Bad prints, late deliveries, endless complaints – when Turkish entrepreneur Buğrahan Yıldırım started his printing business, everything that could go wrong did. But rather than giving up, he embraced automation and Print on Demand.
Today, his print-on-demand business spans five continents, generating steady profits while running almost entirely on autopilot.
What’s more remarkable isn’t just the turnaround – it’s how he achieved it without extensive technical knowledge or even leaving his home country. His story proves that with the right tools and mindset, you don’t need a Silicon Valley address to succeed in the global marketplace.
Hi, Buğrahan. Before we dive into your business success, tell us about your journey. How did it all begin?
“I was born and raised in Istanbul, Türkiye, where I completed both my undergraduate and graduate education in business administration.
My career path is unique because I’ve shaped it by combining my business and marketing knowledge with my deep interest in art and design.
My life is pretty diverse when it comes to interests. I’m constantly working on eCommerce projects. When I’m not doing that, you’ll find me staying active through sports, expressing myself through design and art, or writing stories.
I’m also an avid reader, always searching for new business ideas. Both business and digital design have become integral parts of my life.”
That’s quite a mix of interests! How did you end up turning them into a printing business?
“I started my business in Türkiye by printing my designs and sending them directly to customers. I focused on posters, canvases, and similar decorative products, all produced through local printing houses. However, what seemed straightforward at first quickly became complicated with numerous challenges.
The biggest issue was maintaining consistent quality in production. Each printing house delivered different results, making it incredibly difficult to maintain standards. Beyond that, each new order’s production and packaging processes demanded serious time and energy – trying to keep up with everything was exhausting.
The real challenge, however, arose on the shipping side as I worked to grow the business. Orders would either arrive late or show up damaged. This situation had a major negative impact on customer satisfaction, leading to numerous returns and complaints. It became clear that I needed to find a more sustainable solution for my business to survive.”
It sounds like you were at a breaking point. What turned things around for you?
“I discovered Printify around that time, and it completely changed everything. Thanks to the platform, I could fully automate production and shipping processes. My products are now printed by production centers closest to my customers’ locations and shipped quickly. This has significantly reduced quality issues and delays.
Printify’s manufacturer network lets me easily switch between producers in different regions while maintaining consistent, high-quality prints. Since implementing this change, my business has run much more smoothly.
I’m extremely pleased with Printify’s automation and operational convenience. It allows me to focus more on design and marketing to grow my business. In short, Printify was truly a savior when my Turkish business was about to collapse due to operational difficulties.”
Which markets have been most receptive to your products? What motivated your decision to sell internationally?
“My primary markets are the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. These countries have shown particularly strong interest in art prints. The response from these regions has been consistently positive.
I decided to go international for two main reasons: to reach a larger market and to earn income in foreign currency. The high purchasing power in foreign markets gives us a significant advantage in reaching a wider customer base.
What I particularly enjoy about selling internationally is how it keeps me on my toes – following trends across different countries inspires my work and constantly pushes me to improve and evolve.”
As someone from Türkiye, did you find the language barrier challenging when selling internationally?
“I’ve found that even a beginner’s level of English is sufficient for running a successful POD business internationally. Most of our sales communication happens through messages, and with today’s technology, language barriers are becoming less of an issue.
Modern translation tools and AI-supported software have simplified customer communication. I particularly appreciate how these tools help me stay current with global trends and create new POD products.
The combination of basic English skills and these technological aids means that language shouldn’t be a barrier for anyone looking to enter the international POD market. These tools have leveled the field for non-native English speakers.”
You mentioned how Printify changed your business. What makes it particularly effective for sellers in Türkiye?
“Printify has proven to be an exceptional solution for sellers like me, particularly those of us based in Türkiye. The worldwide network of Print Providers enables us to offer fast and cost-effective solutions across different markets.
I particularly value the seamless integration with major platforms like Etsy and Shopify, which makes managing sales transactions incredibly efficient. The automatic order management system has simplified our entire supply chain process and saved me considerable time and money.
Honestly, the biggest advantage of working with Printify is its Support Team. When shipping problems or product issues come up, there’s always a team that genuinely wants to help. This support matters when you’re running an international business from Türkiye.”
What advice would you give to other Turkish entrepreneurs starting with Printify?
“My main advice to anyone starting this journey is to cultivate patience and consistency. Success doesn’t happen overnight in POD. Before diving in, it’s crucial to identify your niche market and maintain a laser focus on that area.
One thing that’s helped is using automation tools to make my business processes smoother and faster. Keep an eye on what your competitors are doing, create products that match what’s trending, and always pay attention to what your customers are telling you.
I see people getting caught up in chasing quick sales and big numbers right away. That’s not the way to go. Focus on the long run, believe in what you’re building, and keep moving forward steadily.”
That’s solid advice about patience. How long was your own journey to profitability?
“The journey to profits wasn’t overnight. I spent the first few months diving into market research and trying to understand what customers wanted.
After that, I started seeing sales gradually pick up, and it took about 6 to 12 months before I was making steady profits.
Sure, I hit some rough patches along the way – that’s just part of building a business. But by staying patient and learning from each challenge, I kept improving and growing.”
The financial side of international business can be tricky. How do you handle payments from all these different markets?
“Managing international payments can be challenging, especially since we can’t use PayPal in Türkiye. But I’ve found ways around it.
I mainly use Etsy Payments for my Etsy store and Payoneer for eBay sales. These platforms make it straightforward to receive money from customers worldwide.
The key is to keep a close eye on every transaction – I track all my transfers carefully to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
You use a lot of automation in your business. How did AI become such a big part of your operation?
“My journey with AI began simply – I used it for writing product descriptions and managing SEO. But once I saw how helpful it was, I started exploring more. Now, I use tools like Midjourney to create visuals and Make.com to automate different parts of my business.
Automation handles all those repetitive tasks that used to eat up my time. Things like processing customer orders and managing social media now happen automatically, and there are fewer mistakes than when I did everything manually. It’s freed me up to focus on the creative side of things.
The combination of AI and automation has significantly improved my marketing. I can develop better campaigns and connect with customers more effectively.
What I appreciate most about working with AI is how it continues to help me grow – I’ve discovered new product ideas and business opportunities I hadn’t considered before. Each time I use these tools, I learn something new that helps expand my business.”
What convinced you to transition from traditional design methods to AI-assisted creation?
“The speed of AI in design changed everything for me. Tasks that used to take hours or even days with traditional methods now take just minutes. This lets me test out many different ideas quickly – if something doesn’t work, I can immediately try another approach.
I really enjoy how AI lets me mix different styles and concepts. Imagine blending independent art movements into a piece like, cute cat-themed wall decor – I’m sure you’ll want to hang it in your room.”
Given your extensive experience with AI, what common pitfalls should other sellers be aware of?
“I always tell people not to rely too heavily on AI – you need to add your own personal touch to stand out. While AI is a great tool, it shouldn’t be doing all the creative work.
I study what other sellers are doing to build my visual style and understand what works.
Yes, AI helps with the creative process, but ultimately, creating original and personalized content is what brings long-term success. You can’t just generate designs and hope they’ll sell.
Listening to customers and using their feedback to improve your work with AI is important. The technology is there to support your creativity, not replace it.”
Tell us about your biggest win so far – what’s been your most successful product line?
“One of my biggest successes has been a series of posters and canvases inspired by vintage artworks. The collection really took off, particularly in the US and European markets. Before launching, I noticed a high search volume in this area but few competitors – it was a perfect opportunity.
I focused on creating designs that connected with people’s personal tastes, and it paid off. Rather than just following trends, I looked at what customers were actually asking for and created products matching their interests.
This approach helped build a loyal customer base that returned for more pieces from the collection. I was particularly pleased because everything worked out just as I had planned.”
Given all your success with automation and AI, what’s on the horizon for your business?
“Running my business now reminds me of what they call the ‘lightless factory’ in Industry 4.0 – everything from production to shipping runs smoothly with minimal human input. It’s amazing to see how the whole process works almost independently.
Looking ahead, I want to build on this foundation. My main focus is developing even better automation systems while making sure our customers have the best possible experience. I’m particularly excited about expanding our personalized product offerings.
When customers feel that a product was made especially for them, they’re more likely to come back, and that’s exactly what we want. I plan to use AI design tools to offer more customization options.
Geographic expansion is also high on my list. I want to reach customers in new markets we haven’t tapped into yet. The goal is to keep growing while maintaining the same level of service and quality that got us here. There’s still so much potential to explore, and I’m ready to take on these new challenges.”
