The 3D printing craze continues with Amazon opening a store Monday that lets people create their own goods using 3D printers.
Customers will be able to customize different features of the goods they create, such as their size, color, material, and different aspects of their design, according to TechCrunch. A variety of products will be provided to be 3D printed, such as jewelry, electronics, toys and games, kitchen supplies and items for home decoration.
The new store serves as a another way the electronic commerce company is trying to offer a wider range of products, while targeting customers with specific interests.
"The introduction of our 3D Printed Products store suggests the beginning of a shift in online retail - that manufacturing can be more nimble to provide an immersive customer experience," Amazon Marketplace Sales director Petra Schindler-Carter said.
Amazon has partnered with Sculpteo, Mixee Labs, 3DLT, and other 3D printing companies that will be tasked with fulfilling orders placed through the store. Additional items that will be offered include iPhone cases, credit card holders, dog tags, and bobbleheads, The Verge reported.
"The online customer shopping experience will be redefined through 3D printing," said Clement Moreau, CEO of Sculpteo, adding that "a customer's wants are no longer limited to what is in stock, but instead by what they can imagine."
Moreau also believes working with Amazon will expand the market for 3D printing and bring down promotional costs for producers. This belief is also shared by Schindler-Carter, who said the goal of the store is to provide "a potentially infinite number of products" that people can customize, The Verge reported.
Amazon is also launching a new personalization tool with the store that can be used to customize some of the 3D-printed designs, TechCrunch reported. Customers will be able to choose from different designs, colors and finishes for their products, as well as use a 360-degree 3D preview to see what the product will look like before it is completed. The option to change thickness, dimensions and other features is also available.
While prices vary for the products, the most affordable go for around $30. The prices rise from there, and depend on the product's size and material.
