At first blush, print on demand and luxury might seem like strange bedfellows. After all, print on demand is famous for offering speed and affordability. Luxury, on the other hand, is often associated with goods that take time to produce, and are more difficult to obtain.
In reality, print on demand is a natural fit for building a luxury brand. As printing technology advances and improves, it becomes more and more viable to create high-quality products that are detailed and made to last, a far cry from the cheap print on demand T-shirts of old. And with a print on demand partner like Gooten, it’s possible to expand beyond apparel into a full line of desirable, exclusive products.
In short, print on demand allows you to:
- Print original designs or logos on all types of materials.
- Print on any part of a garment, blanket, tumbler, etc.
- Ensure high standards of quality without compromising the speed and efficiency that print on demand is known for.
All of these factors make it very viable to use print on demand technology to build a luxury brand. But of course, it’s vital to start with the right strategy.
Guidelines for Creating a Luxury Brand with Print on Demand
Ensure the right printing methods.
First and foremost, it’s important to choose a print on demand partner that can offer you state-of-the-art printing solutions.
A lot of the fast-and-cheap associations people have with print on demand stem from the outdated printing methods. Techniques such as direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTF) printing allow you to get the precision and detail needed for truly high-end products… products that can offer the perception of luxury. Verify that your print on demand partner can offer premium printing methods, ensuring the highest quality printed apparel.
Curate a wide range of products.
Luxury brands can’t be built on T-shirts alone. Instead, you’ll need to offer your customers a broader portfolio of products, all of them designed with quality and durability in mind.
Again, choosing the right print on demand partner is key. At Gooten, we can provide our sellers with an extensive range of exclusive products from proven manufacturers. Examples include:
- Woven Blanket
- Soda Can Glass
- Viking Tumblers
- Candles
- Bayside Hoodies
- Crib Sheets
Products like these can help you establish that perception of luxury and refinement that you need to get your high-end brand off the ground.
Ensure custom tags.
When people pony up for a luxury brand, they are paying for a luxury product… but in another sense, what they are really paying for is the name.
As such, you can’t build a luxury brand if all of your apparel is marked with common names like Gildan or Hanes. Instead, it’s important to work with a print on demand partner that has the rights to legally replace those tags with your own custom ones.
Custom tags are essential for going beyond selling products, actually establishing a brand.
Establish the right storefront.
E-commerce platforms like Shopify provide you with all the back-end functionality you need to establish a successful luxury brand.
It’s the front end of your store that’s important to mention here. For a luxury brand, you’ll need more than just a standard Shopify or Etsy storefront. You’ll need to set up your own domain, preferably .store, in order to establish your e-commerce site as a real destination for high-end goods.
Capture the premium nature of your apparel and other products.
As you try to create the perception that your goods are truly a step above the rest, the quality of your product photography is key. You can’t cut corners here. Instead, invest in the equipment needed to capture truly high-end product images. Specifically, we recommend:
- A plain paper backdrop
- High-quality lighting (including standalone lighting stands for interior shots)
- A clothing rack to keep your apparel looking fresh and crisp
Note that high-end images matter not just for your storefront, but also for all your marketing assets.
Partner with Gooten for the Utmost in Luxury
The bottom line: Print on demand technology is well-suited to launching a luxury empire, and Gooten stands at the forefront. We’d love to tell you more about our range of printing techniques and exclusive products, along with the rigorous standards of order accuracy and efficiency that we can bring to your high-end company. Reach out to Gooten whenever you’re ready to chat.
