How To Sell Print-On-Demand T-Shirts

Blog Created By Alberto Miller

Annually, apparel labels produce billions of dollars revenue selling tees. Their broad appeal and limitless style variations make t-shirts an excellent option for launching a venture.

Top tee enterprises discover methods to distinguish themselves within an already saturated marketplace. Whether you’re utilizing high-end fabrics, unique artwork, or a captivating label, you must truly differentiate your tees from competitors.

A straightforward approach to join this sector is by offering print-on-demand shirts. This strategy enables you to launch an enterprise with minimal expenses and effort.

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Sell print-on-demand t-shirts in 6 steps

• Find your t-shirt niche
• Create your print-on-demand store
• Create t-shirt designs
• Add products to your store
• Add sales channels
• Plan your marketing strategy

1. Find a t-shirt niche

To effectively sell online as a small enterprise, you require a specific niche. A niche comprises a group of customers sharing particular interests and demands. For instance, the athleisure niche appeals to buyers seeking exercise apparel that doubles as everyday attire.

Since numerous t-shirt choices are accessible to shoppers, distinctive shirts that appeal to a focused niche demographic can be crucial. Begin by investigating current companies to uncover market voids—this lets you recognize chances where your designs can address an overlooked customer requirement.

After identifying a niche, leverage your findings to craft a detailed buyer persona. Personas are imagined profiles of your perfect customer. They steer you when building your online store, refining your brand identity, and composing targeted communications that resonate with your audience.

2. Create your print-on-demand store

Once you’ve selected a niche, the following task is establishing a venue for selling your tees. Typically, that entails setting up an online shop and catalog management. 

Shopify remains a favored platform for startups and apparel creators, since it enables straightforward store creation and integration with preferred POD applications. This streamlines the process of publishing your items for purchase and routing customer orders directly to your print-on-demand provider.

Connect a print-on-demand app

Linking a print-on-demand application with your online store allows you to import products and automatically forward customer orders for production and shipping.

Every integration delivers varied selections of items, design features, and multiple fulfillment methods. Pick a provider that carries the shirt styles your audience prefers, supports customization matching your artwork, and can manufacture and dispatch your apparel reliably, cost-efficiently, and promptly.

After selecting a print-on-demand integration, follow the provider’s specific guidelines to connect it with your store.

Recommended apps for print-on-demand shirts

Apliiq

Apliiq specializes in apparel, offering a wide selection of t-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies, and sweatshirts. Choose from a range of colors and materials to match your brand.

• Brands include: Comfort Colors, Hanes, New Era, Nike.
• Fits include: Crew neck, cropped, lightweight, pocket tee.
• Materials include: Cotton, dryblend, heavy cotton, jersey, polyester.
• Customization options: Digital printing, embroidery, labeling, screen printing.
• Average fulfillment time: Two business days.
• Mockup generator: Yes.

Teelaunch

Teelaunch stocks men’s, women’s, and unisex t-shirts, tank tops, long-sleeve tees, and sweatshirts. Its collection features options for youth, toddlers, and babies, with a variety of colors and sizes available.

• Brands include: Canvas, Champion, District, Gildan.
• Fits include: Cropped, long sleeve, tank, V-neck.
• Materials include: Cotton, polyester.
• Customization options: All-over printing, direct-to-garment printing.
• Average fulfillment time: Four to 12 business days.
• Mockup generator: Yes.

Printify

Printify offers an extensive catalog of print-on-demand products, including a wide selection of t-shirts, tank tops, and hoodies. With more than 850 products available, you can find various styles and colors to suit your brand.

• Brands include: Adidas, American Apparel, Fruit of the Loom, Sport-Tek.
• Fits include: Crew neck, tall, unisex, V-neck.
• Materials include: Cotton, heavyweight, polyester, tri-blend.
• Customization options: All-over print, embroidery, gift messages, inserts, labeling, printing.
• Average fulfillment time: Two to seven business days.
• Mockup generator: Yes.

Printful

Printful is a popular choice for print-on-demand sellers, offering a variety of t-shirts, including options for men, women, and children. Its selection includes standard t-shirts, polo shirts, and tank tops, all available in multiple colors and styles.

Brands include: Champion, Columbia, Cotton Heritage, Gildan.

Fits include: Athletic, curved hem, oversized, standard, slim, unisex.

Materials include: Blend, cotton, organic cotton, polyester.

Customization options: Cut and sew, embroidery, labeling, printing.

Average fulfillment time: Two to five business days.

Mockup generator: Yes.

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3. Create t-shirt designs

You may already have t-shirt designs envisioned, particularly if you’re an artist or illustrator with an established audience and a distinctive signature style.

Alternatively, you might plan to market shirts displaying a logo or preexisting artwork you own, such as branded merchandise for a particular company or special event.

Or, maybe you lack design skills entirely and need to outsource your t-shirt artwork.

Regardless of your starting point, it’s possible to create print-on-demand shirt designs that compete with established brands.

Print-on-demand design tools

Most print-on-demand services offer easy-to-use design tools for creating your shirts. 

Here are some common features to expect:

• Stock image library: Access a range of images and graphics to incorporate into your designs without needing to create everything from scratch.
• Text editor: Add text to your designs in a range of fonts.
• Printing method selection: Choose a printing method for your designs, such as screen printing, direct to garment, or sublimation printing.
• Mockup generator: Generate mockups of your t-shirts to visualize how your designs will look when printed.
• File upload: If you have unique graphics or designs, upload and apply your own image files.
• Templates and guides: Utilize pre-designed templates to create professional-looking t-shirts even if you’re not a design expert.
• AI generation: Create unique graphics and illustrations based on a text prompt input.

Shirt design templates

If you’re comfortable with graphic design software, there are numerous t-shirt templates and mockups available. You might be able to use these instead of a print-on-demand design tool to achieve more intricate designs.

These resources offer free templates to make the design process simpler and less technical.

4. Add products to your store

After your print-on-demand shirts are prepared, list them in your online shop so potential buyers can locate and explore your offerings.

If you’re integrating a supported print-on-demand app, this procedure should be simple. In certain instances, you might have to adhere to print-on-demand partner’s guidelines to link your product listings or manually add item details.

Edit product pages

After importing your products, enhance your product pages with content to make each item discoverable and give customers the information they need to make a purchasing decision.

The goal of your product pages is to promote your t-shirts, improve their visibility in online searches and Google Shopping, and ultimately persuade shoppers to buy.

When building product pages, include the following details:

• Descriptive product names: Craft unique title tags for your product pages to help shoppers find your items in search engine results. Incorporate essential product details to enhance visibility. For instance, if you’re selling a slim-fit t-shirt featuring a car graphic, use a descriptive title like “Men’s Retro Chevy T-Shirt – Ultimate Slim Fit.”
• Detailed product descriptions: Product descriptions should provide all the details customers might want to know. Cater to the interests of your niche and incorporate information in a Google-friendly format. A well-structured description might include information about a shirt’s material, fit, care instructions, and any unique features.
• Pricing information: Clear and simple pricing helps customers trust your brand and feel confident about their purchases.
• Product photos: Invest in high-quality product photos to showcase your designs. Include a variety of images, including close-ups to highlight fabric quality and print details. Consider creating product videos to provide a dynamic view of your t-shirts.

5. Add sales channels

Launching an online shop to sell t‑shirts is only the start. To attract additional buyers and boost product exposure, link your store with major e‑commerce platforms such as Amazon and eBay.

Through Shopify, you’re able to integrate your storefront with social channels like Instagram and Facebook, plus TikTok and YouTube. These social storefronts enable shoppers to explore and purchase items without ever leaving their favorite mobile app.

Think about adding a wholesale channel to your t‑shirt venture, so you can supply other niche retailers with your designs in bulk

6. Plan your marketing strategy

Once your store is live, it’s time to attract customers. Start by identifying where your target audience spends time online—whether that’s on social media, forums, or websites.

Plan a marketing strategy that allows you to reach your audience on these platforms. This might involve social media advertising, content marketing, and influencer partnerships.

Why choose print-on-demand t-shirts?

• Low investment: Start your business without the cost of inventory, reducing financial risk.
• Design flexibility: Easily test designs without committing to large production runs, allowing you to keep up with market trends.
• No storage issues: Products are printed and shipped when ordered, so you don’t have to worry about storing extra products.
• Streamlined shipping: Print-on-demand companies automate order fulfillment and handle shipping.
• Scalability: As your business grows, you can easily add more designs and products.
• Global reach: Most print-on-demand companies offer international shipping, which helps you reach a wider audience.

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Complete Print On Demand Guide With Clothing Design & Checklist