By 2025, analysts believe the POD market will be worth around $7.4 trillion . That means now is the perfect time to dive in if you’re thinking about starting your own print-on-demand business.
The good news? Starting a business is very simple.
Here is your step-by-step guide to starting a POD company.
1. Find your niche
decide on a niche - how to start print on demand
The growing popularity of print on demand means there is a lot of competition, Band Data and if you want to increase your chances of winning sales and customer loyalty, you will need to take a targeted approach.
This means choosing a specific “niche” for your business.
Choosing a profitable niche can be tricky. After all, there are so many options to choose from, from home accessories to activewear.
You can start looking for ideas like this:
Google Search: Use Google search to find companies selling “custom products.” Pay attention to the types of items they offer and which products make the most money.
Using Google Trends: Google Trends is a great tool for comparing potential niche options. You can see how many people are searching for a specific item, like “eco-friendly t-shirts,” and see if the product’s popularity is rising or falling.
Search engine results analysis: Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMRush, and Google Keyword Planner to find out what specific terms customers are searching for. The higher the search volume, the more popular the niche is likely to be.
You can also look for products that are getting a lot of attention on social media channels and forums like Reddit. The ideal niche should be something that attracts a lot of audience attention, doesn't have too much competition, and offers a lot of potential for growth.
A few ideas to get started:
Animals and pet products
Activewear and fitness
Books and literature
Ecological or sustainable fashion
Minimalist home accessories
Remember to keep your niche specific. Don't just focus on "fashion," look at "eco-friendly fashion" or "sustainable leggings."
2. Define your audience
Once you have your niche, the next step is to figure out who your target audience will be. You should have some data to work with based on your niche research. For example, if you decided to sell activewear, you would probably target people with an interest in fitness.
The key to success with any e-commerce or business is to learn as much as possible about your specific target audience. Creating a buyer persona can help you with this. Think about key demographics of the people you want to target, such as their age, gender, and location.
Consider behavioral factors, such as how they search for and purchase products, which social media channels they use, and how they purchase new items. Also, don’t forget psychographic concepts, such as key pain points, goals, and motivators influencing your target audience.
You can also read market reports and POD Statistics to add more data to your persona. With your buyer persona, you will have direct insight into your audience every time you create a new product, marketing campaign, or sales strategy.
3. Choose your products
With a clear understanding of your target audience and niche, it’s time to start making the really important decisions, like figuring out what you’re going to sell. Depending on the POD vendor you choose, you’ll have a wide range of options available , from notebooks to t-shirts.
Statistically, the apparel sector is the most popular in the POD market with a market share of 39.6%. But you don't have to stop at just clothing. Look for a product category that not only resonates with your target market, but has growth potential.
For example, the home decor segment is expected to grow at a rate of 27.7% by 2030 .
Here are some quick ideas to get you started:
Clothing: Leggings, sweaters, hoodies, t-shirts, tank tops, dresses, etc.
Fashion accessories: scarves, hats, socks and jewelry, etc.
Home products: Posters, pillowcases, rugs, bedspreads, etc.
Accessories: Bags, water bottles, phone cases, pet products, etc.
Stationary: Notebooks, stickers, notebook cases, calendars, etc.
In addition to ensuring your product has growth potential, it pays to focus on an area that you are truly passionate about. If you love the types of products you are selling, you will have a much easier time promoting them. You can also use your market research for additional insights, looking at the best-selling products on Amazon, Ebay, Etsy, and other channels.
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