Inkthreadable Review: Don’t pay More For UK POD.

Inkthreadable is one of the better UK print on demand companies I’ve used.

Earlier this year they had some financial difficulties which the owners have been open about.

The renewed focus on financial stability and innovation gives me confidence that the company isn’t going anywhere other than upward.

Before we go any further if you are US-based or predominantly sell to the US market, Inkthreadable is not for you as there are other companies that serve the global market better.

Read best print on demand companies for alternative international options.

Who Are Inkthreadable?

Inkthreadable is a print on demand company founded and run by twins Alex and Amy Cunliffe in 2013 and based in Darwin, Blackburn in the northwest of the United Kingdom.

They have had their ups and downs and havefulfilled over 1.5 million orders.

What Services Does Inkthreadable Provide?

Inkthreadable offers several printing methods across a good range of products which include Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing, embroidery and Dye Sublimation Printing.

Inkthreables embroidery offering just got a serious boost. Check out their unlimited color embroidery.

What Branding Options Does Inkthreadable Offer?

Inkthreadable offers the following branding options:

1. A packing slip – Create custom packing slips
2. Printed neck labels – premium branding option, print your own neck lable on apparel.

Catalog / Product Range

Inkthreadable offer over 220 products most of which you will find at most POD suppliers. The staple brands of t shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies etc.

Inkthreadable offers a larger than usual range of organic / sustainable products. These can be used to bring a premium eco conscious feel to your own print on demand business.

Inkthreadable Software

Inkthreadable’s software platform is simple and easy to use.

It doesnt have all the bells and whistles that Gelato has but it does everything you need it to.

The individual product page enables you to upload your design, see what it looks like on the product and from an apparel perspective, it shows both flat lay human mock-ups.

The platform and printing process used allows for a larger print area than many POD providers which is a bit of a bonus and can help you create designs that differentiate you from the crowd.

Once you’ve created the product you can either add it to your basket and purchase if it was for a manual or sample order, or you click to create a product and you’re taken through to the page shown below that allows you to select your colors and sizes and publish your item to any of your stores.

Manual Orders and Product Imports

The Inkthreadable platform provides two extra features that a lot of other platforms do not and both of them can be life savers.

Manual Orders

The ability to go to the Inkthreadable site and place an order that has not come via an integration can be a lifesaver if using another supplier and they are out of stock of an item or if you want to order samples.

This is possible without the need for an eCommerce platform. Many competitors require you to create a manual order through Shopify and push the order through to your print on demand supplier, but this is not the case with Inkthreadable.

Product Imports

Over the years I have changed print on demand supplier for certain products due to repeated issues, price increases, and or poor service. This can be a very painful experience.

If you’re selling on a platform like Etsy, the one thing you don’t want to do is to touch a listing if it is selling as it could impact it’s momentum. That becomes problematic if you want to change the print on demand supplier for that product.

However, with Inkthreadable you can import the product into their platform meaning that you can swap suppliers, have the product automatically fulfilled by Inkthreadable, and not have to touch the listing.

Integrations

Inkthreadable integrates with the following eCommerce platforms and online marketplaces:

• Shopify
• WooCommerce
• Etsy
• TikTok
• Wix
• Squarespace
• BigCartel

I’ve used both the Shopify and Etsy shop integrations in my online business and found that both work well enough.

Production Times & Print Quality

Production Times

The stated turnaround time for an item is 3 to 5 business days which is fairly standard for UK print on demand companies and always stated as just estimates.

Inkthreadable introduced a concept of Core Products, which are products that are high selling e.g. a Black t-shirt, sweatshirts etc that they keep in stock to ensure that there isnt a delay of getting the items in from their suppliers.

Whilst this approach doesn’t necessarily reduce order fulfillment times, it does prevent delays due to out of stock t shirts for example.

Print Quality

Having placed a good number of orders with Inkthreadable I’ve been impressed with the print quality of the t shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies I’ve ordered as samples as well as the products I’ve sold to customers.

I did have one order with print issues, but Inkthreadable were quick to get a replacement issued as quickly as possible, reinforcing my view that they are a very good company.

Feedback from my customers has always been positive and I’ve not received any negative reviews about Inkthreadable print quality.

Inkthreadable Prices

Product Costs

Product costs are really competitive and cheaper than most UK print-on-demand providers.

A medium black Gildan 64000 Softstyle t-shirt is £11.19 delivered to the UK at the time I am writing this post which by way of comparison is cheaper than Printful which charges £12.41 delivered for the same t-shirt.

Inkthreadable Reward Pricing provides free discounts based on your monthly spend.

Shipping Costs

For domestic shipping, Inkthreadable is competitive as they use Royal Mail and Evri for the bulk of their fulfillment with delivery time scales estimated at 2 to 5 days depending on which option you choose.

A standard t-shirt costs just £2.87 to deliver to a UK addres using Evri 48hr.

Shipping to the US or Europe can be very expensive £7.08 for a tshirt and £16.14 for a hoodie. I would recommend having alternative suppliers lined up if you get foreign orders. This is what I do for my own businesses.

Inkthreadable Support

Inthreadable provide support via:

• Email – They aim to answer within 1 hour during office hours
• Live chat on their website
• Phone (yes you can even call them)
• Snail mail (why would you??)

On the Inkthreadable site, there is a knowledgebase / support how with nearly a hundred articles on how to use the platform, create print files correctly and manage integrations amongst many other topics. I’ve found this really helpful when first getting used to the platform.

They have a fairly active Facebook group run by the Inkthreadable team. The group has over 2400 members who also help answer questions. If you’re going to start using Inkthreadable I strongly recommend joining the group.

Sustainable Printing

The founders of Inkthreadable are passionate about sustainability and have added an extensive collection of Stanley/Stella organic clothing, which when partnered with their vegan-friendly printing provides a great option and USP for your print on demand business.

For those that don’t know, Stanley/Stella clothing is produced using organic or recycled fabrics using environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.

Inkthreadable use vegan inks ensuring that the actual print on the t shirt is as eco friendly as the product itself.

Also of note is Inkthreadable’s use of plastic-free packaging. Since April 2019 every apparel order has been shipped in 100% paper (plastic-free) sustainable packaging.

Here is the environmental promise they made on their site:

Pro’s and Con’s of Inkthreadable

Is Inkthreadable Right For You?

If you are looking for a UK based print on demand supplier then Inkthreadable is a great choice.

If the following describes you and your business then we believe Inkthreadable are a great choice:

• Sell predominantly in the UK
• Sell using an ecommerce platform or marketplace that Inkthreadable integrate with
• Want to offer embroidered items

If you value sustainability Inkthreadable’s offering is hard to beat could really help you stand out in a crowded and saturated market.

Alternatives

If you are looking for an alternative United Kingdom based print on demand company I would recommend either Printful or APO+.

Check out our article on the Best Print On Demand Companies in the UK for more information.

Inkthreadable Vs Printful

Inkthreadable and Printful are both well established print on demand companies that both have fulfilment centers in the UK.

Which is right for you depends on a number of considerations. What you want to sell, the platform you are using to sell on, and where your target market is.

Inkthreadable is cheaper than Printful across the board if you are selling to a UK audience. If you are targeting the US or other parts of Europe then Printful could be cheaper due to lower shipping costs and local fulfillment.

If you are selling on Etsy or Shopify, targeting UK customers, and Inkthreadable stocks the products you want to sell, then Inkthreadable is the better choice.

If you are selling on a platform Inkthreadable does not integrate with, like Launch Cart and you’re targeting the US or mainland Europe, then Printful would be the better option.

Conclusion

The UK print on demand market is very different to the US. There are far fewer POD suppliers and many faced difficulties during and after covid.

The pandemic brought a rise in POD sellers which has since dropped of leaving some companies, over committed and unable to pay their bills.

Its great to see Inkthreadable have come through their troubles and are looking stronger than ever.

FAQ