Got adesign idea that you think would look awesome onaposter? Want tosell itonline? This blog post walks you through how tomake that
What’s great about selling posters isthat this business model doesn’t require deep product knowledge, andmodern technology lets you automate most oftheprocesses involved. Keep reading toget thepicture (get it?!) andlearn how tostart aposter business.
Who Can Sell Posters
Aposter business might beanobvious choice forpeople who create their own artwork through mediums like photography, digital illustrations, paintings, calligraphy, postcards, andmore.
However, launching aposter store (or just aposter item inyour existing store) isnot just forartists anddesigners!
Lots ofstores might benefit from adding aposter ortwo totheir storefront asaway tomake your store’s branding
Source: Pinterest
Here are afew types ofstores that might easily benefit from adding posters totheir storefront:
- Artists: create andsell artwork posters.
- Photographers: turn your best work into posters tosell them asinterior design pieces.
- Sellers ofbooks, comics, andmovies: posters can bemarketed asavisual representation ofaperson’s love forastory oryour shop.
- Interior design stores: incorporate posters into your interior design aesthetic.
- Educational stores: sell posters with charts, lists, andmotivational quotes.
- Kids’ stores: cartoon posters orbright motivational ones can engage ayoung audience.
Posters are also agreat option formerch products. Influencers, nonprofits, restaurants, basically, you name it! Any brand can sell custom made merchandise. You can print your logo onaposter orreach out toadesigner tohelp create anattractive print foryour brand.
For example, Northbound Coffee Roasters roast andsell coffee. They asked adesigner tocreate aposter tocelebrate their brand’s 10th anniversary. Now they sell those posters asmerchandise intheir online store:
Toevaluate your potential demand forposters, check out tools like . The picture below demonstrates interest inposters around theworld. You can also use this tool tofind related queries andsee how interest inposters has changed over time.
How toCreate Posters
There are basically two ways ofcreating aposter: theDIY way andthedrop shipping way.
The DIY Way
Ifyou’re all about rolling upyour sleeves anddoing things your way, then agreat poster selling option istoprint them onyour own.
Ontheone hand, theDIY way can begreat because you are fully incharge oftheproduction process. You’re theone doing theprinting andquality control, andyou set your own standards andprotocols ateach step oftheprocess. You can print your posters exactly theway you want andcompletely customize your packages.
The downside isthat itcosts apretty penny todothis onyour own. You have toinvest inaposter printer, quality paper, inks, andpackaging materials. Plus, you still need time andphysical space todoall thework, which isn’t aluxury all small business owners have.
This method might could work foryou if:
- You have thecapital tobuy aprinter andmaterials.
- You have thephysical space toset itall up.
- You want tocustomize your orders andbeincharge oftheprinting process.
- You have thetime toprint andship your orders ontime.
The Drop Shipping Way
Another option forposter selling istopartner with a
The drop shipping model
This isideal forbig companies that want tooutsource large order volumes, andit’s convenient ifyou’re just testing theecommerce waters. Here’s why:
- Minimal upfront cost. You don’t have toinvest inaprinter, paper, ink, orinventory. And many drop shippers don’t require upfront ormonthly fees.
- Time saved. You don’t have toprint, package, andship your posters, which gives you more time tofocus onyour business andmarketing. This isabonus forestablished online stores. Ifyou’re getting hundreds oforders every month, itcan behard tokeep upwith thedemand.
- Flexibility inyour designs.You can test new design ideas without losing money ifsales aren’t ashigh asyou’d hoped. Plus, you’re also not stuck with leftover inventory.
But drop shipping also has its downsides:
- Since there’s such alow barrier toentry, you’ll have alot ofcompetition.
- Your drop shipper will charge you thecost oftheproduct andprinting, which eats into your profits.
- You don’t fully control theproduction process, andyou can’t customize your packages asmuch asyou may want.
How doyou find theright drop shipper?
Ifyou dodecide toopt foradrop shipper, thechoice ofwho topartner with can beanoverwhelming one. Tonarrow down your search, consider these basic criteria:
- Integration with your store. It’ll make your life alot easier ifyour drop shipper integrates with your store’s platform, asorders will goautomatically tothem forprinting andshipping.
- The quality ofposters. Look atthepaper, ink, andavailable sizes. And it’s abonus ifyou want tooffer framing andthey have itasanoption.
- Order samples. Some drop shippers let you order discounted samples. Ifthey do, take advantage! Samples allow you tocheck out thequality
first-hand andstand byyour product.
Printful istheonly
Learn more: How toStart aProfitable Dropshipping Business
Tips forCreating aGreat Poster Design
Now that you know how tostart aposter printing business, let’s discuss another important
Your poster design will depend onyour niche andyour audience. But there are some general rules ofthumb tokeep inmind.
Tools andServices
Ifyour design skills aren’t uptosnuff, leave ittothepros andlook forafreelance designer. Don’t know anydesigners? Noproblem! Check out sites like , , or tohelp find theright person forthejob. Read this formore ways tofind afreelance designer.
Ifyou want todesign theposter yourself, and are popular image editing tools. But there are plenty ofcheaper andfree options out there aswell, like or.
Ifyou’re not adesigner but you’d like totry creating aposter illustration yourself, check out services like . Ithas lots offree design templates you can use tomake your own illustrations. Check out theposter category tofind atemplate that fits your idea.
Design atYour Intended Size
The most important rule toremember istocreate your design atyour intended size anddimensions, with agood resolution. Ifyou make your design too small, it’ll lose quality anddefinition asyou resize.
For example, ifyou’re designing a24×36” poster, use those dimensions inPhotoshop from the
Minimalism andTypography Work
You don’t need tobeaprofessional designer tocreate a
Photographs also work well, especially when printed onLuster photo paper— it’s
Luster photo paper
Again, designs that work depend entirely onyour niche.
You can find free photos touse foryour posters through photo stock services like or. However, make sure tocheck theterms ofuse first. Photos sourced from such services cannot besold without significant modification. That means you can’t sell them unaltered, but you can create anew design based onphoto stock pictures.
Create Designs atFull Bleed
Create your design soitcovers theentire canvas. But don’t include anyimportant details atthemargins, just incase something gets cut off intheprinting process.
Use Original Artwork
This might gowithout saying, but it’s important toavoid work that’s copyrighted. Create your own, original artwork, oratthevery least use something that’s available inthepublic domain.
Copyright law isalong andcomplicated topic that varies case bycase. Ifyou have anydoubts about what you want toprint, besure tospeak toaprofessional before diving in.
How toPromote aPoster Store Online
One ofthebest parts ofmaking posters through a
Posters are visual products, sosocial media isone ofthebest places topromote your store. And when itcomes tointerior design, Pinterest andInstagram are your
For example, Boho Art &Styling runs anInstagram account where they show how their posters can fit different interiors. They also tell their followers all about their poster’s unique detailing, andannounce sales intheir posts.
Pinterest istheplace where people goforinspiration when renovating their home, planning holiday decor, looking forpresents, andsoon. What does that mean foryour poster store? That Pinterest promotes product discovery! Somake sure your pins link toyour online store.
TikTok isanother social media platform you can leverage toreach your target audience. Here you should focus onshort and
Ifyou sell online with 51Ƶ, you can connect your online store to and todisplay your product catalog right inyour social profile andtag products inyour photos andvideos. Customers will beable tobuy your products without even leaving Instagram andTikTok apps.
How toStart Selling Posters Online
Ifyou want tolaunch your online poster store quickly andwithout extra effort, consider thefollowing steps toopen anonline drop shipping store:
- andcreate your online store.
- Install thePrintful App.
- Create your products andstart selling.
Note that Printful drop ships alarge variety ofprinted
Still not sure where tostart? Read this guide tolearn everything you need toknow tosuccessfully launch ofyour online business: The 51Ƶ Business Blueprint: Build Your Successful Online Store
Happy selling!
