Print on demand
Print-on-demand clothing fulfilment in the UK
For brands and creators
One-at-a-time printing and embroidery, packed and sent to your customer. We decorate in-house in the Midlands on Brother printers and Tajima embroidery machines, and we send a free visual proof before anything is made.
- In-house in the MidlandsDTG, DTF and vinyl with no minimum.
- Free visual proofTypical production is 5–7 working days, subject to stock.
- Plain, unbranded packagingDPD next day before 12pm, with a 1-hour slot.
How it works
From artwork to your customer
A simple four-step path for one-at-a-time fulfilment. You can send a quote, send orders by email or spreadsheet, or connect your store through our ShipStation integration.
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Step 1: Send artwork
Upload your files on the quote form, send orders by email or spreadsheet, or connect your store through ShipStation. Tell us the garment, sizes and where each order should go.
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Step 2: Free visual proof
A mock-up of placement and look with the quote. Nothing is printed or stitched until you approve it.
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Step 3: We print or embroider on order
Decorated in-house on Brother printers or Tajima embroidery machines.
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Step 4: Pack and ship
DPD Express Pack to mainland UK addresses, next day before 12pm with a 1-hour slot.
Decoration methods
Printed or embroidered in-house
We match the method to the garment, the artwork and the quantity. Combined methods on one order are fine — for example an embroidered chest logo with a printed back.
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DTG (direct to garment)
Water-based ink printed on Brother printers, for soft, detailed colour on cotton. No minimum; one piece is fine. Maximum print area 16 × 18 inches.
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DTF (direct to film)
Full-colour transfers printed on Brother equipment, then heat-pressed. Good for polyester, blends and mixed garment types, and for printed neck labels inside the garment. No minimum. Inside-neck printing is price on application.
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Embroidery
Logos and names sewn on Tajima multi-head machines. Available from a single item, with a one-off £20 setup per design. Embroidery decoration is price on application.
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Vinyl / HTV
Names, numbers and special-effect finishes, with no minimum. A good fit for personalised text on a one-off order.
On-demand fulfilment
Sell merch without holding finished stock
This service is for clothing brands, creators and merch sellers who want garments printed or embroidered as each order comes in, then packed and sent on to the customer. DTG, DTF and vinyl have no minimum, so one piece is fine. Embroidery is also available from a single item, with a one-off £20 setup per design.
Larger programmed runs, trade decoration and relabelling sit on their own pages: digital printing, trade printing and embroidery, and relabel, rebrand and fulfilment.
Pricing
Pricing: price on application
Decoration, labels and on-demand delivery are price on application until our price list is settled. Embroidery has a one-off £20 setup per design. You can order one sample at the normal on-demand price before you commit. Send your artwork and garments through the quote form and we will come back with a clear price.
The maximum DTG print area is 16 × 18 inches. After embroidery digitising, the stitch file is kept for reorders. Blank garment prices are shown on each product page.
Garments and brands
Blanks you can decorate
Choose blanks from our catalogue, including AS Colour, Stanley/Stella, Continental, AWDis, Gildan and Build Your Brand. See the full list on the brands page, or send in your own garments and we will confirm they are suitable.
Popular blanks
AS Colour and Stanley/Stella starting points
A few of the tees and hoodies brands and creators use for on-demand merch. Browse the full brand ranges, or ask us to recommend a garment for the decoration method.
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AS Colour
AS Colour 5001 — Staple Tee
View product
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AS Colour
AS Colour 5080 — Heavy Tee
View product
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AS Colour
AS Colour 5102 — Stencil Hood
View product
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Stanley/Stella
Stanley/Stella STTU169 — Creator 2.0
View product
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Stanley/Stella
Stanley/Stella STSU177 — Cruiser 2.0
View product
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Stanley/Stella
Stanley/Stella STSU868 — Roller
View product
Branding extras
Labels, tags, neck printing and packaging
- Branded sewn-in size labels are price on application, with a 1,000 minimum.
- Hem tags can be added.
- You can also supply your own labels and tags.
- Inside-neck printing, done by DTF: we can print size and brand information inside the neck — a tagless alternative to sewn-in labels. Price on application.
- We can send orders in plain, unbranded packaging with no Printem branding.
- Your own branded packing slip, with your store's logo and name, goes in every parcel.
- Engraved metal drawstring tips are not offered unless you supply the tips and the machine.
For neck labels, swing tags, bagging and multi-address send-out on programmed work, see relabel, rebrand and fulfilment.
Delivery and turnaround
How on-demand orders are sent
We deliver to mainland UK addresses. On-demand, single-order fulfilment ships only via DPD Express Pack, next day before 12pm, with a 1-hour delivery slot. Delivery is price on application.
We cannot accept customer couriers or prepaid labels for this service.
This is for on-demand, one-at-a-time send-out. It is separate from the standard catalogue shipping rates on our shipping policy.
Typical production is 5–7 working days from approval and payment, subject to stock. Rush jobs can run from 24 hours, subject to the job details and our confirmation (stock, artwork approval and availability). That is not a guaranteed next-day service unless we agree a dispatch date with you. See express service.
Integrations
How orders reach us
Orders connect through our ShipStation integration, which links to all major ecommerce websites and marketplaces. Once your store is connected, orders can flow through to us for printing or embroidery, packing and dispatch. If you are not connected, you can still send orders by email or spreadsheet.
Works with Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Etsy, BigCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, TikTok Shop, Walmart and many more.
On-demand orders ship with DPD. Through ShipStation, the tracking number is sent back to your connected store when the label is created, so you and your customers can follow each parcel on DPD's tracking. We deliver to mainland UK addresses. Orders go by DPD Express Pack, next day before 12pm with a 1-hour delivery slot.
Print-on-demand FAQs
What is print-on-demand fulfilment at Printem?
We print or embroider each garment as the order comes in, pack it and send it to your customer. It is aimed at brands, creators and merch sellers who do not want to hold finished stock.
Is there a minimum order?
No minimum for DTG, DTF and vinyl, so one piece is fine. Embroidery is also available from a single item, with a one-off £20 setup per design; embroidery decoration is price on application. Screen printing starts at 25 pieces and is usually a bulk method rather than one-at-a-time fulfilment.
Can I order a sample first?
Yes. You can order one sample at the normal on-demand price before you commit.
How much does on-demand delivery cost?
On-demand delivery is price on application. We deliver to mainland UK addresses. Orders ship only by DPD Express Pack, next day before 12pm with a 1-hour slot.
Can I use my own courier or prepaid labels?
No. On-demand fulfilment ships only via DPD Express Pack. Customer couriers and prepaid labels are not accepted.
Are visual proofs free?
Yes. Quotations include a free visual proof (a mock-up/layout of placement and look). That does not include free redraw, digitising or artwork cleanup. Nothing runs until you approve it.
How fast can you turn an order around?
Typically 5–7 working days from approval and payment, subject to stock. Rush jobs can run from 24 hours, subject to the job details and our confirmation. That is not a guaranteed next-day service unless we agree a dispatch date with you. See express service.
What printers and embroidery machines do you use?
Brother printers for DTG and DTF, and Tajima multi-head machines for embroidery. Exact model numbers are not listed; see our machinery.
Can you add my branded labels?
Yes. Sewn-in size labels are price on application, with a 1,000 minimum, and hem tags can be added. You can also supply your own labels and tags. Inside-neck printing by DTF (size and brand information printed inside the neck) is also available, price on application. Engraved metal drawstring tips are only possible if you supply the tips and the machine.
Can you ship in plain packaging?
Yes, we can send in plain, unbranded packaging with no Printem branding. Your own branded packing slip, with your store's logo and name, still goes in every parcel.
Do you include a branded packing slip?
Yes. Your own branded packing slip, with your store's logo and name, goes in every parcel.
Can you print labels inside the neck?
Yes. We can print size and brand information inside the neck by DTF — a tagless alternative to sewn-in labels. Price on application.
Where do you deliver?
We deliver to mainland UK addresses. On-demand orders ship by DPD Express Pack, next day before 12pm with a 1-hour slot. Delivery is price on application.
How do orders reach you from my website or marketplace?
Orders connect through our ShipStation integration, which links to all major ecommerce websites and marketplaces. That includes Amazon, eBay, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento (Adobe Commerce), Etsy, BigCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, TikTok Shop, Walmart and many more. If you are not connected, you can still send orders by email or spreadsheet. Get in touch and we will help you connect your store, or talk you through sending orders by email or spreadsheet.
Will my customers get tracking?
Yes. On-demand orders ship with DPD, and through our ShipStation integration the tracking number is sent back to your connected store when the label is created. Your customers can then follow the parcel on DPD's tracking. We deliver to mainland UK addresses. Orders go by DPD Express Pack, next day before 12pm with a 1-hour slot.
How long have you been doing printing and embroidery?
Over 25 years' experience in printing and embroidery, since 1999.
What if an item is faulty or you get my order wrong?
If we got it wrong or the item is faulty, we will offer a free reprint or a refund, provided it is reported with a photo within 14 days. Correctly made custom items cannot be returned.
How do I get started?
Send your artwork and request a quote, send orders by email or spreadsheet, or ask us to connect your store through ShipStation. We will come back with a free visual proof. Once you approve it, we produce the order and ship it to your customer.
Ready to set up on-demand fulfilment?
Send your artwork, the garments you want to use and a rough idea of volumes, send orders by email or spreadsheet, or ask us to connect your store through ShipStation. We will come back with a clear price and a free visual proof.