How to Dropship Clothing With Print on Demand (7 Tips)

Print on demand is a fantastic business model if you want to start dropshipping clothing!

With print on demand, you can create custom designs on clothing items and have them printed and shipped to your customers as orders come in.

However, there are some things you should know before diving into the world of print on demand clothing.

This article will cover seven tips for dropshipping clothing with print on demand, but first, let's go over why you should consider this business model.

Why you should start a clothing print on demand store

Creating a print on demand store offers a low-risk, low-cost way to test your product ideas without having to go through the hassle of setting up a traditional ecommerce store.

You can create custom designs on various clothing items using a print on demand service without buying inventory upfront. This also means you won't be stuck with excess inventory if a product doesn't sell as well as you had hoped.

Also, starting a print on demand clothing store can be a great way to enter a niche market. By offering unique designs on your clothing items, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and appeal to a specific group of customers.

You can also experiment with different design styles and themes until you find what resonates with your target audience!

So cool, right? Now let's look at how you can start doing it.

7 Tips for starting a print on demand clothing store

Here are seven tips for creating a print on demand clothing store:

1. Realize that starting a print on demand store generally requires work

Before starting the business, let's get the right mindset to simplify the process.

Print on demand can be an excellent option for those who want to start a business without incurring high initial costs. However, it is essential to note that this is not a get-rich-quick scheme.

You must still put in the hard work and effort to make it successful. This includes creating unique designs that appeal to your target audience and ensuring high-quality products.

Once you have created your designs, the next step is to market them effectively to reach your target audience.

This can involve social media, paid advertising, and other marketing strategies. (More on this later).

Also, providing excellent customer service is crucial for building a loyal customer base and maintaining a positive reputation.

So, while the print on demand method offers a low-cost way to start a business, it is essential to remember that it still requires dedication and hard work to succeed.

2. Get inspiration from other clothing stores

When looking at what's already out there in the print on demand apparel niche, it's essential to pay attention to what's popular and what's not.

For example, say you want to create a line of t-shirts with funny sayings. You might notice that there are already a lot of stores selling similar products.

However, by taking a closer look, you might find that few stores offer funny sayings specifically for cat owners. This could be a gap in the market that you could fill with your unique designs.

Another way to get inspiration is to look at the print on demand niches trending in the fashion world. If leopard prints are now widespread, you could create a line of leopard print clothing items with cute cat-related designs.

Remembering trends come and go quickly is essential, so staying on top of what's popular and adjusting your offerings accordingly is crucial.

Here are some of the most successful print on demand stores you could get inspiration from!

3. Find a reputable clothing POD supplier

When choosing a print on demand supplier, it's essential to consider factors like pricing, product selection, and ease of use.

Each supplier has pros and cons, so it's essential to research and choose the one that best fits your needs.

For example, Printful offers a wide range of products and integrates with many popular ecommerce platforms, but it can be more expensive than other options.

Teespring, on the other hand, offers lower prices but a more limited product selection.

Redbubble is known for its high-quality products and unique designs, but it's not as user-friendly as other platforms.

Ultimately, your chosen platform will depend on your specific needs and goals for your print on demand store.

There are tons of other suppliers out there! Here are the 15 Best Print on Demand Companies and Suppliers in 2024.

4. Use unique photos for your store

Ever noticed how many online stores have the same product photos?

Yep, it’s a common problem.

Using those old, duplicated images from your supplier can actually hurt your store's visibility on search engines like Google.

That's where OnModel steps in. This Shopify app uses AI to transform your existing photos into unique images!

You can:

• Swap out the models in your clothing images (For example, according to your target market.)
• Put your t-shirt design on an AI-made model (No more costly photoshoots!)
• Change photo backgrounds
• Add faces to cropped images.

In short, OnModel makes your store photos unique and fun. So, if you're in dropshipping or POD, you can try it here!

5. Add a disclaimer to your shipping policy or FAQ page

When dropshipping clothing items with print on demand, it's important to remember that shipping times may be longer than usual since the products are being printed and shipped on demand.

To be transparent with your customers, adding a disclaimer to your shipping policy or FAQ page is a good idea to inform them about potential delays.

In the apparel niche, there are many popular design styles that you can incorporate into your print on demand clothing items. For example, vintage and retro designs are currently trending, so you can create clothing items with vintage or retro feel designs.

Another popular design style is minimalism, which uses simple and clean designs.

You can use this design style to create clothing items with a minimalist aesthetic, such as a t-shirt with a small and simple logo.

Related article: How to Create a Dropshipping Shipping Policy? (+ Template)

6. Keep an eye on trending products while running your store

One way to stay on top of current trends in the apparel niche is to research using tools such as Google Trends.

You can use this tool to see what keywords related to clothing or fashion are currently trending in search and use that information to inform your design choices.

For example, if you notice that searches for 'vintage clothing' are rising, you might want to create clothing items with vintage-inspired designs to capitalize on this trend.

Also, you can look at social media platforms such as Instagram or Pinterest to see what types of clothing designs are currently popular among influencers or fashion-forward individuals.

By staying up to date with current trends and incorporating them into your print on demand clothing items, you can create unique and appealing designs that resonate with your target audience.

7. Test products until you find a winner

To effectively test your products and find the ones that will sell the most, here are some actionable tips to follow:

Start by creating various designs

Creating designs that cater to different tastes and preferences is an essential part of the product development process.

This can give you valuable insights into the preferences of your potential customers and help you tailor your designs to meet their needs better.

Additionally, by creating various designs, you can explore different creative directions and push the boundaries of what's possible with your product.

This can lead to breakthrough ideas that can set your product apart from the competition and ultimately drive more sales and revenue for your business.

Test your products on different platforms

To give you some examples of print on demand platforms, there are popular ones like Etsy and Redbubble.

Each platform has unique features and benefits, but the ultimate goal is to find the one that best suits your business needs and target audience.

By listing your products on multiple platforms such as these, you can test and compare their performance and determine which generates the most traffic and sales.

Remember that listing your products on multiple platforms requires managing your inventory and orders on each platform, so it's essential to have a solid system in place to avoid any mistakes or confusion.

With a well-executed print on demand platform strategy, you can increase your visibility and reach, ultimately driving more sales and revenue for your business.

Want to learn more about selling on Redbubble? Here's a guide on how to sell on Redbubble!

Use social media to test your products

When testing your products on social media, you can create posts featuring different designs or products and track which ones get the most likes, comments, and shares.

You can also run social media ads featuring your products and track their performance to see which generates the most clicks and conversions.

Additionally, you can use social listening tools to monitor mentions and conversations about your brand and products and gather insights into what your target audience says and how they feel about your offerings.

Offer discounts and promotions

You can offer a percentage off the total purchase price, free shipping, a buy-one-get-one promotion, or a gift with purchase.

You could also create a limited-time offer or a bundle deal where customers can purchase multiple products for a discounted price.

These promotions can help entice customers to purchase and provide insight into which products are more appealing to your target audience.

Note: Want more sales? Check out Kaching Bundle Quantity Breaks 一 a Shopify app that lets you create eye-catching bundle deals like "2 for $̶5̶0 30" on your product pages. Encourage your customers to buy more and increase your profits! Use dodropshipping during checkout to enjoy 20% off on all plans!

Collect feedback from your customers

When handling customer service, there are a few key things to remember. First and foremost, being responsive and attentive to your customer's needs is essential.

This means promptly responding to emails, phone calls, and messages and doing your best to resolve any issues or concerns they may have.

Another critical aspect of customer service is being transparent and honest with your customers. If there are any issues or delays with their order, communicate this to them as soon as possible and provide regular updates on their order status.

Having clear policies for handling returns, exchanges, and refunds is also a good idea.

This can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure customers' satisfaction with their purchases.

Finally, consider implementing a customer loyalty program or offering incentives for repeat customers.

This can help build long-term relationships with your customers and increase the chances of repeat business in the future.

FAQ about dropshipping clothing

If you are planning to start dropshipping clothing, there are several common questions that you may have.

Here are some tips on how to address them:

Summary

Before we go to the final verdict, we've created a quick summary of this article for you, so you can easily remember it:

• Starting a clothing print on demand store offers a low-risk, low-cost way to test your product ideas without having to go through the hassle of setting up a traditional ecommerce store.
• You still need to put in the hard work and effort to make it successful. This includes creating unique designs that appeal to your target audience and ensuring high-quality products.
• Remembering trends come and go quickly is essential, so staying on top of what's popular and adjusting your offerings accordingly is crucial.
• Each supplier has pros and cons, so it's essential to research and choose the one that best fits your needs.
• When testing your products on social media, you can create posts featuring different designs or products and track which ones get the most likes, comments, and shares.
• Having clear policies for handling returns, exchanges, and refunds is also a good idea. This can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure customers' satisfaction with their purchases.

Conclusion

Dropshipping clothing with print on demand can be a great way to start an online store with low risk and low cost!

Following the tips outlined in this article, you can create unique designs, choose the right platform, and test products until you find a winner.

While it may require work to make your print on demand store successful, the potential rewards are worth it.

Thank you for reading, and have a great day!

Want to learn more about POD?

Ready to move your print on demand store to the next level? Check out the articles below:

• How Do You Handle Print on Demand Returns?
• 10 Best Print-on-Demand Tools for Your Business in 2024
• The 5 Best Free Print-on-Demand Courses | Learn for Free!

Plus, don't forget to check out our in-depth how to start a print on demand business guide here!