers.”
Segment 2: Choosing the Right Print-On-Demand Partner
“Choosing the right POD platform is crucial. There are a lot of options out there – Printify, Printful, Redbubble, and Zazzle, to name a few – but I chose Printify for PupBeach.com for a few reasons that I think are important to keep in mind when selecting a partner for your business.
Why Printify?
- Product Variety: Printify offers a huge selection of products – way beyond just t-shirts and mugs. For PupBeach.com, I’m focusing on dog-related products, and Printify has things like dog beds, bandanas, collars, leashes, and even bowls. If you’re targeting a niche, like pet owners, fitness enthusiasts, or plant lovers, having a wide variety of product options is key to appealing to your audience.
- Supplier Network: Printify has a network of suppliers across the globe, meaning you can select different print providers based on things like product quality, shipping speed, and cost. For example, if most of your customers are in the U.S., you can choose a provider that offers fast domestic shipping.
- Pricing: Because Printify partners with multiple suppliers, you can compare pricing between different providers and find the most cost-effective option for you. This helps you set competitive prices and maximize your profit margin.
- Ease of Integration: Printify integrates seamlessly with Shopify, Etsy, and even TikTok – which we’ll talk about more later. This makes it super easy to sync your products between platforms without any manual work.
Now, some other platforms like Printful are also great because they offer things like built-in mockup generators and slightly higher-quality products, but for me, Printify’s flexibility and lower price points made it the right choice for PupBeach.com. I highly recommend testing out a couple of different platforms and seeing what works best for your needs.”
Segment 3: Integrating Print-On-Demand with Shopify
“Next up, let’s talk about how I’m setting up my store using Shopify and how you can use Shopify to sell your print-on-demand products.
Why Shopify?
Shopify is probably one of the most popular platforms for e-commerce, and for good reason. It’s user-friendly, has a ton of customization options, and integrates seamlessly with Printify. But beyond that, it’s scalable – meaning you can start small, and as your business grows, Shopify can grow with you.
Here’s how I’m setting up PupBeach.com on Shopify:
- Choose a theme that reflects your brand: I went with a minimalist boho theme that fits the aesthetic of PupBeach.com. If you’re selling products based on your digital designs, your store’s theme should reflect the feeling of your brand. Is your brand fun and quirky? Or more luxurious and elegant? Choose a theme that conveys that.
- Product pages with Printify: Once you create your products in Printify, you can push them directly to your Shopify store. The integration takes care of syncing product details, prices, and even images. This way, you don’t have to create listings from scratch.
- Setting up payment options: Shopify allows you to set up multiple payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and even digital wallets like Apple Pay. The easier you make it for customers to pay, the more likely they’ll complete their purchase.
- Tracking inventory and orders: Because Printify handles the fulfillment, you don’t have to worry about keeping track of inventory or shipping details. Shopify’s backend will show when orders come in, and Printify automatically updates the order status as it gets fulfilled.
One tip: Take advantage of Shopify’s abandoned cart recovery feature. If someone adds an item to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase, Shopify can automatically send them a follow-up email reminding them to finish their order. This small feature can help you recover potential sales without much extra work.”
Segment 4: Selling Through Social Media – Instagram & TikTok Integration
“Okay, now let’s get into the real magic of Printify and Shopify: how you can sell your print-on-demand products directly through social media, specifically Instagram and TikTok.
Instagram:
Instagram is the perfect platform to showcase lifestyle shots of your products. For PupBeach.com, I’ll be using Instagram to show dogs modeling our bandanas or lounging on our boho dog beds. Instagram’s visual nature is perfect for building a brand and telling a story around your products. You can link directly to your Shopify store through Instagram Shopping, which makes it easy for people to buy right from your posts or stories. The key here is to build engagement by sharing not just product photos, but behind-the-scenes looks at your design process or how customers are using your products.
Here’s what I recommend:
- Use Instagram Reels: Reels are Instagram’s version of short-form video, and they’re getting a lot of organic reach. Create quick, fun videos of your products in action. If you sell dog products like me, show dogs wearing your gear or playing with your toys.
- Instagram Stories: Share daily updates through stories. Maybe post a time-lapse video of you designing in Procreate or a sneak peek at a new product you’re launching.
- Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and DMs to build a connection with your audience. People want to feel like they’re part of your brand’s journey, so show the human side of your business.
TikTok:
Here’s where things get super exciting. TikTok now integrates directly with Printify, so you can sell your products without ever leaving the app. And we all know how powerful TikTok is for reaching a wide audience, especially if you create engaging, creative content.
For PupBeach.com, I’m planning to create videos that showcase my products in a fun and entertaining way. Dog videos do really well on TikTok, so I’ll be leveraging that by creating challenges, product demonstrations, and even humorous videos featuring dogs using my products. Since TikTok is more informal, it’s a great platform to show off the personality behind your brand.
Here are a few TikTok strategies you can use:
- Use trends: Pay attention to popular trends and sounds on TikTok, and find ways to incorporate your products into those trends.
- Hashtags: Use niche hashtags that relate to your audience, like #DogMoms or #BohoHome. This helps get your videos in front of people who are likely to be interested in your products.
- Call-to-action: Always include a CTA in your videos, like “Tap the link in my bio to shop” or “Get your own custom bandana for your pup!” And with TikTok’s integration with Printify, people can make purchases without ever leaving the app, which is a huge advantage.”
Segment 5: Building a Brand and Long-Term Strategy for POD Success
“So far, we’ve covered the logistics of setting up your print-on-demand business, but let’s take a step back and talk about the bigger picture – building a brand. POD is an excellent way to expand your offerings, but without strong branding and a solid marketing strategy, it’ll be hard to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Here’s how I’m building the PupBeach.com brand and some strategies you can use for your own POD business:
- Define your niche: My niche is dog owners who love boho-style designs. The more specific your niche, the easier it will be to connect with your audience. For example, if you’re selling custom notebooks, maybe your niche is plant moms or fitness enthusiasts. Tailor your messaging, product designs, and marketing to that audience.
- Create a consistent brand identity: This includes your logo, color palette, and overall aesthetic. Your customers should be able to recognize your brand immediately, whether they’re on your website, Instagram, or TikTok. For PupBeach.com, I’m using neutral, earthy tones and bohemian-style fonts to create a cohesive look across all platforms.
- Leverage customer feedback: Once you start selling, pay attention to customer reviews and feedback. This can help you improve your products and also give you insights into what new products to add. If customers love your dog bandanas, maybe they’ll be interested in matching dog-owner apparel.
- Think long-term: Print-on-demand is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time to build momentum, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate sales. Focus on building relationships with your audience and consistently creating quality content. Over time, the sales will come.”
Outro:
“Alright, friends, that’s a wrap on today’s episode! I hope you’re feeling excited and inspired to explore print-on-demand as a way to grow your digital product business. Whether you’re already selling planners, stickers, or eBooks, or you’re thinking of starting a niche brand like PupBeach.com, the sky’s the limit when it comes to POD.
If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review. And if you have any questions about starting your own POD business contact me at becky (at) coachbeckybeach.com.
More on POD? Check out Mae Cee’s episode here!
Get Mae Cee’s course, POD Hero with coupon PODBEACH now through Thursday, September 12th, for just $57.
Get Mae Cee’s freebie, POD Kickstart, here now!
