Did you know the mug market was valued at USD 25.65 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach a value of USD 53.02 billion, expanding with a CAGR of 9.50% by 2031? If you've ever wanted to turn everyday mugs into a profitable business, now’s the time! With Shopify, you can launch a custom mug business without dealing with inventory, production, or shipping headaches.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through a simple, 5-step plan to start your mug empire from scratch. Ready to turn creativity into cash? Let’s dive in!
Here’s what you’ll learn in this guide:
- Why print-on-demand mugs are a profitable business idea.
- How Shopify supports your print-on-demand goals.
- Step-by-step instructions to start your mug store.
- How Shopify makes selling print on demand coffee mugs simple and effective.
- Proven marketing strategies to increase sales and grow your business.
Why Print-on-demand Mugs Are a Profitable Business
Print-on-demand mugs are more than just a trendy product — they’re a reliable path to consistent profits.
The global personalized gifts market was valued at $26.3 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow with a CAGR of 6.7% through 2028. This growth is fueled by consumers' growing love for custom products, especially those that feel personal and unique.
Source: TechSci Research
Here's why mugs are a top choice for entrepreneurs:
- High-Demand Gift Product: Custom mugs are one of the most popular gift choices for birthdays, holidays, corporate giveaways, and special events. Their everyday use and emotional value make them a go-to gift option.
- Low Production Costs, High Margins: Compared to other personalized products, mugs have low production costs. With print-on-demand, you only pay for production after a sale, making it a risk-free business model.
- No Inventory Hassles: No need to store boxes of mugs in your garage. Your POD supplier handles everything — production, storage, and shipping.
- Diverse Customer Base: Custom mugs appeal to a wide range of buyers:
- B2B Clients: Companies purchase branded mugs for corporate gifts and promotional items.
- B2C Shoppers: Gift-buyers, home decorators, and self-gifters all love the charm of personalized mugs.
With such strong demand, low costs, and endless creative potential, starting a print-on-demand mug business is a smart, profitable move. Take the first step today by launching your store on Shopify and tapping into this growing market. Your custom mug empire awaits!
How Shopify Empowers Your Print-on-demand Mug Business
Why Shopify Is Perfect for Your Custom Mug Store?
If you’re looking for a platform that’s easy to use, scalable, and packed with features to grow your mug business, Shopify is it. Shopify lets you control every aspect of your store — from product creation to marketing — all in one place. Here’s why Shopify stands out:
- Easy Store Setup: Build a professional online store without coding using Shopify's drag-and-drop editor and customizable themes like Minimog.
- Payment Convenience: Accept payments globally through trusted providers like PayPal and Stripe, supporting multiple currencies for international reach.
- Multi-Channel Selling: Sell directly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Amazon, and more, connecting with millions of potential customers wherever they shop.
- Print-on-Demand Supplier Integration: Partner with trusted POD suppliers like Printify and Gooten to streamline production, shipping, and fulfillment, all risk-free.
Transform your Shopify store into a high-converting powerhouse with the Minimog theme.
Here’s why you need Minimog in your toolkit:
- 85+ niche and ready-to-use demos
- Fast load speeds, making sure you’ll not miss a single customer even in your peak season
- Showcase your product designs with sleek, user-friendly product pages.
But that’s not all!
🔥 Unlock the Hottest Deal on Minimog!
Take advantage of this unbeatable offer and supercharge your Shopify store with the Minimog theme — absolutely free! As a trusted partner, FoxEcom gives you access to exclusive perks and benefits you won’t find anywhere else.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- 3-day Shopify free trial: Start building your store with zero commitment.
- 3 months at just $1/month: Keep your business running for just $1/month for the first 3 months.
- Free access to the high-converting Minimog theme: Boost your store's performance with fast load speeds, 85+ demos, and sleek product pages that convert.
Start your Shopify mug store with a FREE 3-day trial and Minimog Next-gen theme today!
🎁 Expert Tips and Gifts:
Want to take your print-on-demand mug store from average to outstanding? Here’s how to level up your store:
- Boost Sales with Shopify Partner Apps: Shopify’s app store offers tools to optimize marketing, inventory, and customer experience. SEO boosters, review apps, and analytics tools can provide valuable insights for scaling your store.
- Snag Exclusive FoxEcom Deals:
- AiT: Master omnichannel marketing — 20% OFF for 1 Year.
- Loloyal: Build customer loyalty with rewards and referrals — 50% OFF for 1 month.
- SearchPie: Boost SEO rankings and page speed — 20% OFF on monthly plans.
- Apply up-sell and Cross-sell effort: Maximize your sales and average order value with FoxKit AIO Upsell Cross-sell.
This all-in-one Shopify app empowers you to create impactful, conversion-driven campaigns with minimal effort:
- Create Urgency with Countdown Timers: Drive quick decisions from customers by displaying time-sensitive offers.
- Boost Sales with Related Product Suggestions: Show customers complementary items to increase the size of their order.
- Upsell Directly in the Cart: Suggest higher-value alternatives right in the cart, boosting your order value on the spot.
With FoxKit, you turn casual visitors into loyal customers.
Shopify vs WooCommerce, Etsy, and Amazon: The Best Choice for Print-on-Demand Mugs
When building your print-on-demand mug business, it's essential to know how Shopify stands out from other platforms. Here’s a quick comparison:
- Shopify vs. WooCommerce: Shopify offers a fully hosted, managed platform, while WooCommerce requires self-hosting and ongoing maintenance. Shopify provides 24/7 support and automatic updates so you can focus on growing your business instead of handling technical issues. For beginners, Shopify is the easier, stress-free option.
- Shopify vs. Etsy: With Shopify, you have complete control over your store—no sharing space with other sellers and no direct competition with identical products on the same page.
- Shopify vs. Amazon: On Amazon, your customers belong to Amazon, not you. With Shopify, you own your customer data, which means you can build customer relationships, run retargeting ads, and increase lifetime value.
📚You might also like to read: Selling Print on Demand on Etsy
Key Takeaway:
Shopify is the primary choice for custom coffee mugs:
- Total control: Full ownership of your brand, store design, and customer data — unlike Etsy or Amazon.
- No tech headaches: Shopify’s hosted platform means no server maintenance or manual updates, unlike WooCommerce.
- Built to scale: Tap into multi-channel selling, access 24/7 support, and grow your store without limitations.
But is selling print on demand coffee mugs on Shopify enough?
How Focusing on Custom Mugs Can Set Your Brand Apart?
It’s hard to find a print-on-demand store that only sells custom mugs.
Diversifying their catalog allows stores to attract more customers, enable cross-selling, and stay competitive in a saturated market. Mugs alone have lower margins and seasonal demand, so adding products like T-shirts or hoodies helps sustain revenue year-round
But focusing just on mugs can make your brand stand out. By becoming the mug expert, you create a strong identity that’s easier for customers to remember.
To stand out as a mug-focused brand:
- Personalization: Offer advanced customization like 360-degree designs or text engraving.
- Add-Ons: Provide gift packaging, bulk order discounts, or a “Mug of the Month” subscription.
- Specialty Mugs: Target niches like pet lovers, coffee enthusiasts, or hobbyists with tailored designs.
- Eco-Friendly Options: Sell sustainable, reusable mugs made from bamboo or ceramic.
- Collaborations: Partner with artists for exclusive, limited-edition collections.
Building awareness for a mug-focused brand takes time and consistent effort. In the meantime, consider selling your products on various marketplaces (Etsy, Amazon, and eBay) and social media platforms (Facebook, Insstagram and Tiktok). This approach not only diversifies your revenue streams but also helps raise brand awareness. Marketplaces and social channels provide direct access to your target audience, making it easier to engage with them, showcase your products, and establish your presence in the market.
Source: mugs.co.uk
To expand your mug store, consider adding complementary items like bowls, teapots, or tablecloths to create bundles and matching sets that boost sales. This can help increase your average order value and attract customers looking for cohesive, themed collections. By offering a variety of related products, you cater to both individual buyers and those shopping for gifts or home essentials. Bundles and sets also enhance your brand's appeal, encouraging repeat purchases and customer loyalty.
Shopify makes this simple with tools for multi-channel selling, seamless payment processing, and customizable storefronts. Use Shopify's app integrations to manage inventory, set up bundles, and track performance, all while reaching a wider audience through marketplaces and social media.
Source: M&S
Ready to start your mug business? Get started with Shopify today and turn your mug ideas into a thriving business!
How to Start a Custom Mug Business
Avoid beginner mistakes — discover what profitable mug designs truly sell and start off on the right foot!
Step 1: Choose Your Niche
Choosing the right niche is one of the most important steps to set your print-on-demand mug business up for success. A niche helps you target a specific audience, making your marketing more effective and your brand more memorable.
Why Niches Matter:
- A clear niche builds a recognizable brand and attracts loyal customers.
- Shoppers are more likely to buy from a store that feels tailored to their interests.
- Competing in a focused niche makes it easier to stand out in a crowded market.
Profitable Niche Ideas for POD Mugs:
- Pet lovers: Pet owners are passionate buyers. The U.S. pet industry reached over $136.8 billion in 2022, and personalized pet gifts are a growing trend.
Personalized pet-printed mugs for pet lovers (Source: Cuddle Clones)
- Coffee enthusiasts: The global coffee market is valued at $495 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow, and any products related to coffee may benefit sellers. That makes custom coffee mugs a timeless gift idea.
- Corporate gifts: Businesses spend billions annually on corporate gifts, and branded mugs are a top choice for employee appreciation and promotional events.
- Travel mugs: With the rise of on-the-go lifestyles, print-on-demand travel mugs are a hit. The global market for reusable water bottles, valued at about $8.2 billion in 2023, is expected to reach $11.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4% from 2023 to 2030.
Custom name-printed travel mugs (Source: Vista Print)
👉 Pro Tip: Use Google Trends to identify niche trends and track their growth. For example, searches for "custom pet mugs" have steadily increased, making it a promising niche for POD mugs.
Step 2: Set Up Your Shopify Store
- Sign up for Shopify and start a free trial to get your store up and running quickly. No tech skills are needed; just a few clicks and you're ready to go.
- Click here to start your trial and gain 3 months with just $1/month
- For further instructions, follow the step-by-step instructions on how to set up a Shopify store. Read this article on How to set up a Shopify store
- Customize your store design with the Minimog theme offered by FoxEcom. Personalize the look and feel to reflect your brand identity and stand out from the competition.
Suppose you prefer a more flexible option to build stunning landing pages. Use Foxify - the Shopify Smart Visual Builder that helps you craft stunning designs for your homepage and product pages without any coding.
Foxify’s free-form drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create high-converting pages that look professional and polished. Highlight your best-sellers, create eye-catching product collections, and run promotions all in one place.
Try Foxify free today!
Step 3: Add Print-on-Demand Suppliers
- Connect Reliable Suppliers: Link trusted suppliers like Printify, Printful, or Gooten directly to your Shopify store for seamless product fulfillment. They offer a wide range of mug styles, global shipping options, and automatic order fulfillment. You can find them on the Shopify App Store.
- Select Your Mug Styles: Pick from a variety of options like ceramic mugs, travel mugs, glass mugs, and color-changing mugs. Diversifying mug styles helps you reach different customer preferences and boosts average order value (AOV).
Step 4: Add Designs and Product Listings
- Design Unique Artwork: Use Canva, Photoshop, or AI design tools to create eye-catching, original mug designs.
What Works Best? Bold quotes, seasonal themes, and personalized names are top sellers in the print-on-demand space.
- Upload Your Designs: Add your designs to Printify, Printful, or Gooten, then link them to your Shopify store. You should preview design mockup products to ensure designs are centered and aligned correctly on the mugs.
- Write Product Descriptions: Optimize listings with SEO-rich keywords like POD coffee mugs and best print-on-demand mugs. Include These Key Elements for more compelling descriptions:
- Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Highlight what's special about the mug.
- Benefits: Is it dishwasher-safe? Microwave-safe?
- Call-to-action (CTA): Encourage shoppers to “Get Your Custom Mug Today!"
Source: Gelato
Best Practices for Mug Designs
- Use high-quality mockups with lifestyle photos.
- Offer double-sided prints so the design is visible from both sides.
- Create limited-edition collections to create urgency.
Source: Canva
Step 5: Launch Marketing Campaigns
- Run Paid Ads: Launch Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram ads to target specific audiences like coffee lovers, pet owners, or gift shoppers. Use retargeting ads to re-engage past visitors who didn’t complete a purchase, encouraging them to return and buy.
- Send Email Campaigns: Use Shopify Email to promote new launches, exclusive collections, and discounts. Its visually appealing templates help your emails stand out. Personalized offers and timely promotions increase customer engagement and drive repeat purchases.
- Showcase Customer Reviews: Collect reviews and display them on product pages to build social proof and trust.
- Tap Into Influencer Marketing: Partner with micro-influencers in the gift or home decor niche to promote your custom mugs.
FAQs
1. How much does it cost to start a print-on-demand mug business?
Starting costs are low. You can choose from Shopify plan pricing. The Basic plan, with just $19/month for the annual plan, is the most used option.
With Shopify's free trial, 3 first months with just $1/month on the selected plan. Accessing POD suppliers with no upfront inventory costs makes the cost so affordable, making it a risk-free way to launch your business.
Start your journey today and turn your ideas into profit!
2. How do I create mug designs that sell?
- Leverage tools like Canva, Photoshop, or AI-powered design platforms to create eye-catching designs.
- Incorporate seasonal themes, trending quotes, and unique illustrations that stand out.
- Bold, simple visuals are memorable and look great on mugs.
- Always use product mockups to ensure the design fits the mug shape and aligns perfectly.
- Create designs that appeal to specific groups like coffee lovers, pet owners, or work-from-home employees.
Follow these tips, and your mugs will thrive in the custom gift market.
3. Can I sell print-on-demand mugs on multiple platforms?
Yes! With Shopify, you can sell print-on-demand mugs on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and your own branded store. This multi-channel approach maximizes visibility and boosts sales opportunities.
4. How long does shipping take with Printify, Printful, or Gooten?
Shipping times typically range from 7-14 days, depending on the supplier and location. Printify, Printful, and Gooten leverage global supplier networks to offer faster, more reliable delivery for your customers.
Final Thoughts
Print-on-demand mugs are a smart, low-risk way to start an eCommerce business. They cater to diverse customers — from coffee enthusiasts to corporate gift buyers — making them a versatile and profitable product. By leveraging Shopify's powerful platform and working with industry-leading POD suppliers, you can build a store that stands out.
Why Choose Shopify?
- Fast Setup: Launch your store quickly with a simple setup process.
- Global Reach: Ship products worldwide through trusted suppliers like Printify and Printful.
- Conversion Tools: Boost sales with powerful tools to create high-converting product pages.
Don’t wait! Start your Shopify store today and turn your creative mug designs into a thriving business. Your success story starts now — make your mark!
