We already print stickers for everyone in our remote rural town, but we have the time, staff, and equipment to meet a much higher demand of stickers than our local day to day. Any tips for jumping into the online custom sticker business? I know we'll need a website that can accommodate uploaded art and payments. Then an account with fedex or ups, and building an inventory of packaging/shipping supplies. Then a fair amount of direct advertising, getting the word out there. And competitive pricing with the other main custom sticker sites. Any other thoughts or tips? Thanks!
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seeking tips for selling stickers online
- Thread starter Bryce I
- Start date
pro-UP
New Member
I've seen a bunch of insta posts of people showing their stickers. It may be worth considering showing how they are made. People like watching those and they can organically drive traffic before you invest in a lot of ads.
You could also consider offering wholesale to the trade. I've seen complaints about some of the big companies on here and competition might be a good thing in our monopolistic society.
You could also consider offering wholesale to the trade. I've seen complaints about some of the big companies on here and competition might be a good thing in our monopolistic society.
kcollinsdesign
Old member
Check out sites like Sticker Mule and determine whether you can compete with them before you start your journey. You may be able to match their fabrication and printing price point, but they have automated shipping departments and negotiated contracts with shipping companies that lowers their costs (which they can pass on to their customers).
I would also look into using a company like Oracle NetSuite to develop a cloud based business suite and online presence.
Like pro-UP already mentioned, wholesale to the trade would be a less complicated way to go, and you can use sites like this one to develop professional relationships.
I would also look into using a company like Oracle NetSuite to develop a cloud based business suite and online presence.
Like pro-UP already mentioned, wholesale to the trade would be a less complicated way to go, and you can use sites like this one to develop professional relationships.
Johnny Best
Active Member
Have your staff while they are looking for work make some TicToc or Instagram videoes
Joseph44708
I Drink And I Know Things
Get a booth at a Trade / Gift show where all of the gift shops go for product ideas (Vegas, Gatlinburg, Myrtle Beach, Ney Jersey, Orlando Surf Expo) before you get a booth go to one of these shows to see what's going on.
We get alot of regular customers from these shows, 500 plus rolls of 54"×100' vinyl yearly.
We get alot of regular customers from these shows, 500 plus rolls of 54"×100' vinyl yearly.
Thanks everyone. This is super helpful. Looking into these things now. Any tips on the shipping side? I'm thinking we need to look into an account with fedex or ups? Then we stock up on padded envelopes and boxes? Should we look into a stamps.com type of thing, or a way to produce and print our own stamps/shipping stuff? Most of our clients currently pick up in person, and when we do need to ship something, we just root around for a box that fits. This won't do once we start taking on lots of online sticker orders. Any insights welcome. Thanks!
Solventinkjet
DIY Printer Fixing Guide
Setting up an account for FedEx, UPS, and USPS is fairly easy. FedEx and UPS will send you free rolls of labels but you would need to purchase a label printer. You can find used ones on Ebay but even new ones are cheap. FedEx and UPS will also send you free boxes and envelopes but they are for the expedited services. USPS will send you free boxes and envelops for Priority mail as well. I'd suggest priority mail, flat rate, small boxes as your go to shipping option for what you're doing. But keep in mind, you'll need to offer free shipping at some price point to be able to compete with the other guys in the industry.
Gino
Premium Subscriber
I thought that was the chinese version of little richard and was gonna spell out 'porn'.........................
White Haus
Not a Newbie
He's hilarious. I would love to know if all his views actually translate to sales for that company.
Tim Miller
New Member
I recommend using a service like PirateShip, ShipStation, GoShippo, etc., that use their volume pricing to give you the cheapest UPS, FedEx, and USPS rates. Until your volume gets quite high, you won't get the discounts directly from the companies that you need. But with PirateShip, for example, you can be competitive with much larger companies on your shipping costs.
James Burke
Being a grandpa is more fun than working
Splash0321
Professional Amateur
You need to do competitor research before you do anything else. Know their out the door pricing and see if it’s worth it to even try to compete. Order some small batches of stickers from a few of them to see how it’s packaged so you can be on par with how your main competitors package and ship products and how your customers expect products to arrive.
Even if you attempt this it’ll be a while before you see any real profit.
Even if you attempt this it’ll be a while before you see any real profit.
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White Haus
Not a Newbie
Agreed.
To the OP, you say you know everything that you need to do as if it's easy and simple, so go do it.
I've had the same thought: "we have all the equipment - we just need more volume". It's easy to throw a bunch of machines and people into a building and call yourself a business, the hard part is keeping those things busy and (rightfully so) it's a fairly well-kept secret, especially when you're diving into e-commerce and competing with just about any sign shop in the US.
Best of luck with your expansion plans.
Stacey K
I like making signs
I have to agree with the guys above. Maybe you need to start on Etsy or Ebay. At times random people have found my website and I've shipped cornhole board covers all over the US but it's a pain if you're not set up for it. A few years ago I had an account on Etsy to make those wood signs that were all the rave. I got my account taken down because I didn't ship a couple items out on time. You must keep in mind when you do this people expect you to ship out that day or the next day. You must have this shipping thing down to a science to do it on a larger level. It's surprising to me that you don't already have at least a USPS account. I prefer to use them because I don't have any UPS/Fed Ex pick-up areas in my town.
Do as stated above, go on Amazon or Sticker Mule - whatever. Spend $100 on a multiple different sticker items from different vendors and see what the process is. People want tracking numbers, etc. so you need the entire system set-up behind the scenes just to send out a few stickers. It's more involved than you think until you have a system down.
If I remember correctly, which I know I do, but I won't say his name - there is also a high rate of returns that never get returned, "lost packages" etc. I think it was up to 20%. Keep that in mind as well.
Do as stated above, go on Amazon or Sticker Mule - whatever. Spend $100 on a multiple different sticker items from different vendors and see what the process is. People want tracking numbers, etc. so you need the entire system set-up behind the scenes just to send out a few stickers. It's more involved than you think until you have a system down.
If I remember correctly, which I know I do, but I won't say his name - there is also a high rate of returns that never get returned, "lost packages" etc. I think it was up to 20%. Keep that in mind as well.
JBurton
Signtologist
I mean, if you can figure out a way to generate one sale because a gen z employee was goofing off on their phone for 10 minutes...
after all this time im back on signs. Op if youre still here (2 monts passd i think you are here) i need to know how your business is going? can u pm me your website (so you not spam here)? how you managed to build proper link building or seo strategy? how are you promoting it? im sorry for so many questions when u asked 4 tips, but i will be very very and i mean VERy thankful!!
UPD: asking cus i have my own dumb startup to shyy to tell abt it here
UPD2: i read all advices, will try to test em too!
UPD: asking cus i have my own dumb startup to shyy to tell abt it here
UPD2: i read all advices, will try to test em too!
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FireSprint.com
Trade Only Screen & Digital Sign Printing
We talk about the whole process on and off on our FireSprint YouTube Channel.
We shrink wrap then put in packs or boxes.
We shrink wrap then put in packs or boxes.
kcollinsdesign
Old member
The correct way to do this would be to hire a professional internet marketing team and partner with somebody (or a company) who has deep knowledge of how to run a manufacturing business. Or wait until a game-changing new technology emerges and be agile (and wealthy) enough to capitalize on it before everybody else does. You really do not need to know anything about the sign business, but having sufficient investment resources is essential.
Small, local sign businesses have the advantage of being able to install, service, and maintain signs in their local area. When it comes to products that do not need to be installed or maintained and can be easily shipped, that advantage is gone. As far as I can tell, the sticker business has been fairly sorted out and is already dominated by well-established businesses, which will make it difficult (if not impossible) to compete unless you have really large pockets!
Small, local sign businesses have the advantage of being able to install, service, and maintain signs in their local area. When it comes to products that do not need to be installed or maintained and can be easily shipped, that advantage is gone. As far as I can tell, the sticker business has been fairly sorted out and is already dominated by well-established businesses, which will make it difficult (if not impossible) to compete unless you have really large pockets!