The 3D printing industry has been growing and growing and growing over the past few years. And just the other day, Amazon hoppedon board and opened up the consumer-facing floodgates.
The eCommerce giant’s 3D printing store allows online shoppers to customize and personalize a number of products — from home decor and iPhone cases to bobble heads, toys and jewelry. For affordable prices, Amazon customers can now create what they’d like to purchase, instead of searching for their next buy.
In Amazon’s press release, the brand states that they have partnered with a few 3D companies around the world to ensure the most well-rounded shopping experience. One of these partners, Clément Moreau, co-founder and CEO of Sculpteo, said this of the new opportunity:
“The online customer shopping experience will be redefined through 3D printing. When you take into consideration the investment needed for manufacturing products, 3D printing offers a cost effective alternative that benefits customers by limitless product options…With 3D printing, a customer’s wants are no longer limited to what is in stock but instead by what they can imagine.”
So what does this mean for other eCommerce websites? It means that innovation and relevancy are integral to maintaining an online presence. This doesn’t mean 3D printing is the answer to every problem, in fact most sites would probably have no use for it at all, but Amazon’s newest store marks a turn toward a more customized, interactive, highly individualized shopping experience for online consumers.