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Original Source: https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/art-of-where-vs-printful

Printful and Art of Where are two well-established names in the print-on-demand world — but which one is right for your online store?

We’ve spent years building, running, and testing ecommerce brands using both platforms, and in this comparison, we’ll give you a clear breakdown of which service offers better tools, faster shipping, higher profit potential, and a smoother seller experience.

Quick Verdict

Printful – Best for scaling fast, selling globally, and automating your business

Art of Where – Best for artists and boutique brands selling premium, creative products

In this head-to-head review, we’ll compare Printful and Art of Where across critical areas like pricing, fulfillment times, product selection, integrations, ease of use, and customer support — so you can confidently decide which platform fits your store’s needs.

My Experience With These Platforms

I’ve been running ecommerce brands and print-on-demand stores for over a decade.

I’ve launched six-figure Shopify stores, tested dozens of POD providers, and gone through all the usual mistakes — slow shipping, poor print quality, missing packages, you name it.

Over the years, I’ve used Printful for multiple Shopify and Etsy stores — mainly for apparel and accessories.

I tried Art of Where while building a niche artist-led brand that needed high-quality sketchbooks, scarves, and art prints that didn’t feel mass-produced.

This review is not theory — it’s what actually works.

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Art of Where vs Printful: Business Model & Company Overview

Art of Where is a Canadian-based POD company. Their vibe is handmade, artistic, and creative.

They produce everything in-house at their Montreal facility. They’re geared toward artists, illustrators, and people who want to sell art-focused products without losing their brand’s feel.

Printful, on the other hand, is a massive global POD provider.

They’ve got fulfillment centers in the US, Europe, and beyond. Their focus is scale. They want to help ecommerce sellers build serious brands — fast. If you need 100+ SKUs shipped worldwide, that’s their lane.

Key Differences:

Art of Where is fully in-house production, handcrafted feel.

Printful uses a mix of in-house and partner facilities to scale globally.

Printful works better if you need speed and global reach.

Art of Where is more boutique, made for artists.

Printful Pros

Fast, reliable global shipping

Massive product catalog

Seamless integrations (Shopify, Etsy, Woo, Amazon, etc.)

Great mockup generator + branding options

Superb quality control

Printful Cons

Higher base prices on some products

Branding extras can get pricey

Printful branding on tracking emails unless removed manually

Art of Where Pros

All products made in-house (Montreal)

High-quality materials (especially notebooks, silk scarves, leggings)

Great for artists who care about print fidelity

White-label shipping

Unique product range

Art of Where Cons

Limited integrations (no direct Amazon, only basic Shopify/Etsy)

Slower shipping outside North America

UI is dated

Smaller catalog overall

Features Breakdown: What Do They Offer?

At first glance, both Art of Where and Printful offer the same core promise: upload a design, sell a product, and let them handle the rest.

But the moment you step inside the dashboard and start managing products, it’s clear they’re built for different kinds of sellers.

Here’s how they actually compare — from automation and product tools to branding and dashboard usability.

Printful Features – Fast, Polished, and Built for Scale

If you’re used to Shopify or Amazon Seller Central, Printful will feel familiar. It’s designed for ecommerce pros and sellers who want to scale fast.

You’ll get:

Clean, intuitive dashboard
All your products, orders, tracking, and design files are easy to find. There’s barely any learning curve.

Automated order handling
Once an order comes in, Printful syncs it, fulfills it, and sends tracking info — no manual work required.

1-click product syncing
Push new products to your Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce store in seconds. All variants and mockups go with it.

Live shipping rates
Show real-time shipping costs at checkout with connected platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.

Mockup generator
You get high-quality, clean product photos — including lifestyle shots — straight out of the box.

Custom branding tools
You can add:

Inside labels ($2.49 per item)

Branded packing slips (free)

Custom packaging (requires storage + volume)

Design tools
Quickly upload artwork or use their built-in editor to add text, shapes, or effects. Ideal for simple designs.

Embroidery + specialty options
Beyond DTG, Printful supports:

Embroidery

Sublimation (all-over prints)

Cut & sew (leggings, swimsuits)

Reusable templates
Apply the same design to multiple SKUs using templates. Saves hours when building collections.

Verdict:

Printful is made for sellers who want to move fast, launch new products in bulk, and automate 90% of their backend. Great for general stores, niche brands, or multichannel setups.

Art of Where Features – Custom-Focused, Artist-Driven

Art of Where takes a slower, more handcrafted approach. The platform is less automated but gives you more control over your creative output.

Here’s what stands out:

Manual product creation
Every item is built one at a time — you upload your design, adjust placement, select variants, and preview manually.

Unique mockup system
You can preview your design on scarves, sketchbooks, and wall hangings — but the mockups are less polished.

Built-in artist branding
Many products let you add:

Artist credits

Custom tags

Interior labels

These are often included at no extra cost, unlike Printful.

High design control
You can control print placement, fabric type, thread colour, and layout — especially useful for:

Scarves

Notebooks

Apparel with all-over prints

No extra fees for white-label
All packages ship with no Art of Where branding — out of the box.

Decent help guides
They provide basic tutorials for setting up your first products, though they don’t go as deep as Printful’s courses or Academy.

Limited automation
You’ll be doing more manual syncing, especially on Etsy. No bulk push tools or advanced product templates.

Verdict:

Art of Where is ideal for artists and creative brands. It’s less about speed and more about craftsmanship. If you only sell a handful of high-quality products, the lack of automation won’t bother you.

Feature Comparison Table

FeaturePrintfulArt of WhereProduct Syncing✅ Automated, fast❌ ManualMockup Generator✅ High quality + lifestyle✅ BasicBranding Options✅ Add-ons available✅ Included for freeOrder Automation✅ Full auto-fulfillment❌ Semi-manualProduct Creation Speed✅ Templates + cloning❌ Built one by oneLive Shipping Rates✅ Yes (via integrations)❌ Flat estimates onlyDesign Control✅ Good, but basic✅ Deep fabric-level controlPrint Options✅ DTG, embroidery, sublimation✅ Sublimation, hand-cut itemsMobile App✅ iOS + Android available❌ No mobile access

Summary

Printful is the better pick if you value speed, automation, and ecommerce integration.

Art of Where is the right choice if you care more about artistic detail, product uniqueness, and creative freedom — even if it takes more time to set up.

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Product Catalog Comparison: Quantity vs Niche Quality

If you’ve been in ecommerce for a while, you know this: your product catalog can either unlock serious revenue or turn into a logistics mess.

The Print-on-Demand platform you choose shapes what you can offer — and how much time you’ll spend managing it.

Here’s the honest breakdown of what you get with Printful vs Art of Where, based on catalog size, product categories, material quality, and design flexibility.

Printful – Volume, Variety, and Versatility

Printful is like the Costco of POD. Their catalog is deep — over 300+ products — and covers almost every major category.

You’ll find:

Apparel (men’s, women’s, kids)

T-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, joggers, leggings, swimwear, jackets, sports bras

Headwear

Caps, beanies, bucket hats, snapbacks, visors

Accessories

Tote bags, drawstring bags, phone cases, laptop sleeves, socks

Wall Art

Canvas prints, posters, framed prints, metal prints

Home Decor

Pillows, blankets, bean bags, candles, wall clocks

Pet Products

Dog bowls, pet hoodies

Stationery & Office

Stickers, mouse pads, notebooks

Jewelry

Necklaces, bracelets, earrings

Drinkware

Mugs, tumblers, water bottles

What’s great here is the sheer breadth of SKUs. This gives you flexibility to:

Run general stores

Launch seasonal products

Test new niches fast

Sell worldwide

Every category is covered, and Printful is constantly adding new products based on demand.

Print Quality:

Solid across the board. DTG printing is clean. Embroidery is tight. And all-over sublimation looks premium on things like leggings and swimwear.

Art of Where – Niche, Boutique, Artist-First

Art of Where isn’t trying to offer everything. They’re not going to flood you with options.

Instead, they offer premium niche products you won’t find on Printful — designed for artists, illustrators, and small-batch brands who care about how a product feels just as much as how it looks.

You’ll find:

Art Prints

Gallery boards, stretched canvas, fine art prints

Stationery

Sketchbooks, notebooks, journals with thick covers and artist-grade paper

Apparel

Leggings, kimonos, tank tops, beanies, dresses (all made in-house)

Accessories

Pencil cases, zip pouches, makeup bags

Scarves & Textiles

Silk scarves, square scarves, cotton bandanas, wraps

Wall Decor

Wall tapestries, art banners, fabric wall hangings

They’re known for their vivid colors, tight fabric print detail, and full in-house production. Their leggings and silk scarves especially feel luxurious compared to generic mass POD alternatives.

This catalog is made for:

Artists selling high-end reproductions

Illustrators turning their work into functional art

Etsy-style stores with a handmade look

Creative brands who sell emotion, not mass-produced goods

Print Quality: Top-tier for what they offer. Colors pop. Fabrics feel premium. Stitching and finishing are solid. Products don’t feel “cheap.”

Side-by-Side Catalog Comparison

CategoryPrintfulArt of WhereT-Shirts & Apparel✅ Full range of styles and brands✅ Small selection, mostly in-houseLeggings✅ Sublimation + embroidery✅ High-end cut-and-sew in-houseStationery❌ Minimal (just stickers/notebooks)✅ Sketchbooks, journals, art-qualityArt Prints✅ Canvas, posters, framed✅ Gallery boards, fine art texturesAccessories✅ Wide range of bags + phone gear✅ Pencil cases, pouchesScarves & Textiles❌ Not offered✅ Silk scarves, wraps, bandanasWall Decor✅ Posters, metal, wood✅ Fabric tapestries, canvas hangingsPet Products✅ Yes (dog gear, bowls, shirts)❌ NoneJewelry✅ Growing category❌ Not offeredDrinkware✅ Mugs, tumblers, water bottles❌ None

Key Differences in Catalog Strategy

Printful:

Designed to let you scale and test quickly

Great for dropshippers, general stores, or brands wanting broad appeal

Fast-moving inventory and category expansion

Art of Where:

Designed for artists who want premium, boutique offerings

Smaller but deeper categories

Focused on visual quality, materials, and craftsmanship

Verdict

If your ecommerce strategy is based on:

Volume

Speed

Catalog diversity

Wide customer targeting

Then Printful is the obvious choice.

But if you’re building:

A premium brand

An artist-first store

Niche products that can’t be found elsewhere

Then Art of Where gives you a catalog that feels custom-built for you.

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Pricing & Profitability: Which Makes You More Money?

Let’s be real — profit is the name of the game.

It doesn’t matter how “cool” the platform is if you can’t make a decent margin.

And here’s the catch: both Printful and Art of Where can be profitable — but only if you price smart, manage shipping properly, and understand where your hidden costs are coming from.

This section is about breaking down real numbers — so you can see what you’re actually working with.

Base Product Costs: Printful vs Art of Where

Here’s a look at some popular POD products with real USD pricing:

ProductPrintful (Base Price)Art of Where (Base Price)Classic Unisex Tee$9.25 – $11.50$12.00 – $13.00All-Over Leggings$22.50$27.00Canvas Print 16×20$25.00$30.00Mug 11oz$7.00N/ANotebook/SketchbookN/A$9.00 – $12.00Silk Scarf (35″×35″)N/A$38.00Tote Bag$15.95$20.00

Key takeaway:

Printful is cheaper on core products like t-shirts, hoodies, and mugs.

Art of Where is more expensive, but the quality and uniqueness justify premium pricing — if your brand can support it.

Shipping Costs

Printful
Shipping is priced per product and region. Here’s a basic example:

ProductUS ShippingInternational ShippingT-Shirt$3.99$6.49Hoodie$6.50$9.99Poster$4.99$8.99

Art of Where
Shipping is more complex — and slower. Rates are also higher:

ProductUS ShippingInternational ShippingSketchbook$7.00$12.00Scarf$9.50$14.00Leggings$8.50$15.00

And keep in mind — Printful’s warehouses are global, which means faster and often cheaper delivery to customers in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Art of Where ships everything from Canada.

Branding Costs

Printful (Optional Add-ons):

Inside neck label: $2.49 per item

Branded packing slip: Free

Custom packaging: Requires storage and monthly fee

Embroidery digitization (one-time): $6.50 – $9.95

Art of Where:

Artist label included in many apparel items

No extra cost for white-label shipping

Some customization options limited or unavailable

Summary:

Printful lets you build a visibly branded product, but you pay for it.

Art of Where includes white-label basics but lacks deep customization options.

Profit Margin Scenarios

Let’s say you’re selling a custom t-shirt for $24.99.

With Printful:

Base cost: $10.25

Shipping (US): $3.99

Total cost: $14.24

Profit: $10.75

Profit Margin: 43%

Add a $2.49 neck label, profit drops to $8.26 — but your product feels more premium.

With Art of Where:

Base cost: $13.00

Shipping (US): $6.50

Total cost: $19.50

Profit: $5.49

Profit Margin: 22%

That might sound low — but if you’re pricing the item at $34.99 or higher (which is doable for premium artist products), your margin jumps to 44%.

Real-World Profit Tips (from Experience)

Art of Where needs premium pricing — you can’t compete at $25 if your base + shipping is already $19.

Printful gives you margin room, but watch out for branding fees stacking up.

Bundle items to increase AOV (average order value) and absorb shipping costs.

Run pre-orders on Art of Where to offset slow fulfillment and limit inventory issues.

Always build your prices based on landed cost (product + shipping + branding).

Verdict

If your focus is margins and scale, Printful gives you more flexibility, better rates, and volume-friendly pricing.

If your brand is positioned around premium, handmade, boutique products, then Art of Where can still be profitable — but only if your pricing reflects the value and quality of what you’re selling.

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Fulfillment & Shipping Speed: Who Delivers Faster and Smarter?

Fast shipping isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore — it’s a customer expectation. Whether you’re selling tees or premium notebooks, people want quick delivery and reliable tracking.

That’s where the fulfillment model of each platform makes a massive difference. Let’s break it down.

Printful – Global Warehouses = Faster Fulfillment

Printful isn’t just a POD service — it’s a logistics beast. They’ve built a worldwide fulfillment network with facilities in:

United States (multiple locations)

Canada

Mexico

United Kingdom

Latvia

Spain

Australia

Japan

Poland

Brazil (in beta rollout)

This means Printful can route your order to the closest fulfillment center, reducing both production time and shipping delays. In most cases, orders are handled regionally — no customs, no long wait times, no international bottlenecks.

Fulfillment Time (Avg):

2–5 business days for most apparel and accessories

3–7 days for embroidered items or all-over prints

Orders with multiple items may ship separately from different facilities

Shipping Time (After Fulfillment):

RegionAvg Delivery TimeUSA3–5 business daysCanada4–7 business daysEU/UK3–7 business daysAustralia5–10 business daysRest of World7–15 business days

They also offer live tracking updates and branded notifications (if configured). From a customer standpoint, the experience feels Amazon-lite.

Art of Where – In-House, Handcrafted, Slower

Every product from Art of Where is made in-house in Montreal, Canada. They don’t outsource fulfillment or use third-party print labs. This means tighter quality control, but also longer turnaround times.

Their process includes:

Printing

Cutting

Sewing (for apparel and accessories)

Packaging

Manual quality check

Fulfillment Time (Avg):

5–8 business days for most items

Up to 10 business days during high-volume seasons (holidays, Q4)

Products are batched for production — not processed instantly

Shipping Time (After Fulfillment):

RegionAvg Delivery TimeCanada3–7 business daysUSA5–10 business daysInternational10–21 business days

Tracking is provided, but it may take longer to update, especially for international orders. There’s also no multi-warehouse setup, so all orders leave from the same origin — which adds customs delays outside Canada.

Real-World Experience: What I’ve Seen

Printful Orders:

US customers usually receive orders in 5–8 calendar days total

Europe is just as fast thanks to Latvia and Spain facilities

High-volume items like tees and hoodies are fulfilled quickest

Art of Where Orders:

Best suited for North American customers (Canada especially)

International buyers have to wait longer and pay more for shipping

Handcrafted items (like scarves or notebooks) are worth the wait — but communicate the timeline clearly in your store

Fulfillment & Shipping Comparison Table

FactorPrintfulArt of WhereFulfillment Locations10+ global warehousesMontreal, Canada onlyAvg Fulfillment Time2–5 days5–8 daysAvg US Shipping Time3–5 days5–10 daysAvg Intl Shipping Time7–15 days10–21 daysTrackingReal-time + brandedStandard updates, delayed intlSplit Shipments✅ Yes (multi-center orders)❌ NoCustoms/Import DelaysMinimal for most regionsCommon outside North America

Verdict

If speed matters to your customers — and let’s be honest, it does — then Printful is the clear winner. They’ve got the infrastructure to back it up.

Art of Where offers a more artisanal approach, but slower turnaround and longer delivery times mean you have to set the right expectations. Great for boutique brands. Not great for impatient Amazon-era shoppers.

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Ecommerce Integrations: Where Can You Actually Sell With These Platforms?

Let me be blunt — if you’re not using a POD platform with direct integrations, you’re wasting time.

Manual syncing kills your margins. I’ve seen store owners burn out trying to manage orders across Etsy, Shopify, and WooCommerce without the right tools in place.

So the first question I always ask is: How many clicks does it take to get my product live — and my orders fulfilled automatically?

Printful – Deep Integrations With 10+ Platforms

Printful leads the industry when it comes to ecommerce integrations. It’s one of the reasons I’ve used them for years — the tech just works. Whether you’re selling on one store or five, they make order flow seamless.

Native Integrations:

Shopify – Full product sync, live shipping rates, branded packing slips, real-time inventory

Etsy – Product listings, mockups, auto-order sync, built-in SKU mapping

Amazon – Full integration for Seller Central accounts (US, EU)

WooCommerce – WordPress-friendly, live order syncing, easy setup

eBay – Plug and play, automated fulfillment

BigCommerce

Squarespace

Wix

Ecwid

Weebly

TikTok Shop (Beta)

Webflow (via Zapier/API)

They also offer a powerful custom API for advanced users — great if you’re building a custom storefront or want to build your own app layer.

Key Highlights:

Syncs products in one click

Updates inventory and pricing automatically

Sends tracking info back to your store and customers

Allows live shipping rates at checkout (for select platforms)

Supports multiple stores from one Printful account

Art of Where – Limited Integrations, More Manual Work

Art of Where is more basic in this department. Their integrations are limited, and if you sell on multiple platforms, be prepared for some manual upload and sync work.

Current Integrations:

Shopify – Decent sync, but not as seamless as Printful

Etsy – Requires more setup, mockups need manual tweaks

Manual Orders – You can place orders directly through the dashboard

Custom API – Available, but requires a developer to implement properly

What’s Missing:

No native support for Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce, etc.

No automatic live shipping rate calculator at checkout

No bulk product push tool — you’ll build each item manually

Key Limitations:

You’ll spend more time managing listings manually

You may need a virtual assistant just to handle Etsy or Shopify updates

Doesn’t scale well if you plan to sell on multiple platforms

Integration Comparison Table

FeaturePrintfulArt of WhereShopify Integration✅ Seamless & automated✅ Available, but less refinedEtsy Integration✅ Product sync + tracking✅ Requires more manual setupAmazon Integration✅ Full Seller Central sync❌ Not availableWooCommerce✅ Easy setup via plugin❌ Not supportedSquarespace/Wix/BigCommerce✅ Native or via plugin/API❌ Not supportedAPI Access✅ Yes – powerful + documented✅ Yes – but limited dev supportMultichannel Selling✅ Supports multiple stores❌ One-at-a-timeProduct Sync Automation✅ One-click with mockups❌ Manual product creationOrder Auto-Fulfillment✅ Fully automated✅ Semi-automated

Real-World Experience

With Printful, I’ve launched and synced entire catalogs across Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon in a single afternoon. Everything flows through automatically, including:

New orders

Tracking info

Stock updates

Cancellations and refunds

With Art of Where, I had to:

Upload products manually

Write product descriptions separately

Re-create mockups for Etsy listings

Monitor fulfillment manually (especially around holidays)

It’s not unmanageable — but it’s a slow grind compared to Printful.

Verdict

If you plan to:

Sell across multiple platforms

Run promotions quickly

Automate order flow

Scale efficiently without hiring help

Then Printful is the clear winner.

If you’re running a single Shopify or Etsy store and your catalog is small, Art of Where can still work — just don’t expect automation to carry your business.

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Ease of Use: Which Platform Is Simpler to Run Your Business On?

You can have the best products, the best ideas, and the best audience — but if your backend sucks, it’s game over.

When you’re juggling multiple SKUs, running ads, answering customer emails, and trying to ship on time… the last thing you need is a complicated, buggy print-on-demand dashboard.

So here’s what the actual experience feels like using Printful and Art of Where after running live stores with both.

Printful – Built for Speed, Scale, and Simplicity

Printful feels like it was designed by ecommerce people who’ve actually run stores. Everything is laid out clean, logical, and fast — from uploading a new design to pushing products live.

Key strengths:

Clean, Modern UI
You’re not guessing where anything is. Menus are intuitive, and the dashboard gives you a full overview of orders, shipments, and products at a glance.

Product Creation is Fast
Use their mockup generator, adjust variants, set retail pricing, and sync directly to your store. You can create a full t-shirt listing in under 10 minutes.

Bulk Product Tools
You can clone designs across multiple products, apply templates, and scale fast without starting from scratch every time.

Live Shipping Calculators
No need to guess shipping costs — you can view them while building a product and show accurate rates to customers at checkout (if your platform supports it).

Dashboard Speed
No lag, no weird bugs. Whether you’re viewing 5 orders or 500, the platform is responsive and smooth.

Integrated Branding Setup
Add custom packing slips, neck labels, and brand logos in one place — and it applies automatically to future orders.

Mobile App Support
Printful has a dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android so you can manage orders on the go.

Art of Where – More Manual, More Time-Consuming

Art of Where doesn’t feel like it was built for high-volume sellers. The platform leans heavily into artistic customisation — but at the cost of speed and ease.

Key drawbacks:

Outdated UI
The dashboard looks and feels dated. Navigation isn’t intuitive, and there’s a lot of clicking around to find the info you need.

Manual Product Creation
You’ll need to upload each design individually, adjust print placements manually, and preview everything from scratch. No bulk templates or multi-product clones.

Limited Syncing Tools
Even with Shopify and Etsy integrations, syncing is slower and doesn’t always carry over variants or product details cleanly. You’ll need to double-check listings often.

Mockup Quality Varies
The mockup generator works, but it doesn’t match the polish you get with Printful. Some lifestyle images feel low-res or outdated.

No Mobile App
Managing your orders on the go is harder. You’re tied to a desktop experience, and there’s no optimized mobile dashboard.

Customization Overload
For some products, there are too many options — placement, lining, thread colour, fabric types — which can slow down decision-making, especially if you’re just trying to launch.

First-Time Seller Experience

If you’re new to print-on-demand:

Printful is easy to pick up in under an hour. You can launch your first product the same day.

Art of Where requires more trial and error. Expect to spend a few days just learning the workflow.

Day-to-Day Workflow Comparison

TaskPrintfulArt of WhereUploading a Design✅ Simple + drag-and-drop❌ Manual + placement requiredCreating a Product✅ Guided, quick❌ Slower + more stepsSyncing to Store✅ One-click sync❌ Limited automationManaging Orders✅ Clean UI, real-time updates❌ More digging to find detailsEditing Products✅ Fast + template reuse❌ Product-by-product editsMobile Access✅ Yes (App)❌ No appSupport Docs✅ Massive help center✅ Good guides, but limited scope

Verdict

If you want a platform that just works, helps you launch fast, and scales with you — Printful is far easier to use.

Art of Where is better for artists who don’t mind taking their time with every listing, focusing on craftsmanship over efficiency. But if you’re running multiple stores or managing a catalog of 20+ SKUs, it’s going to slow you down.

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Customer Support & Resources: Who Actually Has Your Back When Things Go Wrong?

When you’re scaling a POD store — whether it’s 5 orders a day or 500 — you will run into problems.

Late shipments. Misprints. Orders stuck in customs. Packages marked as delivered that never show up. These things happen.

And when they do, the quality of support behind your platform makes or breaks your customer experience. I’ve had both Printful and Art of Where drop the ball — and save the day — at different times. Here’s the honest breakdown.

Printful – Fast, Multi-Channel Support with Deep Resources

Printful has support infrastructure that rivals mid-size SaaS companies. Whether you need help at 2am or while juggling a flash sale, someone’s available.

Support Channels:

Live Chat – 24/7 (most reliable)

Email Support – Usually replies within 12–24 hours

Help Center – Huge library of FAQs, videos, and troubleshooting guides

YouTube Tutorials – Real walkthroughs for beginners and advanced sellers

Printful Blog – Regular updates, tips, product launches

Printful Academy – Free courses on ecommerce, branding, and marketing

My Experience:

I’ve used chat support for last-minute holiday issues — and got answers within minutes.

Their support agents are usually well-trained, not copy-pasting templates.

You can reference order numbers, attach screenshots, and get escalations when needed.

Standout Tools:

Order Problem Tool – You can file a complaint directly from an order page.

Automatic Refunds or Replacements – For most print errors or damaged items, they’ll reprint and reship at no cost.

Status Updates via Dashboard – Easy to track fulfillment stages and get updates on delays or backlogs.

Art of Where – Smaller Team, Slower Replies, Limited Channels

Art of Where’s support model reflects their boutique operation. Everything is handled in-house — which can be great for quality, but slower when volume increases.

Support Channels:

Email Only – No live chat or phone

Help Center – Basic FAQ and step-by-step guides

Limited YouTube Content – A few tutorials on product creation

❌ No Live Chat

❌ No Phone Support

My Experience:

Email replies usually take 1–2 business days

During busy periods (Q4, holidays), support can take up to 3 days

Responses are polite and helpful, but slower to escalate

Order Issues:

You’ll need to email support with photos and details for any damaged or misprinted items

Reprints or refunds are generally handled well — but slower than Printful

No dashboard tool to flag issues — everything’s done by manual contact

Side-by-Side Comparison: Support & Resources

FeaturePrintfulArt of WhereLive Chat Support✅ 24/7 via dashboard❌ Not availableEmail Support✅ <24hr replies✅ 1–3 business daysPhone Support❌ Not offered❌ Not offeredKnowledge Base✅ Deep + searchable✅ Basic guidesOrder Issue Resolution Tools✅ Built into dashboard❌ Must email manuallyAutomatic Refund/Reprint Process✅ Yes, seamless✅ Yes, but slowerVideo Tutorials✅ Dozens of step-by-step videos❌ Minimal YouTube presenceCourses/Training✅ Printful Academy❌ NoneRegular Updates/Blog✅ Weekly product & strategy posts❌ Infrequent updates

Real-World Verdict

Printful gives you speed, structure, and multiple ways to get help fast. Whether you’re fixing a one-off order issue or troubleshooting API errors, support is responsive and consistent.

Art of Where offers solid help — but you’re dealing with a small team. You’ll get thoughtful answers, just not quickly. If you run a store with high daily order volume or time-sensitive launches, that delay can hurt your reputation.

Pro Tip: Test Before Scaling

Before scaling with either platform, submit a test support ticket.

Ask a technical question.

Report a sample issue.

Judge how long they take to respond — and how helpful they are.

If you’re about to launch a 500 SKU Shopify store, you’d better know who picks up the slack when stuff breaks.

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Final Verdict: Which Print-on-Demand Platform Should You Use in 2025?

I’ve used both Printful and Art of Where across multiple stores over the years — from Etsy side hustles to full-blown ecommerce brands pushing hundreds of orders a month.

So if you’re still wondering, “Which one is actually better?”, here’s my take:

If you want speed, automation, integrations, and scalable profit — go with Printful.

Printful is built for ecommerce operators. It’s clean, fast, reliable, and integrates with everything you need.

The catalog is massive, the UI is smooth, and fulfillment is handled like a machine. Yes, some products have thinner margins, but you can offset that with smart pricing, bundling, and branding.

If you’re launching a general store, a niche Shopify brand, or want to sell across Etsy + Amazon — Printful gives you the tech to actually do that without burning hours every day.

If you’re an artist or boutique seller focused on quality and uniqueness — go with Art of Where.

Art of Where is slower and more manual — but the product quality is top-tier, especially for custom stationery, scarves, art prints, and fabric-based goods.

The whole brand feels handcrafted, and if you’re charging premium prices and targeting the right buyer, the margins are still there.

For artists, illustrators, and premium Etsy stores, Art of Where offers products that your competition literally can’t match. Just be ready for longer fulfillment times and more manual management.

Feature / CategoryPrintfulArt of WhereProduct Catalog Size✅ 300+ SKUs, apparel, decor, etc.❌ Smaller, niche items onlyProduct Uniqueness❌ Generic (but wide variety)✅ Highly unique, boutique offeringsFulfillment Speed✅ 2–5 days average❌ 5–8+ days averageGlobal Shipping Infrastructure✅ Warehouses on 5 continents❌ Ships only from CanadaEcommerce Integrations✅ 10+ native integrations❌ Shopify & Etsy onlyEase of Use✅ Modern dashboard, mobile-friendly❌ Outdated UI, manual workflowsSupport Speed & Tools✅ 24/7 live chat, tutorials❌ Email only, 1–3 day repliesBranding Options✅ Deep customization (labels, etc.)✅ Basic white-labeling includedProfit Margins✅ Competitive if scaled smartly❌ Lower unless priced as premiumBest ForBrands scaling quicklyArtists selling premium goods

Who Should Use Printful?

Use Printful if:

You’re building a Shopify, WooCommerce, or Amazon store

You want automation, fast shipping, and multichannel growth

You need 100+ product options and plan to scale SKUs

You care about reliability and global customer reach

You want real support available 24/7

Who Should Use Art of Where?

Use Art of Where if:

You’re an artist, designer, or illustrator

You’re focused on premium, creative product formats

You only sell on Etsy or Shopify

You want complete control over the artwork and presentation

You’re okay with slower delivery in exchange for quality

Final Thoughts

There’s no single winner — it depends on what kind of business you’re running.

If you want hands-off scaling, streamlined logistics, and broad product coverage — Printful is the platform to bet on.

If you’re crafting a premium experience, selling higher-ticket items, and want to stand out in a sea of generic POD products — Art of Where delivers the uniqueness your brand needs.

Both can work. I’ve used both. Just don’t try to use the wrong tool for the wrong type of store — or you’ll waste time, money, and patience fast.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Art of Where good for beginners?

It depends on your goals. If you’re just testing the waters and want fast results, Art of Where might feel slow and clunky. But if you’re an artist looking for high-quality print products and you’re comfortable with a hands-on approach, it’s a solid platform.

Can I use both Printful and Art of Where at the same time?

Yes — and I’ve done this myself. Many sellers use Printful for fast-moving items like t-shirts and mugs, and Art of Where for niche products like sketchbooks or scarves. Just make sure your store is clear about delivery times for each type of product

Which platform offers better print quality?

Both offer great print quality, but in different ways. Printful’s DTG prints are clean and consistent across apparel, while Art of Where shines on art prints, scarves, and premium stationery. If you’re selling to art collectors or creatives, Art of Where feels more premium

Who owns the rights to the designs I upload?

You do. Both platforms make it clear: you retain full ownership of your designs. But you are responsible for ensuring you have the legal rights to sell whatever you upload — so don’t use copyrighted or licensed material unless you’ve secured permission

Can I customise packaging and branding with both platforms?

Yes, but with big differences. Printful offers advanced branding options like inside labels, branded packing slips, and even custom packaging (for high-volume sellers). Art of Where includes basic branding like artist labels but doesn’t offer as many packaging upgrades.

How long does it take to get paid from customer orders?

That depends on your ecommerce platform (Shopify, Etsy, etc.) — not the POD provider. Your payment processor (e.g. Stripe, PayPal, Shopify Payments) handles payouts. Printful and Art of Where charge you per order — they don’t collect customer payments for you

Can I sell internationally with both platforms?

Yes — but Printful is built for it. With global warehouses, your international orders ship faster and more affordably. Art of Where ships everything from Canada, so international shipping is slower, more expensive, and more prone to customs delays

What happens if a customer wants a refund or reprint?

Both platforms will reprint or refund if there’s a clear issue (e.g. misprint, damaged item). Printful makes this process easier — you can submit a claim inside the dashboard. With Art of Where, you’ll need to email support and provide photos and order info manually

Which platform has better support for high-volume sellers?

Printful — no question. They offer dedicated account reps (at scale), bulk order tools, real-time syncing, and 24/7 live chat. Art of Where is better suited for lower volume, artisanal sellers who don’t need deep operational infrastructur

Can I automate everything, or will I still have manual tasks?

With Printful, you can automate almost everything — product syncing, order fulfillment, shipping notifications, and branding. Art of Where still requires manual steps, especially when uploading products, creating mockups, or managing store syncs.

The post Art of Where vs Printful: My Verdict for 2025 appeared first on Ecommerce-Platforms.com.

Original Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/3d-art/3d-art-of-the-week-sanghoon-oh

3D art of the week: Sanghoon Oh tells us about his obsession with monsters and creating unique creatures.

Original Source: https://abduzeedo.com/sky-inspired-packaging-design-cuatro-cielos

Sky-Inspired Packaging Design for Cuatro Cielos

abduzeedo
04/28 — 2025

Explore how Fugitiva captured Mexico’s skies in the beautiful packaging design for gourmet snack brand Cuatro Cielos.

Designers often look to unexpected places for inspiration. For the gourmet snack brand Cuatro Cielos, the creative team at Fugitiva turned their gaze upwards, drawing directly from the dynamic beauty of Mexico’s skies. This approach resulted in a visual identity and packaging design that feels both grounded and ethereal.

Cuatro Cielos aims to elevate everyday snack moments into something more. Fugitiva’s task was to translate this idea into a tangible visual language. Their primary source? The four distinct skies experienced throughout the day: dawn, midday, dusk, and night.

Hues Reflecting Flavors

The design team meticulously observed the shifting colors of the sky. They built a visual system where each sky’s palette correlates with specific ingredients and flavors of Cuatro Cielos’ products. This connection enhances the sensory experience and deepens the brand story.

Dawn’s soft yellows, blues, and intense oranges and golds mirror the gentle awakening of flavors. Think of the comforting warmth found in toasted oats or the sweet sparkle of crystallized nuts. The packaging for products like artisanal granola might feature these warm, transitioning hues.

Midday’s pure, unwavering azure embodies the clean essence of select ingredients. Light and airy elements, perhaps found in flour mixes for hotcakes, are represented by this clear blue sky.

Dusk brings a fiery serenade of vibrant oranges, pinks, purples, and lilacs. This palette reflects an exciting dance of flavors, like the bold heat of chili meeting the richness of roasted nuts. Spicy almond or cashew products could live within this visually dynamic packaging.

Night’s deep indigo and black, dotted with starlight, evoke profound and delicate notes. Dark chocolate products, inspiring wonder, find their home in this enigmatic, darker design.

Crafting the Experience

The packaging design artifacts showcase this thoughtful application of color and pattern. Each pouch or container becomes a small canvas, telling a part of the sky’s story and hinting at the flavor within. The consistent branding across different products, while utilizing varied sky palettes, creates a cohesive yet diverse family of goods.

This project highlights how looking beyond conventional design tropes can lead to truly unique packaging design. By grounding the visual identity in a natural, relatable phenomenon like the sky, Fugitiva created a brand that feels authentic and evocative.

It’s a strong reminder that inspiration is everywhere, sometimes just above our heads. Exploring how natural elements can inform your next packaging design project might just lead to something beautiful.

Find more inspiring work from Fugitiva at https://fugitiva.co/.

Packaging design artifacts

Original Source: https://www.sitepoint.com/developer-newsletters-to-subscribe/?utm_source=rss

Stay ahead in tech with this curated list of the best developer newsletters. Explore top picks for AI, web development, design, DevOps, and programming languages.

Continue reading
Top 21 Developer Newsletters to Subscribe To in 2025
on SitePoint.

Original Source: https://ecommerce-platforms.com/hosting/rapyd-cloud-review

Let’s face it, few things are more important to the success of your website than good hosting. Every second of downtime or sluggish performance drives more potential customers away, and harms your potential for growth.

Unfortunately, I’ve always had a hard time finding the perfect hosting solution for WordPress sites – that’s why I was excited to conduct this Rapyd Cloud review.

Sure, pretty much every hosting provider promises the world, and Rapyd Cloud is no different – boasting that it can give companies enterprise-grade hosting, without the huge costs. But there are a lot of features built-into this solution that really do give it an edge.

I’m talking about a high-performance database (Maria DB), real-time resource scaling, develop-friendly tools, server-level caching, and so much more.

But how does Rapyd Cloud really perform in the real world? Well, let’s find out.

Quick Verdict: Pros and Cons

I’ll walk you through all of the major pros, cons, and features of Rapyd Cloud, based on my hands-on experience in a moment. First though -here’s a quick take.

I think Rapyd Cloud is a brilliant solution for anyone who wants WordPress hosting that delivers exceptional performance, security, and scalability. Honestly, it might be a bit too powerful for some basic websites.

However, if you’re building a website with complex features, or expect a high volume of traffic, Rapyd Cloud is hard to beat. The real-time resource scaling ensures your site remains snappy, even during traffic surges.

Plus, features like free Object Cache Pro and integrated CDN add significant value – no matter what kind of site you’re hosting.

Pros:

Real-time resource scaling for snappy performance

Free object cache pro and free migration services

Integrated CDN for global content delivery

Exceptional Redis caching with Relay

One-click staging for code testing

Intuitive, easy-to-use dashboard

Fantastic proactive security measures

Cons:

Limited to WordPress hosting

Premium features can be expensive

What is Rapyd Cloud: Basic Overview

Rapyd Cloud is a managed WordPress hosting platform, built to tackle all of the nitty-gritty issues most of us face with WordPress hosting in general.

WordPress sites generally have a greater set of demands than most blogs or old-fashioned portfolio websites. They need to handle high volumes of traffic, manage complex database queries, and deal with sophisticated caching requirements.

Rapyd Cloud addresses these needs directly, combining a huge selection of features to help ensure your website maintains high performance, speed and reliability. I’ll cover these features in more depth below, but some of the big hitters you can benefit from include:

Real-Time Resource Scaling: No more manual interventions during traffic spikes. Rapyd Cloud adjusts resources on-the-fly, ensuring your site remains responsive no matter what.

Free Object Cache Pro: Included at no extra charge, this feature optimizes database queries, enhancing site speed and saving you $95/month.

Redis Caching with Relay: Experience up to double the performance with lock-free, in-memory caching, ensuring swift data access for dynamic sites.

Integrated Rapyd CDN: Deliver content rapidly to visitors worldwide, reducing load times and enhancing user experience.

Advanced Security Measures: With features like DDoS protection, daily backups, malware scanning, and a web application firewall (WAF), your site stays protected constantly.

One-Click Staging: Easily test changes before going live, ensuring a seamless user experience without the risk of downtime.

Intuitive Dashboard: Manage your site effortlessly with a user-friendly interface that offers powerful built-in tools.

Rapyd Cloud Review: Architecture and Performance

I could probably spend a lot of time talking about all the various features of Rapyd Cloud – but that’d get boring pretty fast. So let’s focus on the things that are going to matter most to you as a website owner – starting with overall architecture and performance.

At the heart of this hosting solution is a server structure built on LiteSpeed Enterprise. If you’re not familiar – that’s a high-performance web server known for it’s speed and efficiency.

According to Rapyd, it delivers ten times the performance of a traditional hosting solution. In fact, you can see how Rapyd outperforms standard WordPress hosting benchmarks here.

LiteSpeed is way better at handling server-level page caching, compression, edge-computing capabilities and more than your traditional Apache or NGINX setup.

It basically gives you the turbo-charged enterprise power you need to run a lighting fast website, without complexity.

Really, what makes Rapyd Cloud so impressive is its ability to handle dynamic and diverse use cases. Rather than offering fixed resource allocations, this hosting solution can scale and adapt dynamically to the real-time needs of your website.

That means it can easily contend with high-traffic content sites, membership platforms, WooCommerce ecommerce sites, and more.

The LiteSpeed Enterprise architecture is further enhanced by Rapyd Cloud’s database solution: MariaDB. This tool enhances query speed and site responsiveness – taking the overall performance of your site to the next level. Which takes us to our next review section.

Rapyd Cloud Caching and CDN Solutions

I often advise website owners to invest in advanced caching solutions and a robust Content Delivery Network (CDN) to enhance website performance. Usually, though, accessing these solutions means paying for extra tools, and dealing with more complexity.

Rapyd Cloud comes with numerous caching solutions built in – as well as a dedicated CDN. The Rapyd CDN is more than just a traditional CDN – it is also a cloud based full page caching infrastructureStarting with caching solutions.

Rapyd Cloud offers server-level caching (with LiteSpeed) to automatically enhance your website load times. It also comes with complex database query caching solutions – perfect for those dynamic or complex website I mentioned before.

On top of that, you get “Object Cache Pro” (usually $95 per month), built-in for free. This solution lightens the workload of your website by storing frequently accessed data in memory, reducing the need for repetitive database queries.

You even get free Redis caching with Relay – a state-of-the-art PHP caching layer that outpaces the standard Redis clients you might be familiar with. This tool doubles as an in-memory cache, optimizing speed while conserving resources.

Combine all that and you get a caching suite that can support just about any site – even major ecommerce sites built with WordPress.

Then, let’s not forget the Rapyd CDN, for extra-fast content delivery too. This comes built-in with your plan, allowing you to deliver content to users globally without unnecessary lag.

The CDN even features intelligent image optimization, which means it can compress images and convert them instantly into modern formats like WebP.

WordPress-Specific Features in Rapyd Cloud

As I mentioned above, Rapyd Cloud is a hosting solution designed specifically for WordPress users. Obviously, that means it’s not a great pick if you’re using another type of website builder, but it also means there are a bunch of great WordPress-specific features to explore, such as:

WooCommerce Optimization

Launching an online store with WooCommerce? Rapyd Cloud makes managing that store a breeze. You can access WooCommerce-specific optimizations, including efficient cart management, session handling, and product catalog caching.

There’s even something called “Smart Purge Technology”, which means that whenever a product’s cache is cleared, all your related category and tag pages are updated too. Plus, there’s an “elastic search” functionality for ultra-quick product searches.

Membership and LMS Site Enhancements

For those launching LMS (Learning Management System) solutions and membership sites, Rapyd Cloud offers access to role-based cache management and optimized user session handling to ensure that members receive personalized experiences without compromising site speed.

Oh, and for educators and membership site owners, there’s a built-in BuddyBoss app integration. That means you can easily manage things like messaging systems, activity streams, and member profiles without having to use a different dashboard.

WordPress Site Management Tools

I’ll talk more about the overall user experience and interface offered by Rapyd Cloud in a minute. But if you’re looking for an easy management solution, this hosting platform is definitely a great pick.

It comes packed with great features, like “rollback” options to revert to previous WP versions, or rollback specific plugins in a couple of clicks.

You can keep themes up to date instantly with a theme management dashboard, and leverage WP_DEBUG pages for PHP error insights and notices.

There’s also a range of command-line tools, so you can dive deeper into your site’s backend. Plus, you get automated backups and updates, to help minimize risks, and there are one-click staging environments for experimentation.

Rapyd Cloud Security Features

It seems like a lot of website owners often need to balance “performance” with security – with one sometimes coming at the expense of the other. Fortunately, with Rapyd Cloud, that isn’t the case. This is one of the top hosting solutions I’ve tried based on security alone.

It comes with advanced firewall protection already built-in, as well as advanced DDoS protection – ensuring uninterrupted and safe access to your website for visitors.

If you use a lot of apps on your website, the application containerization features help to ensure that security risks with one app don’t have a negative impact on another.

Plus, thanks to partnerships with other tech leaders, Rapyd Cloud has upgraded its security ecosystem with a bunch of compelling extras.

For instance, the partnership with PatchStack means you get “proactive vulnerability detection” – through a system that constantly scans and identifies risks in your WordPress core, themes, and plugins.

You also get automatic virtual patches and firewall measures whenever a potential vulnerability is detected.

Through the partnership with Monarx, users also get to guard their site with proactive and automatic malware protection systems. On top of that, you get bot protection already built-in for all websites, free SSL certificates with most hosting plans, and 24/7 back-end analytics.

From an overall security perspective, Rapyd Cloud really is hard to beat.

Rapyd Cloud Pricing and Plans

Before I cover how easy this solution is to use (overall), and how much customer support you get, let’s dive into the price you’ll pay for all of the cutting-edge functionality mentioned above.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a super-cheap hosting provider, Rapyd Cloud probably isn’t the best choice – although you can get discounts if you pay annually (2 months free), or every two years (6 months free).

Here’s a rundown of the monthly price for the core plans, and their core features:

Lite: $35 per month: Designed for simpler, static websites, this plan supports around 200,000 monthly visits, and comes with 30GB of SSD storage, and 30GB of offsite backup storage. You also get unlimited free CDN support, and free migration.

Startup: $119 per month: Building on the power of the Lite plan, this solution comes with 36 auto-scaling supercharged PHP workers. It also offers 100GB of SSD storage, 200GB of offsite backup storage, and supports up to 500,000 monthly visits.

Performance: $359 per month: On top of everything you get in the Startup plan, the Performance plan comes with support for up to 2.5 million monthly visits, 150GB of SSD storage, 300GB of offsite storage, and 146 auto-scaling supercharged workers.

Notably, all of those plans work on a “scaling” basis. For instance, if you have a massive site, you can upgrade the Performance Plan to “Performance 5” for $599 per month – which gives you a lot more storage, PHP workers, and support for additional visitors.

Alternatively, if you want something truly custom-made, the Enterprise Plan gives you a flexible solution with Elite support, Object Cache Pro, Redis Caching with Relay, vulnerability protection, malware insurance, and more – all for a custom price.

Ease of Use and Support

You might assume that with all of the advanced features you get, Rapyd Cloud would be pretty complex.

However, I honestly found the system to be incredibly user-friendly. Registering is easy – all you need to do is enter a few details, and you’ll be sent straight to a simple onboarding process. Here, you’ll answer a few questions about your website.

From there, Rapyd Cloud walks you through the process of getting everything set up, from choosing your domain name, to picking your server location. You can also pre-install WooCommerce if you like.

After you’re finished with the initial setup, most of the work you do will take place in the central control panel.

Everything is organized cleanly, with specific tabs for things like Themes, Plugins, stats and settings. You also get a bunch of easy-to-use tools for fine-tuning security and performance.

I also love the in-built tools for team collaboration. You can assign roles and permissions to other members of staff, which is great if you don’t want to handle everything alone.

The Customer Support Experience

Customer support is one of the biggest gripes I tend to have with hosting providers – but Rapyd Cloud does a great job of actually putting users first.

Every customer gets free migration support, 24/7 assistance, live chat, and web-form assistance.

The Live Chat is great – as I really hate filling out annoying email forms when I’m encountering technical difficulties.

However, you might notice that sometimes you have to wait a little while for an actual human representative to be available. An AI bot is always around to handle basic queries, though – and it’s actually pretty reliable.

The support ticketing system – intended for less urgent issues – allows you to designate where you want your message to go (such as technical support or billing), which is useful – and you do receive a notification to let you know your message has gone through.

Beyond that, there’s a decent knowledgebase packed with self-help resources you can sort through if you prefer a self-help approach.

I actually really like how this help center is organized, with a handy search function, and plenty of clear sections for different topics.

If you want the “premium” support experience – however, you’ll need to consider upgrading to a premium plan.

That might be worthwhile for enterprise-level users, as you do get a dedicated account manager, access to private Slack channels, and tailored infrastructure solutions.

Final Verdict: Is Rapyd Cloud Worth It?

So, is Rapyd Cloud a worthwhile hosting solution? In a word – I’d say “Absolutely”. It definitely offers top-tier performance, security, and ease of use.

It’s also one of the most versatile systems I’ve tried – great for virtually all kinds of websites.

However, it is pretty expensive. Yes, there’s a free three-day trial, and you can save a little cash on long-term subscriptions.

However, if you’re only hosting a very basic site, you probably won’t be able to justify the price of this service.

I’d probably recommend considering Rapyd Cloud only if you’re launching a large site, with a lot of specific demands.

In that case, the value for money is actually excellent – and you’ll struggle to find better performance anywhere else.

The post Rapyd Cloud Review: The Best WordPress Hosting? appeared first on Ecommerce-Platforms.com.