Whether you’re just starting your ecommerce journey or you’re an experienced seller you need a way to design your products. That’s where design softwares comes into play. Design software allows you to create that unique design you’ve had in the back of your mind and place it onto a product your customers will love.
The only problem is how do you choose from the ever growing list of design applications? When they all have so many different features, purposes and prices it can be hard to know which is the right one to choose. That’s why we created this guide on our top five favorite design softwares so that you can find the software that best suits your needs.
When choosing the best design applications we based our choices off of a few important features including ease-of-use, capability, price, and mobility.
Ease-of-use is rated on how quickly you can learn the software and how quickly you can start creating with it. Capability refers to how much control and versatility the software offers. Price is an important aspect because if you’re just starting out you might be more interested in keeping your costs low but if you’re already experiencing high volume it might be time to upgrade to one of the more expensive options. Some applications you can use anywhere anytime even from your phone and some are limited to a desktop or laptop resulting in various levels of mobility. With this in mind let’s look at our first option on our list.
Canva is a favorite among students, beginners and professionals alike. People love it because of its simplicity and ease-of-use, and its many templates that help you to design everything from presentations and infographics, to that million dollar product design. It’s also web-based which means you can access your designs from any device anywhere!
Pros
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Intutive and easy-to-use
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Many design templates
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Budget Friendly
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Easy Collaboration
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Many stock elements, graphics, photos, etc.
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Web-based so you can access your designs anywhere
Cons
Free plan is very limited
Unable to copy designs onto other designs
Limited creativity and use
Less control than other softwares
Limited intellectual property rights
Photoshop 19.99/month (includes Lightroom)
Adobe Photoshop has been around for a long time now and for good reason. It’s a powerful application with many use case. You can also get Adobe Lightroom as an added bonus which is great if you’re interested in learning photography.
Pros
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Surplus of features, tools, and capabilites
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Multitude of file formatting options
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Easty to scale and size designs
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Adobe is an industry standard; there products work well together
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Great support and online forums/tutorials
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Lightroom is a great bonus for those interested in photography
Cons
Steep learning curve
Subscription based plan can be costly
Large application size
More difficult to collaborate with
Not great for vector graphics
Illustrator $20.99/month
Next up also from Adobe is Illustrator. Widely popular among graphic designers, Illustrator allows you to create amazing graphics with ease. Illustrator specializes in vector graphics which allow you to scale and resize a design without losing quality.
Pros
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Multitude of features and tools
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Vector based design software makes scaling easy
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File recovery
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Image tracing tools
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iPad application
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Can work on multiple designs at once
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Works well with other Adobe products
Cons
Subscription based plan can be costly
Large application size
Steep learning curve
Teams feature is expensive
Easier with drawing tablet which adds to cost
Coreldraw $22.42/month or $549 one-time purchase
Coreldraw is an application that’s popular among manufacturers creating engraved or print designs. It’s very robust and customizable and unlike the adobe softwares it has a on-time purchase option available.
Pros
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Professional-level software with unique features
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Customizable layout makes finding tools easier
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Many training videos available
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Flexible and versatile
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Dynamic Asset Management
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One-time purchase option saves money in the long run
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Able to share design elements easily with others
Cons
Print Preview isn’t accurate
Compatability issues when using multiple apps
Steep learning curve
Ease-of-use issues
Limited intellectual property rights
Procreate $12.99 one-time purchase
Procreate is popular among Apple users because of its low price and because it was made to be used with iPad. And because it’s made for iPad that means it’s extremely mobile allowing you to create designs while traveling or from room to room.
Pros
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Designed for iPad
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Highly-responsive brush technology
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Intuitive Interface
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Customizable tools and canvas sizes
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Inexpensive, one-time purchase
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Very mobile, easy to travel with
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iPhone version available as well
Cons
Steep learning curve
Only available on Apple products
Limited use-case; not great for web design
Less control than other softwares
No masks, vectors or adjustment layers
When deciding which design software to use it’s important to think about what to do you need right now. Are you looking to create products as fast as possible? Then Canva is your best option. Do you love Apple products and enjoy using pens to draw with? Then Procreate is the pick for you. Or maybe you want power and versatility and don’t mind taking the time to learn a new software then Photoshop, Illustrator or CorelDraw would be great for you. Whatever you decide keep in mind you can always switch to a different application later and also that any of these will be able to create winning designs.
To make things even easier we recommend using designs from a site such as Creative Fabrica. You will still need an application like Canva or Photoshop to resize the designs but Creative Fabrica has thousands of elements, images, fonts, symbols and done-for-you designs that are ready to be placed on any product you’re wanting to sell.
Selling items in the print on demand space can be a highly rewarding experience but without the right strategies, the profit margins can be small. Creating product bundles is a great way to boost your margins.
Bundling is an effective marketing strategy that has been used for decades in many industries to boost sales, increase revenue and build customer loyalty. The print on demand space is no exception. Bundling products increases sales and gives the customer better value for their dollar.
What is product bundling?
Product bundling is when a seller creates a package or “bundle” of products that go well together. For example, a seller could combine a baby bib, onesie and blanket into one order and market it as the “baby shower package.” Sellers frequently offer discounts or benefits for customers who purchase bundles of products.
Pros of Bundling
Increased Sales and Revenue
By offering customers a bundle of products that complement each other, businesses can increase the perceived value of their products and incentivize customers to buy more at once. This can also help businesses differentiate themselves from competitors to better stand out in the market.
More Convenient Shopping Experience
Bundling can make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Instead of searching for individual products, customers can purchase a bundle that contains everything they need in one package. For example, if you are selling t-shirts, bundling them with matching hats or accessories can be a convenient option for customers.
Increased Perceived Value
Bundling products can increase the perceived value of the products being sold, leading to increased revenue. This is particularly true when bundling complementary products that are commonly used together, such as a mug and a coaster, or a phone case and a screen protector.
Customization and Personalization
Bundling products can offer a unique opportunity for customization and personalization. By bundling products together that can be personalized, customers can create a one-of-a-kind product that suits their specific needs and preferences. This can make the product more valuable to the customer.
Cons of Bundling
Complex Pricing Strategies
Bundling can make pricing strategies more complex. Businesses need to consider the cost of each product as well as the cost of bundling them together. This can make it more difficult to determine the optimal price point for a bundle.
A good rule of thumb for determining product bundle pricing is to combine the price of all products and remove a percentage to create an incentivizing discount for the customer. Shopify recommends creating a discount of 5-10% for product bundles.
Increased Complexity in Fulfillment
Bundling products can also lead to increased complexity in fulfillment. Fulfillment centers and shipping providers may not have the necessary processes in place to bundle products together, which can result in longer fulfillment times and increased shipping costs. This can also result in potential errors or mistakes in fulfillment.
In the print on demand space this could also mean that the business has used multiple products from different fulfillment centers which would lead to the items in the bundle arriving in separate packages and at different times.
Sellers can overcome this challenge by being open with the customer about potential shipping delays and only creating product bundles with products from the same manufacturer whenever possible.
Limited Flexibility for Customers
Bundling products can limit flexibility for customers who may only want to purchase a specific product or have already purchased one of the bundled products. This can make it challenging to sell bundled products to certain customers, leading to lost sales and revenue.
Sellers can avoid this issue by offering products both in the bundle and separate. This way customers can choose what best fits their needs.
Bundling with Quadra
Quadra just had a large launch of 50+ products on the Quadra Marketplace app and many of the products can be used for bundles!
Here are some bundles you could sell in your store today!
Car Bundle
Car mats
Car ornament
Spring has arrived and it is the perfect time to start preparing for your summer road trips. Bundle together the brand-new car mats on the Quadra app. We have a set of car mats for the front and rear of any standard vehicle. Add a matching car ornament to the bundle to sweeten the deal.
Baby Bundle
Baby bib
Baby blanket
Baby showers are a perfect occasion for bundling products. Bundles make it easier for guests to choose the perfect gift for the new parents without having to spend lots of time shopping. These customizable print on demand baby products are sure to catch your customer’s attention! Imagine the baby’s name and a custom pattern on a baby bib or blanket.
Pet Bundle
Pet mat
Pet collar
Pet bandana
There is nothing a bet owner loves more than spoiling their furry friends. Bundling a customized pet mat with a pet collar and bandana is the perfect way to attract any pet owner.
If you’re in the ecommerce space, you’ve probably heard of print on demand, or POD, but you might not be sure what it is or how it could benefit you. Keep reading to learn how print on demand could help you establish or scale your ecommerce business.
Print on demand is a form of ecommerce selling where sellers connect with manufacturers who create white-label and easily-customizable products such as mugs, wall signs, and t-shirts. These sellers then upload their own custom designs on the products to sell in their stores. With print on demand, manufacturers only produce and ship products after they have been purchased.
Print on demand products are fully customizable and unique so they stand out in the crowded ecommerce marketplace. That’s why print on demand could be the perfect next step for your business!
Why Customers Prefer Print on Demand
Your customers will love your print on demand product offerings! Not only will they benefit from the robust creative abilities and quality of the products, but they’ll also be able to request customizations personalized to their tastes. In fact, 1 in 5 customers are willing to pay up to 20% more for personalized products so this could significantly increase your profits.
As a print on demand seller, you won’t have to worry about inventory or shipping products yourself! The traditional way to sell online is to find a product, order that product in bulk, and then start selling. This form of selling puts a lot of risk on your end. You could sell out within the first week or you could be left with hundreds of products still in your inventory at the end of six months. This reality makes selling online a large risk to small business owners and large CEOs alike.
Print on demand manufacturers take responsibility for maintaining stock of all their products so you have one less thing on your mind as you grow your business. They will also ship the product directly to your customer for you! This process is called dropshipping.
Dropshipping creates a low point of entry for businesses, making it a great option if you are looking to start a business but you have limited capital. It also removes you from a number of the messier operation components of running a business so that you can focus on what you love such as creating designs, advertising, and/or expanding your brand.
Quadra Simplifies the Process
The benefits of print on demand are clear, but you might be asking yourself: Where do I find manufacturers? How do I make sure the manufacturers receive and print the right design? How do I know which products to launch? How do I know the manufacturer is reliable?
Quadra simplifies the process. Quadra builds the manufacturer relationships for you. All you have to do is select products from our extensive catalog of unique products, upload your own design onto the product of your choice, and launch it in your Shopify store. You only pay for products to be manufactured after a customer has purchased them.
We send the product with its design to the manufacturer. The manufacturer prints the design on the product and ships the product directly to your customer. That’s all there is to it!
By using Quadra you get all of the benefits of print on demand such as spending more of your valuable time creating designs, marketing your products, and building your brand, without going through the hassles of starting a business.
Subscribe to Quadra Pro and you’ll receive early access to unique products and manufacturer-volume pricing so you can save up to 50% compared to our free plan. Plus you’ll get access to training videos from Quadra’s Print on demand experts.
