Last year, MakerBot entered into a partial distribution agreement with WalMart-owned big box store Sam’s Club, which saw the MakerBot Mini 3D printer sold in a select number of shops across the US. The pilot program seems to have been deemed successful as WalMart has agreed to sell the printer in all 600+ Sam’s Club locations in the country.
Mark Schulze, CRO of MakerBot, said of the new deal, “Sam’s Club is a great retailer for MakerBot products. Its customers include professionals, small business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, and others who have a natural interest in desktop 3D printing. We believe that exposing more retail shoppers to desktop 3D printing will help accelerate the adoption of the technology. Our revamped in-club display at Sam’s Club makes it easier for customers to understand the technology and the benefits it offers today.” Dawn von Bechmann, senior vice president of technology at Sam’s Club, adds, “There’s a growing appetite for 3D printing as people see how many professional and practical uses there are for the technology. We’re excited to extend MakerBot nationwide and bring our members the latest innovation at a great value.”
The MakerBot Mini is billed as an educational 3D printer, given its small size and ability to print remotely via MakerBot Mobile app. Connected to Thingiverse, users are able to print directly from the file sharing site onto the compact machine. The unit itself, along with black, blue, red and white PLA filaments will be sold in Sam’s Club shops, presented in a unique display to showcase the Mini to store customers. This is a big move for both MakerBot and Sam’s Club, as it presents 3D printing technology to a mainstream audience, while presenting Sam’s Club as a technology-minded company. You can read 3DPI’s own review of the Mini here.
