The custom apparel market is expected to grow by $2.17 billion from 2024 to 2028, while the personalized gifts market is projected to exceed $38.66 billion by 2027. This surge in demand for product customization and product personalization presents a powerful opportunity to expand your offerings without the burden of managing inventory.
Personalized products are a strong engagement driver as customers increasingly seek unique items that reflect their style and personality.
We’ll walk you through the essential steps to start a print-on-demand business with eCommerce product customization and introduce Printify’s personalization feature and its numerous benefits.
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What is product customization?
With customization, you provide customers with finished custom products in a range of options – colors, materials, scents, sizes, and additional features.
A common example includes clothing or home decor companies offering t-shirts or throws in different custom designs or candles in various aromas to offer customers variety.
Customized products aim to meet customer preferences while offering unique styling options within set parameters.
How customization works
Customers will interact with product customization software or a selection tool to choose fixed options from a list of product features, such as colors, scents, and sizes.
This lets customers purchase a customizable product that aligns with their tastes and needs.
Benefits of product customization:
- Individual style: Consumers can select products that reflect their preferences, increasing customer loyalty.
- Greater variety: The ability to choose product details enhances the variety and perceived value of your online store, granting a competitive edge.
- Less returns: Custom products meet specific requirements that enhance customer satisfaction.
What is product personalization?
With personalization, companies tailor a product for an individual using personal data, such as the customer’s name, photo, or initials.
These items are designed from a customer’s own prompt.
Personalized experiences aim to create a deeper connection with the customer by integrating elements unique to them.
How personalization works
Personalization puts the power in your customers’ hands. Give them the option to add their initials, names, important dates, or even a picture to your custom product designs.
Benefits of product personalization:
- Exclusivity: Personalized items feel special and unique, giving more perceived value for customers to pay extra.
- Sentimentality: A personalized product fosters a deeper, more memorable connection with your brand.
- Tailored choice: Customers feel more inclined to buy when products are individually tailored to them.
- Higher perceived value: Customers are often ready to spend more on products tailored to their specific needs and tastes.
Product customization vs product personalization
Both online product customization and personalization empower customers to make items uniquely theirs, but they work in different ways.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the main differences:
| Feature | Product personalization | Product customization |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Adds unique elements using customer information like names or pictures. | Allows customers to choose from various defined options to shape product features. |
| Example | Embroidering a name on a hat, adding a personal picture to a tote bag. | Choosing from existing features like the color and fabric of a sweatshirt. |
| Customer effort | Moderate – customers provide their info to personalize the final product. | Minimal – customers choose from a list of customization options based on their preferences. |
| Purpose | Creates a sense of exclusivity and sentimentality through personal elements. | Provides control over specific aspects to suit consumers’ personal style or needs. |
| Application | Popular for gifts, personal memorabilia, special occasions, or commemorative products. | Common in clothing, furniture, and tech products where customization options enhance utility. |
Both customization and personalization improve customer experience. However, personalization is more about sentimental value, while selling customized products focuses on practicality and choice.
How to sell print-on-demand products with Printify
Starting a print-on-demand business with Printify is the best way to create and sell products with the full advantages of product customization and personalization.
Explore the process with our robust Product Creator and global Print Providers to start offering customization and personalization with automated fulfillment.
With Printify’s personalization feature, you can cater to individual preferences and approve unique design elements directly from bespoke customer requests.
Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Find a niche
A niche zeroes in on a specific audience within a broader market, helping you focus on product customization and personalization that align with unique customer interests.
Understanding what makes a niche can clarify your ideal product direction.
For example, if you’re planning to sell unique products in the fashion industry, pick a niche like custom baby clothing, back-to-school apparel, or sports team uniforms.
Tools like Google Trends, Semrush, and eRank are great helpers for narrowing down a market.
Take note of seasonal opportunities within your niche. In September 2024, “personalized trick or treat bags” was the fourth most-searched term on Etsy, and by November, “personalized gifts” replaced it, showing the potential for niche products tailored to specific occasions.
Research your audience:
Start by identifying your niche’s demographics, such as age, location, and interests. Then, think about what your target customers value in a product – are they seeking high-quality materials, unique designs, or affordability?
Examining the purchasing habits of your audience helps, too. For instance, some may prioritize sustainable products, while others are drawn to trendy designs.
Analyze your competition:
Identify established brands and small businesses offering similar customized or personalized products. Study their product range, design styles, and approach to customization – do they focus on simple or more versatile designs?
Look at their pricing strategy to gauge what customers are willing to pay and see if there’s room for competitive pricing or additional features to offer. This helps you spot gaps in the market, like a lack of specific personalization features.
Step 2: Select and customize products
The Printify Product Creator is one of the best free product customization software – making it easy to turn your ideas into high-quality, custom merchandise.
Designed for both beginners and experienced sellers, it lets you upload and apply your designs to over 1,000 products, generate realistic mockups, and refine everything with intuitive editing tools.
Core benefits of the Product Creator:
- Free and beginner-friendly: Accessible to anyone without additional cost or specialized skills.
- High-resolution templates and mockups: Preview and use lifelike product images for listings and quality design assets.
- Robust product configurator: Add text, layer multiple elements, and utilize our AI Image Generator for unique designs.
How to customize products with Printify
- Create a Printify Account: Sign up for a free Printify account to access the Product Creator and full catalog.
- Explore the Catalog: Choose products that fit your brand, from hoodies to mugs, and explore various colors, materials, and sizes.
- Apply your design: Upload your design, customize the placement, and enable color and style options directly in the Product Creator.
How to enable personalization with Printify
Offer personalization on any Printify product by adding a placeholder design.
When a customer places a personalized order, you’ll need to approve and apply personalizations before sending it to production. Each order will display as “Personalizable” on your Printify dashboard.
Discover our best personalization picks and start offering unique products your customers will love.
Learn how to personalize with Printify:
- How to set up a personalizable product
- How Printify’s personalization feature works
- Managing orders with personalized products
Always order product samples to assess quality and design accuracy before launching your products for sale.
Step 3: Pick a sales channel
Choosing the best sales channel for your customizable products helps you reach the right audience and maximize your business potential.
Printify integrates with numerous platforms, from a marketplace like Etsy to an eCommerce platform like Shopify. Explore our guide on the best sites to sell online for a more in-depth look.
Our team continually works to improve and enhance ease and functionality, especially for personalized products, so you can achieve optimal customer satisfaction.
Enhance personalization with third-party tools
To further streamline personalization, integrate with third-party apps directly through the Printify dashboard.
We offer multiple product configuration tools so customers can preview and customize products directly from your store:
- HelloCustom (for Etsy): Offers a seamless experience for personalized orders with a 14-day free trial.
- Customily (for Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, BigCommerce): Allows live previews for customer personalization.
- Anywhere POD (for Etsy and Shopify): Enables full personalization options across platforms with mockup templates.
Step 4: Create a store
A well-crafted store layout not only attracts visitors but also encourages conversions. Whether you’re using a website builder or setting up a marketplace, it’s crucial to offer a smooth, user-friendly experience.
Start by selecting elements that reflect your brand, focusing on visual appeal and easy navigation. Use clear, high-quality images of your products, and organize categories logically for effortless browsing.
Follow these tips to make your eCommerce business stand out:
- Feature branded visuals: Use consistent branding, including logo placements and color schemes, to create a recognizable look.
- Highlight product customization: Clearly communicate personalization options on product pages, making it easy for customers to add their own touch.
- Include customer testimonials: Genuine reviews and social proof help boost credibility and encourage new buyers.
Step 5: Price your products and start selling
Calculate your production costs, including design and shipping fees, and decide on a markup that gives you a healthy profit margin. Consider market competitiveness while also covering your expenses.
When setting product prices, take into account:
- Competitive analysis: Look at similar products in your niche and position your prices to balance value and profit.
- Customer value perception: Adjust your prices according to the level of customization, as personalized products can justify a premium price.
- Seasonal promotions: Offering limited-time discounts or bundling deals can attract more buyers and drive sales without compromising your regular pricing strategy.
Once everything’s ready, publish the products to your store and promote them across social media, newsletters, and content marketing channels to reach your target audience.
Tips for success in selling customized products
When creating a print-on-demand store offering product customization or personalization, consider these strategies to improve your sales.
Do competitor research:
Analyze similar businesses to understand their products, pricing, and customer engagement tactics. Browse popular stores within your niche on marketplaces like Etst to identify gaps in the market or customization features that can set you apart to establish a unique selling point.
Choose the right pricing strategy:
Set competitive yet profitable prices. Research your niche and the elements that form the final pricing, and position your prices attractively to improve conversion rates while still covering business costs.
Use realistic, high-quality mockups:
Visuals are key to online sales. Create lifelike mockups using Printify’s product customization software to accurately represent your product design, build trust, and avoid product return issues.
Leverage social media for marketing:
Social platforms are perfect for showcasing customized products. Engage with your audience by sharing new designs, encouraging user-generated content, and running seasonal promotions to add value to your customized goods.
Optimize for SEO:
Improve visibility by using SEO when listing titles, customizable product descriptions, and images. Use tools like eRank to spot niche-specific keywords, and target them to rank higher on search engines, driving organic traffic to your store for increased sales.
Analyze your results:
Regularly track orders, feedback on your customized product, and engagement metrics to refine your strategies. Use analytics tools like Google Trends, Semrush, and Google Analytics to identify trends and improve your customizable products, marketing efforts, and pricing to drive growth.
Final thoughts
Selling customizable products using Printify’s product customizer software and automated fulfillment model is a scalable and rewarding way to grow a business.
Leverage our user-friendly eCommerce product personalization features and team up with our Print Providers to offer customized products that truly resonate.
Allowing customers to add a personal touch not only makes your store unforgettable – it improves your competitive edge for increased sales and a memorable customer experience.
