Do you want to sell your artwork online? We’re sure many have been dreaming of making a living by selling prints of their artwork. Whether it’s a full-time venture or something to satisfy your hobby, it’s a dream come true. Who wouldn’t want their work hanging on the walls of strangers in cities they’ve never been to? If you have no idea how to do this, guess what? Getting started on selling art prints online may not be as difficult as it seems.
If you’re new to the practice of “dropshipping“, you may not be aware that you can also sell artwork online. The term print-on-demand is often used in place of this business model and has grown in popularity over the years. It describes businesses that only print and distribute products once a customer places an order. With this method, you won’t have to deal with inventory or experience any losses from unsold merchandise.
In this article, we’ll go through the basics of print-on-demand and how you can best use them for selling your art.
How Can I Dropship Art Prints?
Anyone can dropship art prints from different marketplaces such as Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, Shipstation, and so much more. You can integrate these marketplaces with your chosen print-in-demand supplier. Here at Lumaprints, we offer several wall print formats such as canvas, framed canvas, metal, fine art paper, and peel-and-stick prints. Print-on-demand suppliers will print the products after your buyer initiates a purchase and ship them straight to the customer. This is known as dropshipping.
Related: Integrate your Store with Lumaprints
8 Steps on How to Start Print on Demand Dropshipping
1. Register with a print-on-demand website
To begin selling your art prints, you must register with at least one print-on-demand company, like Lumaprints. The company will handle processing orders, printing things, and sending them out to clients. You should choose reputable POD sites because your company’s success and customer satisfaction will be heavily dependent on them. When it comes to print-on-demand services, one of your best options is Lumaprints. We offer ease of use and the best customer service for newbies and professionals alike. Whether you’re a new or established store, we have your best interest in mind – growth and success.
2. Select a platform to sell on
Already decided on a platform to sell your work? Great! If not, don’t worry. There are plenty of platforms and marketplaces at your disposal. When joining a POD site, it is one of the factors to take into account, as not all of them offer the same functionality. Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and Wix are a few popular platforms with integrated services.
If you are entirely new to print-on-demand and e-commerce, it’s a good idea to try out Etsy. This online marketplace is a good place to start for beginners – we’re even available as a print-on-demand partner for it. Other e-commerce platforms require a more in-depth understanding of website management and traffic generation. Every user has their own experience and recommendations, so be sure to check them out.
3. Create the wall art yourself or hire a professional.
After you’ve planned out your business strategy, the next step is to make the wall art you’ll be selling. Canva, Snappa, or Photoshop, are a few of the tools you may use to design stunning art prints from scratch. Since there is always a market for anything, choosing what you will be creating is entirely up to your imagination. Alternatively, you could manually draw/paint your art and then digitize it or save it as a digital file.
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A different option is to commission designers from Fiverr or Upwork. Additionally, you have the choice to pay other artists for the elements you plan to use in your projects. You may find top-quality artwork for commercial use on 99designs, Creative Market, Shutterstock, and Envato Elements. The commercial license from Envato is forever!
4. Add designs to products that can be printed on demand.
Export your creations as high-quality PNG files as soon as they are finished. JPEG files work fine as well. Prior to creating the designs, make sure to check the size specifications of the intended products for optimum outcomes. Information about the file size and dimensions is typically given in the product description. This guarantees that your wall art prints are printed in excellent quality and that buyers are satisfied with their purchases.
Not sure which item to select for your dropship art prints? We offer the following fantastic choices for your wall art prints designs:
5. Integrate your product and its price with your store.
You can only integrate a product into your shop (Etsy, Shopify, etc.) once you’ve linked the store to your POD account. POD platforms enable the integration of many stores at once, enabling you to sync these products to various stores as well.
6. Add a payment method to your profile.
When an order is placed through your online store, you ought to sync your chosen POD supplier and be notified of the order along with the transaction details. Before your provider prints and ships the item, you must pay for the item’s price and delivery cost to your customer’s address. With dropshipping, you don’t even need to leave your room to see orders fulfilled.
You must register a default payment method in your account before you may process orders. Most will need a credit or debit card, and some allow you to add a wallet balance from PayPal. Anyhow, before charging anything to your card, the balance will be taken off first. If you enable automatic fulfillment, orders can be paid without you having to complete a manual checkout process each time.
7. Promote your business to draw in customers.
Now that everything is set up, you can start making sales! It is advisable to stock your store with at least 100 items to make it appear more legitimate—because it is—a real business. Once you have enough inventory, don’t expect overnight success. But don’t get discouraged either. As with any other business, marketing your business is an ongoing process.
Selling using your own online store (Shopify, Wix, Squarespace) is significantly more scalable because you own the platform. However, in order to increase traffic, you’ll need to become an expert at social media marketing and sponsored adverts (on Google, and Facebook). They don’t have a ready-made database of clients like Etsy or Amazon have, so you can’t just tap into them. Therefore, if you enjoy taking on new challenges, think about building your own unique website!
Learn more about different marketing strategies here.
8. Generate consistent revenue, expand, and allow discounts
If you sell enough products, you may be eligible for discounts on several of the POD platforms. The best way to avoid confusion is to sign up for only one or two at a time. You’ll still get orders, but they will come from only that one source. It takes time to attract consumers, establish a record of positive reviews, and encourage repeat business. But if you’re committed to it long-term, all exerted effort and time spent will be worth it. Consistency is key!
To sum up…
Print-on-demand is the best option if you’re planning to create an online store to dropship wall art prints. It’s a simple business to set up from the comfort of your home, making it ideal for busy people or those who are just starting out in business. This is the fastest and easiest way to get your designs out there, and more importantly, in front of your customers. No approach will work 100% of the time, but it’s always a learning experience, and never a waste of time. If nothing else, your experimentation and attempts will hone your artistic eye and help you learn something new about yourself and your art. And once you begin doing print-on-demand, you’ll have a running start for the rest of your artistic career.
There’s no doubt that choosing the right POD company for your needs is a crucial decision, but it’s one that doesn’t have to be overwhelming or confusing, so don’t forget to check out Lumaprints and see what we have to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Is it possible to dropship wall art prints?
Answer: Canvas, framed canvas, metal prints, fine art paper, and peel-and-stick prints are examples of wall art that consumers can dropship using print-on-demand. You may quickly sell wall art at an online store by uploading a design to a POD product. Prior to a fulfillment company printing and sending out an order, you must pay the product cost plus shipping fees when an order is placed.
Question: Is Shopify compatible with dropshipping wall art prints?
Answer: Shopify users can dropship art prints using print-on-demand. Become a member of any print-on-demand gallery like Lumaprints that integrates Shopify and sells art prints. Create goods with designs, then connect them with your Shopify store. You won’t have to do anything to have your orders filled by the POD company.
Question: Is Lumaprints a decent place to buy wall art prints?
Answer: Lumaprints is fantastic for selling wall art prints like canvas, metal prints, peel-and-stick prints, and more. You can connect with different e-commerce websites and choose from a variety of products where your wall art design can be printed. We have the expertise, tools, and right team to handle your designs. We also have a passion for offering some of the best products at affordable prices. Our unrivaled customer service and high-quality standards ensure your satisfaction throughout the process.