A couple of years ago, 3D printing shops were popping up all over the world, showcasing to the world just what this technology could accomplish. It was only a matter of time before those shops started turning into franchises, as 3DiTaly grew across Italy, The 3D Printer Store populating the US, and iMakr setting up shop in the UK and the US, with plans to expand even further. In one of the world’s most vibrant 3D printing hubs, the Netherlands, Print3D Matter is expanding its own presence with a second location this October and, to push its growth even further, it’s turned to crowdfunding.
Opened last September by Mark Austen, Print3D Matter became Amsterdam’s largest 3D printing and Maker store. Like many brick-and-mortar 3D printing shops, Print3D Matter both sells 3D printing wares, including printers by every popular Dutch brand, and provides 3D printing services. Mark tells me, “We believe that anybody, or any company can walk into our store and sit down with one of our industrial designers to get a product made. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student, an artist, a entrepreneur, or a huge bluechip company.” Once they walk into the store, these customers are greeted by the showroom, as well as a work area, a meeting room, and a space dedicating to hosting workshops. And they can access such services as 3D printing, scanning, molding, and laser cutting.
Unlike some 3D printing shops, Print3D Matter has performed these services for some really huge companies. He says, “Our client list already includes: Coca-Cola, IKEA, Deloitte, Jamie Oliver, JP Morgan, Rabobank, Lucas Bols & many more.” And it’s because of this success – which includes the sale of 500 3D printers in a single order and 4 months of sales orders, totaling €30,000, to complete – that the firm is seeking to expand. Mark explains, “Print3D Matter have also just launched a crowdfunded campaign to raise money for expansion because the 9 3D printers we have in-store are running 24 hours per day and more money is needed for new equipment. Our plan is to build a huge 1mx1mx1m FDM printer with built in laser engraver, get an SLS printer and rebrand to local Makers.”
To obtain the funds necessary to expand, the shop is using Dutch crowdfunding site InvestorMatch, where they have launched a crowdfunding campaign. Print3D Matter is looking for €90,000 as a loan through the site. Given their success, I don’t think they should experience much of an issue in finding the funds somewhere, if not through InvestorMatch, then possibly through other investors. In fact, the shop has already been selected by Dutch multinational banking company Rabobank as part of their Kickstart Venlo campaign to help fund the expansion.
Mark tells me that the plan is turn the store into a franchise, “We want to build a franchisable model that can be taken anywhere, where anybody can walk in off the street and have anything custom made for themselves.” Will we soon see Print3D Matter shops forming all over the country, the region, or even the world? Only time will tell!
