| CafePress Overview | | | | determine how you will generate sales. Bulk orders |
| CafePress has 6.5 million members who each have | | | | offer higher profit margins and can be lucrative, |
| their own online storefront - a webpage - where | | | | especially if the shirts have been pre-sold to a group |
| people can buy their stuff. | | | | or company. Many people have developed profitable |
| CafePress is popular because there are no upfront | | | | businesses selling corporate promotional items made |
| fees or manufacturing costs and basic membership is | | | | by print-on-demand companies. |
| free. | | | | While CafePress does have a searchable online |
| Each member uploads their own customized design | | | | catalogue of all products in its database, there is no |
| and then selects some, or all, of the stock | | | | guarantee that many people will discover your |
| merchandise for it to be made available on. | | | | designs this way. |
| There is a very wide range of items that you put | | | | How will you drive traffic to your site? Publicity and |
| your design on, from hats, t-shirts and hoodies, tank | | | | word of mouth are the fastest options, provided |
| tops, kids' clothes, clothing for pets, cards, mugs and | | | | people know where to find your designs. Viral |
| more. Browse the site's catalogue for ideas and to | | | | marketing (which is basically word of mouth online) is |
| preview a design on any product. | | | | great for online sales because if people like what |
| While their wholesale prices may be higher than other | | | | they see, they can immediately place their order with |
| t-shirt printing companies, they do use American | | | | just a few clicks. |
| Apparel brand clothing. The key benefit is that there | | | | If you anticipate the majority of your sales occurring |
| is no minimum product order - you can order fifty | | | | online, you might want to buy a domain name (for |
| t-shirts on behalf of a group, or just one for yourself. | | | | about $10) and then redirect it to your store's |
| Because there is no minimum product order or | | | | CafePress webpage. We recommend the redirect |
| membership fee, you can upload and offer for sale | | | | because then you can use a short, catchy www |
| as many designs as you like without any financial risk. | | | | address that will be easier to publicize and remember. |
| For a small monthly fee you can go beyond a basic | | | | If it's appropriate, we recommend letting people |
| shop and build a large virtual store fully stocked with | | | | know where the shirt came from by incorporating a |
| your creations and branded with your colors and | | | | website address into the graphic. This can help your |
| design. | | | | business gain momentum as more and more people |
| The wholesale prices for each item are set and you | | | | comment on the shirts, some of whom will then visit |
| determine the retail price, keeping the difference | | | | your online store. Choosing good descriptive |
| from every sale. All sales are transacted securely on | | | | keywords for your descriptions will help the major |
| CafePress' servers, and customers pay reasonable | | | | search engines find your webpage. |
| shipping costs. | | | | CafePress also offers help, tips, and even an online |
| Making Money | | | | community to help you learn how to more |
| As with launching any other business, you need to | | | | effectively design and sell your products. |