Amazon launches 3D printing store

Online retail giant Amazon is bringing 3D printed to the masses with its 3D printing store enabling customers to customise and personalise products including fashion accessories, jewellery, toys, and homeware pieces. The 3D marketplace gives customers access to more than 200 unique

print on-demand products, many of which can be customised by material, size, style and colour, as well as be personalised with text and image imprints for a truly unique product.

 

The store marks the largest online destination to discover 3D printed products and features search tools, interactive 3D preview functionality and a product personalisation widget to make items like earrings, pendants, rings, and bobble head dolls.

Petra Schindler-Carter, director for Amazon Marketplace sales, said: “The introduction of our 3D Printed Products store suggests the beginnings of a shift in online retail - that manufacturing can be more nimble to provide an immersive customer experience. Sellers, in alignment with designers and manufacturers, can offer more dynamic inventory for customers to personalise and truly make their own.

“The 3D Printed Products store allows us to help sellers, designers and manufacturers reach millions of customers while providing a fun and creative customer experience to personalise a potentially infinite number of products at great prices across many product categories.”

Amazon sells customised 3D printed products

The online 3D printing store allows customers to be a product designer, they can style everything from pendants to decorative vases, as well as customise bobble head figurines, and the store makes it easy to do by providing design templates. Before purchasing, the product can be seen via a 3D preview, which rotates 360 degrees allowing the item to be tailored from every angle.

Prices for the items vary, with pieces like cufflinks, bobble head figurines and wine glass holders currently being offered for under 40 dollars, while fashion accessories like pendants, earrings and necklaces are under 100 dollars.

With research by consultancy firm, Wohlers Associates suggesting that the 3D printing industry is likely to reach 6 billion dollars by 2017, it is no wonder that Amazon is leading the way.

John Hauer, co-founder and CEO of 3DLT, which is selling its products via the marketplace, added: “In the past, inventors and designers had to spend hefty sums to get their products to market and that initial investment created a significant barrier. Digital manufacturing eliminates much of the upfront cost, giving consumers easy access to a wide range of unique and potentially customized products at great prices.

“Amazon has a history of valuing innovation and 3D printing has the potential to evolve manufacturing in general and consumer products specifically. By embracing this opportunity and offering a diverse catalogue of 3D printed products, Amazon has positioned itself to be one of the first mainstream retailers in this growing and exciting space.”

Image: Amazon