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

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

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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