Fantasy Pets & Its 3D Printed Dragons: Scaling Small Enterprise Operations with 3DPrinterOS – 3DPrint.com

Have you ever ever had a pastime, like baking or knitting and even 3D printing, that you considered turning right into a enterprise? Whereas this can be a pipe dream for a lot of, it’s a actuality for Chris Modesitt, who was in search of a profession change after 25 years within the telecommunications business. He started by promoting intricate 3D printed dragon collectible figurines on Etsy, and Modesitt and his group have since grown Fantasy Pets into a serious provider for present shops throughout the U.S. The enterprise had assist scaling from main cloud-based 3D printing administration software program platform 3DPrinterOS.

“At Fantasy Pets, we’re pushed by a ardour for turning creativeness into actuality,” the web site states. “Our journey started with a easy concept: to create breathtaking 3D-printed fantasy creatures that captivate hearts and minds. At this time, we proudly stand as a number one identify within the realm of fantasy collectibles.”

Modesitt actually had expertise constructing a enterprise, as he helped a Utah-based telecommunications startup efficiently scale right into a $100 million firm. However after it was bought, a non-compete clause had him in search of work outdoors of his authentic sector. Fascinated with the combination of technical complexity and inventive potential in 3D printing, and with a love of miniatures, he marched into a brand new however unsure future with a business-to-business 3D printing farm. Modesitt and his son operated Fantasy Pets as a print-on-demand service at first, nevertheless it quickly grew into what 3DPrinterOS describes as “a thriving client product firm,” centered particularly on its branded product line of dragon collectible figurines.

Horned Dragon

The 3D printed dragons had been a success on international on-line market Etsy, which is sensible—it’s a terrific place to seek out actually particular gadgets, like Associates-themed birthday decorations or Ruth Bader Ginsburg onesies (I converse from private expertise on each of those). In accordance with Modesitt, Etsy is “wonderful for people who find themselves enthusiastic about what they’re doing,” and the dragon collectible figurines had been incomes Fantasy Pets hundreds of five-star evaluations, month-to-month gross sales as much as $7,000, and a loving fan base. The enterprise was ripe for development.

Modesitt labored along with his brother Ben, an skilled gross sales and advertising and marketing skilled, to shift from direct-to-consumer gross sales to wholesale distribution at bodily shops. Wanting again, it was a wise transfer, however the transition was tough. After working to put the 3D printed dragon collectible figurines at larger and extra distinctive present shops, they realized {that a} gross sales company may finest showcase their merchandise to a wider viewers. Fantasy Pets now allocates about 40% of its income to advertising and marketing efforts, and the collectible figurines are featured at main present outlets of their residence state of Utah, and in different states as effectively.

After all, there have been additionally challenges with the 3D printing side of the enterprise; it’s not simple to handle 116 printers pumping out dragons and different animal collectible figurines 24/7! It was clear that Fantasy Pets wanted a extra environment friendly workflow, they usually discovered it in 3DPrinterOS.

“3DPrinterOS allowed us to streamline our whole manufacturing course of. With out it, we’d want a minimum of twice as many staff simply to maintain up with demand. It’s been a essential consider our potential to scale,” Modesitt mentioned.

San Francisco-based 3D Management Methods is an automatic, end-to-end software program resolution supplier for AM, and its 3DPrinterOS product seamlessly connects 3D printers, customers, and information on a single platform. Fantasy Pets makes use of the software program to add designs to a centralized repository, ship print jobs to a number of printers on the identical time, and monitor progress. It additionally allows the group to handle their massive 3D printer fleet from one interface.

“I adore it quite a bit,” Modesitt mentioned in regards to the software program. “The product’s been effectively value what we pay for it each month; we don’t purchase printers that you just guys haven’t executed an integration with.”

3DPrinterOS is a customizable platform, and since it’s really easy to make use of, coaching new group members is far easier now, which permits the corporate to stay environment friendly whereas including to its workforce. As Modesitt mentioned, “an operator can stand up and working after one fast lesson.”

Fortunate Clover Dragon

Fantasy Pets discovered effectivity elsewhere as effectively. Its 3D printed collectible figurines are positively high-quality, however as an alternative of aiming for perfection, the enterprise works to constantly discover the suitable stability between that high quality and a excessive throughput.

“The product must look nice and meet expectations, however our clients aren’t inspecting overhangs or layer strains—they simply need one thing they love,” Modesitt mentioned. He additionally famous that Fantasy Pets limits its gross sales to make sure supply inside two to 3 weeks.

“You’ll be able to’t depart clients ready. In the event that they don’t see your product on the shelf, they’ll fill that area with one thing else.”

With a give attention to long-term enterprise sustainability, Fantasy Pets licenses designs from artists, working with platforms like MyMiniFactory and Patreon to ensure that its vary of collectible figurines are each authentic and compliant with business licensing. It doesn’t simply provide dragons: the collectibles run the gamut from different fantasy creatures like trolls and unicorns to forest and marine animals, dinosaurs, and extra. My private favorites are the Nuttynook Squirrel with its lengthy, articulated tail, and the Dapper Crocodile, as a result of take a look at its prime hat!

To maintain prices down and keep away from bottlenecks, Fantasy Pets makes use of bulk filament orders from a number of suppliers. It additionally presents a number of colours and choices for its collectibles: companies should buy customized designs, fashions in bulk, packing containers of mini collectibles—just like the Mini Axolotl Field for $112.50—and a wide range of bundles beginning at $300 that embody a number of completely different animal collectible figurines, retailer signage, and, in some circumstances, even a ground show. Children and adults alike would completely eat that up in a present store.

Modesitt believes that home 3D printing companies within the U.S., like his personal Fantasy Pets, can really be aggressive in in the present day’s market. As worldwide delivery prices rise, the power to provide merchandise on-demand, and on American soil, is more and more vital. With options like 3DPrinterOS, companies can even stay agile. Fantasy Pets can use the platform to shortly add new designs, scale manufacturing with out retooling, and adapt to market tendencies.

“3DPrinterOS eliminated the technical boundaries so we may give attention to rising the enterprise,” Modesitt mentioned.

Serpentara Dragons

Sooner or later, Fantasy Pets has plans so as to add extra 3D printers to its fleet, so it could actually develop its product line and examine new markets.