Printstreet Online Retail
About the Company
Printstreet is an online customization and merchandising solution provider that enables users to print their content, such as text and images, on a wide range of products including T-shirts, hoodies, and bags. Founded by brothers Rahul and Pushkar Garewal, the company caters to both individuals and enterprises, allowing for orders of any size. The flexibility in order quantity has been a key factor in attracting a diverse customer base.
The company operates from Hyderabad, Telangana, India, and has been in business since September 2017. Over the past few years, Printstreet has seen substantial growth, doubling its revenue each year. With six employees and a streamlined operation, the company has managed to carve out a niche in the competitive custom printing market.
Printstreet’s services are designed to meet the needs of various clients, from single personalized items to bulk orders for corporate merchandise. This versatility has helped the company build a loyal customer base and achieve steady monthly revenue growth. Their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has been pivotal to their success.
Idea Behind Company
Rahul Garewal’s experience in managing a country-wide franchise network for an ed-tech company inspired him to start his own business. During his corporate career, he was deeply involved in opening franchise centers and managing significant revenue, which ignited his entrepreneurial spirit. His role in helping others start and sustain their businesses motivated him to pursue his own venture.
After leaving his job in 2015, Rahul experimented with various business ideas. One such experiment involved supplying customized study materials to training institutes, which brought him close to the printing industry. He identified several pain points in the industry, such as high minimum order quantities, inconsistent product quality, and long turnaround times, which he aimed to address with Printstreet.
Rahul's brother, Pushkar, joined him in this endeavor, bringing additional skills and support. Together, they developed the concept of Printstreet, focusing on providing high-quality, customized products with no minimum order requirements. Their combined experience and complementary skills have been crucial in shaping the company’s direction and growth.
Creating the Company
To bring Printstreet to life, the Garewal brothers utilized WooCommerce on WordPress, leveraging the platform’s open-source nature to build a cost-effective and scalable online store. They meticulously designed the user experience to allow customers to easily upload their designs and customize products. The robust features of WooCommerce enabled them to offer a seamless and interactive customization process.
Rahul and Pushkar also capitalized on various digital tools to keep their operational costs low. They utilized free or freemium versions of tools for email, billing, payment gateways, and server hosting. By creatively managing resources and participating in competitions to earn free credits, they minimized expenses while maintaining high functionality in their business operations.
The brothers emphasized customer feedback in refining their offerings. Their initial phase involved extensive cold calling and sales visits to understand customer needs and pain points. This direct interaction with clients helped them tailor their products and services to better meet market demands, laying a strong foundation for their online store.
Launching the Business
Printstreet officially launched in September 2017, initially operating offline to generate leads through cold calls and in-person sales visits. This approach allowed the founders to gain valuable insights into customer preferences and fine-tune their product offerings before transitioning to an online platform. In June 2019, they launched their online store, which marked a significant milestone for the business.
The online launch was strategic, beginning with a soft launch to ensure the website was fully operational and indexed by search engines. Within a month, Printstreet received its first online order, a personalized hoodie, which validated their digital marketing efforts. By October 2019, they were generating $1,500 per month in online sales.
Digital marketing, particularly Google Ads, played a crucial role in driving traffic and sales to the online store. The brothers also leveraged WhatsApp API for abandoned cart notifications, which helped recover up to 25% of lost sales. Their comprehensive marketing strategy included email campaigns, social media engagement, and referral programs, all contributing to their steady growth.
Earnings
Currently, Printstreet generates an average of $5,000 per month in revenue, with a gross profit margin of 45%. The company’s effective use of digital marketing, particularly Google Ads, has been instrumental in achieving a high return on ad spend (RoAS) of 13.5x. Organic traffic, referrals, and social media also contribute to their sales, with Google Ads accounting for 60% of the total traffic.
The Garewal brothers have funded Printstreet entirely through their own resources, avoiding external loans and maintaining financial independence. Their frugality in both personal and business expenses has allowed them to invest more into the company. They have also benefited from using cost-effective tools and platforms, which has kept their operational costs low.
Despite the challenges, Printstreet has managed to grow significantly, maintaining a year-on-year growth rate of over 100% for the past three years. Their small yet dedicated team of eight employees continues to drive the business forward, with a promising future ahead as they explore new markets and expand their customer base.
