3 Major Challenges You Face to Run a Successful Print on Demand Store
Although amazon print on demand has many advantages, it is not all fun and games. Like any other business model, it has its fair share of shortcomings for your print on demand business. In print on demand Amazon business, you may face some challenges:
- You have almost no control over products, inventory, shipping, delivery time, customization or prices.
- Each product purchased by the customer is shipped in a separate box, which can be inconvenient for the customer and increase the shipping cost.
- Print-on-demand Amazon is notorious for quality control issues, and you won’t see any products before sending them to customers, so you can’t manually check for quality issues.
- If your supplier goes out of stock, there is nothing you can do about it.
- Customer service questions are more difficult to address because you do not have visibility in most processes.
- Many prints on-demand Amazon suppliers are overseas, meaning delivery times can be longer. Customers can wait more than a month to place an order to deliver something.
- Compensation is more difficult to manage.
- You do not have the access required to post.
There is a lot of competition in print on demand Amazon, so it cannot differentiate itself. And the worst part is that if you keep an inventory yourself, you will see a much lower profit than you.
- Challenges related to print on demand business model
There are many good reasons to pursue drop shipping amazon as a business model, but you should always remember a trade-off. Fewer barriers to access and ease of entry into print on demand Amazon stores come at the expense of more control and more profits. You have to decide what you want from your business and choose based on your personal goals.
One model is definitely no better than another, and you can try a few different strategies before finding out what really works for you. Are you looking for a solution to store and ship your products seamlessly? There is print on demand service providers who can be your partner.
If you don’t have a lot of money, then print-on-demand services is a great way to start a business. However, you may select to change your business model later, or you may decide that print on demand Amazon is not consistent with your goals for your company. However, if you are looking for options, one idea may be more important to you than the other.
Buying products at wholesale prices and completing them yourself is more expensive than before, but you will be able to make more profit on each sale. You can reduce shipping costs, provide a more personalized shopping experience for your customers, and ensure the quality of everything that is shipped. You will continue to receive your products from the same supplier and save money by placing bulk orders instead.
Also Read: How to sell your print on demand products on Amazon?
2. Challenges related to marketing
Once you set up a print on demand Amazon business, you will get bored of seeing just a few sales over and over again. If you want your business to grow (and grow), you need to start advertising! Marketing is at the heart of all successful print on demand Amazon companies, but if you’ve never done this before, it can be overwhelming. There are many different ways to advertise online stores, and you can use them all, some of them or just one! Suppose you want something that works for you, your product and your business model. In that case, you should dedicate all your energy to it instead of focusing your attention on too many advertising channels.
Here are some marketing ideas to get you started:
- YouTube promotion
- Performance effective marketing
- Traditional advertising (print, television advertising, etc.)
- Content marketing
- The word “buzz” or word of mouth marketing
- Partnerships with other businesses
- Influence marketing
- Social media marketing
- Search engine marketing
Most of the disadvantages associated with print on demand Amazon include the lack of control that the business owner receives over their supplier’s inventory. So, you can overcome many of these problems by managing your inventory.
3. Challenges to Manage your stock
Managing your own stock can be a challenge. To ensure your success, you must have a solid understanding of demand planning, inventory management, and order strategies. There are more obvious costs, and mistakes can bring big results to your business. The more rewards, the more risk comes with, finally. But if there was a way to get the best of both options: both the convenience of print on demand Amazon and the benefit of managing your own list?
If you control your own inventory, you’ll have a new opportunity to help manage orders online and fulfilments: Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Warehouse. 3PLs offer you the same features as an online print on demand, as you won’t have to worry about storing goods or shipping products yourself, but with a lot more permissions. Your customers can enjoy more customization and shorter shipping time, while you can reap the rewards of entering into a personal agreement with a competitive fulfilment company. This will save you efforts and free up your time to continue expanding your business.
In addition to the standard warehouse process, we also offer a range of value-added services that you may not get from the print on demand Amazon process. These services are:
- Select and complete
- Kitting and assembly
- Reverse logistics services
- Product out of stock
- And much more!
Some companies offer competitive prices and excellent customer service, so you can just relax and have professionals take care of everything. We will treat your business with that proper care and efficiency so that you can relax knowing that your inventory is in good hands. You can browse different print on demand companies online and can review their reviews for an informed decision.
As you move away from the print on demand products process and start managing your inventory, turn to Shirtee to become your trusted partner.
