Again in December, Shapeways took an important step on our journey residence — buying Thangs. At this time 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 are going to develop rapidly primarily based on designer suggestions. You may see dozens of fantastic designs with the choice to print straight from Thangs right here.
The journey residence
Earlier than we acquired Thangs we have been clear in our plan:
- Step One: Buying Thangs. The Thangs platform provides nice discoverability, strong IP protections, and a dynamic market. This was a stable basis on which to construct, with essential enhancements over the previous Shapeways Outlets atmosphere.
- Step Two (At this time): 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 happy 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 at all times aware that the progress we need to see will take time, and we try to place our clients first whereas driving developments forwards. This preliminary iteration of the Print on Demand button lets us show out the system, be taught from the implementation and be sure that we efficiently attain the final word purpose for this a part of the journey: to deliver again the complete 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 imagine the long run belongs to creators. Area of interest is changing into mainstream! Thangs embraces this shift in market focus by empowering designers to supply quick access to each digital and bodily product gross sales with out worrying about stock, manufacturing, invoices, success and extra. Thangs additionally provides 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 straight with clients. Shapeways gives the important infrastructure behind the scenes, guaranteeing distinctive high quality and scalability that lets creators do what they actually need to do… create.
Skilled applied sciences comparable to selective laser sintering (SLS), multi jet fusion (MJF) and metallic 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 components in an entire vary of polymer and metals supplies and finishes — and have entry to new applied sciences added by Shapeways mechanically.
Moreover, our industry-leading manufacturing requirements are trusted by companies worldwide, so creators might be assured that the components their clients obtain might be proven the identical love and a spotlight as the unique design.
The subsequent steps
This restricted launch provides a tantalising glimpse at what’s to come back. Within the subsequent phases of growth, we might be transitioning from guide onboarding to computerized approval and onboarding for all eligible designers. We’ll additionally see the reintroduction of the complete Shapeways Outlets expertise by means of Thangs with enhanced IP safety options and discoverability by means of its 3D mannequin search engine.
We may have ongoing dialogue with our Store Proprietor Council to make it possible for creators form the way forward for this market and might be working with the group to verify the Print on Demand function serves creators and their clients alike. We’re very pleased with the progress to this point — and there’s loads extra to come back!
Former Shapeways Store homeowners can reconnect by becoming a member of our waitlist at the moment.
Try what’s already accessible to print on demand right here.Subscribe to the e-newsletter to remain updated with the most recent developments right here.