Latest / The Modern Etsy Seller Podcast / 38. Do I Need to Order Samples Before Selling a Print-on-Demand Product? | Etsy Tips for Sellers

Transcript

38. Do I Need to Order Samples Before Selling a Print-on-Demand Product? | Etsy Tips for Sellers · The Modern Etsy Seller Podcast

• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: Hey there, welcome to the Modern Etsy Seller Podcast and What You're Wondering, the segment where I answer one specific Etsy question in under five minutes.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Melissa, a busy working mom with two profitable Etsy shops, and I help other busy women make money with Etsy and print on demand.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: In today's episode, I'm answering the question: do I need to order samples before selling a print-on-demand product?
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: And my answer is no.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think you need to order a sample before you start selling a print-on-demand product.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: And I know that might not be the advice you hear from others.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of people will tell you that you should absolutely always order a sample first.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: And listen, if you can order one, great.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not saying not to order one.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: There are absolutely benefits to having the product in your hands.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: You can see the actual print quality, you can get a better sense of the size and weight of the item, you can feel the material, you can see how the product is packaged and what the unboxing experience is like.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: And you may notice little details that are hard to pick up from a mock-up or product description.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: Another really big benefit is that you can use that sample to create your own photos and videos if you want.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: You can take lifestyle photos of the actual product and show the size and details more accurately.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: And I especially like it for that second video slot.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: Not the one people can see from the search page, the one that lives inside your listing.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: Here you could put a more raw, unedited video of someone holding or using it, and then use that exact same video in every single listing for that product type.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: So yes, samples can be really useful, but I still don't think they need to be a requirement before you list a product.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: I did not order samples when I opened my print-on-demand shop.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: Instead, I researched them.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: I looked at whether the product was already selling successfully for other sellers.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: And then I read the reviews and I paid attention to what buyers were saying about the quality.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: You can also search YouTube or in Facebook groups for people doing video reviews of the exact same product you want to sell.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't do that two years ago.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: I wasn't as savvy then, but I totally would now.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: And you can also look at what sellers are saying about the provider in relation to that product.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: So there is a lot you can learn before ever having the product sitting in front of you.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: And while a sample can definitely give you a better feel for the product and help you create your own photos and videos, I don't think not having one should stop you from listing.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: If you have the extra money to order a sample, do it.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: If you don't, do not let that stop you from getting started.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: One of the reasons print on demand is such an accessible business model is because you don't have to spend a bunch of money up front on inventory.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: I don't want you replacing that with a new rule that says you need to spend a bunch of money sampling every product before you're allowed to list anything.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: Do your research, make sure you feel confident in the product and the provider, and then move forward.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: So, do you need to order a sample before selling a print-on-demand product?
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: No, you don't.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: Is it helpful if you can?
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: Of course.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: But if the cost of ordering samples is the thing holding you back, I would much rather see you research carefully and start listing than wait until you can afford a sample.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: That's it for today, guys.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: If you have a question that you'd like me to answer on a future episode of What You're Wondering, then go to melissacarroll.co slash questions or the link in the show notes.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for listening today, and I will see you next time.