North America Print on Demand Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Platform (Software, Service), By Product (Apparel, Home Decor, Drinkware, Accessories, Others), By Technology (Digital Printing, Offset Printing, Flexographic Printing, Screen Printing), By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), By End User (E-commerce, Publishing, Fashion & Apparel, Art & Creative, Corporate, Education, Others) and By Country(U.S., Canada) Forecasts, 2024-2032

Market Overview

The North American print on demand market witnessed significant growth in the past and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.1% during the forecast period (2023-2031).

Print on demand allows for single or small-batch book printing. Since letterpress and offset printing were too expensive to make single copies, "print on demand" could not exist until digital printing.

Print on demand controls and optimizes printers and processes. Businesses can track, control, and manage their printer fleet from a single application interface, decreasing printing expenses. Print management software enables mailing, delivery, and offset printing. This program controls copiers, scanners, and desktop printers. Controlled print facilities use independent and embedded print management software.

Highlights

• Apparel dominated the market by product category
• Software dominated the market by Platform.

Market Dynamics

North America Print on Demand Market Drivers

E-Commerce Boom

In North America, many independent clothing brands and business owners have arisen, using the potential of e-commerce platforms to reach a larger audience. These companies frequently use POD services to provide clients with personalized clothing. Customers can choose a design and a style of garment and even personalize it with their wording or artwork using online platforms. These online clothing retailers may function without paying upfront for the manufacture or a significant inventory to store. Instead, the POD supplier prints the design on the chosen garment and ships it straight to the consumer when an order is received. As a result, the company is no longer required to maintain a huge inventory of different patterns and sizes. For instance, numerous e-commerce clothing retailers use POD services from businesses like Printful and CustomCat. They integrate with well-known e-commerce systems like Shopify, enabling companies to build online stores and quickly provide clients with personalized apparel.

North America Print on Demand Market Restraints

Quality Control Challenges

Several service providers in the POD sector provide printing services, each using its tools, printing processes, and quality assurance procedures. This variety may cause differences in print quality and color accuracy between service providers. For instance, customers could get products with distinctive colors, crooked designs, or faded or unclear prints. Such problems may cause annoyance and negative comments, harming the POD providers and the linked brand's reputation for credibility and dependability. In North America, almost 34% of online customers have reported having problems with print quality when ordering personalized products, according to a study by eMarketer. These quality problems may result in negative consumer experiences, higher returns, and even reputational harm to the brand.

When POD suppliers handle large orders or rely on automated processes for printing and shipping, maintaining consistent quality becomes even more difficult. Subpar items may reach clients due to human error, technical malfunctions, or insufficient quality controls.

North America Print on Demand Market Opportunities

Customization and Personalization

Consumers increasingly look for items that cater to their unique personalities and tastes. Fashion, home decor, and gifting are just a few industries where customization and personalization are popular. Customers may easily customize POD products by adding unique messaging, designing their products, or selecting from a large selection of designs and styles. In a Deloitte survey, 36% of United States and Canadian consumers were interested in buying customized goods or services. The POD market has a great opportunity to meet changing consumer tastes due to the rising demand for personalized goods.

Regional Analysis

The North America Print on Demand market is analyzed by country in U.S. and Canada. The U.S. dominated the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.1% during the forecast period.

The market for print on demand in North America is expected to grow steadily from 2023 to 2031. The growth of the retail and fashion business is helping the growth of other industries in the area. Things like technology, job security, and the availability of production facilities for printed goods cause business growth. For example, Printful, Inc., Printify, Inc., and Zazzle, Inc. are some of the biggest printing companies in the area. With more people getting online and using smartphones, the number of people who shop online is rising, which helps the market grow. The intended market is also helped by technological advances and the fact that there are a lot of big textile factories. 

The increased consumer disposable income in the United States is a major factor in the market's expansion. Trading Economics estimates that in January 2023, personal disposable income in the United States will be around USD 19,594.7 billion. In other words, when Americans' disposable income levels rise, they can spend more freely on non-essentials, fueling the market's expansion. Businesses and entrepreneurs considering entering the print-on-demand industry could expect new prospects due to the rising disposable income levels and the subsequent development in spending on personalized and customized items.

Segmental Analysis

The North American print-on-demand market is segmented based on product category, Platform, and country.

The market is further segmented by Product into Apparel, Home Décor, Drink Ware, Accessories, and Others.

The Apparel segment dominates the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.7% during the forecast period.

The market is further segmented by end-user into Software and Services.

Software dominated the market and is expected to register a CAGR of 21.4% over the forecast period.

Recent Developments

• November 2022- Printful used Coloreel technology to produce embroidery in various colors.