Do you have ambitions to sell apparel online, but don't know where to start? Perhaps you have plans of launching a clothing brand but don't want to take on the risk – and hassle – of producing, storing, and shipping your own merchandise.
SPOD is a print-on-demand company that makes creating and selling new products easier than ever. With just a few clicks, you can have a full-fledged apparel section on your website with your own unique designs.
Keep on reading to discover how you can leverage this software tool to start selling one-of-a-kind clothing items that take your online business to the next level.
What is SPOD? 🚀
In a nutshell, SPOD is a dropshipping print-on-demand service with more than 20 years of manufacturing experience. They have a catalog of 200+ items – from t-shirts to hoodies to tank tops and beyond – that they make readily available to merchants like yourself. In terms of customization, these are the canvases upon which you can get as creative as you want.
With the functionality of their app, you are able to whip up designs that speak directly to your target customers. You can then throw them up on your existing storefront, and watch as the sales start flowing in – all while making use of SPOD's own products, printing equipment, and shipping facilities.
How does SPOD work? 🤔
To begin with SPOD, you first have to register on their website. They make it quick and easy to create an account, letting you provide some more details about your business and even specify where you'd like your orders to be produced (for example, either in the United States or Europe).
After completing your registration, you are then able to integrate the SPOD application with your existing Shopify storefront. You connect and sync your accounts so that data flows seamlessly between the two, and each platform is able to talk to each other when you start getting orders and it's time to print your apparel.
But before the orders come rolling in, you have to put some legwork into actually getting your designs off the ground. They have an intuitive drag-and-drop editor that lets you add images from your photo library, and make use of a whole host of pre-made assets.
This lets you craft your clothing designs without needing to be a graphic design genius, and eventually list them in your catalog where they will be available for purchase.
SPOD then takes care of fulfillment from start to finish, taking the stress of warehousing and delivery off your plate.
SPOD Key Features 🧰
The pros at SPOD are experts at what they do, but none of it would be possible without software that puts you firmly in control of your own designs. Below we highlight some of the key features of SPOD, and what they are intended to do.
Design Editor
The design editor is at the core of SPOD. It allows you to upload images and files, choose from a library of blank apparel products like sweatshirts and crop tops, and design to your heart's content. You can add text, change colors, resize logos, and more. There are 50+ free design assets to choose from, and you even get to preview what your final product looks like before committing to selling it on your site.
Order Dashboard
The order dashboard is the command center for your print-on-demand business, and lets you track which items have been purchased. It enables you to monitor stock, cancel orders, and keep a watchful eye over what still needs to get out the door. This way, you can make certain that nothing gets in between you and your relationship with your customers.
SPOD API
The SPOD API allows for more custom integration. If you have greater technical expertise, and have vision of using SPOD in a way that isn't available out-of-the-box, then leveraging their API is the way to go. It gives you more freedom and flexibility when designing your storefront, and can enhance the process of automatically sending orders from your store to SPOD.
SPOD FAQs 🙋
Can I use SPOD to sell my products globally?
Yes, they have facilities in both the US and EU, allowing you to tap into marketplaces and ship to customers around the world.
Do they support integrations with other ecommerce platforms besides Shopify?
They do. You are able to add the SPOD plugin to other platforms you might be using to sell like WooCommerce, Magento, and Squarespace.
Do they sell organic products?
They have a growing selection of clothing made using organic cotton, which you can filter on when searching the SPOD catalog.
SPOD Pros ✅
- The volume of orders they handle – producing more than 50k items daily – means they have strong purchasing power and a stellar price/quality ratio on products.
- They have lightning-quick shipping, fulfilling within 48 hours, and with half of their orders shipping in under a day.
- You only pay when you get an order, which means more funds in your bank account and healthier cash flow.
- Focus on sustainability sets them apart from “fast fashion” brands. They use water-saving production techniques, cruelty-free inks, and ship in plastic-free packaging.
SPOD Cons ❌
- Popular items can quickly sell out and become out of stock, with no guarantee when they will be replenished.
- Glitch can occur where products are no longer visible in the application itself, but still present on your storefront.
- While SPOD has strict quality assurance measures in place, and boasts a 99.3% customer satisfaction rate, the occasional misprint or production delay is not impossible.
What’re type of blanks brand does SPOD work with? 🤩
SPOD has partnerships with some of the best-known apparel brands in the business, including American Apparel, Anvil, Gildan, Hanes, and more.
What makes SPOD different? 🥇
While some other places might take ages to fulfill your orders, SPOD has fulfillment operations down to a science to ensure your orders get to your customers doors quickly. They print literally millions of items a year. This fast fulfillment time means happier customers and more chances for repeat business.
SPOD is also all about delivering prints that pop. Whether it's tote bags, accessories, or promotional gear, SPOD has cutting-edge technology that makes sure every item they create looks as good as the picture.
They also make sure connecting to your existing infrastructure is super easy, so you can link to whatever ecommerce platform you're selling on. Being able to connect in just a few clicks means you spend less time on manual effort, and are able to capitalize on new trends, build out your brand, and generate more revenue without any of the hassle.
SPOD Pricing 💰
SPOD operates on a free-to-install model. They only charge for order fulfillment and shipping, which makes it risk-free to give it a try.
Final Thoughts 🕵️♀️
If you're someone who dreams of selling apparel, but can quickly become overwhelmed by the thought of what it takes to produce your items at scale, SPOD is definitely worth considering.
It's important to recognize that a print-on-demand business, like any business, still requires thought and effort. You have to come up with compelling designs that people want to buy, and you still have to market them effectively. This means driving traffic to your store, and building buzz around your brand.
If you can get past these hurdles, though, SPOD makes manufacturing and fulfillment easier than it would be if you had to handle it all by yourself. They take care of printing, warehousing, and delivery from end-to-end, which means more products in the hands of your customers, and more profits for your business.
👉 Sign up for SPOD here.