Again in December, Shapeways took an important step on our journey dwelling — buying Thangs. As we speak marks the subsequent milestone: an early entry launch of our new Print on Demand (PoD) function on Thangs, powered by Shapeways’ world-class manufacturing engine.
This launch is deliberately restricted in order that we will optimize the onboarding expertise within the coming quarter. We’ll broaden rapidly primarily based on designer suggestions. You may see dozens of wonderful designs with the choice to print instantly from Thangs right here.
The journey dwelling
Earlier than we acquired Thangs we had been clear in our plan:
- Step One: Buying Thangs. The Thangs platform gives nice discoverability, strong IP protections, and a dynamic market. This was a stable basis on which to construct, with necessary enhancements over the previous Shapeways Retailers atmosphere.
- Step Two (As we speak): Early Entry Launch of Print on Demand, beginning with a choose group of designers, with guide onboarding to make sure high quality and stability.
- Step Three (Quickly): Self-service Print on Demand, enabling all designers to promote printed variations of their creations globally.
- Step 4 (Future): Enhancing the Shapeways Store expertise utilizing fashionable applied sciences to thrill customers and designers alike— automated, seamless, and accessible to all pre-approved designers. Signal Up Right here
Marleen Vogelaar: “We’re actually completely satisfied to be launching the Print on Demand function inside Thangs already and make good on the ambitions we had from the very begin of the journey. We’re all the time conscious that the progress we wish to see will take time, and we try to place our prospects first whereas driving developments forwards. This preliminary iteration of the Print on Demand button lets us show out the system, study from the implementation and be certain that we efficiently attain the last word objective for this a part of the journey: to deliver again the total Shapeways Store expertise and strengthen the Thangs group by providing further means to monetize on their designs and merchandise.”
Our dedication to creators
We genuinely consider the longer term belongs to creators. Area of interest is changing into mainstream! Thangs embraces this shift in market focus by empowering designers to supply easy accessibility to each digital and bodily product gross sales with out worrying about stock, manufacturing, invoices, success and extra. Thangs additionally gives a vibrant market that actively showcases creators’ distinctive choices, enhancing discoverability and permitting creators to succeed in a considerable, educated viewers. Take a look at this beautiful vase from Lofted Items!
MCM Vase by Lofted Items
Shapeways as a producing engine for Thangs
Thangs is the place creators will join instantly with prospects. Shapeways offers the important infrastructure behind the scenes, guaranteeing distinctive high quality and scalability that lets creators do what they actually wish to do… create.
Skilled applied sciences equivalent to selective laser sintering (SLS), multi jet fusion (MJF) and steel casting require a stage of funding, infrastructure and experience meaning creators have little to no entry. With Shapeways appearing because the manufacturing engine behind the scenes, creators can instantly provide merchandise and elements in a complete vary of polymer and metals supplies and finishes — and have entry to new applied sciences added by Shapeways routinely.
Moreover, our industry-leading manufacturing requirements are trusted by companies worldwide, so creators will be assured that the elements their prospects obtain can be proven the identical love and a focus as the unique design.
The subsequent steps
This restricted launch gives a tantalising glimpse at what’s to return. Within the subsequent levels of growth, we can be transitioning from guide onboarding to computerized approval and onboarding for all eligible designers. We’ll additionally see the reintroduction of the total Shapeways Retailers expertise via Thangs with enhanced IP safety options and discoverability via its 3D mannequin search engine.
We could have ongoing dialogue with our Store Proprietor Council to guarantee that creators form the way forward for this market and can be working with the group to ensure the Print on Demand function serves creators and their prospects alike. We’re very proud of the progress to this point — and there’s loads extra to return!
Former Shapeways Store homeowners can reconnect by becoming a member of our waitlist right now.
Try what’s already accessible to print on demand right here.Subscribe to the publication to remain updated with the newest developments right here.
