Online Company Stores: On-Demand vs. Inventory Programs
An online company store gives your team one branded place to order apparel, drinkware, and promotional items. But not every online company store works the same way behind the scenes. The model you choose, inventory or on-demand, shapes your selection, your costs, and how fresh your store stays over time. Understanding the difference helps you build a company store that fits how your company actually buys.
Two Types of Online Company Stores
Most company store programs fall into one of two models, with a hybrid option in between. The first stocks decorated products in advance. The second decorates only after an order is placed. Here is how each one performs.
Inventory Programs: Stuck in the Past
Inventory programs, the traditional approach, hail from the era of paper catalogs and static product lines. Here is how it works, and why it might not be the best fit for you:
- Limited selection. A small batch of pre-chosen items are decorated and sit in a warehouse, restricting the variety you can offer.
- Inventory risk. Your success hinges on picking the right products. Unsold items get stuck in the system, financially limiting your ability to add fresh items.
- Hidden costs. Inventory costs can add up quickly, hurting your program’s flexibility and freshness. You are also on the hook for buying unsold merchandise.
On-Demand Programs: The Future of Online Company Stores
On-demand programs offer a refreshing alternative to the traditional inventory approach. Because apparel is the largest category in promotional products, an on-demand online company store lets you offer that range without committing warehouse space or cash to it up front:
- Unleash your brand. Imagine a virtual store brimming with a vast array of apparel, hats, bags, and drinkware, all available with no risk. On-demand eliminates limitations on styles, brands, logo placements, or colors. We only order the blanks after you place your order, ensuring no excess inventory.
- Speed and flexibility. Items are received, decorated, and shipped within four business days, all from our facility. There are also no minimum order requirements, offering maximum flexibility for your needs.
- Sustainable savings. On-demand decoration minimizes waste by producing only what is needed, saving money and reducing your environmental footprint.
- Brand powerhouse. Imagine offering top brands like Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, The North Face, and more, all with zero inventory. On-demand unlocks a world of brand possibilities.
The Technology Behind an On-Demand Store
An on-demand online company store runs on a platform that connects your storefront to live product data, decoration, and fulfillment. Orders flow straight from the store to production, so there is no spreadsheet to manage, no stock to count, and no reorder to chase. The platform is what makes single-piece, no-minimum ordering possible, and it is what keeps your store current as you add or retire products.
The Inventory Exception: When It Makes Sense
While on-demand is ideal for apparel, drinkware, and some hard goods, there are exceptions. We recommend warehousing specific products like inexpensive swag, umbrellas, notebooks, and other promotional items that are less efficient for single-piece on-demand decoration. A hybrid online company store can be the best of both worlds: on-demand for apparel and branded goods, warehoused inventory for the items that call for it. See how this fits within our full range of company store solutions.
Making the Perfect Choice
Understanding the core differences between inventory and on-demand programs empowers you to make the best decision for your company’s online store. For maximum flexibility, brand variety, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, on-demand shines.
