Is the print on demand industry growing or declining?

The print on demand market size has shown consistent annual growth of roughly 6–8% over the past few years. North America remains the largest revenue contributor, but Asia-Pacific and Europe are catching up fast as local fulfillment networks improve. The ability to launch new products without holding inventory drives adoption across apparel, home decor, accessories, and even drinkware. As margins tighten, though, store owners are turning to AI and data tools to understand which niches are expanding and which are saturating.

Yes, but is print on demand profitable depends on two things now more than ever: niche selection and operational efficiency. Successful stores are not just chasing viral designs; they leverage customer feedback loops and analytics to spot high-margin opportunities. In 2026, profitability often comes from combining on-brand custom merchandise with real-time insight into what buyers are actually asking for — something an AI agent grounded in your own store data can help surface.

The future of print on demand is being shaped by three forces. First, AI-generated design is lowering the barrier for unique artwork. Second, sustainability consciousness is pushing providers to offer eco-friendly materials and local production to cut shipping emissions. Third, multichannel selling — from TikTok Shop to Etsy to Shopify — demands consistent brand experiences. Store owners who follow print on demand industry trends closely can pivot faster and avoid products that are losing steam.

General industry reports are helpful, but they rarely translate directly to your store. A knowledge-base tool like Chatref lets you centralize your own sales data, customer chat logs, and competitor notes, then ask natural-language questions and get answers grounded in that specific context. Its insights capability can summarize patterns from customer interactions, revealing, for example, a rising demand for plus-size apparel or a new favorite color — signals that matter more than any broad market forecast.

Is print on demand still popular in 2023?

Yes, it was still very popular in 2023. The market had already rebounded from early COVID disruption, with a strong shift toward custom lifestyle products. By 2026, that popularity hasn’t faded; it has evolved into a more mature, data-driven industry where differentiation is key.

What are the current trends in print on demand?

Current trends include AI-assisted design tools, sustainable and on-demand local production, increased personalization (e.g., names, photos), and selling across multiple platforms like TikTok Shop, Instagram, and niche marketplaces. Voice-search-inspired text-based designs are also gaining traction.

How has COVID-19 affected print on demand?

COVID-19 initially spiked demand as people bought custom masks and loungewear, then caused supply chain disruptions that hurt delivery times. The long-term effect has been a permanent increase in online shopping comfort and a thirst for unique, direct-to-consumer goods, which continues to benefit the print on demand model.