Does Print on Demand (POD) work for my small business?

For my new apparel launch I had to think about how I wanted to get full embroidered sweatshirts made. I thought about Print on Demand (POD) platforms for awhile and thought that was the way to go. I looked at Printful and Printify and added the Printful app to my shopify store. However the more I experimented with it the more concerns I had. I can order samples but what if it doesn't look right? Then I have to pay for more samples. And really I'm a local business so I should be supporting other local businesses. AND if I personally hold each sweatshirt I will feel much better plus I can add my thank you note and other goodies I give out to my customers :)

EDIT:

I am now rethinking everything! While I got the amount of preorders needed to order the sweatshirt and have them made locally, it was still a long wait and now I am not able to sell more because I only ordered what I needed. Hmmm I am back to thinking I may need to try POD until I have the capabilities and cash flow to order in bulk or to make apparel products myself with an embroidery machine. 

Another edit: (3/18/24)

And I am back! Although I still have the above concerns, (POD) just makes the most sense for my business right now. I like to read back what my thought process was in the past and compare it to how I feel now. POD allows me to try new products without investing in the equipment to make them or have them manufactured and worry about making the investment back. As a business owner you can most certainly change your mind, and change it back! Read below for more reasons why I chose to go back to print on demand. 

Print on demand just seems like it makes the most sense for my business right now and here's why:

1. Cash Flow: I don't have the cash flow to invest in new products in bulk quantities.....yet! But I want to offer my art on products that people like to buy and use. In the future I would love to make everything in house or locally.
2. Shipping Costs: Shipping new types of products means I need to purchase new types of packaging that I don't have the budget for now.
3. Branding: turns out you can still include your branding with print on demand products. If you look at the mailer I received it had my printed logo on it same with the packing slip. You can also choose to add thank you notes and stickers if you want!
4. Time: right now even if I did have the equipment necessary to make t-shirts, since I still have a full time job I wouldn't have the time to make them.

Hope this helps you decide! Let me know what your thoughts are on POD. Your business is allowed to grow and change just you as a business owner grows and changes!