Yes, Etsy requires you to list any production partner (like Printful) when selling print-on-demand products. It’s important to follow this requirement to stay compliant and ensure smooth fulfillment.
After setting up Printful as your production partner, you’ll need to manually select it in the listing details each time you publish a product on Etsy. Currently, Printful doesn’t automatically add the production partner to listings, so this step must be completed directly on Etsy during the publishing process.
Why this matters
Etsy defines a production partner as a company or individual that physically produces items based on your original designs; this includes print-on-demand services like Printful. You must disclose who produces your items, and failing to do so could violate Etsy policies. Etsy also specifies that production partners help with manufacturing, not design direction - you remain the creative force behind your products.
How to add Printful as a production partner
Follow these steps in your Etsy shop to list Printful as your production partner:
-
Go to Shop Manager → Settings → Partners you work with. Click Add production partner, then:
- Fill in Production partner as "Printful"
- Add a Location (e.g., a Printful fulfillment center)
- Use “A print shop” or something similar in the description field
- Select all relevant boxes:
- “I don’t have the technical ability to make it myself”
- “I design everything myself”
- “They do everything for me”
-
In each listing, go to About this listing
- Set “Who made it?” to “Another company or person”
- Choose Printful from the Production partner list
- Manage visibility
What happens if you don’t add a production partner?
Not listing a production partner can lead to:
- Policy violations, since Etsy’s rules mandate full disclosure.
- Order fulfillment issues, because Etsy may block or delay orders that don’t clearly link to a production partner like Printful.
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