Cafe Press: Print-On-Demand Stores

Posted by Michelle Harrington on Sep 11th, 2008

Interested in showcasing or selling your images, designs or logo on apparel or gift items online?  CafePress.com is a great low-cost option for print on demand services.  You can set up your own CafePress site using one of their customizable templates (or build your own if you are so inclined) to feature your favorite photographs, designs, artwork or logo.  Easily upload your image files to be sold on a large variety of novelty items such as greeting cards, Tshirts, aprons, hats, mugs, clocks. mousepads, posters and more.   You choose how to mark up the items for sale, as each item has a base price for the cost of the product and the printing. CafePress.com takes care of the online order processing, printing, order fulfillment and shipping.

The CafePress user interface is fairly easy to use and an online store can be created quite quickly if you have your artwork/designs already prepared.  I suggest making categories of your various designs and/or products if you plan on having a large selection of items for sale, as it makes it easier for visitors to find what they want and helps you keep your items organized. You can order your own products at cost plus shipping to give as gifts to friends, family or business associates.  Make sure if you do plan on distributing your CafePress.com products in person that you make small hang tags, cards or labels with the URL of your CafePress.com store so recipients know where to go to buy more if they want to.  You can also buy a domain name and forward it to your CafePress.com store for easier and more direct branding.

CafePress.com offers a free version as well as an upgrade for a full-featured version of it’s store builder for around $65/year.  Be sure to tag your designs and products appropriately and descriptively (keywords) so that you get the benefit of having your products show up in the search results on CafePress.com and in Google.  Don’t forget to cross link your CafePress store to your other website or blog too.

I recently helped Paul Reynolds set up his CafePress.com store featuring the designs of his illustrated characters, the Tsumo Bros.  Click here to check out Paul’s Tsumo Bros Store, It’s a Sumo Life.

If you are interested in starting your own online store and need some help getting started, please contact me.

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Author | Michelle Harrington of Emagine Web Marketing
Michelle is a web development and internet marketing professional dedicated to helping small businesses in Hawaii achieve success online. Michelle provides free advice, tips and how to's on the Small Business Internet Marketing Blog.

One Response

1. Ben Waugh says:

   September 11, 2008 at 7:00 pm

   I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.