concept
Sell as customizable vs print-on-demand
Last updated September 11, 2026
Three screens say Customizable. They are not the same switch.
Ask: who designs, and when?
| Screen | Label | Who designs | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blank wizard Sell as | Customizable | Buyer on your storefront | Before checkout |
| Listing How is this product sold? | Customizable | Buyer, per order | After checkout — order stays Draft until art exists |
| Retail designer Print type | Customizable product | You put placeholder art | Each order needs a new print file |
Print-on-demand (you lock the art) is the everyday Catalog path. Do not flip a listing to Customizable to “make it sync.”
Sell as (the blank)
On Add a product, the rail step is Sell as.
- Customizable — “Buyers design it themselves.” Shoppers open the storefront customizer. Needs decoration-method pricing tables or the option is disabled: Bind decoration method pricing tables before choosing Customizable.
- Finished good — “Sell it exactly as it is.” Shoppers pick size and color only. Decoration area and mockup steps are skipped.
Finish is Add Customizable Product or Add Finished Good.
Finished good here is a storefront setting. It is not house finished goods.
After the blank exists there is no Sell as editor. Base products → [blank] → Send to Channel publishes a new buyer-customizable listing — it does not change Sell as.
Listing: How is this product sold?
Products → Listings → [listing]
| Option | Subtitle | Mapping needs |
|---|---|---|
| Print on demand | Predesigned, sold as-is | Blank + placement + print image |
| Customizable | Buyer adds their design | Blank + placement only (image column says Not required) |
| Ignore | Don't import this one. | Skip this SKU |
Save. Do not recreate a retail product to “fix” the listing.
Retail Print type
In the Catalog customizer (Upload / Details): Print type
- Print on demand — “Printed as-is per order.” You locked the art.
- Customizable product — “Customer edits before ordering.” Placeholder art. Disabled when a pricing template is missing.
That is a retail product setting, not the listing card and not blank Sell as.
When the order is Draft
Listing Customizable or retail Customizable product → the line stays draft until art is attached.
- Map the listing first (or the order is Unsynced, not Draft) — Unsynced Orders.
- Orders → Draft Orders.
- Open the order. Upload the print file, pick the placement, Save.
- The order moves to Pre-Production when every line has art.
You do not re-sync the listing for every order. Sync once. Upload art each time.
Not this path
- Everyday designed SKU: Create a retail product
- Channel SKU already on the shop: Listings
- Dollar rates: Pricing tables