So you've heard about Stan Store – that simple, sleek platform creators are using to monetize their content without the usual tech headaches. 

Launched in 2022, Stan Store now boasts over 100,000 users and has become a go-to for selling digital offerings like courses, coaching calls, and downloads.

But here's the thing: what if you want to sell actual physical stuff? 

T-shirts with your logo, signed prints, stickers, or that cool merch line you've been dreaming up?

This question comes up constantly in creator circles. 

You're building an audience, they love your content, and now they're practically begging to buy something tangible from you. 

The problem is that Stan Store wasn't exactly built with physical products in mind.

I'm writing this guide to clear up the confusion. 

Whether you're just starting with Stan or already using it for digital products, you'll learn exactly what Stan can (and can't) do when it comes to physical merchandise, plus practical alternatives if you're serious about selling tangible goods.

What Is Stan Store Built For? (Digital vs Physical Focus)

Let's get something straight from the get-go: Stan Store was created with digital creators in mind. 

It's optimized for selling things like:

• E-books and digital downloads

• Online courses and tutorials

• Coaching calls and consultations

• Digital templates and assets

• Memberships and subscriptions

• Lead magnets and freebies

Stan's entire business model centers around digital products. 

The platform shines because it combines a simple storefront with built-in marketing tools, a calendar for booking calls, funnel features, and everything else an online content creator might need – all without requiring a full website.

The digital-first design means Stan excels at mobile-friendly checkout flows that work smoothly when embedded in social platforms. 

If you're selling a PDF or booking a consultation, Stan makes the process practically seamless.

Here's where we hit our first snag: Stan lacks traditional e-commerce features you'd expect for physical goods. 

There's no built-in inventory tracking system. 

No shipping calculators. No automatic tax calculations for different states or countries. No size/color variant options.

This isn't an oversight – it's by design. 

According to Stan's own help center: "Stan is best used for digital products and services... [it] does not have the ability to seamlessly sell physical products at this time."

That's a pretty clear statement, right? 

But it doesn't mean all hope is lost for your merch dreams.

Can You Sell Physical Products on Stan Store? (Short Answer)

Yes – technically you can sell physical products on Stan Store, but with significant caveats.

The platform offers no native support for physical merchandise, which means you'll need to use a manual workaround that Stan themselves describe as a solution for those determined to make it work.

Stan's official stance remains that it's "best used for digital products" and doesn't handle any aspect of physical product logistics. 

This means:

• You must manually collect shipping addresses

• You handle all your own fulfillment

• You manage inventory tracking yourself (outside the platform)

• You figure out shipping costs and either build them into your price or collect them separately

• You're responsible for all customer service related to physical orders

Think of it as selling merch the old-school way – before specialized e-commerce platforms existed. 

Someone places an order, you get their details, you box up the item, you ship it, and you let them know it's on the way.

For small batches of merchandise or limited-edition drops, this manual approach might be perfectly manageable.

 But as one Reddit user bluntly put it: Stan is "not a great option if you want to sell physical products." 

If physical goods are central to your business, you'll probably outgrow Stan's limitations quickly.

But if you're still set on using Stan for your merch, let's walk through exactly how to make it happen.

How to Sell Physical Products on Stan – The Workaround (Step-by-Step)

Despite not being built for physical products, Stan does offer a way to make it work through their "Custom Product" feature. 

This workaround lets you sell tangible items while handling the logistics yourself.

Setting Up a Physical Product on Stan

Step 1: Choose "Custom Product" in your dashboard

When adding a new product to your Stan Store, select the "Custom Product" option rather than a specific digital product type. 

This flexible format works for items that don't fit Stan's standard digital categories and gives you more control over fulfillment.

Step 2: Add product details and set pricing

Upload a high-quality image of your physical product and write a thorough description. Since Stan's checkout doesn't calculate shipping, you have two options:

• Include shipping in your flat price (simplest approach)

• Mention in the description that shipping will be calculated separately (more complex)

Your description should clearly cover:

• What the physical item is (dimensions, materials, etc.)

• Expected shipping timeframes

• Return policy

• How delivery will happen

Step 3: Set up address collection

This is crucial! You need to collect shipping details from your buyers. In your product settings, navigate to the "Form Fields" section and add fields for the customer's shipping address. 

Make sure to include:

• Full name

• Street address

• City

• State/Province

• ZIP/Postal code

• Country

• Phone number (optional but helpful for shipping issues)

Toggle these fields as "required" so you don't miss essential shipping information.

Step 4: Publish and manage orders

After publishing your product, Stan will notify you via email when orders come in. 

You'll see the customer's shipping details and payment information in your dashboard.

Step 5: Handle fulfillment offline

This is where Stan's involvement ends and yours begins:

• Purchase postage through your preferred carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.)

• Package your product securely

• Ship it to the customer

• Keep records of tracking numbers and shipping details

Step 6: Update the customer with tracking

Once shipped, go back to your Stan dashboard, find the order, and use the "Fulfill Order" option to upload tracking information or a delivery note. 

Stan will email this information to your customer automatically.

Tips for Managing Physical Sales on Stan

If you're going down this route, here are some practical tips to make the process smoother:

Keep your offerings simple Since Stan has no variant system (size/color options), limit the number of product variations. 

Instead of having one T-shirt in 5 sizes and 3 colors (15 variants), consider offering fewer options to keep fulfillment manageable.

Create clear shipping policies Be upfront with customers about how shipping works. 

Since Stan doesn't calculate shipping rates, consider flat-rate shipping included in your price for simplicity.

Communicate proactively Since the platform wasn't built for physical items, go above and beyond with communication. 

Send personalized follow-ups when items ship and be accessible for questions.

Use external tracking tools Keep a spreadsheet of orders, inventory, and fulfillment status since Stan won't track these details for you.

Start small and test This approach works best for limited-quantity items or test runs – like 20 signed books or a small batch of custom tote bags. 

If sales take off, you'll want a more robust solution.

Pros & Cons of Selling Physical Products via Stan Store

Let's weigh the benefits and drawbacks of using Stan for physical merchandise:

Potential Benefits (Why Even Try Stan for Physical Goods?)

Simplicity for Creators If you're already using Stan for your digital products, adding a physical item keeps everything in one place. 

Your audience can find all your offerings through a single link in your bio, creating a cohesive brand experience.

No Additional Platform Fees Unlike marketplaces that take a percentage of each sale, Stan charges a flat monthly subscription (starting around $29/month for basic plans) with zero transaction fees. 

You'll still pay standard payment processing fees (around 2.9% + $0.30 through Stripe or PayPal), but Stan doesn't take an additional cut.

For high-priced merchandise or modest sales volumes, this can actually save you money compared to platforms that charge both listing and transaction fees.

Audience Proximity When someone follows your link from Instagram or TikTok to your Stan Store, they're already interested and trust you. 

The streamlined checkout keeps them focused without the distractions of a larger marketplace or complex website.

All-in-One Monetization You can offer interesting combinations of digital and physical products. 

For example, bundle a physical print with a digital tutorial, or include a sticker with a course purchase. 

While you'll need to handle the physical fulfillment manually, this integrated approach can create unique value propositions for your audience.

Drawbacks and Limitations

No Native Shipping/Inventory Tools The biggest drawback is the complete absence of e-commerce essentials. Stan won't help calculate shipping costs, print labels, track inventory, or manage product variations. 

As one user comparison points out, even Gumroad (another creator-focused platform) offers more shipping options than Stan, but both make physical sales "challenging" compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms.

Manual Workload Every physical order requires hands-on management from collection to fulfillment. 

This gets increasingly time-consuming and error-prone as your order volume grows. 

Without automated inventory tracking, you risk overselling items or forgetting to ship orders if you're not meticulous about record-keeping.

Customer Experience Considerations Shoppers familiar with standard e-commerce experiences may find Stan's physical product checkout process confusing. 

They won't get shipping options, immediate tracking information, or the detailed order updates they expect from platforms built for physical goods.

Limited Storefront Customization Stan's simple link-in-bio store layout works for a handful of products, but becomes limiting if you want to showcase an extensive merchandise collection. 

There's no category browsing, filter options, or product recommendation features you'd find in dedicated e-commerce platforms.

Scalability Issues The most significant limitation is scalability. 

Creators looking to sell physical goods "would be better served by a comprehensive e-commerce solution like Shopify" once they reach even modest sales volumes.

Stan Store vs. Other Platforms (Where to Sell Your Merch?)

Let's see how Stan compares to other platforms specifically for selling physical products:

Stan Store vs Shopify – E-commerce Powerhouse

Shopify stands as the industry standard for selling physical products online. Unlike Stan's minimalist approach, Shopify offers:

• Comprehensive inventory management

• Real-time shipping rate calculations

• Label printing and fulfillment integrations

• Extensive product variant options (sizes, colors, materials)

• Thousands of apps and integrations for specialized needs

Shopify is purpose-built for physical products in ways Stan simply isn't. 

The trade-off? Shopify is more complex to set up and has its own fee structure (monthly plans plus transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments).

For creators serious about scaling a merchandise line – like an apparel collection or product brand – Shopify provides the infrastructure Stan lacks.

If you're drop-shipping products or need print-on-demand integration, Shopify's ecosystem of plugins (like Printful or Printify) makes these business models viable in ways Stan can't support.

Stan Store vs Etsy – Marketplace for Makers

Etsy takes a completely different approach as a marketplace rather than a personal storefront. 

While Stan requires you to drive all your own traffic, Etsy connects you with its enormous built-in audience of buyers specifically looking for handmade, vintage, and unique items.

Etsy excels for physical goods with features like:

• Built-in audience discovery through search

• Category browsing and curated collections

• Shipping label printing at discounted rates

• Review system that builds buyer trust

The downside is that Etsy charges listing fees plus a percentage of each sale, which eats into your margins. 

You're also competing with millions of other sellers for visibility.

For creators with an established audience, sending fans directly to your own Stan Store might make more sense. 

But for those still building a following, Etsy's marketplace can generate sales you wouldn't get through your own channels alone.

Many creators actually use both platforms strategically – Stan for digital products and services, Etsy for physical merchandise – and cross-promote between them.

Stan Store vs Gumroad – Simple Sales for Indie Creators

Gumroad sits somewhere between Stan and full e-commerce platforms. 

Like Stan, it's creator-focused and simple to use, but it offers slightly better support for physical products.

Unlike Stan, Gumroad includes basic shipping options, letting you:

• Set different shipping prices by region

• Track basic inventory counts

• Mark items as physical during setup

However, Gumroad still lacks sophisticated features like variant management and integrated shipping calculations. 

It's a step up from Stan for physical goods, but still not comprehensive.

Gumroad's pricing model differs from Stan's subscription approach – it's free to start but takes a percentage of each sale (around 10% including payment processing for new creators, decreasing with volume).

For creators with occasional physical product sales mixed with digital offerings, Gumroad might provide a middle-ground solution that Stan can't match for tangible goods.

Other Notable Alternatives (Sellfy, Fourthwall, etc.)

Sellfy stands out as a strong contender for creators who want to sell both digital and physical products without the complexity of Shopify. 

Unlike Stan, Sellfy was built with physical merchandise in mind, offering:

• Integrated inventory management

• Print-on-demand merchandise options

• Shipping rate calculations

• Product variants (sizes, colors)

Sellfy's hybrid approach makes it particularly appealing for creators who want one platform for everything without building a full Shopify site. 

It has a monthly subscription model (starting around $22/month) with no additional transaction fees.

Fourthwall is gaining traction as a creator-focused commerce platform that, unlike Stan, specializes in merchandise. It offers:

• End-to-end print-on-demand fulfillment

• YouTube merch shelf integration

• Twitch alert integrations for purchases

• No upfront costs (revenue share model)

For creators primarily focused on apparel merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, etc.), Fourthwall eliminates the fulfillment headaches that make Stan unsuitable for physical goods at scale.

Platform Comparison at a Glance

People Also Ask – Quick FAQs about Stan Store & Physical Products

Does Stan Store allow physical products?

Yes, but with significant limitations. Stan Store is primarily designed for digital products and lacks native support for physical goods. 

You can sell physical items using their custom product type, but you'll need to manually collect shipping addresses and handle all fulfillment yourself. 

It works for small-scale sales but quickly becomes cumbersome for higher volumes.

How do I ship orders if I sell a physical product on Stan?

You'll need to handle shipping entirely on your own. When a customer purchases a physical product, you'll receive their shipping address (which you collected via Stan's form fields). 

You're responsible for packaging the item, purchasing postage through your preferred carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS), and shipping it to the customer. 

After shipping, you can upload tracking information through Stan's "Fulfill Order" feature to notify the customer their item is on the way.

Is Stan Store good for selling merch (t-shirts, art prints, etc.)?

Stan Store can work for very limited merchandise offerings or test runs, but it's not optimized for ongoing merchandise sales. 

The lack of inventory tracking, shipping calculations, and variant options (sizes, colors) makes it impractical for a full merchandise line.

Most creators find that once they start selling multiple physical products or need size variations, it's worth switching to a platform like Shopify or Fourthwall that's built for merchandise.

What are the fees for selling physical products on Stan Store?

Stan Store charges a flat monthly subscription (around $29 or $99 depending on your plan) with zero transaction fees on sales. 

You'll still pay standard payment processing fees (approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through Stripe or PayPal), but Stan doesn't take an additional commission. 

This fee structure can be advantageous for high-volume or high-priced merchandise compared to platforms that charge per-sale commissions. 

However, you need to factor in the additional costs you'll incur handling shipping and fulfillment manually.

Should I switch to Shopify/Etsy if I plan to do a lot of merch?

Almost certainly yes. 

If physical merchandise is becoming a significant part of your business, or if you're planning to offer products with multiple variations (sizes, colors, etc.), investing in a platform built for e-commerce will save you time and headaches. 

Shopify provides a comprehensive solution for your own branded store, while Etsy offers access to an existing marketplace of buyers. 

Many creators maintain both Stan Store (for digital products) and a dedicated merchandise platform, using Stan's link feature to connect them for a seamless customer experience.

What can I sell on Stan Store?

Stan Store excels at selling digital products like online courses, coaching services, e-books, templates, memberships, and downloadable content. 

While physical products are technically possible through the manual workaround described in this article, the platform is fundamentally designed for digital creators. 

Before launching physical merchandise on Stan, carefully consider whether the platform's limitations align with your sales volume and fulfillment capabilities.

Conclusion – Maximizing Your Monetization Strategy

Stan Store shines as a powerful tool for digital creators, but its limitations for physical products are undeniable. 

While you can technically list and sell merchandise on Stan, the manual fulfillment process makes it best suited for testing the waters or running very small-scale campaigns.

The most successful creators I've seen take a strategic approach to platform selection based on their primary revenue streams:

• If you mostly sell digital products with the occasional physical item, Stan's workaround might be sufficient

• If physical merchandise is becoming a key part of your business, investing in a dedicated e-commerce solution will pay dividends

• Many creators thrive with a hybrid approach, using Stan for what it does best while connecting it to specialized platforms for physical goods

The most successful monetization strategy often involves using multiple tools strategically rather than forcing everything through a single platform. Your focus should be on providing the best possible experience for your audience while keeping your own workload manageable.