Ilona prints all her stickers at home using a color printer and a Cricut cutter, which is like a primer with a blade that cuts precise shapes from paper and other materials.
To print stickers, you'll need to get self-adhesive stickers, which can be found at craft stores, office supply stores, specialty retailers like OnlineLabels.com, or on Amazon. Make sure any stickers you get are suitable for your type of printer, whether inkjet or laser.
The stickers are available in different finishes such as matte, glossy or holographic. Which one you choose depends on your aesthetic preference. A popular option is to print on matte paper, which is the most cost-effective, and then apply a sheet of self-adhesive laminate for a glossy finish. This method not only adds shine, but also adds a layer or protection that makes the sticker waterproof and weather resistant.
The printed paper is then put into a cutter, such as a Cricut or Silhouette, and cut around the sticker to make the final product.
Ilona says she prefers this approach because she can create stickers on demand rather than keeping an inventory of stickers that she may or may not sell. It also allows her to offer more designs as she doesn't need to make a ton of products every time she adds something new to the store.
"I've tried outsourcing with printers and suppliers, but in my experience, my control and quality are much worse," she said.
The downside of printing at home is that it can take a lot of trial and error to get everything right, from making sure the print quality is correct to calibrating the cutter. This means that you need to spend a lot of time and materials to actually sell stickers.
Print stickers with YourStuffMade or StickerApp
A second option for printing stickers is to pay a company to do it for you. There are several major online companies such as StickerApp, Sticker Mule, YourStuffMade, and Sticker Giant. You can also look for local printers that may have better deals and faster turnaround times.
Through these services, you can upload an outline of your work and the company will print, cut and mail your finished stickers. These stickers are of high quality and available in a variety of finishes, taking the guesswork out of calibrating your cutter and printer yourself. It's also a no-brainer if you're processing a lot of orders and don't have time to print yourself, or if you don't want to invest in equipment to print at home.
This is the method Kristin uses now because she sells more. She started out printing at home, but now prints a lot of stickers using a variety of third-party printers.
"In the beginning, when I got an order, I was able to do it," she said. "The business has grown over time and it has become a bit difficult to manage it all, so I do transition slowly."
A sticker labeled "Believe in the Process."
Photo Courtesy: Kristin Creations
The downside of using a printing company is that you won't know what the final product will look like until you get it, so if you don't like how the sticker looks, you're stuck with it. It also means paying for batches of stickers up front. With these printers, the cost per sticker is proportional to the order quantity, so the more you order, the less you pay per sticker. This lets you decide whether to order a lot of stickers that you probably won't sell at a lower cost per sticker, or pay more per sticker and get a more manageable quantity.
If you want to try a sticker printer, see if they offer sample packs so you can compare their various sticker types.
Print stickers using the direct sales method
The last option for printing stickers is to use a dropshipping service. Shopify apps like Printful or Printify let you upload your designs and they take care of the rest, from printing to cutting to sending orders directly to your customers. It's a lot of work on your part, but also makes you less in control because you can't see the stickers yourself. If you choose this option, be sure to order a sample so you can see the finished product.
