A Closer Look at the Challenges in the Print-on-Demand Industry
Print-on-Demand (POD) is one of the most attractive business models for aspiring entrepreneurs in Australia. The promise of starting a clothing or merchandise brand with no inventory, low investment, and minimal risk sounds like a dream. However, behind the scenes, many POD startups face significant hurdles—and unfortunately, a large percentage fail within their first year.
In this article, we’ll break down the main reasons why POD startups fail in Australia, explore what can be done to avoid these pitfalls, and highlight how partnering with established providers like Garment Printing can make a difference.
1. Unrealistic Expectations About Profit Margins
Many first-time POD business owners are drawn in by the idea of selling T-shirts, hoodies, or caps for $40 when they only cost $15 to print. On paper, it looks like easy profit. In reality, expenses like shipping, marketing, website fees, and transaction charges quickly eat into margins.
A common mistake is underestimating these hidden costs. When POD sellers use global suppliers, they may face additional shipping delays and high delivery costs to Australia—making it harder to compete with local brands that offer faster turnaround.
Solution: Partner with an Australian POD provider like Garment Printing, which offers competitive local printing rates, no minimum order quantities (MOQ), and faster delivery times. This reduces costs, keeps customers happy, and makes your pricing more competitive.
2. Poor Product Quality and Limited Customisation
The POD market in Australia is highly competitive. Customers expect high-quality garments and professional printing. If a startup uses cheap overseas suppliers, the end product may look nothing like the online mock-up—leading to returns, refunds, and negative reviews.
Garment Printing, for example, offers premium-quality garments across a wide range—hoodies, jackets, vests, pants, shorts, workwear, Hi Vis Safety Wear, activewear, beanies, hats, caps, sportswear, and teamwear—plus printing and embroidery options. This ensures customers receive exactly what they ordered, helping POD startups build trust and repeat sales.
3. Neglecting Marketing and Branding
Even with a great product, a POD business won’t survive without a strong marketing strategy. Many startups assume that simply uploading designs to a website will automatically attract buyers. The reality? Without consistent branding, social media presence, SEO, influencer partnerships, and paid advertising, sales often stay at zero.
POD is not just about selling a printed hoodie—it’s about selling a lifestyle, a feeling, and a connection with your audience.
Tip: Invest in building a recognisable brand identity. Showcase behind-the-scenes printing processes, highlight customer photos, and engage with your audience daily.
4. Overdependence on One Sales Channel
Some POD startups rely solely on marketplaces like Etsy or Redbubble. While these platforms provide traffic, they also take a percentage of sales and control the customer relationship. If your account is suspended or algorithms change, your business can collapse overnight.
A smarter approach is to diversify—use your own eCommerce site, social media stores, marketplaces, and even offline sales opportunities.
5. Ignoring Local Market Preferences
Australia’s fashion market has its own trends, cultural influences, and seasonal buying habits. Many POD startups fail because they simply copy overseas designs without adapting them for Australian consumers. For example, designs that work in the US may not resonate with Australian slang, humour, or events.
Localised designs, sports team-inspired collections, and event-based campaigns (e.g., State of Origin, local music festivals) tend to perform better. Garment Printing can help with customising designs that appeal directly to Australian buyers, offering both print and embroidery options.
6. Slow Fulfilment and Delivery Times
In today’s fast-paced eCommerce world, customers expect quick shipping. When POD businesses use overseas suppliers, delivery can take weeks—sometimes months—leading to cancelled orders and frustrated customers.
Working with a local supplier like Garment Printing solves this problem. They print in Australia, ensuring faster delivery and better customer satisfaction. This also reduces return rates and improves repeat orders.
7. Failure to Scale Operations
Many POD startups find moderate success but fail to scale because they can’t handle increasing order volumes. This may be due to limited production capacity, poor workflow systems, or lack of automation.
Partnering with an experienced provider like Garment Printing means you can scale without worrying about production bottlenecks. They handle all aspects of printing, embroidery, and fulfilment, so you can focus on marketing and growing your brand.
8. Not Offering Diverse Product Ranges
Customers love variety. If your POD store only offers T-shirts, you’re limiting your sales potential. In Australia, seasonal demand plays a big role—hoodies and jackets in winter, singlets and caps in summer, hi-vis workwear year-round.
Garment Printing offers all these categories—plus teamwear, sportswear, pants, shorts, beanies, and more—with no MOQ. This flexibility allows startups to expand their catalogue and reach different market segments without overstocking.
9. No Long-Term Business Plan
Too many POD startups begin without a clear plan for growth. They rely on short bursts of sales from trends or viral designs but fail to build a loyal customer base. Without reinvesting profits into marketing, product development, and brand building, the business eventually fades away.
Successful POD entrepreneurs treat their store like a long-term business, not a quick cash grab. They track analytics, test new designs, expand product lines, and constantly refine their marketing strategies.
Final Thoughts: Succeeding in the Australian POD Market
While the POD model offers low startup costs and flexibility, it’s far from effortless. Most failures can be traced back to poor planning, lack of quality control, and weak marketing. The good news is, with the right approach and a reliable partner, success is absolutely possible.
Garment Printing has helped countless Australian startups grow by offering:
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High-quality garments in multiple categories (hoodies, jackets, vests, pants, shorts, workwear, Hi Vis, activewear, beanies, hats, caps, sportswear, teamwear).
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Professional printing and embroidery services.
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No minimum order quantities.
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Local production for faster delivery.
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Drop-shipping and affiliate opportunities.
For aspiring POD entrepreneurs in Australia, the choice is clear: don’t just print—partner smart. Work with experts who can help you build a sustainable, scalable, and profitable business in the long run.