Two business models you’ve probably heard of if you’re into online business, are both Etsy and print on demand. If you don’t have an online business just yet, and are planning on starting one soon. You may be wondering, which option is better. So what’s the answer?
It really depends on what you enjoy. If you’re trying to start a more hands off business where you upload designs somewhere and just make sales without having to worry about it, print on demand may be the way to go. If you actually enjoy making products for customers, Etsy is the better option.
However, there is a lot to be said about the low barrier to entry when it comes to print on demand. This means other people could easily do what you’re doing, and start selling products too. With Etsy, if you create your own physical products, you could easily stand out from the crowd and attract more customers.
Does Etsy Do Print On Demand?
Etsy doesn’t offer print on demand for you. Using Printify, Printful and other similar platforms, you can sell on Etsy and create print on demand products. This means that when you make a sale, your product gets printed and shipped directly to the customer, meaning you don’t have to worry about any of the logistics yourself.
There are also pros and cons to this approach. On one hand, it is easy and low risk as you aren’t investing in inventory upfront, and you don’t have to worry about any of the fulfillment processes. However, there may be some uncertainty around demand for your products, and it can be hard to stand out from the crowd.
Another downside is that it may be a little bit less profitable than making your own products, as you usually have to pay a commission to the platform that you’re selling on, as well as pay the listing fees on Etsy.
Conclusion
So if you want a business that’s a little bit more unique, go with the option of creating the products yourself and shipping them out. On the other hand, if you’re only worried about making money, print on demand could work, but you’re going to have to find a way to seperate yourself from the pack.
