Shopify New Store Product Selection Guide: Tips & Print-on-Demand (POD) Customization Recommendations

Shopify New Store Product Selection Guide: Tips & Print-on-Demand (POD) Customization Recommendations

Opening a new store on Shopify and considering the print-on-demand (POD) business model? You're stepping into a vibrant marketplace where understanding how to select the right products is crucial for your success. Today, we’re diving into the essentials of product selection and managing your store through the print-on-demand (POD) business model. This guide is your first step towards e-commerce success, focusing on what sells and how to stand out.

Preparing your Shopify store for product selection

Essential steps for Product Selection in a new Shopify store:

1. Market Research and Analysis: Dive deep into your target market. Understand consumer demands, buying habits, and trending patterns. This knowledge helps you pinpoint what products will fly off the shelves.

2. Competitor Analysis: Scope out your competitors. What are they selling? At what price? How are their customer reviews? This insight helps you carve out your competitive edge.

3. Industry Trends: Stay updated with industry shifts, hot products, and consumer preferences. This proactive approach helps you stock up on potential best-sellers ahead of time.

4. Deciding on Product Categories: Before setting your heart on a product category, make sure it’s compliant with Shopify’s rules. Know what’s off-limits to sell.

5. Supply Chain Assessment: Evaluate your supply chain capabilities. Opt for products that are within your logistical reach to ensure stable supply and cost control. Platforms like PrintKK can also support your cross-border print-on-demand (POD) products needs.

6. Profit Margin Considerations: Factor in costs, pricing, and expected profits. Ensure your chosen products offer sufficient margins to withstand market competition and operational risks.

Understanding Shopify’s rules: avoid prohibited products

Shopify restricts the sale of certain items, including:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Tobacco and related products
• Weapons
• Solvents
• Drugs
• Gaming currencies
• High-demand products like masks and sanitizers

Key considerations for Product Selection on Shopify

1. Shipping: Clearly state expected shipping times on your site and advise customers against ordering if they can’t accept potential delays.

2. Suppliers: Look beyond platforms like AliExpress. Consider Amazon, Etsy, BestBuy, eBay, Walmart, and niche e-commerce platforms that offer quick logistics.

3. Pricing and Profit Margins: Keep product prices under $50. Typically, the higher the price, the more hesitant customers become. Aim for a cost-price ratio where the selling price is about three times the cost of the product, ensuring you cover marketing expenses and maintain a healthy profit margin.

Shopify Store Product Selection Tips

1. Data Analysis: Use tools and market reports to analyze trends, search keywords, and customer behavior to uncover potential opportunities.

2. Social Media and Influencer Insights: Keep an eye on social media trends and influencer recommendations to tap into the latest consumer preferences.

3. Focus on Quality and Reputation: Quality is key to winning customer trust. Ensure your products are up to par in terms of quality and supported by reliable customer service.

4. Differentiation Strategy: In a competitive market, differentiation is key. Offer unique, innovative products or customize existing ones to meet personalized customer needs.

5. Regular Updates: The market and consumer demands evolve. Regularly update your product line based on performance and feedback to keep your store fresh and competitive.

Top print on demand(POD) custom products for 2024

Consider these print on demand(POD) products to add uniqueness and customization to your store:

1. Custom Home Decor

Items like custom wall murals, which can be produced cost-effectively through digital printing, are popular. They allow customization and have a broad market appeal.

In recent years, the most popular in the category to say custom wall art (especially Custom Wallpaper). Wall art is a kind of decorative interior decoration, which can be presented in the form of painting, photo, printing and so on. The advantage of selling them on Shopify is that they can be produced through digital printing technology, at a relatively low cost, and have a broad global market.

2. Custom Sports & Outdoor Gear

Such as custom sports headscarves, sweatbands, sleeves, masks and other outdoor operating supplies, and custom skateboards cater to a youthful audience and reflect personal style.

Especially in combination with fashion and personalized custom skateboards, for specific groups of people, more depends on the degrees of freedom. The print-on-demand (POD) business model can be solved better Flexible market testing and sales operations on the Shopify platform.

This nicely explains why so many e-commerce sellers specializing in custom skateboards on PrintKK opt for the POD model.

As the sports and outdoor goods audience on Shopify in the US markets tends to skew younger, e-commerce sellers primarily target the under-25, young, single demographic. To better align with customer preferences and reduce operational risks in their stores, print on demand skateboards are an excellent choice.

3. Custom Canvas Prints

Cushions and canvas bags are popular on Shopify, offering both style and personalization.

Throw pillows and canvas bags are very popular categories in fabric prints on the Shopify platform, and they are also a very popular and stylish and personalized choice. They are suitable for production in a variety of patterns, prints and themes to meet the tastes and needs of different consumers. Because the pillows and canvas bags are relatively light and the transportation cost is low, print on demand canvas prints are suitable for sales in the POD mode on the head e-commerce platform such as Shopify.

4. Custom Gifts

Items like gift boxes, candy jars, and mugs are perfect for various occasions and can be easily personalized.

From our survey data, among the popular small gifts on the Shopify platform, mugs are one of the most common POD creative daily necessities. It is often easier to embody personalization, as well as rich design and function, can be used to drink coffee, tea or other beverages. They are relatively lightweight, easy to transport and suitable for international express delivery. On the Shopify platform, buyers can be attracted by personalized customization and creative design.

5. Custom Jewelrys & Accessories

Small items like phone cases and keychains are favorites among many, especially for their personalization potential.

Small accessories such as keychains are also popular with young audiences on the platform. Key chains are small accessories. They are usually made of metal, plastic, rubber and other materials. The shapes are diverse and suitable for personalized customization. The advantage of selling keychains on the Shopify platform is that they are lightweight, compact and can be shipped quickly and cheaply across the globe, while being loved by consumer groups such as young people and travelers.

Launching your Shopify store is an exciting journey filled with potential. By understanding and adhering to platform rules, carefully selecting products, and choosing the right suppliers, you’re setting yourself up for success. Dive in, and start curating products that resonate with your audience and keep them coming back for more!

FAQs about setting up a print on demand(POD) Shopify store

Q: What do I need to start a POD Shopify store?

A: To start, you'll need a Shopify account, a niche or product idea, and a partnership with a POD supplier that integrates with Shopify, like Printful or Printify.

Q: How do I choose the right POD supplier?

A: Look for suppliers with high-quality product offerings, reliable shipping, and seamless integration with Shopify. Reading reviews and testing products can help you make an informed decision.

Q: Can I sell products globally with a POD Shopify store?

A: Yes, most POD suppliers offer international shipping, allowing you to sell globally. However, consider shipping costs and delivery times, which can vary significantly between regions.

Q: How long does it take to fulfill and ship POD products?

A: Fulfillment times can vary. Typically, it takes 2-7 days for a product to be printed and shipped. Always communicate these timelines to your customers to manage expectations.

Q: What are the best marketing strategies for a POD Shopify store?

A: Utilize social media marketing, influencer collaborations, and email marketing to reach your target audience effectively. SEO optimization for your store can also attract more organic traffic.