Under the first print on demand model, the target audience consists of artists or individuals with design skills. They can establish a store on the POD company’s website, select products, and customize designs directly on the website. These designed products are then made available for sale on the company’s marketplace. Many of these POD company websites experience high traffic, attracting numerous consumers who purchase products, thereby enabling individuals to earn commissions.
The second print-on-demand model appeals to a broader audience and is open to any merchant. To participate, merchants need an e-commerce website, with popular choices being Shopify and Etsy. They then join the POD company as a member, integrating their e-commerce site with the POD company’s platform. By designing products on the POD company’s website, they can publish these items to their own e-commerce store. In this model, all profits belong solely to the merchant.
Today’s focus, Redbubble, adopts the first print-on-demand model. As the leading company in the POD market, Redbubble boasts the highest traffic among its competitors.
1. JetPrint
JetPrint provides a seamless POD experience with its user-friendly interface and extensive product catalog. Offering everything from apparel to accessories, JetPrint delivers top-notch printing along with free mockup design tools and integration with e-commerce platforms such as Etsy, Shopify, and Woocommerce.
Main product categories
- Watches
- Shoes
- T-shirts
- Mugs
- Jewelry
Benefits
JetPrint offers the most competitive product prices in the market, enabling you to maximize your profits. With JetPrint, you can streamline order fulfillment through automation. Moreover, it offers branding services, enabling you to personalize your brand packaging.
Potential issues
JetPrint’s automated notification feature is currently inactive. Despite receiving various announcements from them, JetPrint won’t notify you when your order is shipped or delivered. You can solely monitor the order status through the dashboard page.
2. Society6
Society6 distinguishes itself with its vibrant artist community and extensive array of distinctive products. Offering customizable options and global shipping, Society6 serves as an ideal marketplace for artists seeking to showcase their work on a variety of objects.
Main product categories
- Wall art
- Home décor
- Apparel
- Bed & bath
- Tech accessories
Benefits
Society6 grants access to art enthusiasts and collectors alike, with a significant focus on quality assurance to ensure customers receive top-notch products.
Potential issues
In this print-on-demand market, prices for products are set by the platform itself, which limits artists’ control over their profit margins.
3. Zazzle
Zazzle stands as a significant marketplace within the print-on-demand (POD) industry, providing a diverse selection of customizable products and user-friendly design tools. This makes it an appealing alternative to Redbubble for artists.
Main product categories
- Weddings
- Accessories
- Party supplies
- Electronics
- Office
Benefits
Zazzle offers a wide selection of products, while the process of setting up a personalized storefront and adding designs to your products is simple. They will handle customer service, printing and shipping.
Potential issues
While Zazzle offers products at different price points, some customers may find the prices to be higher compared to similar products available elsewhere. This may lose some cost-effective customers.
4. TeePublic
TeePublic is an online marketplace catering to independent artists and designers, offering a platform to sell their distinctive designs across a range of products, with a primary focus on apparel like T-shirts, hoodies, and tank tops. It empowers creators to exhibit their art to a broad audience and generate income through their designs.
Main product categories
- T-shirts
- Hoodies
- Tank tops
- Stickers
- Mugs
Benefits
TeePublic provides competitive pricing and fosters a supportive community where members are encouraged to assist one another, enabling artists and designers to effectively monetize their creations within the POD marketplace.
Potential issues
TeePublic’s commissions are relatively low and are set by the platform, which will reduce artists’ profits. Additionally, TeePublic appears unable to offer 24/7 support.
5. Teespring
Teespring is an intuitive POD platform seamlessly integrated with various social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Discord. This enables you to sell your designed products directly through your social media channels.
Main product categories
- Hats
- Hoodies
- T-shirts
- Stickers
- Wall arts
Benefits
The platform enables you to create a personalized storefront for selling print-on-demand products, and you can showcase your products for sale on social media platforms, significantly enhancing their exposure.
Potential issues
Take a look at their reviews, and you’ll quickly notice that many people express frustration with their slow customer service response. This can lead to consumer apprehension and reluctance to order products.
6. Threadless
Threadless serves as a hub for creative expression, offering artists a POD platform to showcase their designs on a range of products. Through its community-driven design challenges, Threadless remains a source of inspiration, fostering connections among artists worldwide.
Main product categories
- T-shirts
- Hats
- Mouse pads
- Bags
- Wall arts
Benefits
Creating an artist store on Threadless is free of charge. The artist enjoys the freedom to set the price, and what is left after costs are deducted from each sale is your profit.
Potential issues
Some users have posted reviews expressing concerns about the quality of certain products provided by Threadless, which could potentially tarnish Threadless’s reputation among its loyal users.
7. Merch by Amazon
Merch by Amazon provides creators with the chance to reach millions of customers via the world’s largest online marketplace. With its hassle-free setup and robust fulfillment services, Merch by Amazon streamlines the POD process for sellers.
Main product categories
- T-shirts
- PopSockets grips
- iPhone and Samsung phone cases
- Tote bags
- Throw pillows
Benefits
Reach customers around the world with the help of Amazon’s powerful marketplace. Amazon has much more users than Redbubble, which will bring you more exposure and sales, and thus make more profits.
Potential issues
Registering for Merch by Amazon is not free; you need to apply and await approval before you can commence selling. There’s a risk of not being approved. And Merch by Amazon’s merchandise selection is limited, which can constrain artists’ creativity.
8. CafePress
CafePress is an e-commerce platform that enables individuals and businesses to design and sell custom merchandise. With user-friendly design tools and quick turnaround times, CafePress stands as a reliable option for both individuals and businesses.
Main product categories
- T-shirts
- Water bottles
- Greeting cards
- Bags
- Car accessories
Benefits
CafePress operates on a print-on-demand model, which means products are only produced when customers order them, allowing for greater flexibility and customization.
Potential issues
The web design of CafePress is outdated, it is difficult for users to find the functions they need, and the designs published on CafePress are difficult to receive attention, which will greatly affect the user experience.
9. Fine Art America
Fine Art America stands out as the top choice for artists or photographers focusing on wall art. This print-on-demand platform caters to discerning customers seeking premium POD products, offering museum-quality printing and an extensive selection of products.
Main product categories
- Wall arts
- Home decor
- Tote bags
- Phone cases
- Greeting cards
Benefits
Fine Art America equips its users with sales and marketing tools to streamline and expedite their careers. These tools enable artists to establish branded online stores, sell prints on Facebook, create e-newsletters, and more. This significantly simplifies users’ product promotion efforts.
Potential issues
Artists are exclusively featured on Fine Art America, making their images challenging to locate solely through Google searches. This can lead to wasted time for artists as they assess the performance of their products.
10. Printify
Printify offers a print-on-demand platform serving sellers globally, linking creators with a diverse network of top-notch printing partners, each focusing on specific products. With its extensive product selection and intuitive design tools, Printify emerges as a robust competitor to Redbubble.
Main product categories
- Men’s clothes
- Women’s clothes
- Mugs
- Canvas paintings
- Candles
Benefits
With Printify, you have the option to provide branded products to your customers. Additionally, Printify boasts the fastest customer response time, typically responding to emails within 2 hours.
Potential issues
Due to Printify’s collaboration with numerous suppliers, ensuring consistency in product quality can be challenging. When issues arise with an order, direct contact with the source supplier is not possible. Instead, you must convey your message through Printify.
Conclusion
Whether you’re an established artist or embarking on your POD journey, these Redbubble alternatives offer a platform to showcase your creativity and engage with a worldwide audience.
Whether your focus is on product quality, community engagement, or branding opportunities, there’s an artist site tailored to your preferences. By exploring these alternatives, you can broaden your reach and elevate your POD business to new levels.
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