The Business Case for On Demand Products
Andrew Talbot @customgateway +andrewtalbot May 2016
custom-gateway.com
Introduction Difference Between On Demand and Personalised Products Difference between On Demand and Mass Produced Types of On Demand Products Interface Options The Commercial Case Unlimited Demand - The Long Tail DesIgn and Content Options The Economic Argument Possible Limitations Critical Success Factors The Supply Chain The Production Process Software Needed for Creating On Demand Products At What Point Do On Demand Product Become Viable Suitable Product Groups Decoration Options Current Market Sectors Sales Channels Case Studies & Example Sites About Custom Gateway
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 1 of 22 Introduction
This paper introduces the concept of printed or decorated on demand products and explains the business case for their adoption and technology / supply chain needed to deliver them to the customer
Technology has enabled many advances in print and decoration methods helping printers and decorators implement the mass customisation business model. This has lead to a substantial reduction in the costs of supplying products on demand enabling them to become more competitive when compared against products supplied and manufactured in larger volumes (Mass Production)
Mass customisation is now well understood as a method of delivering user personalised products but has so far been less utilised for delivering on demand pre designed products - despite the fact that they can be produced in exactly the same way.
Print on demand (POD) is a printing technology and business process in which products are not printed until an order has been received, allowing them to be printed singly, or in small quantities. While build to order has been an established business model in many other industries, "print on demand" developed only after digital printing began because it was not economical to print single copies using traditional printing technology
Global leaders in mass customisation like Vistaprint continue to invest in the machinery / IT systems needed to deliver products in small batches which means the costs of manufacturing on demand will continue to fall making this business model even more attractive
On Demand products open up even more new market opportunities and have the ability to change the supply chain for many businesses
Industries traditionally buying products that can be supplied on demand include
● Fashion Brands ● Artists & Designers ● Licensed Merchandise ● Book Publishing ● Marketing & Promotional Products ● Tourist Attractions & Places ● Schools & Organisations ● Sports & Membership Clubs
However as the supply chain continues to develop more and more opportunity to supply on demand will happen
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 2 of 22 Difference Between On Demand and Personalised Products
Although the production methods are the same on demand products differ from personalised or customised products in that they are pre-designed with a specific design, logo or image rather than allowing the user to personalise the product themselves online.
From an end user perspective they look quite different to personalised products as they generally have no customiser or design tool so look just like any normal stock eCommerce product. The main exception to this rule is when the on demand product is available in a range of colours when a simple customisation tool is often deployed to change the colour of the product rather than having to create multiple Images of the same design
From a production perspective on demand and personalised are normally fulfilled by the same mass customisation production process as they are both a batch of 1. It is really only companies that have invested in building a mass customisation workflow that can fulfil orders for on demand products
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 3 of 22 Difference between On Demand and Mass Produced
Mass Production
1000 x 1 Design = 1000 Print Jobs
On Demand Production
1 x 1000 Designs = 1000 Print Jobs
So in terms of end user experience they would see no difference in a mass produced or on demand product - the difference is in the fulfilment
Another key differentiator between on demand and mass produced is the opportunity that on demand gives you to promoter a wider product range - just take a look at the number of T-Shirt designs offered on Amazon to see the variety that on demand makes available to the consumer
It is possible to,use both on demand and mass produced for the same product so that products that are selling well can be mass produced or products that have gone out of stock can be produced on demand
The cost of transportation is also a differentiating factor between the production methods as mass produced products are increasingly produced in lower cost economies so have higher transportation costs to get to their sales location whilst mass customised products have lower labour costs thanks to technology so can be produced in the same region as the sales are made.
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 4 of 22 Types of On Demand Products
On demand products can be classified into the following categories based around the way they can be displayed and ordered online
Just like with the production of the finished product there is no need to actually create the product to display it on the web just use software like the Gateway CPP (Custom Product Platform) to create product thumbnails and production artwork
1. Gallery Driven - people are able to apply a range of fixed designs to a product - this has the advantage of being very quick to create (no need to create extra thumbnails or individual products for each design option) and lets the user feel more involved in the product creation process but without allowing any alteration to the design
2. Preset Designs - designs are added to a product to create a thumbnail image so to the consumer the products looks like it has already been printed and is being kept in stock. From a display perspective this looks like a standard ecommerce product but the product image is created with automated artwork tools rather than photographing the actual printed product
3. Preset Design with Colour Options - same as option 2 but because it is print on demand and stock not needed can be offered in a wider range of colours. To take advantage of this feature a colour selector that changes the image colour is required, again this is achieved with a personalisation app rather than printing and photographing an example of every combination.
4. Preset Design with Other Options - same as option 3 but with a range of other selectable options that do not change the image display on screen (like colour) just the attributes of the product being ordered like size or packaging options.
5. Same Size Design on Multiple Products - if products have the same aspect ratio for the print or decoration area then the same design can be displayed on a full range of products - like mugs & matching coasters
Example website interfaces can be found on the next page of this paper
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 5 of 22 Interface Options
On demand products can look just like any other eCommerce product however as they are produced on demand they do enable you to offer extra options to help drive sales volumes
Based on the categories explained on the previous page here are some example interfaces
Standard - looks just like a normal ecommerce Change Colours - fixed design but as you click on product just a good quality computer generated the colour icons the t-shirt changes colour and the thumbnail to help sell the product design stays in place - easy way to increase choice but not have to add lots of new SKUs
Change Colours & Sizes - same as change colour Load Fixed Images (Gallery) - just upload some but allows you to change other attributes too. images to a gallery and this enables the user to add Same benefits as change colour just more options. them to a product - an easy way to have hundreds You can still use this interface if you have no of options and only one new SKU options just using an add to cart button
All of these interface options can be created from any blank customisable product template supplied by print on demand suppliers
See the Software Needed for Creating On Demand Products sections for more details on product creation options
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 6 of 22 The Commercial Case
There is a strong commercial case for the adoption of on demand products which is detailed below. Buying mass produced products in bulk does not necessarily represent the cheapest option
● Unlimited design choice - when a product can be produced on demand it removes the commercial restrictions of needing to keep stock of hundreds of different options. So ranges can be expanded to include an almost unlimited choice
● More product options - unlimited choice does not just mean designs but can also mean an increased range of colours or sizes as in many industries wholesalers hold vast range of blank products that would be uneconomic to pre-print
● Never lose orders because you are out of stock - when products are produced on demand you are much less likely to run out of stock as the undecorated products are available from many more places
● Opening up new markets - the ability to create products in smaller quantities makes it possible to create products for markets that previously would have considered mass produced products out of there budget - you can cater for specific niche markets that might have previously seemed uneconomic
● Cost of adding a new SKU - in most production orientated businesses the cost of adding a new SKU in terms of time and resources is vast by adopting a print on demand model it is possible to design, create and publish within an hour significantly reducing the cost of on boarding new products - no need to update the ERP or warehousing systems
● Easier to test new ideas - when you do not have to print a product to create it you can have an idea and get it published on your website or social media site in minutes rather than days
● More flexible for marketing as you can respond quickly to create a product for a specific event or occasion or create limited edition products that are a variation on a popular theme
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 7 of 22 Unlimited Demand - The Long Tail
The best selling book by Chris Anderson introduces us to the concept of unlimited choice and what better way to offer this than with On Demand Products - the most cost effective way to offer unlimited choice
In summary the theory of the Long Tail is that “ our culture and economy is increasingly shifting away from a focus on a relatively small number of "hits" (mainstream products and markets) at the head of the demand curve and toward a huge number of niches in the tail. As the costs of production and distribution fall, especially online, there is now less need to lump products and consumers into one-size-fits-all containers. In an era without the constraints of physical shelf space and other bottlenecks of distribution, narrowly-targeted goods and services can be as economically attractive as mainstream fare”
People gravitate towards niches because they satisfy narrow interests better, and in one aspect of our life or another we all have some narrow interest (whether we think of it that way or not).
By printing on demand it enables the retailer to market an unprecedented range of niche products helping them satisfy the long tail but remaining profitable
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 8 of 22 DesIgn and Content Options
As detailed in the economic case one of the key commercial benefits is the ability to have unlimited choice so a common question is where does all of this choice come from. Listed below are some of the most common sources
● User Generated Content (UGC) - like cafepress.com or zazzle.com By enabling users to create and market their own products ideas you really unlock an unlimited source of free creativity - like the production you only need to pay for a design when it sells
● Photographers or Artists Back Catalogue Talented photographers or artists usually have great back catalogues that they would love to monetise
● Designers wanting to create their own ranges Budding designers cannot always get the exposure they want or afford to fund their own ranges so on demand is an obvious route to market for them
● Logos or existing marketing materials Businesses and brands have often spent a lot on their image so using it to create products either promotional or as a range extension is a popular content choice
● Previously successful designs that have run out of stock The cost of re-stocking previous designs and a desire to create new content often stops good designs being reprinted so on demand is a perfect way to harness their potential
● Designs to celebrate a specific event Event merchandise is already a huge money spinner but on demand enables you to go for niches in larger events or make smaller events economically possible to merchandise
● Same designs but with lots of different colour and product options As mentioned earlier in this paper the option to add colour, size and other variable options to popular products is a sure fire way to add designs to on demand products
● Students wanting to test the market with designs Great way to harness young talent- linking up with design and technology colleges
● Tourist Attractions with lots of powerful imagery or a strong brand The souvenir market is already substantial but on demand enables both smaller attractions and niche events to get into the market
● Smaller organisations or sports clubs that want to celebrate their identity On demand means merchandise, custom kits / uniforms & fundraising tools become an option
● Sporting clubs that do not have the budget to buy stock but do have a decent fanbase have plenty of content that can become products
These are just some current examples but we are sure the list will continue to evolve over the coming months and years
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 9 of 22 The Economic Argument
There is no doubt that if you purchase enough of a single product then your actual purchase cost is likely to be a little cheaper than if you buy 1 - however the following economic factors needs to be considered as well to get a more balanced view on the true cost of a product
● The cost of the money you have tied up to buy stock ● The cost of the warehouse to store the stock ● Lost orders if you run out of stock ● Increased sales because you can offer a range to suit a wider audience ● The cost of redundant or written off stock ● The opportunity cost for missing a major event or launch
Example for a Fashion T-Shirt - RRP £20
Mass Produced On Demand
Purchase Price for 1000 £2.00 each x 1000 = £2000 £4.00 each x 1000 = £4000 Units
1. Interest on money 5% on £2000 = £100 Non Applicable needed for stock purchased in advance
2. Contribution to £10 per day on 100 days = Non Applicable warehouse rent & £1000 operating costs
3. Lost Profit on missed 2.5% means 50 x £18 = Non Applicable sales when you run out of £900 stock
4. Lost Profit on additional 2.5% means 50 x £18 = Non Applicable sales that could have been £900 created by extra choice
5. Cost of stock write offs 5% means 100 x £2 = £200 Non Applicable
6. Opportunity cost for Depends on the event - say Non Applicable missing an event 500 units
Real Costs £5100 £4000
The value you attribute to points 1 to 6 will clearly vary for different organisations but by using this logic it is possible to start to understand the real cost of a mass produced product compared to an on demand product
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 10 of 22 Possible Limitations
Although production technology is improving almost everyday there are still some limitation to consider when planned to move to an on demand model
Detailed below is a summary covering the main points
● Stock of blank products - a big stock of blank products or access to the stock quickly via distributors is essential
● Decoration Processes - limitation of some on demand printing processes for some types of designs or products - for example screen print is a more durable printing process for some application but not a good process for on demand or small volumes
● Quality of products - traditionally some personalised products have been all about the personalisation so the blank products they have been printed on were not great quality. For on demand products the quality must be the same as mass produced products as most consumers will not be aware of the production method
● Expected lead times - most on demand products can be available in 48 hours and customers now demand this level of service so it is important that the production process being used and supply chain can deliver within a lead time acceptable to your market
● Design and product mismatch - because you have so much flexibility care has to be taken not to apply in appropriate designs to a product
● Selling Prices - as the financial case section illustrates print on demand products may not end up being more expensive but the initial cost usually is so you need to consider this when pricing
● Too Many Options - there is such a thing as too much choice so when adding lots of options do take care to at least classify them so the customer can find the sort of thing they are looking for
● Poor Images - because the products do not actually exist until ordered they can sometimes not look the part if you do not create decent quality thumbnail to sell the products - you need tools like the Gateway Custom Product Platform (CPP)
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 11 of 22 Critical Success Factors
To make the on demand model work there are certain factors that need to be in place
● Popular ECommerce Website that has good traffic for your target market to display products and take orders. Without visitors or a clear way of attracting them then sales will be slow ● Supply chain in place to handle demand effectively as many traditional suppliers do not have the capacity to deliver on demand well ● An efficient workflow is essential whether you produce inhouse or outsource as handling small order volumes is difficult unless you are set up for it ● The right content (as detailed in previous section) - the concept is proven and so are the top selling product types so if you have the right designs we know the products will sell ● Product Creation Tools - as the products do not really exist then good images are essential to sell them and you need effective tools to do this quickly and easily ● An effective marketing plan to capitalise on current events, trends & products is the final piece of the jigsaw needed to be successful with an on demand products website
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 12 of 22 The Supply Chain
Although many suppliers now have the equipment to print on demand it is also critical that they have invested in an appropriate workflow to make this business model work.
Suppliers need to understand the products, critical success factors and your business requirements to make them an effective partner
Detailed below are the key requirements for a suitable print on demand supplier
1. Fixed pricing - you will need a fixed price whatever quantity your order to keep costs clear and simple. It is fine to then get further discount if you exceed a certain volume in a week, month or year but your price must be for a unit of 1
2. Good system integration - orders can come from lots of different websites, market places or kiosks so a workflow is needed that can easily accept orders from all sources without manual intervention
3. Fast achievable lead times - you need a guaranteed delivery time of 2 to 3 days maximum - people are used to these kind of lead times for stock products and there is no reason why an effective print on demand supplier cannot achieve these too
4. Good availability of base products - you need to ensure your supplier either has stock of the base product or can get it within 24 hours or they will not be able to meet client expectations
5. Barcode Scanning - when handling a large volume of small orders it is easy to make mistakes so a workflow that relies on scanning products / job sheets is essential to increase throughput and eliminate human error
6. Automated Routing - the more an order is manually handled the slower the fulfilment and the higher the cost so the automatic routing of orders direct to printers is essential
7. Batching Options - lots of machines / printers can produce more than 1 job at a time so it is really important that systems can batch single jobs together to improve capacity and reduce costs
8. Integration with carrier systems - you cannot afford manual interaction with carriers and to get the best rates you will need integration with their IT systems and automated label printing
9. Good QC Processes - with every order potentially a separate job a focus on QC is paramount to maintaining product quality - make sure a formal process is in place
10. Effective customer service - clear audit trail, automated notifications and efficient handling of customer service is essential - your supplier is an extension of your business and should be able to deliver paperwork appropriate to your brand
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 13 of 22 The Production Process
The actual workflow or production process will vary for different decoration methods , machines or factories but the overriding concept is always the same
To make 1000 x 1 as efficiently as 1 x 1000 then you need a great process - this is why technology is so important
Each of the core components are detailed below with an overview of the main processes and sub systems involved
1. Order Management System
● Orders auto imported from multiple sources ● Products auto matched with artwork ● Orders passed into production ● Customer services system ● Automated communication on order status with other systems
2. Artwork Generation System
● Artwork is auto generated from artwork repositories ● Artwork is prepared in correct format for production ● Jobs are batched as required ● Barcodes are added for tracking ● Jobs are sent to printers or RIP software
3. Printer & RIP Software
● Jobs arrive in appropriate print queues ● Job are printed / produced ● Jobs are scanned to confirm completion
4. Carrier System
● Carrier labels are printed ● Deliveries are booked with carriers ● Carrier system provides tracking data ● Carrier system updates order manager which communicates order status with customer
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 14 of 22 Software Needed for Creating On Demand Products
It would be possible to execute an on demand product business model without specialist software tools for product creation however if you use the available tools it enables the following benefits
● Faster creation of products ● Faster addition to your website or sales platform ● Better quality images ● Automated creation and matching of artwork files with products ● Wider range of interfaces for selling products
Main Generating Options
1. Thumbnail Only - system will take your artwork and auto create a web friendly product thumbnail with the artwork applied - should also create a linked artwork file that can be auto sent to production when the product is ordered
2. Product Image with Colour Change Options - this works in the same way as the thumbnail above but tool creates a product image that can be displayed in an iframe so an interactive colour change tool will change the colour of the base garment - so you only need a single image to display any number of colour options
3. Product Image with Gallery Options - this time the tool enables you to upload any number of images or designs to create a gallery - each product can then have any number of galleries enabling you to have a single product image that changes as you browse the different galleries - this is a very fast way to create hundreds of options for on demand in minutes from a single SKU
4. Virtual Products from an Image URL - if you want to create a product fast this i a great option for creating a product in seconds that will display in an iframe. All you need is the URL of the design you want to use
http://app.gateway3d.com/acp/app/?l=acp2#p=1031001&r=2d-canvas=http://www.gateway3d.com/ wp-content/uploads/2016/04/100-logo.png
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 15 of 22 At What Point Do On Demand Product Become Viable
On demand products can be sold at the same price as mass produced for the reasons described in economic benefits but equally can carry a premium
When you are able to offer an extended range or extra colour options then it is quite acceptable to introduce a premium for some options
For an example people would be happy to pay more to create their own bespoke clothing item if they get the option to select
1. Garment type 2. Garment colour 3. Garment size 4. Areas to be decorated 5. Design choice
So the answer to “At What Point Do On Demand Product Become Viable?” is quite complicated and not only depends on whether people will pay a premium but also relies on other factors such as
● Do you have the capital to buy all the stock you need and what else could that money be used for? ● Do you have a competitive supply chain for on demand? ● Can you charge a premium? ● What lead times do your customers expect?
The answer could be from the start or if sales are under 100 units per design - it will differ based on the factors listed above and the financial calculation illustrated in the economic case
The diagram below illustrates the two main factors influencing whether a product should be made on demand
Number of High Low Designs
Availability of Low High Capital
On Demand Mass Produced
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 16 of 22 Suitable Product Groups
It is also fair to say that certain product types lend themselves best to on demand production however this list is by no means exhaustive and new options are appearing everyday as the production equipment continues to evolve
1. Clothing - currently the best selling on demand product category with a wide range of products available - TShirts, Polo Shirts, Hoodies, Sweatshirts, Shoes
2. Wall Art - better print quality has opened up the market for wall art in a wide range of formats from low budget posters to framed prints to canvas, acrylic and aluminum wall art
3. Kitchen & Dining - almost everything in the kitchen or dining room can be supplied with a design on from tablecloths to placemats to aprons to chopping board to your crockery. Mugs are probably the best selling product in this category
4. Home Decor - the biggest growth market for on demand combining soft furnishing like cushions with wallpaper / wall stickers and even furniture
5. Cases & Skins - with the number of smart devices now available and the frequency they are changed these are good sellers for smartphones, tablets, laptops, eReaders, games consoles & MP3 players
6. Bags - from tote bags to fashion bags to drawstring bags to backpacks
7. Accessories - are wide ranging and include all sorts of product types like jewelry, hats, wallets, badges, ties, water bottles, USB sticks & sunglasses,
8. Cards & Stationery - greetings cards are the big seller is this category but stationery, stickers & notebooks are all popular items
9. Food & Drinks - gift products like chocolate, sweet jars & alcohol gift sets work well
10. Books - the original print on demand product enables companies and individuals to publish their own hardback & paperback books in a range of sizes
It would also be fairly accurate to say that these are the same types of products that work well personalised so the availability of base stock is normally high
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 17 of 22 Decoration Options
As explained earlier in the paper technology is driving the adoption of printing / decorated on demand products.
Machines are being developed for many different types of decoration methods and are focusing more and more on mass customisation - detailed below are the main decoration methods for creating on demand and the type of products they are targets at
● DTG - as the name suggests Direct to Garment is targeted at clothing and textiles and enables products like tshirts to be printed just like printing on sheet of paper. Historically have been some limitation on darker substrates but this is becoming less of an issue as the technology evolves
● Embroidery - also designed for clothing & textiles it enables the additional of simple designs and logos to small areas. Consider a more up market decoration option
● Sublimation - enables bright vibrant colours to be printed on a wide range of product types by printing a special type of transfer
● UV or Direct Print enables the printing of a very wide range of products direct on the surface with the use of a jig and UV curing process
● Transfer is a quick & easy way of printing a transfer then using a heat press to apply to the product
● Engraving is mainly for metal products but can also be used on glass / wood it is mainly used for personalised product but also effective for some simple designs for print on demand
● Rhinestones are small decorative stones that are used to create glittering patterns and designs on clothing & textiles
● Cut Vinyl is a combination of printing and cutting that enables the creation of stickers and signs
● Wide Format is for printing direct on a roll of a variety of different materials such as textile, vinyl , canvas and paper
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 18 of 22 Current Market Sectors
The market for on demand is in its infancy and the sectors where companies are currently achieving good sales are by no means the only channels that will work. That said it is worth explaining below the markets that do work and why they are successful
● Fashion / Clothing Sector - choice, freedom of expression, exclusivity and new designs are all desirable in the fashion trade and all things that can be improved by using print on demand
● Art & Design - artists are keen to monetise their art and print on demand gives them so many more opportunities to publish and create - lots of sites like Zazzle, Red Bubble & Cafe Press helping promote this concept
● Promotional Products - ideal for Corporate Programmes for larger organisations that want to offer a large range of merchandise without keeping a large investment in stock. Ideal for global brands as can be produced in different countries
● Gifts - increases the flexibility of your gift inventory when a product can be customised for different occasions with a different fixed design. For example the same mug could be a gift for a wide age range of either gender
● Schools & Organisations - have lots of members, staff or pupils who all might be interested in merchandise or uniforms but many would be too small to buy stock so on demand is perfect
● Sports & Membership Clubs - same schools and organisations most are too small to buy stock but have lots of players and fans that want merchandise or kits
● Fundraising - sites like teespring.com and tfund.com have made on demand a very effective choice for fund raising as people can sell relevant user generated content to make money
● Licensed Content - despite the fact that products sell well on demand works well for increase the variety of products licensed content can be applied to and keeps the value of inventory low which is often helpful when a lot of money invested in the license
● Books & Magazines - have a high production cost so the on demand model stops too much money being tied up in stock. Works for new authors or corporates wanting to produce brochures or even white papers like these
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 19 of 22 Sales Channels
On Demand Products are ideal to be sold via eCommerce as their fast production times means they can be delivered just as quick as a mass produced product held in stock at a central warehouse. However these are not the only sales channels that are becoming popular
Here are the main options other than your own eCommerce website
Marketplaces Specialist Print on Social Media Instore Kiosks Demand Platforms
Amazon, eBay, Etsy & Cafe Press, Zazzle, Red Facebook, Pinterest & YUStore, Creation Not on the High Street Bubble, Society 6 & Fine Twitter Express Art America
Already have lots of Set up just to sell on Sell relevant products Provide more choice in visitors and always want demand so ideal for direct from your social store by offering 1000s new content so a great content providers - tend network by focussing on of options to be printed opportunity for driving to print their own products relevant to instore and on demand sales for on demand products so less trending topics interesting to suppliers
International Sales Reducing postage rates make International sales more feasible when you have unique product, content or licenses. It is now quite possible to send products all round areas like Europe for pretty economical rates
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 20 of 22 Case Studies & Example Sites
The opportunities for on demand are vast and the opportunity to start selling products in this way is still in its infancy but there are already many great examples of large sales volumes created with on demand products
● zazzle.com Specialist personalised and print on demand platform where you can design and sell your own products. Interesting to note print on demand outsell personalised by almost 10 to 1
● cafepress.com Another specialist print on demand platform that also focuses on artists, licensed content & designers. Both Zazzle & CafePress between them turnover almost $1 Billion
● clothingattesco.com/icat/embschoolwear Leading embroidery on demand website for Tesco Uniform - where every product is branded with a school logo on demand so only blank stock and rapid delivery
● tboom.co.uk Specialist fundraising website where people design their own product and sell and promote to friends, members,customers and contacts. Everything printed on demand
● footballkit.co.uk/club-shops Specialist in on demand sports club kits where small clubs can have their own shop and no stock. Products branded with club logos / numbers as ordered
● art.co.uk On demand site for artists where pictures are printed on a range of different products when ordered. Platform for new artists and licensed content
● stevenbrownart.co.uk Effective use of on demand print for a popular contemporary artist to increase their revenue and show work to a wider audience
● pyramidshop.com Lots of good licensed content for popular films and TV programmes that demonstrate a great on demand licensing programme
● topprintltd.com/shooting_stars_dance_school Great example of a website created for a dance school to enable them to offer dance and leisurewear to their customers
● Yrsto.re Fashion on demand instore t-shirt provider that offers a wide range of designs that are chosen and produced in leading retail outlets
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 21 of 22 About Custom Gateway
As we hope this paper illustrates we have a deep understanding of the print on demand marketplace and have become an important strategic partner for many of our clients in implementing new strategies or launching new businesses in this area
We are focussed on becoming global leaders in end to end software solutions for product manufacturers, printers, retailers and entrepreneurs in both the B2B and B2C marketplaces
Our Custom Product Platform (CPP) offers what we believe to be the world's first end to end solution for all the modules of software needed to implement an on demand product business from product creation tools to production workflow
Based in the UK but now with offices in the US & Europe we currently have a customer base of more than 200 companies and our software is used on in excess of 1000 websites processing thousands of orders every day
Customer can either use our whole suite of applications or connect to individual components via our API For example add print jobs created on a third party website to our order management system or add print jobs from our personalisation app to a third party production system
Here are just some of the brands who have product delivered by our systems Google, Coca Cola, Hallmark, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Punch Taverns, Skinit, Cewe, Jessops, Tesco, Kruidvat, Lifestyle Fitness
For more details about our solutions please contact
UK - [email protected] Europe - [email protected] US - [email protected] Rest of the World - [email protected] or visit our websites and blog http://www.gateway3d.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/Gateway3D https://twitter.com/gateway3d https://www.pinterest.com/Gateway3D/ http://www.productpersonalisationapps.com/ http://www.gateway3d.com/blog/
______
The Business Case for On Demand Products Page 22 of 22