So if you haven't been aware, I have spent a lot of time recently updating my website, and adding lots of new products to my shop over on Redbubble. Essentially, Redbubble is a 'Print on Demand' Site. I can upload images to the site, and apply them to various products. The customer can search the site looking for cool stuff, and once you order an item, it is manufactured and shipped out to you.
Now its all well and good advertising my images, and showing you what products you could buy.... but actually how good is it? As I am not involved in the manufacture I don't have any quality control over the products, other than to trust the individual manufacturers that Redbubble uses to do their job properly. To solve this I have decided to order some products myself to see what happens, and see what you, the customer, will actually receive. So on this page I will add post a few pictures and some of the first impressions I got.
Right, lets have a look at some products...
Greeting Cards - Available in 6x4 or 7x5 or as a Postcard
Digitally printed cards on heavyweight stock. The outside of the cards have a matte (not glossy) finish and the inside is uncoated which provides a superior writing surface. The cards are blank so you can write your own message in it, for any occasion. Each card comes with a kraft envelope.
I often print my own images from home and I know how difficult it can be to get printed pictures looking the same as on the computer screen. Therefore I ordered a selection of different cards to see how Redbubble would manage it. It turns out that they have done a great job. All images have turned out bright and clear, and the colours are vibrant. The card material is good quality as well. The price is reasonable, but with decent multi-buy discounts (20% off 3+ cards and 30% of 10+ cards) I recommend buying in bulk.
Travel Mug
An insulated stainless steel travel mug with a removable lid. It holds 443ml (15fl oz) which is enough to hold a Regular Costa Coffee, but not a Large one. At a time when we are looking to cut out single use products, and cut down on waste and pollution, these reusable coffee cups will become more and more popular (other beverages are available of course).
It features a wraparound print, and the quality of the print looks good. The colours and tones match my original image, which is always good to know considering I have no control over the printing process. The price may seem a little high, but in an age of ‘you get what you pay for’ it is a quality item and easily worth the money. All in all, these are highly recommended.
A set of 4 Coasters with a vibrant glossy finish, with a cork back. Suitable for Hot and Cold drinks.
The image for this one is one of my partner’s images (check out her shop HERE). The final finish of the coasters are good and colours are bold and bright. It does seem to be slightly more orange than her original image, but apart from that the printing is of a good quality and the final product still looks great.
All Over Tote Bag - Butterfly and Mountain Hare
A durable and easy to carry shopping bag with the image printed on both sides. The bag is made out of 100% polyester, which is strong enough and yet still soft to touch. Available in up to 3 sizes (small and medium are pictured) and has a strong 1 inch wide cotton shoulder strap. I think they are a well-made, good quality product, and the images look exactly like my original pictures. Looking at other reviews for this product on redbubble shows a lot of people praising the quality of the print, and how strong and robust the material is.
Cotton Tote Bag - Squirrel
A compact, easy to carry shopping bag with the print on one side. It is made out of 100% cotton with a cotton strap which is 21 inches long and 1 inch wide. I have to be honest, I am not as impressed with this product as I was with the All Over Tote Bags (see above). The material feels thin, and the printed image lacks detail and looks faded. Checking other reviews show lots of people like the Cotton Tote Bag, so perhaps I am being fussy. Personally I feel that the All over totes are a bit more money, but are significantly higher quality and are worth the extra expense.
Zip Pouches - available in 3 sizes (small and medium pictured)
A durable 100% polyester canvas with a metal zipper. Fully lined for added strength. Features double-sided prints with bright vibrant colours. There are various sizes available (small and medium pictured) perfect for holding all sorts of stuff like, coins, cards, phone, pencils, and cosmetics.
Up close the printing on these look slightly fuzzy which is down to the type of material used, but the material is certainly robust enough for anything you choose to use them for. They look like they are one of the better products you can get on Redbubble. With so many things they could be used for and thousands of designs to choose from, they would make fantastic gifts for so many people. Well worth the money.
