Picture this: 🖼️ It's a fresh morning, and you're enjoying your usual cup of coffee ☕️, thinking about the day ahead. You're feeling excited about turning your love for design into an online business. You've always been good at creating eye-catching artwork, and now, you want to share it with the world 🌍. But there's a problem – you're not sure where to start.
Starting an e-commerce print-on-demand business sounds thrilling, but it's also a bit daunting 🤷♂️. You're not a tech expert or a business pro, you're just someone with a dream and a lot of determination.
As you look into different e-commerce platforms, you start to feel overwhelmed 🤯. Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, Walmart, there are so many options. Each one claims to be perfect for your business, but how do you know which one is right for you?
Don't worry, though. I've been where you are, navigating the world of online business with nothing but a dream and a DIY attitude. And I'm here to help. I've tried out different platforms, weighed the pros and cons, and found the hidden gems 💎 that will help your print-on-demand business succeed.
So, if you're ready to turn your passion into profit 💰, grab a seat and get ready to learn. In this blog, we're going to explore the world of e-commerce platforms and find the best options for entrepreneurs like you. From easy-to-use interfaces to seamless integrations, we'll cover everything you need to know to get started.
So, let's dive in and get your dream business off the ground! 🚀
What to Consider When Choosing Ecommerce Platform🛒
When diving into the world of e-commerce, the abundance of software options can feel overwhelming. They all promise to help you build a killer website, expand your marketing efforts, and streamline your operations. But which features should you prioritize?
Here are some key considerations:
🔒 Security: With sensitive customer data and payment transactions at stake, robust security measures are non-negotiable. Look for software that prioritizes data protection to safeguard your customers' trust and your business's reputation.
⚡ Performance: Nobody likes a slow-loading website, especially when they're ready to make a purchase. Opt for a platform that offers swift performance, ensuring smooth navigation for your customers and reducing the risk of abandoned shopping carts.
📦 Order Management: Efficient order processing is essential for customer satisfaction. Seek out software with intuitive order management tools that automate processes and keep customers informed at every stage, from order placement to delivery.
📈 Marketing Tools: Marketing is key to driving sales and growing your brand. Choose software equipped with robust marketing features that enable you to create, track, and optimize campaigns across various channels to reach your target audience effectively.
🔄 Integrations: Your e-commerce software should seamlessly integrate with other tools and software you rely on. Prioritize platforms that offer a wide range of integrations, allowing you to connect with your preferred apps and streamline your workflow.
📊 Data and Analytics: To make informed decisions and refine your strategies, access to comprehensive data and analytics is crucial. Look for software that provides insights into your website performance, social media presence, and overall marketing efforts.
By focusing on these key features, you can choose e-commerce software that not only meets your current needs but also sets you up for success as your business grows 💪.
8 Best Ecommerce Platforms
Let's start from the beginning. You have to publish your products somewhere so that people can go and buy them, right? This is where we need an e-commerce platform, and they come in all kinds and styles.
Shopify
If you're thinking about setting up your own online store, you've probably heard of Shopify. It's super popular, with over 4.8 million sites using it to power their businesses. And those sites have made a ton of money, $79.5 billion in sales! 🎉
Features
One of the best things about Shopify is how easy it is to use. Seriously, even if you're totally new to this, you can set up your website, start a blog, and make it all super secure without any hassle.
Plus, Shopify has over 7000 apps! 📱 Need help personalizing products? No problem. Want to recover those abandoned shopping carts? Piece of cake. And it connects with print-on-demand companies worldwide, so selling custom products is a breeze. 🚀
Pricing
Now, let's talk about money. Shopify's basic plan starts at just $25 a month. That's pretty affordable considering all the great features it comes with. And there are no hidden fees, you can even try it out for three months for just $1 a month. 💸
Who's it for?
Whether you're just starting out or you've been in the game for a while, Shopify is perfect for businesses of all sizes. Seriously, it's like the Swiss Army knife of e-commerce platforms 🪒. And with their awesome customer service, you'll always have someone there to help you out.
Etsy
Ever heard of Etsy? It's like a bustling online marketplace where nearly 7 million stores are selling all sorts of cool stuff – think handmade items, art, collectibles, and even custom products. 🛍️
Features
What makes Etsy stand out? Well, for starters, it's super easy to use and has a huge community of active buyers (like 96.2 million active buyers huge!) 🌟. This means more eyeballs on your products and a better chance of making sales. Plus, Etsy offers handy tools to help you market your business, like pop-up storefronts and promotional features.
Pricing
When you sell on Etsy, you pay a listing fee of $0.20 for each item you put up for sale. Your listing stays active for four months or until you make your first sale, whichever comes first. Once you do make a sale, Etsy takes a cut – 6.5% of the item's price, plus a payment processing fee of at least 2.6% plus $0.10. 💸
And if you're selling from Canada or the US, Etsy applies the transaction fees to the listed price, excluding sales tax. Plus, if you charge separate shipping fees, Etsy takes a slice of that too – 5% of the total shipping charges.
Who's it for?
Etsy is great for beginners thanks to its user-friendly setup and massive buyer base. And if you're looking to level up your Etsy game, they've got an Etsy Plus plan with extra tools and customization options to help you grow.
Just remember to factor in all the fees before you dive in. Some merchants find Etsy's fees a bit on the pricey side. 📈
Amazon
Ever thought about selling your own custom items on Amazon? It's like the big daddy of e-commerce, one of the best places to sell unique goods and reach customers all around the world. 🌎
Features
What sets Amazon apart? Well, for one, they take trust seriously. With strict seller verification processes and tough measures against counterfeit products, they make it easy for you to build trust with your customers fast. Plus, they offer Amazon Custom, where shoppers can easily customize products with their own text, images, or logos. Pretty cool, right? ✨
Pricing
To sell on Amazon, you'll need a professional selling account, which comes with a monthly fee of $39.99. But here's the good part: with the professional plan, you can get prime placement on product detail pages, giving your customized print-on-demand items more visibility. 💼
Who's it for?
Amazon is perfect for sellers looking to go global or tap into big markets like the US, Canada, Germany, and more. The professional plan is great for sellers expecting to move a lot of products and want access to advanced selling and advertising tools.
So, it’s a big deal for a starter, but if you're ready to take your business to the next level, Amazon might just be your ticket to success! 🚀
eBay
Did you know eBay has been around since 1995? Yep, it's one of the oldies of online selling platforms, and it's huge! With its wide range of goods and massive global audience, eBay is a great place for print-on-demand merchants like you. 🌍
Features
What's cool about eBay? Well, they've got this "Personalize" feature that lets you offer custom items. Just make sure to include the "Personalize" item-specific in your listings and enable the "message to seller" option in your eBay account so you can chat with customers about their custom needs. Easy peasy! 🎨
Pricing
Let's talk money. eBay charges sellers listing fees and a final value fee. The listing fee varies depending on the category and listing options, and it's non-refundable. The final value fee is a percentage (usually between 13% to 15%) of the total sale price, including shipping costs. 💸
Who's it for?
eBay is great for both beginners and big businesses. Their huge buyer network and simple setup process make it easy for anyone to get started. Just keep in mind, that eBay doesn't offer tools for creating custom products with multiple design options and live previews. But if that's not a deal-breaker for you, eBay could be a fantastic platform to grow your print-on-demand business! 📈
BigCommerce
BigCommerce isn't just for the big players. It's a flexible platform for businesses of all sizes. It's designed to grow with you, making it an ideal choice for businesses anticipating expansion 🚀.
But what sets BigCommerce apart from the crowd? While it offers similar features to Shopify or others, it shines in its focus on creating a personalized, multi-storefront experience. With BigCommerce, you can create customized storefronts tailored to different customer segments, giving your business a unique advantage. 💼
Features
BigCommerce has a variety of outstanding features, including omni-channel selling capabilities. Seamlessly connect your e-commerce store to multiple marketplaces while keeping inventory management centralized. 🔄
This powerful platform also offers robust customer segmentation based on their background and online shopping habits. Additionally, you can improve the shopping experience with personalized recommendations and promotions. 🎁
Pricing
BigCommerce offers three main pricing plans, ranging from $29 to $299 per month, with the Enterprise plan available at a custom price. While there are no transaction fees, keep an eye on the annual sales threshold, starting at $50,000 per year for the Standard plan. 📊
Who's it for?
BigCommerce caters to businesses of all sizes, but it's particularly well-suited for large-scale enterprises. With advanced eCommerce analytics tools and bulk order management, it's a powerhouse for those aiming for big growth.
Small businesses may find the basic plan's pricing a bit expensive compared to other options on the market. ⚖️
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular eCommerce platform that operates as an open-source WordPress plugin ⚙. It currently powers over 12% of online stores globally, making it one of the leaders in the eCommerce industry.
With this plugin, you can easily enhance an existing WordPress website with essential online store features. Simply install and activate it, and you can manage your online shop directly from the familiar WordPress dashboard.
Features
WooCommerce offers a wide range of features, including inventory management and payment processing. With over hundreds of extensions available, you can enhance its capabilities with store management, shipping options, and marketing tools 🛠.
Regarding design, there are many free themes to choose from in the official WordPress directory. They also have online guides and support forums where experienced professionals and everyday users can offer advice and assistance.
Pricing
WooCommerce is free to download and install ♥. However, to use it, you'll need a domain name, hosting service, and a WordPress site. Keep in mind that WordPress.org is the only platform where you can install this plugin for free. If you prefer using WordPress.com, you can access WooCommerce through its Commerce plan, which costs $45 per month.
There are also additional expenses to consider, such as paid customization options like extensions and themes. The WooCommerce Extensions Store offers a wide range of add-ons, from free to premium ones that can cost up to $299 per year.
Who's it for?
So, if you already have a website, and you want to add up the possibility of selling products, WooCommerce will undoubtedly be the best option for you ⭐.
It’s one of the most flexible and customizable platforms on the market. That's a good thing! But it also requires more work, beyond the fact that you have different pre-built themes to choose from.
If you are just starting out, it will depend on what your future plans are.
Shoplazza
Shoplazza is a global company that offers comprehensive e-commerce technology for merchants. With Shoplazza, individuals of any level of e-commerce expertise can easily create, oversee, and run their own online store from anywhere at any time.
Features
The platform is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. Its drag-and-drop interface simplifies customizing the online store's appearance 🎨, while the step-by-step setup process gently guides users through establishing their store.
Shoplazza provides a robust order management section where you can effortlessly oversee and handle all your orders 📝. Easily access and manage pending orders, update delivery details, and process refunds or cancellations manually for individual orders.
Furthermore, it has an in-house app store offering a variety of integrations with third-party apps and services. This makes it effortless to enhance your online store's functionality with additional features.
Pricing
Shoplazza provides access to all its features across its pricing plans, with an additional commission applied to each sale made through the platform. The commission rate decreases 📉 as you move up the plan tiers 📈: starting from the Basic Plan at $28/month with a 2% sales commission, to the Pro Plan at $218/month with a 0.2% sales commission. All plans come with a 7-day free trial and offer the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade at any time during usage.
Who's it for?
Shoplazza is ideal for people who lack technical expertise in website development but aspire to establish and grow an online store hassle-free. It handles all aspects, including hosting, site design, security, and payment methods, eliminating the need for a tech team 👩💻. If you seek a reliable, fast, and user-friendly platform to kickstart your e-commerce, Shoplazza is a valuable option to explore.
While it may have limitations like limited customization and transaction fees, its numerous benefits far outweigh these drawbacks, making it a compelling choice for aspiring online store owners.
Facebook Marketplace
Did you know Facebook Marketplace launched in 2016? It's a neat spot for communities to buy and sell custom items online. And the best part? It's totally free! Plus, it's now even more awesome because it supports e-commerce merchants and can integrate with platforms like Shopify. 🛒
Features
With Facebook Marketplace, you can list and sell all kinds of stuff – new, preowned, and custom items too! You can create listings, add detailed descriptions, and tap into a huge audience thanks to Facebook's powerful algorithm. Just keep in mind, though, you can't make instant changes to your listings once they're up. 📝
Pricing
There are no listing fees on Facebook Marketplace (how cool is that?) It's a super cost-effective way for merchants to sell their goods. Just be sure to follow the community's specific requirements and guidelines. 📋
Who's it for?
Facebook Marketplace is perfect for sellers looking to target local communities. With around 80 million registered users, there's a massive pool of potential buyers right at your fingertips. And if you want to amp things up, you can always launch Facebook ad campaigns to reach even more people.
So, if you're all about connecting with your local crowd and making some sales, Facebook Marketplace might just be the place for you! 🎉
Top Print-on-Demand Platforms for Selling Your Custom Products
When it comes to selling custom products, teaming up with a reliable print-on-demand partner is a game-changer 🎮. Check out these top suppliers that offer competitive pricing, premium materials, and seamless production and fulfillment services, making it easier than ever to reach customers worldwide.
✅ merchOne: Formerly known as Picanova, boasting over 17 years of industry experience. Offering a diverse range of customizable items including wall art prints, mugs, puzzles, and more.
✅ Printify: A global leader in print-on-demand services, offering a fast, simple, and risk-free experience. With over 100 print providers across 12 countries, Printify provides extensive customization options and a global network for selling eco-friendly items.
✅ ShineOn: A top choice for premium and high-profit gifts like jewelry and watches. With high-quality production and detailed analytics, ShineOn makes selling exceptional jewelry pieces effortless.
✅ Printful: Fulfilling over 1 million orders monthly with a production time of 2-5 business days. Offering 160+ high-quality product categories, Printful enables sellers to reach new markets and expand globally.
✅ Gelato: An ideal platform for selling sustainable custom products with a high-profit margin. With 130+ print partners in 32 countries, Gelato provides top-notch personalized items.
✅ Dreamship: Ideal for sustainable businesses, Dreamship focuses on reducing merchants' workload while providing a wide array of assets such as t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and tech accessories.
✅ CustomCat: Offering over 550 ready-to-customize products with a production time of just 3 days. As a global company, CustomCat provides a wide range of products, especially focusing on t-shirts, sweatpants, and pet items.
✅ teelaunch: Founded by entrepreneurs, teelaunch boasts an impressive 11-year history, serving thousands of e-commerce store owners. Their extensive catalog includes everything from apparel and accessories to home goods, kitchenware, drinkware, office products, pet items, wall art, and beyond.
✅ Gearment: Founded in 2016 in the USA, Gearment has quickly become a thriving network of print-on-demand sellers worldwide. Today, they boast over 10,000 merchants in their growing community. Gearment's product catalog is centered around apparel, home and living items, and accessories.
📌 If you want to know all the details about the best print-on-demand providers and how to choose the one that best suits your business, check out this blog where we provide you with all the complete information.
Common Questions About Selling Custom Products Online
Curious about the best platforms for selling custom products? Check out these frequently asked questions to guide you through the world of print-on-demand personalization and find the perfect website for your needs 🌟.
Which platform is best for beginners looking to offer customized products?
If you're just starting out, Shopify is the best choice. Its easy-to-use interface, wide range of print-on-demand apps, and global network make it a fantastic choice for fast, sustainable business growth. 🚀
What are the most popular sites for selling personalized clothing?
Shopify and Etsy are among the most popular sites for selling personalized clothing. Additionally, Printful, CustomCat, and Printify stand out as top print-on-demand services, offering a wide selection of custom clothing options, intuitive interfaces, and reliable fulfillment services. 👕👗
Where can I sell my custom-made products online for free?
Looking to sell your custom-made goods without spending a dime? Facebook Marketplace is the perfect platform. With no additional fees, you can create listings and connect with potential customers in your local area hassle-free. 💰
Sell Personalized Products With Customily Product Personalizer
Customily Product Personalizer is the go-to app for easy product customization. Whether you're on Shopify, Etsy, or any other e-commerce platform, this tool makes it simple to create and sell personalized items. Plus, it effortlessly connects with your other print-on-demand providers, so you can focus on delivering a top-notch customer experience.
Say goodbye to complexity and hello to seamless out-of-this-world personalization with Customily! 👋
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Customily Product Personalizer is the best solution to sell personalized products, both in the e-commerce and the print-on-demand market. With the widest range of personalization tools, free clipart designs, realistic live previews that increase conversions, and printing files that help you automate your printing business; Customily is the ally you need to boost your profit margins in a high-competitive market.
Visit our website to learn more about us.
Or try it for FREE on Shopify.