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The evolution of Print on Demand: From niche experiment to global industry
Print on demand

The evolution of Print on Demand: From niche experiment to global industry

By Andris Mucenieks

24 min read

Print on demand

Today, Print on Demand (POD) is so integrated into eCommerce that customers often don’t realize the product they ordered was created specifically for them. Yet just a few decades ago, manufacturing one unit at a time seemed counterintuitive. Traditional printing required large-scale production to be profitable, forcing businesses to risk stocking inventory that might never sell. POD flipped that logic – why gamble on demand when you could produce after purchase? This is the history of Print on Demand: where it started, how it became a global industry, and what technologies and cultural shifts made it possible. We’ll explore the chemistry of inks, the rise of digital printing, key industry milestones, and the sustainability challenges it faces.  You’ll see how POD went from a niche publishing experiment to a defining force in modern eCommerce, reshaping how creators and brands bring ideas to market.

Oct 20, 2025

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Discover what matters to you

Affiliate marketing
Amazon
BigCommerce
Black Friday
Branding
Business
Design ideas
Design Trends
Downloadables
Dropshipping
DTG
eBay
Ecommerce
Email marketing
Embroidery
Etsy
Facebook
Fashion
Holidays
How To
Inspiration
Instagram
Integrations
Interview
Make Money
Merch
Niche marketing
Niche research
PrestaShop
Print on demand
SEO
Shopify
Social media
Squarespace
Store setup
Sustainability
TikTok
Trends
Ultimate guides
Wix
WooCommerce
YouTube
See all topics
Ecommerce calendar

Get your 2025 Ecommerce holiday calendar!

Free download
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