What: American online marketplace that allows designers and customers to create their own products with independent manufacturers, as well as use images from participating companies
Expected pay: NA
Commissions & Fees: 30% from the designers/manufacturers
Where: Nationwide
Requirements: Be 13 or over
Review:
PROS:
- You can design and sell a variety of customized products
- Very user-friendly
- You can set up your own store and promote your brand
CONS:
- You have to sell in volume to make a substantial income
- For Artists: Buyers get a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so if Zazzle (or one of it’s “makers”) messes up the printing, you don’t get a sale
- “Makers” (Manufacturer) pay 30% of revenues to the site and pay a “shipping services fee”
- If the product is returned, you have to pay to replace the product and ship it again
- A lot of risk for designers and manufacturers using the site for sales
- The “standard” royalty is 5% ($0.75 on a $15 purchase)
- Zazzle uses their own independent contractor “makers” to design the products that artists customize; so the availability and quality of some items are inconsistent
What Users Say: (From Glassdoor)
Overall I was pretty impressed with Zazzle. More so than CafePress, I think. . . Zazzle had a few more options for art prints and it seems to be a bit more connected with the way the internet works today.
Of course, if you’re not interested in putting your art on anything more than paper or canvas, you should probably check out Imagekind or RedBubble. The quality and clientele (art buyers) will definitely be more suited to your taste.
If you think you might want to throw your art on a mug, tie, or postage stamp, however, then head on over to Zazzle. Remember, it doesn’t cost a thing, so if you’re curious, go ahead and join for a few days or a few weeks—maybe it’ll work for you!
I have been working at Zazzle
Pros
Has the best designer tools of any other POD companies
Cons
Company doesn’t treat designers very well — company changes a policy every year that goes against the income of designers.
