How to Use Gelato: A Beginner’s Guide to Print on Demand in 2025

by | Last updated Apr 15, 2025

Fahim AI 5 1 11

Got cool ideas but no space to store stuff you want to sell?

Wish you could just make things when someone buys them?

There is! It’s called Gelato, and it’s like magic for selling your own stuff online.

This guide will show you how to use Gelato to print things only when someone buys them. It’s simple, and you can start sharing your awesome creations today!

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Gelato

Ready to start your print-on-demand journey? Plus, it’s free to get started, so you only pay when you sell!

Getting Started with Gelato

Want to jump into the print on demand business?

Gelato makes it pretty easy.

Think of Gelato as a print on demand platform that helps you start selling your own designs without needing a garage full of stuff.

  • Signing Up is Super Simple:
    • Head over to the Gelato website.
    • Look for a button that says “Sign Up” or something like “Get Started.” Click it!
    • They’ll ask for some basic info like your name, email, and a password. Just fill in the blanks.
    • You might get an email asking you to click a link to make sure your email is real. Go ahead and do that.
  • Connecting Your Store:
    • Gelato needs to talk to where you sell products online. This is usually your ecommerce platform.
    • Do you have a shopify store? Maybe you use Etsy or another one? Good news – Gelato works with lots of them!
    • In your Gelato account, find a section called “Integrations” or “Connect Store.” Click on it.
    • You’ll see a list of different ecommerce platform options. Find the one you use (like shopify) and click on it.
    • Follow the steps to connect them. Usually, this means installing a special Gelato “app” or “plugin” in your online store. Don’t worry, Gelato gives you clear instructions for each one.
  • Checking Out Your Gelato Place:
    • Once your store is connected, take a look around your Gelato account. It’s like your control center.
    • You’ll see different sections, like:
      • Products: This is where you’ll create new things with your designs, like t-shirts or wall art.
      • Orders: Here, you can see when peopleplace an order for your stuff and where it is.
      • Money Stuff (Billing): This is where you manage how you pay Gelato.
      • Settings: You can change your account details here.
      • Help: If you get stuck, this section has lots of answers to common questions.

Now you’re all set up with Gelato!

Next, we’ll talk about how to add products with your awesome designs to your ecommerce store.

This is where the fun really begins, and you can start to grow your business!

Gelato homepage

Creating Your First Product: Design Time!

Okay, now for the fun part: putting your designs on stuff!

With gelato, you can create and sell custom products.

They have a wide range of products to pick from.

  • Choosing What to Sell:
    • Gelato offers lots of things you can put your designs on. Think about what people might want to buy from you.
    • Some popular choices are:
      • T-shirts and other clothes
      • Mugs for coffee or tea
      • Posters and wall art to decorate rooms
      • Phone cases to keep phones safe and stylish
      • Notebooks and stickers
      • Even things for homes like pillows!
    • Think about what kind of products to sell that fit what your online shop is all about.
  • Uploading Your Awesome Designs:
    • Once you pick a product, you need to upload your design – the picture or words you want on it.
    • Use gelato’s website to upload your design file. They work with different kinds of files (like JPG and PNG).
    • Make sure your design looks good! Print quality is important. Use the gelato guidelines for the best size and picture quality. Nobody wants a blurry picture on their new t-shirt!
    • Gelato create tools that allow you to create and see how your design will look on the product. You can move it around and make it bigger or smaller.
  • Setting Prices and Showing Off Your Stuff:
    • Gelato’s print on demand service will show you how much it costs them to make the product.
    • You get to decide how much you want to sell print on demand products for. The difference is your profit!
    • It’s important to show your products to your customers in a way that makes them want to buy. This means using good pictures of your products. These are called mockups. Gelato allows you to see what your final print will look like and often helps you make these pictures.
    • Write a good description for each of your custom product. Tell people what it is and why they might like it.
Gelato analytics

Gelato takes care of making your print on demand products when someone buys them.

This is what makes print on demand with gelato so cool!

You don’t have to keep a bunch of products without selling them first.

Gelato powers the world’s largest print on demand network.

This means they have printing places all over, so your products are made on demand closer to your customers. This can make shipping faster!

If you’re new to this, don’t worry!

We’re easy to use, and there are lots of print on demand faqs and a help center if you get stuck.

You can even find a tutorial on adding products to your store.

Think of Gelato’s print-on-demand as a way to deliver your products without you having to handle them directly.

It’s like dropshipping, but the product is your own design!

Selling and Shipping: How It All Works

So, you’ve got your awesome designs on high-quality products and they’re listed in your ecommerce store.

What happens when someone wants to buy them? 

Here’s the simple breakdown of how gelato handles selling and shipping.

Gelato branding projects
  • Someone Buys Your Cool Stuff:
    • A customer visits your ecommerce store and decides they just have to have that custom product you made. They click “buy” and pay.
    • Because your store is connected to gelato, all the details about what they bought go straight to gelato automatically. You don’t have to do anything!
  • Gelato Gets Busy Making It:
    • Gelato gets the order and starts to process and produce your product. Remember, they only make it when someone buys it – that’s the magic of print on demand!
    • They take your print file and use it to create the actual product. They make sure it’s high-quality because nobody wants something that looks bad.
  • Shipping It Straight to Your Customer:
    • Once the product is made, gelato packs it up carefully.
    • Then, they ship it directly to your customer. You don’t have to worry about packing boxes or going to the post office. Gelato takes care of getting your products to your customers without you lifting a finger!
    • Usually, your customer will get a tracking number so they can see when their order will arrive.
  • How Long Does Shipping Take?
    • How fast the shipping is can depend on where your customer lives and where gelato is printing the product. Remember, gelato has a gelato network of printing places around the world, which helps get products quickly to people.
    • The shipping costs also depend on where it’s going and how much it weighs. Gelato figures this out, and these costs are usually added to the price you pay gelato for making the product. You need to keep this in mind when you set the price you sell to your customers. Being clear about shipping costs helps keep your customers happy. You can even offer customers free shipping if you want to build that into your prices.

Since gelato works with gelato all over the world, they can often produce your products on demand closer to your buyers, which can mean faster shipping.

This is one reason why many people choose gelato as their best print on demand platform.

Gelato automatically sends your order from your store to gelato in seconds.

It’s a really easy to use and work system.

They use and work relentlessly to make sure everything runs smoothly so you can grow your business and get more sales.

If you’re looking to start a print on demand online business, gelato makes the selling and shipping part super simple.

You can start a print on demand ecommerce business without ever touching the actual products! 

It allows you to sell a range of customizable products with your own designs without the hassle of inventory and shipping.

Many user reviews show that people like gelato for this reason.

Gelato templates

Conclusion

So, that’s the lowdown on using Gelato.

It’s a simple way to sell your own cool stuff online.

You don’t need a warehouse.

You don’t have to mail things yourself. Gelato takes care of making and sending your products when someone buys them.

We talked about signing up. We looked at connecting your online store.

We learned how to put your designs on different things. And we saw how Gelato handles the selling and shipping part.

If you have ideas and want to sell them, give Gelato a try.

It’s free to start. You only pay when you sell something.

It could be a fun way to share your creativity and even make some money. 

So, why not check it out? You might just surprise yourself!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Gelato work for print on demand?

Gelato connects to your online store. When someone buys your designed product, Gelato automatically prints and ships it directly to the customer. You don’t handle inventory or shipping. They have printing partners worldwide for faster delivery.

What kind of products can I sell with Gelato?

Gelato offers a wide variety of products. This includes clothing like t-shirts, accessories like mugs and phone cases, and home decor such as posters and wall art. You can also find stationery and other customizable items to sell.

How much does it cost to use Gelato?

It’s free to sign up and connect your store to Gelato. You only pay when a customer places an order. The cost includes the product base price and shipping. You set your own retail price to make a profit.

Do I need to handle shipping and returns with Gelato?

No, Gelato handles the printing and shipping of your products directly to your customers. For returns, Gelato has its own policies, and you’ll typically manage customer service inquiries through their platform.

Can I connect Gelato to my existing online store?

Yes, Gelato integrates with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce. This makes it easy to connect your current store and start selling your print-on-demand products without needing a new website.

Fahim Joharder

Fahim Joharder

Author

A tech enthusiast and writer with a passion for AI and software innovations. He simplifies complex topics to help readers stay ahead in the digital world.

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