While in London, I figured I would stop by some of the most interesting 3D printing activities around the city. It turns out that most of them are (unsurprisingly) located around Shoreditch, probably one of the most “happening” among the UK capital’s many fascinating locations. I visited the MyMiniFactory “designer factory” (unfortunately that article is stuck inside the hard drive of my newly dead Mac Book) and Alice Taylor’s Makies Dolls factory. When I passed by the MakersCAFE, I just had to walk in because I was sure something interesting would come up.
And it did. Cris, the team member in charge of all 3D printing activities, told me that the MakersCAFE project is going so well that they are planning to expand their brand through an international franchise operation. “We have already received quite a lot of requests and declarations of interest, so we are definitely moving forward with it,” he said.
“We have registered the MakersCAFE name and what we want to offer is the possibility to not have to go through some of the challenges we have had to overcome,” Cris continued. In other words, future franchisees will be able to take advantage of past MakersCAFE experience and their established contacts with companies that can contribute to making the project work. Getting in on the franchise at the beginning of this expansion will be an advantage for future franchisees and will also enable MakersCAFE to better assess demand.
I spoke with Cris a little about all that goes into MakersCAFE and it’s quite a handful. He explained that the franchise is not just about setting up a few 3D printers and a laser cutter in a cafe, as much as enabling customers of all kinds to familiarize themselves with 3D printing and the possibilities it offers. Cris himself has over 10 years of experience working with 3D printing as an industrial designer. MakersCAFE offers an experience that differs from both a FabLab and a 3D print shop.
“We wanted to get a feel for the possibilities by establishing a ‘Making presence’ next to a popular cafe, before deciding whether to move into a larger place or get our own location.” Apparently it paid off, as Cris confirmed that the business is growing and the model is working. Unlike shops and many other makerspaces, MakersCAFE focuses primarily on services.
“Our main revenue stream is 3D printing services and small batch production,” Cris went on. “We offer both prototyping and customization services through our local FFF-based 3D printers or full-color gypsum and, even, lost wax casting of jewels using our own machines at other locations or through external collaborations.” MakersCAFE has two Ultimaker 2 3D printers and one Ultimaker Original on its premises, which it uses for batch production. They also offer 3D scanning services through Fuel 3D’s Scanify and Matter and Form’s rotational 3D scanning systems.
They also sell Ultimaker machines, although that is not one of their primary services, and offer courses. In particular, they teach courses directed at people who have no familiarity at all with personal fabrication technologies. “We don’t require a yearly subscription because we want people to feel they can simply come in here and speak to us or use the machines with no requirements. They can just get a coffee and pay for the machine time or take one of our courses and find out what 3D printing is all about.”
One thing I particularly like about Cris’s attitude is that, just like the people in many other 3D printing places I’ve visited, he feels there is room enough for all types of activities, with shops like iMakr catering to one type of consumer and the new FabLab London addressing the needs of more experienced Makers who seek access to higher level personal fabrication tools.
And, by the way, they also make and excellent cappuccino.
