Threadless is a print-on-demand company with a long history in the artist community. Artists open a free Artist Shop, a branded store where Threadless prints and ships every order, and earn the difference between the product’s base cost and its sale price. Shops can also feed the Threadless Marketplace, and some designs reach third-party retailers through its Earn More Program.
At a glance
| What it is | Free Artist Shops, a marketplace and design challenges |
| How you earn | Sale price minus base cost |
| During promotions | At least 10% of the sale price with Managed Pricing |
| Creator fees | None |
| Extra channels | Threadless Marketplace and retail partners |
| Fulfillment | Threadless prints, ships and handles support |
How it works
You open an Artist Shop for free, upload designs and choose products. Threadless shows a base cost for each item, and you set the retail price above it. When a customer orders, Threadless prints and ships it, and you earn the difference.
Managed Pricing and Promotions
You can let Threadless manage your shop’s pricing and promotions. When you opt in, it runs sales in your shop, and Threadless says you’ll never earn less than 10% of the sale price during promotional events. Outside sales, you still earn the full difference between sale price and base fee.
The Marketplace and retail partners
The Threadless Marketplace is a separate catalog where shoppers browse designs from many artists. Eligible shops can join the Earn More Program, where third-party retailers may sell Marketplace designs in stores and catalogs. One long-time artist wrote on Threadless’s blog that over 95% of their sales came from the Marketplace rather than their own shop.
Design challenges
Threadless also runs design challenges. Winning designs are printed and sold by Threadless, and artists earn from those sales.
Getting started
Open your shop, upload as many solid designs as you can and add them to the products that suit them. Fill in titles and tags carefully, since they help shoppers find your work in the Marketplace.
Common mistakes
Some artists upload a handful of designs and wait. Others set prices so high that they never sell, or forget to opt into the channels that bring traffic. A third mistake is using artwork they don’t have rights to.
Selling on other channels
Artists can list Threadless products on other platforms and fulfill through their Artist Shop. Check the current integrations in the Artist Shops help center before planning.
Keeping track
Your Artist Shop dashboard shows sales by design and product. Use it to see which designs sell through the Marketplace and which through your own promotion, and adjust where you spend your time.
Is it worth it?
For artists with a steady flow of new work, yes. The shop is free, and the extra channels can add sales you wouldn’t get alone. It rewards volume and consistency more than a few perfect designs.
Before you upload
Use high-resolution files and check how each design sits on dark and light products. Write a short description and tags for every design so the Marketplace can show it to the right shoppers.
Owen’s take
Threadless treats artists well and the Artist Shop costs nothing. Add plenty of designs and let the Marketplace do some of the selling while you promote your shop.
Who it suits
It suits illustrators and designers with a body of work and some audience. It suits less well sellers who want the lowest base costs for heavy advertising.
Similar options
- Spreadshirt offers a marketplace and a free shop.
- TeePublic pays a fixed amount per item.
- Redbubble is a large marketplace with set markups.
- Bonfire runs merch campaigns and stores.
More options are in Print on Demand.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free Artist Shop, no creator fees
- Marketplace and retail partner channels
- Minimum earnings during promotions
Cons
- Margins limited by base costs
- Marketplace is competitive
- You promote your own shop
FAQ
Is Threadless free for artists?
Yes, Artist Shops are free with no creator fees.
How do Threadless artists earn?
The difference between the sale price and the base cost of each product.
What is Managed Pricing and Promotions?
An option where Threadless runs sales in your shop, with at least 10% of the sale price paid to you during promotions.
What is the Earn More Program?
A program where eligible Marketplace designs can be sold by third-party retailers.
Does Threadless still run design challenges?
Yes, winning designs are sold by Threadless.
