If you are planning an eCommerce business, chances are you looked through some ideas. One of them may be TeePublic. The question you might be asking: is TeePublic legit?
The idea of having to sell t-shirts online without having to create them yourself may seem appealing. Not only that, you don’t have to touch the product at all. It uses the same model as dropshipping.
Could it be something worth checking out? Or is it too good to be true? Let’s take a look now at what TeePublic is, how it works, and whether it’s something to try out or steer clear from.
By the end of this article, you will have complete knowledge about how you can use TeePublic to start an online store that makes money.
What is TeePublic?
TeePublic allows people to sell their artwork online in the form of t-shirts, home goods, and other accessories. The way it works is that you can upload your artwork and it’s sold on all kinds of items. When someone purchases an item with your artwork on it, you get a sale.
TeePublic has more than 100 product types that are available. The artwork is displayed in a marketplace setting. It also uses plenty of printing technologies including direct-to-garment, digital printing, and sublimation. This type of massive versatility means you can use TeePublic to sell a wide range of products and establish a successful online store.
teePublic-logo
It does not offer any kind of embroidery or engraving. This may be a good thing considering that both options can take a while in terms of shipping and processing. By the sounds of it, this may be a great option if you want the products containing your artwork to be sent to the customer as quickly as possible.
You won’t pay a monthly fee for using TeePublic. But how do they make their money? It would appear that they’ll take a percentage of your sales.
You receive the payment either through PayPal or Payoneer. You’ll earn a flat rate for each item that is sold. It has design services and can be used without a pre-existing online store.
4 Reasons Why TeePublic is Good
Now that you have a basic understanding of what TeePublic is and how it works, we’ll talk about some of the pros and why you might want to check out TeePublic for yourself. Let’s take a look at the following:
No eCommerce platform needed
The question that gets asked a lot is whether you need a pre-existing eCommerce platform like Shopify. Since TeePublic is its own standalone marketplace, you won’t need any kind of platform like that.
This means that you will not need a pre-existing website set up. To that end, it means you will set everything up without taking the extra steps. Think about it: you won’t have to deal with all the frustrating steps you have to take setting up a website.
All you need to do is have an account set up and you’re good to go. Nothing more, nothing less.
No need for marketplace integrations
Do you need to connect anything through Amazon, eBay, or Etsy? No, no, and no. Once again, the reason for this is that TeePublic is a standalone marketplace.
Items can be shipped internationally
You could be a creator in the United States, Canada, or any qualifying country. The good news is that items containing your artwork can be shipped Internationally. You won’t have to deal with any of the frustrations and costs with international shipping rates because they’re taken care of through them.
Great for independent artists
Are you an artist that wants to show off their work? Want to get the money earned? Then TeePublic may be the best opportunity for you to make an online store.
It may not be the only platform to showcase your art. But it can be one of the many places where you can boost your profile.
TeePublic Downsides
Even though it has its advantages, TeePublic may have its disadvantages as well. For that reason, let’s take a look at the following cons of the platform:
Limited customer service options
Live chat is the best option for customer service. At the same time, they also have a help center. It also appears that they don’t have the support that is available 24/7.
The truth is that things can happen at any time, day or night. So it may have been nice if TeePublic had 24/7 support such as Printify. However, the lack of such support is a common occurrence across the other platforms.
You won’t get to decide on the prices
There are plenty of platforms that will allow you to set your own prices. Unfortunately, this is not the case for TeePublic. If anything, this can be a huge turn-off for independent artists that know the worth of their artwork.
At the same time, the royalty rates are set by TeePublic. For example, a lightweight zip hoodie will be $8 on a regular day, but half the price during a sale. Other than that, you may see a small percentage in terms of royalties.
This isn’t going to bode well with someone who wants to at least break even with their business investment. By the sound of it, you may find better options elsewhere. Otherwise, you might not mind making a bit of money even if you aren’t going to see the whole entire amount in your bank account.
They don’t have a lot of products compared to competitors
While 100 or more products seems like quite a bit, it’s piddly compared to some of the other platforms. Especially when they offer upwards of 100+ products. Sure, the product count may be OK if you are starting out.
But if you are well-established, this may not bode well. The more items sold with your artwork, the better, right?
TeePublic is not as popular as other platforms
Compared to many of the other platforms like Etsy, Zazzle, or even Amazon, TeePublic is a platform that will have plenty of room to grow. At this point, a lot of people may not have heard about it.
This platform may have the potential to grow itself. But first, it would appear that visibility needs to be increased. Some of the cons that we have mentioned up to this point (such as the earning aspect) may need to be improved.
TeePublic can gain in popularity if there are some improvements such as allowing users to set their own price. Think about it: a platform that gives you some kind of freedom will go well with sellers. However, the ‘our price, our rules’ schtick isn’t going to win over a lot of people.
These are people who have worked hard and want nothing more than a reward for the work they put in. It may sound ridiculous, but it’s true when it comes to artwork or any kind of intellectual property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we have gone over the reason why TeePublic might be good (along with some of the downsides) to start an online store, let’s address some of the frequently asked questions. Let’s take a look now at the following:
Is TeePublic low quality?
The shirt and print quality for the most part have been good. However, there have been reports that the quality hasn’t been the best. Some have said that the artwork may fade a bit after a few washes.
Other than that, the clothing quality has been sturdy, soft, and durable. If you plan on selling through TeePublic, the shirts will last. The artwork may fade a bit after the short-term.
Is TeePublic a Chinese company?
No. TeePublic is not a Chinese company. In fact, it’s based in New York, New York, and its parent company is Redbubble. This means you get good quality products instead of something that may seem cheap and flimsy.
Do TeePublic shirts shrink?
TeePublic shirts can shrink in the wash. That is why your customers may need to order a size up if needed. This includes if they are in between sizes in terms of shirts. If you need to make a note of this somewhere, it can be in the product description or wherever necessary.
Are shirts from TeePublic good quality?
As mentioned before, shirts from TeePublic are good in quality. This means that you won’t have to deal with any wear or tears after a few washes. Shrinking can occur, so make sure that you order a size up if you have to.
Where does TeePublic ship from?
TeePublic will ship from various locations across the United States. They have facilities in eight different states. If the products are being shipped in Europe, there are two fulfillment centers one in the United Kingdom and the other in the Netherlands.
Final Thoughts
TeeSpring may be a great platform to try out if you are new to selling your art. Don’t expect to make a ton of money from this platform alone. This should be one more reason why you need to diversify your presence and learn how to start an online store to make money via various platforms.
In other words, aside from TeePublic, see if you can set your work up on Etsy or even Zazzle. Choose a platform that fits your needs and preferences. But always do research first before making a final decision on whether any platform other than TeePublic is worth a try.
Angela
