Why Nelori exists
The print-on-demand industry optimizes for volume and convenience, not quality. Artists upload files to platforms that aggregate hundreds of unvetted suppliers, then hope for the best. When prints arrive inconsistent, faded, or poorly packaged, the artist takes the blame. The buyer is disappointed. The platform shrugs.
This model is backwards. A 2024 analysis of major POD platforms revealed review scores as low as 1.3 out of 5 stars, with artists citing quality inconsistency and lack of accountability as their top frustrations. Meanwhile, billion-dollar POD companies prioritize scaling their supplier networks over maintaining quality standards, creating an accountability mismatch where end customers hold artists responsible for failures outside their control.
Nelori was built to solve this. We believe artists deserve a partner that vets quality upfront, stands behind every print, and treats fulfillment as craft, not commodity.
The new golden age of print
Printing is not dying. Mass production is. The industry is experiencing a fundamental shift from industrial-scale commodity printing to personalized, quality-first, creator-led production.
As Henrik Müller-Hansen, CEO of Gelato (a leading print technology company), recently stated: "We're at the dawn of a new golden age of print." The data supports this. Digital print production continues to grow year over year, driven not by volume, but by customization and on-demand creation.
The shift is clear: from 10,000 identical items produced at industrial scale to 10,000 unique items produced one at a time. From generic products sold through faceless marketplaces to original work sold directly by creators to collectors who value authenticity.
Why artists are perfectly positioned
Technology now enables museum-quality output at scales that were impossible a decade ago. What used to require industrial minimums, dedicated print partnerships, and deep technical expertise can now be accessed on-demand. But not all platforms leverage this shift equally.
Generic POD aggregators optimize for printer efficiency and cost reduction. Marketplaces optimize for transaction volume and discovery algorithms. Neither prioritizes the artist success problem: guaranteeing quality, maintaining accountability, and maximizing creator income.
Nelori was built specifically for this era. Quality-first infrastructure for artists selling physical work in the age of personalized, on-demand creation.
Democratize access to vetted print quality
Finding a reliable print partner shouldn't require months of research, hundreds of dollars in test prints, and trial-and-error disappointment. Nelori makes vetted print quality accessible from day one.
We build and maintain relationships with high-quality art print specialists so artists don't have to. Every printer in our network meets strict standards for equipment, materials, color accuracy, and craft. We handle vetting, routing, and quality accountability. Artists focus on creating and selling.
This isn't about building the largest network or offering the lowest prices. It's about ensuring that when an artist sells a print through Nelori, they can trust it will arrive exactly as it should.
What guides us
These principles inform every decision we make, from which printers join our network to how we design features.
Quality Over Scale
We don't chase unicorn valuations or network size metrics. We care about consistent output, happy artists, and prints that exceed expectations. Growth happens when it serves quality, not the other way around.
Artist-First Philosophy
The artist owns the customer relationship, sets the prices, and keeps 100% of their margin. We provide infrastructure and guarantee quality, but the business belongs to the creator. No platform cuts, no hidden fees, no marketplace dynamics.
Radical Transparency
We show exact costs, explain how routing works, publish our vetting criteria, and stand behind our quality guarantee. No smoke, no mirrors, no fine print. Artists and buyers both deserve honesty.
Long-Term Partnerships
We build relationships with printers, not transactions. Our network grows through referrals and proven performance, not algorithmic scaling. When a printer joins Nelori, it's because they share our commitment to craft and consistency.
Accessible Expertise
Print preparation, color management, and material selection shouldn't require technical degrees. We automate the complexity (Instant Enhance, Printability Score, Smart Routing) while educating artists on what actually matters. Expert results without expert knowledge.
Where we're going
Nelori starts with art prints, but the mission extends beyond a single product category. We're building infrastructure for quality-first, artist-owned creative commerce.
Phase 1: Vetted Network Foundation
Launch with a curated network of art print specialists in New York, establishing proof of concept and quality standards. Refine vetting criteria, routing algorithms, and artist tools based on real-world performance.
Phase 2: Geographic Expansion
Grow the network to major creative hubs (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Chicago, Austin) while maintaining strict vetting standards. Reduce shipping times and carbon footprint through strategic regional partnerships.
Phase 3: Category Extension
Apply the vetted network model to adjacent categories where quality and accountability matter: photobooks, fine art editions, framed prints, and artist merchandise. Same principles, expanded offerings.
Phase 4: The Artist Operating System
Nelori becomes the operating system for artists selling physical work. One platform orchestrating identity, assets, audience, and income. Upload work once, sell everywhere: events via QR codes, online catalogs, limited edition drops, commissioned pieces. Automated revenue splits for collaborators and street teams. Real-time analytics across all channels. Artists focus on creating; Nelori handles the complexity.
The infrastructure layer includes: event-based selling tools, collector relationship management, edition tracking and scarcity mechanics, licensing workflows, fan affiliate programs, and commission automation. Not separate tools requiring stitching together, but unified primitives built on shared data: one Artist identity, one Asset library, one Audience graph, one Income engine.
Our commitment to you
If you trust Nelori with your work and your buyers, here's what we promise:
- We will never sacrifice quality for growth. Network expansion happens when we find partners who meet our standards, not when investors demand scale.
- We will stand behind every print. If quality fails, we own the resolution process. Your reputation matters more than our margins.
- We will keep pricing transparent. No hidden fees, no surprise charges, no commission creep. What you see is what you pay.
- We will listen to artists. Feature requests, printer recommendations, and feedback shape our roadmap. This platform exists to serve creators, not shareholders.
- We will default to honesty. When we don't have an answer, we'll say so. When we make a mistake, we'll own it. When something isn't possible yet, we won't fake it.
Nelori succeeds when artists succeed. That's the entire model.
Questions about our mission or network? Get in touch.