How to connect Printify to Shopify

Printify and Shopify are popular platforms that help businesses sell products online. Printify specializes in print-on-demand services, meaning you can create custom designs for items like t-shirts and mugs without holding inventory. Shopify is an e-commerce platform that lets you build and run your online store easily.

Combining Printify with Shopify gives you access to a wide range of printing partners. This means you can choose the best partner based on factors like product quality, price, and shipping options, ensuring that your customers receive top-notch products and services. Overall, connecting Printify and Shopify empowers you to offer personalized products efficiently and scale your online business effectively.

How to Connect Shopify to Printify: Step-by-Step Process

Prerequisites

Before you can connect Printify to Shopify, you’ll need to have a few things in place:

Shopify Store Setup

• Create a Shopify Account: Sign up on the Shopify website if you haven’t already.
• Choose a Plan: Select a pricing plan that fits your business needs. Shopify offers various plans with different features.
• Set Up Your Store: Follow the setup process to customize your store. This includes choosing a theme, adding your logo, and setting up your store’s navigation.
• Add Products: Even though you’ll be adding Printify products later, you can start by adding some initial products to understand how the process works.
• Set Up Payment and Shipping: Configure your payment gateway and shipping options to ensure customers can make purchases and receive their orders.

Printify Account Creation

• Sign Up on Printify: Go to the Printify website and create an account. It’s free to sign up.
• Complete Your Profile: Fill in your business details and preferences to get started.
• Explore Product Catalog: Browse through the Printify catalog to familiarize yourself with the products available for customization.
• Set Up Payment Methods: Add your preferred payment method to handle transactions and pay for orders fulfilled by Printify.
• Link Your Shopify Store: Once your Shopify store and Printify account are ready, you can connect them to streamline product creation and order fulfillment.

Step-by-Step Connection Process

a) Log in to Printify

• Go to the Printify Website: Open your web browser and visit the Printify website.
• Enter Your Credentials: Use your email and password to log in to your Printify account.

b) Navigate to the “My Stores” Section

• Access Your Dashboard: Once logged in, you’ll be on the Printify dashboard.
• Find “My Stores”: Look for the “My Stores” section in the menu, usually on the left side of the screen.

c) Select “Add New Store”

• Click “My Stores”: Open the “My Stores” section to see the list of stores connected to your Printify account.
• Add a New Store: Click on the “Add new store” button.

d) Choose Shopify from the List of Platforms

• Platform Selection: A list of e-commerce platforms will appear. Look through the options.
• Select Shopify: Click on the Shopify logo to choose it as the platform you want to connect.

e) Authorize the Connection

• Redirect to Shopify: You will be redirected to the Shopify login page.
• Log In to Shopify: Enter your Shopify store credentials to log in.
• Authorize Printify: Follow the prompts to grant Printify permission to connect to your Shopify store.
• Confirmation: After authorization, you’ll be redirected back to Printify, and a confirmation message will appear indicating that your Shopify store is now connected.

Configuring Your Integration

After connecting Printify to your Shopify store, you need to configure a few settings to ensure smooth operation.

Setting Up Shipping Rates

• Log In to Shopify: Access your Shopify admin dashboard.
• Go to Shipping Settings: From the dashboard, navigate to “Settings” in the bottom left corner, then select “Shipping and delivery.”
• Manage Shipping Rates: Under “General shipping rates,” click “Manage rates.”
• Add Shipping Zones: Create shipping zones for the regions you plan to ship to, such as domestic and international zones.
• Set Shipping Rates: Add the shipping rates for each zone. You can choose to offer flat rates, weight-based rates, or price-based rates. Make sure to align these rates with Printify’s shipping costs, which you can find on the Printify website.
• Save Changes: Once you’ve configured your shipping rates, save the changes.

Customizing Order Fulfillment Options

• Log In to Printify: Go to the Printify website and log in to your account.
• Access Order Fulfillment Settings: Navigate to your account settings and find the “Order Fulfillment” section.
• Automatic Order Submission: Choose whether you want orders to be automatically sent to Printify for fulfillment. This ensures that when a customer places an order, it’s automatically processed by Printify. If you prefer to review orders first, you can opt for manual submission.
• Order Approval Settings: Set the parameters for automatic order approval. You can specify a delay period to make changes before the order is sent to production.
• Tracking and Notifications: Configure how tracking information and notifications are handled. You can choose to have Printify send tracking information directly to your customers or manage it through Shopify.
• Save Settings: After customizing the fulfillment options, save your settings.
You Can Also Read: Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced

Adding Products from Printify to Shopify

Selecting Products in Printify

1. Log In to Printify: Access your Printify account.
2. Browse the Catalog: Navigate to the “Catalog” section in Printify. Here, you’ll find a wide range of products like t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more.
3. Choose a Product: Select the product you want to customize and sell in your Shopify store.
4. Customize the Product:
   • Upload Your Design: Click on the product and upload your design. You can use images, logos, or text.
   • Adjust Placement: Position your design on the product using Printify’s design tool. Ensure it looks good and fits well.
   • Preview: Use the preview feature to see how the final product will look.
5. Set Product Details:
   • Title and Description: Enter a title and description for your product. Make it clear and engaging.
   • Variants: Choose the product variants, such as sizes and colors.
   • Pricing: Set your retail price. Printify will show the base cost, so you can set a price that covers your costs and includes your desired profit margin.

Publishing to Your Shopify Store

1. Ready to Publish: Once your product is customized and all details are set, click on the “Save Product” button.
2. Publish to Shopify:
   • Select Store: In the product settings, choose your Shopify store as the destination.
   • Publish: Click the “Publish” button. Printify will automatically send the product details to your Shopify store.
3. Log In to Shopify: Go to your Shopify admin dashboard.
4. Check Product Listing: Navigate to the “Products” section. You should see the new product listed.
5. Review and Edit:
   • Verify Details: Check the product details to ensure everything transferred correctly from Printify.
   • Edit if Necessary: Make any additional edits to the product title, description, pricing, or images.
   • Set Collection: Assign the product to a relevant collection if you have organized your store into categories.
6. Save and Activate: Once you’re satisfied with the product listing, save the changes and ensure the product is active and visible in your store.

Managing Orders

How Orders Flow Between Shopify and Printify

1. Customer Places an Order: A customer visits your Shopify store and places an order for one of your Printify products.
2. Order Syncs to Printify: The order details are automatically sent from Shopify to Printify. This includes the product information, customer’s shipping address, and payment details.
3. Printify Processes the Order:
   • Order Review: Printify reviews the order to ensure all information is correct and the product is ready for production.
   • Production: The order is sent to the selected Printify printing partner, where the product is printed and prepared for shipping.
4. Shipping and Delivery:
   • Shipping: Once the product is ready, it is shipped to the customer. Printify provides tracking information as soon as the item is shipped.
   • Delivery: The customer receives the product according to the shipping method chosen during the checkout process.
5. Order Status Updates: Throughout this process, order status updates are sent back to Shopify, keeping both you and your customer informed. This includes confirmation when the order is received, in production, shipped, and delivered.

Automating Order Fulfillment

1. Enable Automatic Order Submission in Printify:
   • Log In to Printify: Access your Printify account and go to your account settings.
   • Order Fulfillment Settings: Find the “Order Fulfillment” section.
   • Automatic Submission: Enable the option for automatic order submission. This ensures that every new order from Shopify is automatically sent to Printify for processing without manual intervention.
2. Set Up Automatic Order Approval:
   • Order Approval Settings: In the same section, configure the settings for automatic order approval. You can set a delay period (e.g., 1 hour, 24 hours) to allow for any last-minute changes before the order goes into production.
   • Immediate Approval: If you prefer, you can set orders to be approved immediately, speeding up the fulfillment process.
3. Configure Tracking and Notifications:
   • Shipping Notifications: Ensure that Printify is set up to automatically send tracking information back to Shopify.
   • Customer Notifications: In Shopify, configure your settings to automatically notify customers about their order status, including when the order is shipped and delivered.
4. Monitor and Manage Orders:
   • Order Dashboard: Regularly check your order dashboard in Shopify to monitor the status of orders.
   • Handle Exceptions: Be prepared to manually handle any exceptions or issues that arise, such as out-of-stock items or customer inquiries.

By automating order fulfillment and ensuring seamless integration between Shopify and Printify, you can save time and provide a smooth purchasing experience for your customers. This setup allows you to focus more on marketing and growing your business while Printify takes care of production and shipping logistics.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sync Errors

Issue: Sometimes, orders or product information may not sync correctly between Shopify and Printify.

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Check Internet Connection:
   Ensure your internet connection is stable. Sometimes sync issues can occur due to connectivity issues.
2. Refresh the Page:
   Refresh both your Printify and Shopify dashboards. This can sometimes resolve temporary syncing issues.
3. Clear Cache and Cookies:
   Clear your browser’s cache and cookies. This can help resolve any stored data conflicts that might be causing sync problems.
4. Review Integration Settings:
   Double-check your integration settings in both Printify and Shopify to ensure they are configured correctly. Make sure the API keys and permissions are set up properly.
5. Contact Support:
   If the issue persists, contact support teams for both Printify and Shopify. Provide details about the sync error and steps you’ve taken to troubleshoot.

Product Import Problems

Issue: You may encounter difficulties when importing products from Printify to your Shopify store.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Product Compatibility:
   Ensure the product you are trying to import from Printify is compatible with Shopify. Some products or designs may have specific requirements or limitations.
2. Verify Product Details:
   Double-check the product details in Printify. Make sure all required fields are filled out correctly, including product variants, pricing, and descriptions.
3. Re-import the Product:
   Try re-importing the product into Shopify. Sometimes, a fresh import attempt can resolve issues with incomplete or failed imports.
4. Update Printify App:
   Ensure you are using the latest version of the Printify app in Shopify. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements that can resolve import issues.
5. Check Shopify Limits:
   Shopify has product limits based on your pricing plan. Ensure you have not reached your product limit, which could prevent additional imports.
6. Inspect Error Messages:
   If there are error messages during import, carefully review them for specific details or error codes. This can provide clues about what might be causing the problem.
7. Contact Support:
   If you continue to experience issues, reach out to Printify’s support team. They can provide assistance and investigate any technical issues with the product import process.

Best Practices

Regularly Updating Product Information

1. Stay Relevant: Keep your product descriptions, images, and prices up to date to reflect any changes or improvements.
2. Seasonal Updates: Update seasonal products or promotions regularly to keep your store fresh and engaging.
3. Customer Engagement: Use updated product information to engage with customers through newsletters, social media, or blog posts.
4. SEO Optimization: Regular updates can improve search engine rankings by ensuring your products remain relevant to current search trends.

Monitoring Inventory Levels

1. Set Thresholds: Establish minimum inventory levels for each product to avoid stockouts and ensure timely replenishment.
2. Automated Alerts: Utilize inventory management tools or Shopify apps that provide automated alerts when stock levels are low.
3. Forecasting: Use historical sales data and trends to forecast demand and adjust inventory levels accordingly.
4. Vendor Communication: Maintain open communication with Printify or your suppliers to ensure timely restocking of products.
5. Update Customers: Notify customers promptly if a product is out of stock or has a delayed restocking date to manage expectations.

Conclusion

Connecting Printify with Shopify opens up a powerful avenue for entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive in the world of e-commerce, particularly in the realm of print-on-demand products. By following a straightforward process of integration:

• Log in and Connect: Begin by logging into Printify, navigating to “My Stores,” and seamlessly connecting with Shopify.
• Configure and Customize: Set up shipping rates, customize product offerings, and streamline order fulfillment options to fit your business model.
• Manage and Expand: Monitor orders as they seamlessly flow between Shopify and Printify, optimizing your operations for efficiency and customer satisfaction.

This integration not only simplifies the selling process but also empowers you to:

• Offer Unique Products: Create and sell custom-designed items without the need for upfront inventory costs.
• Scale with Ease: Expand your product line and reach more customers effortlessly as your business grows.
• Focus on Growth: Devote more time to strategic business activities, knowing that the integration handles the logistics smoothly.

With Printify and Shopify working together, you’re equipped to tap into a dynamic market of personalized products, capitalize on trends, and build a thriving online presence. Take the plunge today and discover the limitless opportunities awaiting your creative and entrepreneurial spirit!