Print on demand has exploded in popularity in recent years, and it‘s not hard to see why. This business model allows anyone to sell custom products without holding any inventory themselves. When a customer places an order, the print on demand company automatically prints the product and ships it directly to the buyer. The seller doesn‘t have to worry about manufacturing, storing inventory, or fulfilling orders.
It‘s an ideal way for artists, designers, online influencers, and entrepreneurs to monetize their creativity by selling merchandise to their fans and followers. Canada, in particular, has a thriving ecommerce and creator economy. According to a recent study, 27% of Canadian small businesses now use print on demand services.
However, not all print on demand companies are equal, especially when it comes to serving the Canadian market. To provide a great customer experience, it‘s important to choose a provider that has fulfillment centers located in Canada. This allows for faster shipping times and lower costs compared to shipping products from the US or overseas.
Other key factors to consider are the range and quality of products offered, pricing and profit margins, design tools and mockup generators, ecommerce platform integrations, customer support, and overall ease of use.
To help Canadian creators and ecommerce entrepreneurs find the best print on demand companies, we thoroughly researched and tested the top providers. Here are our in-depth reviews and recommendations for the best print on demand companies in Canada for 2024.
1. Sellfy
Sellfy is our top recommendation for beginners looking to start a print on demand business in Canada. Unlike the other companies on this list which focus solely on fulfillment, Sellfy is an all-in-one ecommerce platform that lets you create your own online store and sell print on demand products directly through it.
Getting started with Sellfy is easy. You can sign up for a free trial, choose from their library of customizable store themes, and use the intuitive drag-and-drop editor to design your storefront. Then connect a custom domain or use a free Sellfy subdomain for your store‘s URL.
Once your store is set up, you can start adding products. Sellfy has a built-in print on demand feature that‘s powered by their network of partner facilities, including one located in Toronto. They offer a wide range of products you can print your designs on, including:
- T-shirts
- Hoodies
- Tank tops
- Sweatshirts
- Long sleeve shirts
- Stickers
- Mugs
- Posters
- Hats
- Bags
- Phone cases
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Towels
- Canvases
- And more
The product design process is very intuitive. You upload your design file, select which products you want to offer it on, choose the variants (colors, sizes, etc.), and set your retail price. Sellfy provides a real-time profit calculator that shows your profit based on the retail price and base cost of each item.
When a customer orders one of your products, Sellfy automatically routes the order to the nearest fulfillment center. Your customer receives tracking info, and you don‘t have to worry about any of the logistics. Sellfy only charges you for the base cost of the product after it sells, so there‘s no upfront investment or risk.
Another advantage of Sellfy is that you have complete control over your branding and customer experience. You can customize nearly every aspect of your store, including logo, colors, fonts, layout, navigation, and more to match your brand aesthetic.
Sellfy also provides built-in tools to help you market and grow your store, including:
- Email marketing
- Upselling & cross-selling
- Discount codes & sales
- Cart abandonment
- Social media integrations
- Google Analytics
- Facebook & Twitter ads
The main drawback of Sellfy compared to the other options on this list is that it requires more setup and hands-on management of your store. You‘re also responsible for your own marketing and generating traffic, whereas with a marketplace like Redbubble the customers are already there.
However, Sellfy does offer a 14-day free trial, so you can test it out without any commitment. Paid plans start at $19/month. Overall, Sellfy is the best choice for sellers who want full control over their print on demand store and customer journey.
2. Gelato
Gelato is a global print on demand company with an excellent reputation for quality, sustainability, and localized fulfillment. They have a network of over 100 production partners in 32 countries, including Canada, which allows them to route each order to the nearest facility for the fastest and most cost-effective fulfillment.
One of Gelato‘s biggest strengths is their product quality. They have an intensive vetting process for production partners that includes testing for print quality, color matching, packaging, and sustainable practices. Only the top 4% that apply make it through. This ensures your customers receive premium products with sharp prints and vibrant colors.
Gelato‘s product catalog covers all the staples like t-shirts, hoodies, and hats, as well as home goods like mugs, blankets, and pillows, stationery, and more unique items like socks, aprons, yoga mats, and laptop sleeves. Many products are available in organic, recycled, and ethically-sourced options.
To start selling with Gelato, you connect it to your existing ecommerce store using one of their native integrations or the API. Gelato has plugins for Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, and other major platforms. Then you can sync products, import your designs, and publish them to your store in minutes.
Gelato‘s design tools are advanced yet easy to use. They generate photorealistic mockups of your products to use on your store. And Gelato‘s smart route pricing automatically calculates and displays the most affordable shipping options to your customers based on the fulfillment location.
Unlike companies like Printful that own all of their facilities, Gelato utilizes third-party partners for fulfillment. However, their rigorous vetting, training, and quality control process with partners minimizes the typical inconsistencies found with this model. And it allows them to offer faster, cheaper fulfillment in more localized markets.
Gelato offers live chat and email support 24/7, with a helpful and responsive team. They also provide self-service resources like an in-depth help center, video tutorials, and a community forum to connect with other sellers.
Pricing on Gelato is competitive and transparent. There are no upfront costs, monthly fees, minimums, or contracts. You simply pay the base cost of the product plus shipping after each sale. However, subscribing to a paid plan unlocks volume discounts and other perks.
Overall, Gelato is one of the best print on demand companies for fast, high-quality fulfillment to Canada and other global markets. They‘re an excellent choice for ecommerce brands that want to scale and offer localized production in multiple countries.
3. Printful
Printful is one of the most established and well-known print on demand companies, and for good reason. They provide fast, reliable fulfillment and consistently high quality thanks to their in-house manufacturing. With facilities in Canada, the US, Mexico, Europe, and Asia, they‘re able to efficiently serve customers worldwide.
Printful has one of the largest catalogs of any print on demand company. They offer over 300 products across categories like apparel, accessories, home & living, stationery, jewelry, and more. They‘re continually adding new items to keep up with the latest trends and customer demands.
Some of Printful‘s most popular products include:
- T-shirts
- Hoodies & sweatshirts
- Tank tops
- Leggings & yoga pants
- Dresses & skirts
- Hats
- Socks
- Facemasks
- Bags
- Mugs
- Posters & canvas prints
- Phone cases
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Beach towels
- Aprons
Compared to some other print on demand companies, Printful is known for having a large selection of eco-friendly, organic, and sustainable products and printing options.
Printful‘s product design process is smooth and intuitive. Their mockup generator instantly creates realistic previews of your designs on each product. You can choose from a library of pre-made designs and templates or upload your own. And you can easily add your custom branding and labels to the products and packaging.
Integrating Printful with your store takes just a few clicks using their plugins for Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, PrestaShop, BigCommerce, and more. You can also build a custom integration using the API. Orders automatically sync with Printful for fulfillment, and the shipping and tracking info is emailed to the customer.
Printful‘s quality control process includes automatic and manual reviews of each product before shipping to catch any errors or imperfections. They offer a satisfaction guarantee and will reprint or refund any items that don‘t meet your expectations. And their average shipping time to Canada is just 2-7 business days.
All of Printful‘s core services are free to use, so you only pay for the base cost of the products and shipping after a sale is made. Compared to some other print on demand companies, Printful‘s pricing is a bit higher, but the premium quality and service are worth it for many sellers. They also offer discounted samples so you can test the quality yourself.
Printful provides 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat. They also have an extensive knowledge base with guides, tutorials, and videos to help you get started and optimize your store.
For Canadian merchants looking for a trusted and high-quality print on demand company, Printful is an excellent option. They offer a wide selection of premium products fulfilled from their Toronto facility for fast shipping anywhere in Canada.
Comparison of the Best Print on Demand Companies in Canada
To help you evaluate the top print on demand companies at a glance, here‘s a comparison table summarizing the key features and differences:
| Company | Fulfillment Centers | Products | Shipping to Canada | Pricing | Ecommerce Integrations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sellfy | Canada, USA, UK | 50+ | 5-10 days | $19+/month | Sellfy‘s online store builder |
| Gelato | Canada + 30 countries | 150+ | 2-5 days | No monthly fees | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, API |
| Printful | Canada, USA, Europe, more | 300+ | 2-7 days | No monthly fees | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, more |
| Printify | Worldwide network | 500+ | Varies by provider | Free or $24.99/month | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, eBay |
| Redbubble | Worldwide network | 60 | 5-12 days | Free | Redbubble marketplace |
| Art of Where | Canada | 50+ | 4-17 days | $30+/year | Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy |
| Fine Art America | Canada, USA, Europe | 100+ | Varies by location | Free or $30/year | Fine Art America marketplace or your own site |
How to Choose the Best Print on Demand Company in Canada
With so many great options to choose from, how do you decide which print on demand company is right for your business? Here are some tips:
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Consider your current tech stack and sales channels. If you already have an ecommerce store, choose a print on demand company that seamlessly integrates with that platform. If you‘re starting from scratch, an all-in-one solution like Sellfy may be the easiest option.
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Think about what products you want to offer. While most print on demand companies offer similar core items like t-shirts, hoodies, and mugs, the catalogs vary quite a bit in terms of other products. Choose a provider that offers the specific items you want to sell.
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Compare your options on product quality, pricing, and shipping speeds. Order product samples when possible to test the quality and see the profit margins for yourself. Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not provide the best customer experience.
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Research each company‘s track record on sustainable and ethical manufacturing if those are priorities for your brand. Some providers have more transparent and comprehensive policies and practices in those areas.
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Test out the design tools, mockup generators, and order workflows to see which you find the most intuitive and efficient to use. The smoother the backend processes, the more time you can spend on the fun parts of your business.
Regardless of which print on demand company you choose, remember that it‘s just one piece of the puzzle. To succeed with print on demand, you also need to develop unique, high-quality designs, grow an engaged audience, and market your products effectively. Focus on those areas, choose a reliable fulfillment partner, and you‘ll be well on your way to building a thriving print on demand business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is print on demand?
Print on demand is a fulfillment method where items are printed only after a customer places an order, so the seller doesn‘t have to hold any inventory. The print on demand company handles all of the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping to the end customer on the seller‘s behalf.
Is print on demand profitable?
Print on demand businesses can be very profitable, but profit margins vary based on the types of products you sell, your pricing strategy, and customer acquisition costs. Most sellers aim for a 40-50% profit margin. With print on demand, you avoid many of the startup costs and risks of traditional ecommerce models.
What are the benefits of working with a print on demand company located in Canada?
Using a print on demand company with fulfillment centers in Canada allows for faster shipping times, lower shipping costs, and avoids potential customs delays or extra duties compared to fulfilling orders from the US or overseas. It provides a better experience for your Canadian customers.
How do I get started with print on demand in Canada?
To start a print on demand business in Canada, you‘ll need to choose a fulfillment company, create your designs, add products to your store, and start marketing to potential customers. Follow the tips and recommendations in this guide to find the best print on demand company for your needs. Most have very user-friendly platforms that make it quick and easy to get started.
How long does print on demand shipping take in Canada?
Print on demand shipping times in Canada vary based on the specific company and product, but the average is around 2-7 business days. Choosing a provider with fulfillment centers in Canada will typically allow for the fastest turnaround and delivery to your Canadian customers.
With these detailed reviews, comparison, and tips, you‘re now equipped to choose the best print on demand company to grow your business in Canada and beyond. The ecommerce tools and platforms available today make it easier than ever to turn your creative ideas into profitable products. All that‘s left is to take action and get started.
