3D Printing Goes Retail

Makerbot Store in NYC

Within a week two different manufacturers of 3D printers announced they will open retail locations where customers can see their products in action. First, MakerBot announced it would open its first retail location in New York City in conjunction with the launch of its newest product – the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D printer. Then Deezmaker, another maker of desktop 3D printers announced it would open its first retail location in Pasadena, California.

While both manufacturers have cited retail stores as a great way to demo (and sell) their products, its almost a given that they will also sell products manufactured on their devices. So, it’s likely that the first 3D print shops have just opened for business.

What could this mean for the 2D printing industry?  For traditional printers this could be a huge opportunity to expand into a new and growing market. While the mechanics of 3D printing are certainly different than digital printing, the process is essentially the same. A file comes in and a product goes out. Who better to manage that workflow than a printing company? There will be a learning curve, but as the technology improves and processes are reduced to practice, 3D printing could provide traditional printers with access to a whole new market, injecting life into an industry that’s seen its share of decay over the last few years. We think that’s an opportunity worth pursuing.

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