Judging from the holiday gift guides from Shapeways, I’m far from being alone in my 3D printing-themed Christmas this year. To put it simply, 3D printed things are cool. If you own a 3D printer, you’re set on Christmas and birthday presents for life, but for those who don’t have their own printer, purchasing 3D printed items has never been easier. I’ve completely lost count of how many online 3D printing platforms and marketplaces I’ve written about just in the last few months. It doesn’t matter how specialized your taste is – if you can imagine it, someone can 3D print it.
The newest online marketplace invites you to treat yourself. Treatstock is not yet live, but the startup founded by Tim Arno is putting out a call for all designers, printer owners, print services, and “anyone who wants to make a profit on 3D printing” to register on the website now. The site is expected to be open to all users later this year. A wide variety of 3D printed items from fashion to tech to pet goods will be available. Additionally, “video tutorials and online support from professionals” will be provided through the marketplace.
“One of the main objectives of the developers is to provide the most extensive range for both unique and mass produced items that can be tailored to your own taste,” the company advises.
As for customers, Treatstock advises that its quality criteria will make sure that all purchased items will be well-designed and well-made. Delivery time will be shorter than that of many other marketplaces, too – once an order is placed, it will be sent to the printing service closest to the customer’s geographical location.
So if you’ve ever been intimidated by the thought of putting your 3D designs up for sale on an online platform, why not try Treatstock? It sounds as though all aspiring designers, no matter how new, will be given a chance to learn and be coached into building their own 3D printing businesses.