Print on Demand vs. Do-It-Yourself (DIY): Which is Better?

Printing on items is a roaring industry today. In 2020, the Global Commercial Printing Market was valued at USD 411.99 billion, and it is expected to be worth USD 472.35 billion by 2026. In addition, if you are planning to start a printing business, it is essential to know how to succeed. There are two options for you, outsourcing to print on demand providers or printing on your own. Furthermore, it is essential to know the differences between the two to choose what is the best for yourself.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRINT ON DEMAND AND DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY) PRINTING?

1. Labor

PRINT ON DEMAND

Someone else is filling your orders, packing them, and shipping them for you. So, you’re saving a significant amount of time here. And all of that time can be spent marketing your businesses, attracting traffic, and converting it into revenue. Furthermore, these services also include a mockup tool, so all you have to do is submit your designs, and you’ll have a couple of lovely mockups for your listings.

PRINTING BY YOURSELF

If you perform the design, cutting, heat printing, or garment printing, you must pack and ship the products yourself. It is time-consuming, especially in the second half of the year. In addition, you will still need to promote, brand, and drive traffic to your businesses.

2. Product Range

PRINT ON DEMAND

These providers offer a more comprehensive range of print on demand products from which you can pick. Because you don’t have any inventory, it’s simpler to list items other than supplements, such as oils, gummies, and creams.

PRINTING BY YOURSELF

You’ll need some time to determine which materials perform best with your printer. It means you’ll have to order items and put them through their paces. It will take some time to determine which items perform best for you and which ones you want to include in your test results. Aside from that, you’ll most likely need to hire a model and have plate shots taken for your mockups.

3. Costs

PRINT ON DEMAND

Depending on the services you use, you must keep careful track of your expenditures to avoid losing money. You must evaluate the price of each product, as well as the production and delivery charges. Expect to pay more money here than you would if you printed on your own because your eCommerce fulfillment provider will handle all of the work for you.

PRINTING BY YOURSELF

If you wish to run this yourself, you’ll need to get a printer for your business. There are already thermal printers on the market that perform exceptionally well with transfer sheets. The good news is that most of these printers can also print on mugs and hats, so you’ll have a range of products to pick from. In addition, you will need to conduct research on packaging and shipping, which will incur additional expenditures. However, it would be best to account for the time, tries, and errors that go into your business to reach the point where you can consistently create your product.

5. Marketing

PRINT ON DEMAND

Print on demand companies has the tools and resources to advertise your company both locally and worldwide. They may easily reach a large number of potential clients with a single click. They also have an excellent marketing plan that will undoubtedly help your business.

PRINTING BY YOURSELF

When you create your products, you should also sell them on your own. To advertise your business, you need to develop an effective marketing plan. Choose a few marketing channels that you believe will assist you in reaching out to potential customers who will buy your products.

6. Experience

PRINT ON DEMAND

Most successful print on demand businesses have years of fulfillment experience. They are experts in this field, and they know what it takes to survive and thrive. Because of their years of expertise, they have also developed strong partnerships with other companies and have an extensive network of contacts. Staying in this industry for so long also implies that they have a solid reputation among their clients.

PRINTING BY YOURSELF

If you want to establish your own printing business, you need to have some prior experience. You don’t need years of expertise in printing since you can learn all you need to know on the internet. However, prior printing experience is beneficial. To establish a business, you must also have prior experience or knowledge. Starting a business is not simple; there are several factors to consider to become successful.

CONCLUSION

Now that you understand the distinction between print on demand and do it yourself, it is time to decide which is best for you! If you think that you can start a printing business on your own, then it means you have the experience and knowledge to do it. But if you don’t have any experience or knowledge in starting a print on demand business, it is better to hire print on demand providers to do all the work for you. It will not just save your time but can also provide your clients a great experience.

READY TO GET STARTED IN YOUR PRINT ON DEMAND BUSINESS?

If you chose to outsource your print on demand business, Fulfillplex is the right company for you! We are a top eCommerce fulfillment company that can provide all of your business demands while giving the best print on demand services for you and your customers. Click here to learn more about how we can help your business.