How I've set up a fully automated print shop (No-Code)

I recently launched a online print shop to sell my photographs: shop.gregjeanneau.com

Photography has been my passion for a while, but I've never really been able to make money out of it.

This year, some of my friends started asking me if I was doing some prints of my images. I thought it could be a nice experiment to try.

My approach was gradual: I first tried printing myself and sending to friends to get familiar with the process. It revealed many disadvantages: time-consuming and not that much cost-effective. This is when I started looking for an automated approach.

Here is the stack I ended up using:

• Big Cartel: e-commerce website
• Printful: handles printing, packaging and shipping
• Stripe: processes the paiements

When an order comes in, it is automatically transferred to Printful who will handle printing the photo, putting it in a protective package and shipping it. I live in Tokyo, but Printful can print and send from locations closer to the customer (for instance, orders from Europe are fulfilled in a EU country, saving on transportation costs and emissions).
Additionally, I also have an Instagram shop as a storefront: instagram.com/gregjeanneau/shop

Disadvantage of the automated approach: I cannot sign the prints. It feels less personal, but that’s a trade-off I’m willing to make in exchange for a fully automated shop. An order can be placed, printed and shipped while I'm sleeping or working on something else.

Let me know if you have any questions or need help setting up something similar!