The world of retail has changed dramatically in 2025, with a focus on order making and delivery. For a few hours a day, people who are creative and want to make a quick buck have turned to this business model through websites like Alibaba Wholesale and Print on Demand.
This business model is particularly appealing to young entrepreneurs because it can reduce inventory management, supply chain operating costs, high land rents, and changing customer service issues. Relying on external vendors to store, manage, and deliver products for customers is becoming increasingly popular.
In a modern world focused on courage, talent, and expertise, these business models are a great solution. There are two main sources of supply that people typically use to sell goods: wholesale on sites like Alibaba Wholesale and print orders on platforms like Printify. Each model has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look.
Alibaba wholesale vs Print on Demand
Alibaba Wholesale:
This business model requires bulk purchases, also known as wholesale transactions. It offers goods at a lower price because the more you buy, the lower the price. The main goal of every wholesaler, including Alibaba Wholesale, is the power to buy goods. This is because the quantity a wholesaler sells directly affects the quantity he can order from the manufacturer.
The bigger the manufacturer’s order, the better price they get. This allows manufacturers, wholesalers and online sellers to maintain higher margins. The downside of wholesale is that the initial investment requires a steady cash flow and, of course, storage space.
Print on demand:
The biggest selling point of ordering direct shipping is the convenience of the service, no large initial investment, no minimum order, and no warehouse required. Unlike wholesale, this model revolves around not having to buy in bulk, and sellers can buy item by item.
With order printing, products are purchased at the time of order and paid for at the time of sale. This means that there is no need for cash flow, no need for large purchases, and no need for storage. The downside is the price. The price of printing orders is not as cheap as wholesale.
How does Alibaba Wholesale work?
Alibaba is a B2B wholesale marketplace where small businesses can buy goods at cheap prices from Chinese wholesale suppliers to sell online and offline in the retail sector. Alibaba’s wholesale platform is Alibaba.com, which is mainly provided by Chinese manufacturers and suppliers.
As a wholesale marketplace, Alibaba does not sell goods to ordinary customers unless they place an order with a minimum order quantity (MOQ). This means that the buyer must place a certain number of items per order. The minimum starting price varies from supplier to supplier. The buyer must contact the supplier for a minimum price.
What makes Alibaba Wholesale different is that it is the largest wholesale purchasing marketplace in the world. It’s not a typical B2C market, so you can see, for example, a minimum order quantity (MOQ) of up to 500 pieces per order. The types of sellers on Alibaba Wholesale include manufacturers, trading companies and Alibaba wholesalers. Wholesalers are a directory where you can find products with exact supplier information such as certification, contact details and other production details.
The main role of Alibaba Wholesale is auditing, which helps buyers avoid fraudulent, counterfeit or unscrupulous manufacturers. Audits confirm the origin of goods and certify claims. One of the audits worth noting is Gold supplier membership, which helps you know that the supplier has been third-party audited and is legal in its region.
Alibaba Wholesale is popular for its services and payment methods that protect buyers. Alibaba Wholesale provides secure payment and trade guarantees. For example, they have Alipay, which acts as a host for a secure payment system. It ensures that the supplier will not receive payment until the buyer receives the goods. Alipay is limited to suppliers in Alibaba’s wholesale program. The Trade Guarantee scheme allows the buyer to get a refund if the goods delivered have quality problems or do not meet the specifications of the goods.
Is it safe to buy from Alibaba? Print on demand is an alternative to Alibaba’s wholesale
Print on Demand, or POD, is a B2C retail model. Here you can find products from many vendors, most of which are similar to Alibaba’s products. There is no minimum order requirement. Buyers can purchase one to more products at a time from the same supplier.
When printing on demand is used, items such as T-shirts, pillowcases, mugs and socks will be printed and delivered one by one, only after the actual sale to the end customer. Print on Demand is the only business model that allows sellers to customize and print items one by one, without inventory or pre-investment.
As a print on demand seller, you can customize your products to your own design and your own brand to sell on an order-to-order basis. This means you don’t have to pay for the product in advance. As a result, there is no need to buy in bulk or stock your own inventory.
