Printing Decisions · Kidlit Author Growth Academy

Printing Decisions

Hey friends! First time author here. My interactive play book is currently being illustrated and will debut this year! I'm building a following now and feel very confident in my ability to sell my books, but the roadblock I keep hitting is offset vs print on demand. The whooole world seems to be telling me that POD is the way to go, but the options are limited and the profit margins are super low. Here are my considerations and my questions:

My book is really for toddlers, so a board book is ideal. I could do a hardback through IngramSpark. I do NOT want a paperback product.
I got a quote from Harleigh's recommended board book printer for $2 per book with a 12-14 week turnaround, which is a GREAT profit that I think may be worth the wait while I continue to build a following. This is in comparison with a $10 POD hardback through IngramSpark.
Do Amazon sales work the same (algorithm, categories, etc) if I sell books through a Seller account rather than a KDP account and manage my own inventory? This will affect my marketing and advertising strategy.
Will not using IngramSpark negatively impact my ability to sell wholesale to bookstores and libraries? I can do the legwork but I'm not sure if there's a hard line that will make these institutions unwilling to make a purchase through Shopify or through me directly.

Anything you can provide in the way of personal stories or Growth Academy resources or outside resources would be VERRRYYYY appreciated!

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