How print-on-demand works
- You create product designs (artwork, logos, text) and apply them to Printful product templates.
- Products are synced to your HoopAI store with your retail pricing.
- A customer places an order on your store.
- The order is automatically sent to Printful.
- Printful prints, packages, and ships the product to the customer.
- You keep the difference between your retail price and Printful’s production cost.
Connecting Printful
Create a Printful account
Sign up at printful.com if you do not already have an account.
Connect your account
Click Connect and follow the authorization flow to link your Printful account to the HoopAI platform.
Syncing products
After connecting, products you create in Printful are synced to your HoopAI product catalog:- Product name and description — pulled from Printful
- Variants — sizes, colors, and styles appear as product variants
- Images — mockup images generated by Printful are imported
- Pricing — set your retail price in Printful; the platform syncs it automatically
Product sync is one-directional from Printful to HoopAI. Create and manage your print-on-demand products in Printful’s dashboard, and they appear in your HoopAI store automatically.
Order fulfillment flow
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Customer places order | Payment is processed through your HoopAI payment gateway |
| Order sent to Printful | The order details and shipping address are forwarded automatically |
| Printful produces the item | Typical production time is 2-5 business days |
| Printful ships | Tracking information is sent back to HoopAI and shared with the customer |
| Customer receives the product | Delivered via the shipping method selected at checkout |
Product customization
Design your products using Printful’s mockup generator:- Upload your artwork, logos, or designs
- Position and scale designs on product templates
- Preview mockups from multiple angles
- Choose print areas (front, back, sleeve, all-over)
Pricing strategy
Your profit per item equals the retail price minus Printful’s base cost:| Product | Printful cost (example) | Your retail price | Your profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirt | $12.95 | $29.99 | $17.04 |
| Mug | $7.95 | $19.99 | $12.04 |
| Poster (18x24) | $9.50 | $24.99 | $15.49 |
Shipping from Printful
Printful calculates shipping rates based on product type, weight, and destination. You can:- Pass shipping costs to the customer — Printful’s calculated rates appear at checkout
- Offer free shipping — absorb the cost into your product pricing
- Set flat-rate shipping — configure a flat rate in your store shipping settings