Founded by a team of qualified architects and designers, TryeCo 2.0 is an advanced 3D modeling studio that was among the first to implement 3D printing technologies. Recently, the company set out to bring their 3D printing know-how to consumers by creating a series of 3D printed products with high artistic and/or personalization value. That process has culminated in the introduction of the myCharacter.it service, which lets anyone put their face on the body of a football player (‘soccer’, if in the US) wearing their favorite team’s color.
Given the possibilities offered by 3D Systems’ Projet x60 and Projet 4500 technology, this is no amazing feat. However TryeCo went one step further by becoming the first to offer an officially licensed AS Roma miniature. The product is distributed by Delphi International Srl, licensed by Brand Management Srl Soccer SAS.
All you need to get your miniature self into an official AS Roma football player body is to register on the asroma.mycharacter.it website and upload three photos, one from the front, one from the side and one with close up details of your face. At this point, you get to chose the type of figure you want and the details of your character, including gender, field position, standing position (the figure’s pose), and the size you want.
You can also choose to have a cartoon-style figurine made, but if you go with the regular miniature, you can get a 9 cm (about 4”) character for as low as €39 and a large version (15 cm), for €98. The best part is that, if you want to buy it is a gift for someone, they won’t have to come in to get scanned, so you can give it to them as a surprise.
It seems a little bit odd that no one else around Europe has yet ventured in the official, personalized miniature 3D printed football player market. What’s even more odd is the fact that TryeCo 2.0 has done it, yet has implemented almost no communication campaigns to promote it adequately. In fact, I only found out by casually visiting their website but, then again, visiting 3D printing websites is what I do all day long.
Many 3D printing companies – especially Italian companies in this sector – seem to run into the same issue: they tend to believe that all you need to do is do something great and be the best at it and the customers will just flock to you. The truth is that you can do the best things in the world, but if you don’t tell anyone about it, no one will buy it. Even if it is something that just about every football fan around the globe would want to have.
