Saving my Failing 3D Printing Business

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  • Опубликовано: 11 янв 2025

Комментарии • 112

  • @Sydvxn
    @Sydvxn 3 месяца назад +43

    I have one attached to my desk RIGHT NOW. It has never failed me.

  • @TableTopBiker
    @TableTopBiker 3 месяца назад +22

    Subbed. Shad is a Chad. Here for the journey.

  • @jeffers727
    @jeffers727 3 месяца назад +10

    Hit on a few bits of 'the lean startup' - quick to market, tested theory, got data, pivoting

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад +2

      That's true :o. When you are small, you are able to, and should try many different things. Makes sense!

    • @jeffers727
      @jeffers727 3 месяца назад +1

      @@TheTinkeringTechie yeah the main thing from the book is that you aim is to learn fast, so make a hypothesis about your product/product strategy/Market then get data on that as quick as you can

  • @neelbien
    @neelbien 3 месяца назад +39

    don't sell luxury items to students. they leave dishes in a sink, what makes you think they want to hang their headphones and use a clampable cupholder? as a student that 10er is best spent on the next pint or whatever you guys do in the states. (probably play frisbee/boomerang)
    your item didn't work on 2 of the 3 tables shown, make it more robust; overengineer.
    all that is to say, know your demographic. I'm no expert but these are the things id look at.

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад +7

      Well, it was worth a try. I realized the conundrum after the second interaction, but continued because, who knows what might happen? (Shad the Chad happened). Thanks for the suggestions though, I probably could overengineer it a bit (probably add some neoprene adhesive rubber to the underside of the top clamp perhaps). The boomerang could be a better sell, I agree, and that discovery happened accidentally. At the end of the day, I experimented with something that may not work, but it put me in a position to find something that could work better!

  • @Hellvine
    @Hellvine 2 месяца назад +1

    As a sales professional, I think this video was great lol.
    Sales is definitely a learned skill. It doesn’t happen overnight.

  • @Skye-Games
    @Skye-Games 3 месяца назад +2

    Awesome.
    Super cool to see document your failures and lessons!

  • @repalmore
    @repalmore Месяц назад +1

    Suggestion. Set multiple items in your store with different colors and different pictures. Figure out which one gets more traffic. Go with the posting that has the highest traffic. Keep designing and putting it on your store. Most stores have a lot of different products.

  • @markmastoroudes9417
    @markmastoroudes9417 3 месяца назад +2

    This guy needs more credit. Really good video! 👍

  • @garrydye2394
    @garrydye2394 23 дня назад +1

    I had three small businesses in my 20's....with the highest one making me about 3k a month, which I thought was great because I never made over 2k a month in the military at that time. Eventually they all failed. On my fourth attempt, I found a niche that has lasted me 25 years now and has provided a very good life for me and my family. The turning point for me was when I was 25 years old and I came to the realization that this is almost solely a "game of effort." Sure, some people have rich parents or born with big brains but for the other 97% of us average folks....it truly is a game of effort. Most of us have average brains and average circumstances. The one thing that separated me from everyone else was I out efforted every around me in my field, which I knew nothing about at that time. To this day, I still start working the moment I wake up and I work 7 days a week. Its not for everyone....but I go to bed knowing its gonna be near impossible to compete with me.

  • @nevanmcmillian7270
    @nevanmcmillian7270 3 месяца назад +27

    Should've offered apple pay

  • @mrpugbot
    @mrpugbot 3 месяца назад +1

    I clicked on this video thinking you'd be a youtuber with like 130k subs, it wasn't until the end of the video when I went to subscribed that I realized you have 100x less than I thought. Keep up the great work, you just earned a new sub

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      Thank you very much! I appreciate the compliment :D. I always try and make the best videos that I can.

  • @mundorealimpressao3d270
    @mundorealimpressao3d270 2 месяца назад +1

    I suggest you apply a piece of EVA foam on each point of the bracket , to hold it in place on any surface!

  • @TheLoneJourney88
    @TheLoneJourney88 9 дней назад

    I have some crazy awesome ideas and I know they will sell! But the hard part is mastering CAD lol I'm getting their! All I can say is you got to think outside the box, no offense but you got to be more outside the box than that cup holder! My focus is the automotive industry! Worked it in for over 8 years and man do I have like 100 ideas, I just need time and more CAD knowledge and 6 X1C printers and I'm good to go! Not easy to do but we all can get their with not giving up!

  • @Coolfwip
    @Coolfwip 3 месяца назад +1

    "Were very awkward engineering majors" as all 3 just stand there, sent me lmao

  • @parkerscott5381
    @parkerscott5381 3 месяца назад +2

    You just have to keep experimenting until you find the right products. I had one product pull in probably $1000 profit in one month. Knew it was a flash in the pan but it helped a ton of people out at the time. I have a new product now that im projecting is going to pull in probably $2500 profit a year based off current sales data. Have a lot more failures at this point honestly. All those failures and successes have taught me how to model some designs at a rapid pace and have helped me design around 3d printing best practices. Its not a lot of money, but at this point my only investments are a little bit of time and some cheap filament for prototyping. I imagined if I put more focus into everything I could probably grow it quite a bit. The skills I have learned are worth much more than the money I have brought in, and I imagine those skills will be paying dividends.

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      Definitely! Learning from failures and gaining skills because of it is worth so much more than some dollar signs. Glad you found some success though!

  • @caseyharris18
    @caseyharris18 5 дней назад

    I would take pictures of your cup holder on beer pong tables, desks, beach tables.
    I would also offer them in your college or other college colors

  • @tonyfweb
    @tonyfweb Месяц назад

    I'm no expert but I'm thinking about doing this myself. My thought process has been, make something that I will actually use. Take some pictures and videos, make the Etsy listing, and treat as a print on demand service. If it's going well, I can make a few extras to be able to ship immediately and stock pile a little bit. We'll see how it goes.

  • @logancyford6740
    @logancyford6740 3 месяца назад

    Awesome video! Can’t wait to see a boomerang one! 🪃😮

  • @Binh_AMDG
    @Binh_AMDG 3 месяца назад +1

    ❤ I once invested in a 3D Printing ETFs. The industry is super competitive.

  • @PixelatedTravelR
    @PixelatedTravelR 3 месяца назад +2

    Reminds me of the cannabis packer I made for cone joints. That was the only thing I sold and sold maybe 2 a month for $20 each. Eventually Etsy took down my page. When I put it back up on Etsy it just got buried in their keyword lists.

  • @mr67927
    @mr67927 2 месяца назад

    Sell the boomerang for whatever price you sell them for then throw in the cup holder for an extra 3 or 4 dollars.
    Then as time goes on you can make different sizes cup holders.

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  2 месяца назад +1

      Good idea! Would probably try this in a future video!

  • @trisapient
    @trisapient 3 месяца назад

    Just a little deeper so it can hold more types of tumblers too

  • @gadoneitor15
    @gadoneitor15 3 месяца назад +2

    try to sell flower pots
    I bought my first printer and in just 8 days I recovered the investment of the printer by selling flower pots.
    Right now, after 4 months since my first printer, I have 4 3D printers, 1 k1c, 1 kobra 3, 1 ender 3 v3 ke and an ender 3 v3 se

    • @Dan-oj9pn
      @Dan-oj9pn 3 месяца назад

      Do you sell these in person or online? I tried briefly but realised I would need to have a marketing strategy for online

    • @gadoneitor15
      @gadoneitor15 3 месяца назад

      @@Dan-oj9pn In person, I recommend selling pots, offering them to people who sell plants at an affordable price but with the condition that they buy a minimum quantity from you, for example about 10.
      Your best customer is not the buyers, it is the stores, because if they sell, you sell and you can also sell several to them without having to make much effort.
      I sell around 50 pots per week without having to look for new customers. I have already found 2 stores that consume more or less that amount per week.

    • @colinyoung3685
      @colinyoung3685 Месяц назад

      I'm 9 printers deep and have only sold a couple of products directly. I am leaving my job soon so am wanting to run printing as a side business.

    • @gadoneitor15
      @gadoneitor15 Месяц назад

      @colinyoung3685 i can help get 3d printers for a cheap price i Buy my for 340 usd and i have the k1c

  • @patryk_004
    @patryk_004 3 месяца назад

    The most important part is the consistency!
    I am waiting for the boomerangs video!
    It also seems that youtube algorithms did pick up on you, so... Fingers crossed!

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      Consistency is always reliable :D. Can't fail if you don't quit right? Boomerang video might be a few months down the line (maybe in the spring, as it would be better weather to advertise to college students there). I also just have other videos planned, but keep an eye out for it!

    • @patryk_004
      @patryk_004 3 месяца назад

      ​@TheTinkeringTechie Though, have you thought about printing cases for custom electronics etc? Or something connected with your other interests?
      Niche products seem to be very popular as starting options, some people made hundreds of thousands of $ with lucky AC adapter for laser engravers etc, personally I am working a very small niche and it takes a lot of R&D, and doesn't bring big bucks, but it might pay for the printers this year, and I guess that's not too bad...
      Though, from what I see looking around, unless someone is great at marketing and sales or have great lucky product, the design part seems to be making much better money than printing...
      (Though in theory printing and Product sales might scale better, down the line)

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      Yeah, I have thought about selling products related to some things I am interested in, but logistically it may be a bit tough to pull off. I was thinking of selling kits related to the robotics projects I do so that people can tinker with them, but shipping many parts to them is a bit hard with what I have now. Maybe in the future though?

  • @minkwandering3561
    @minkwandering3561 2 месяца назад

    Shaad is a chad.

  • @jondelarr
    @jondelarr 29 дней назад

    Haha. I have the same idea but I think I may fail-fast .... funny video. thanks for the realityt

  • @Jayplayaa
    @Jayplayaa 3 месяца назад +2

    Love the video, just subscribed. Remember me when you hit 10 mill ❤

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад +1

      Thank you! I'll try to! (both in terms of remembering your name and getting to 10 mil :P).

    • @Jayplayaa
      @Jayplayaa 3 месяца назад

      @@TheTinkeringTechie I will remind you lol. No but seriously great content. Excited to see you grow

    • @jackolantern610
      @jackolantern610 3 месяца назад +1

      @@Jayplayaa 10 billion subscribers and a movie

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад +2

      Do you watch Sticks by any chance? The guys that make trailers for youtubers? They inspired me a bit for my videos, the storytelling and cinematic bits.

    • @jackolantern610
      @jackolantern610 3 месяца назад

      @@TheTinkeringTechie wow great recommendations thanks

  • @Pepegascape
    @Pepegascape Месяц назад

    Oh thats great!

  • @Otiyyy
    @Otiyyy 2 месяца назад

    the question should have been how much would yo usell this for if you where a business

  • @BrandonClapp
    @BrandonClapp 2 месяца назад

    Buy a $20 boomerang, get a free cup holder to hold your headphones (you're effectively selling both of them for $10)

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  2 месяца назад

      I like this idea! Might do that for a future video when I go back if I want to get rid of my cupholders!

  • @Scotttclipz
    @Scotttclipz 2 месяца назад +1

    SHAD IS A CHAD

  • @Skye-Games
    @Skye-Games 3 месяца назад +1

    Shad is a Chad

  • @boi_z9583
    @boi_z9583 2 месяца назад

    I have the same issue, i make Personalize Rgb lightboxes and i cant sell a Single One :c

  • @aenvo
    @aenvo 3 месяца назад +1

    love this content!!

  • @RetroRecollection1
    @RetroRecollection1 3 месяца назад

    Honestly i could use this at work, i understand the Etsy sales can be tough for sure. Would you ever make some in other colors like the one guy mentioned? Would love to have it in blue

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад +1

      Maybe at some point in the future when there are more sales and demand. I'll have to think about it!

  • @josephl3970
    @josephl3970 3 месяца назад

    Solid product 10/10

  • @trotskiftw
    @trotskiftw 2 месяца назад

    who of thought nobody wants to buy an unimaginative product in a saturated market (of plastic tat)

  • @jackolantern610
    @jackolantern610 3 месяца назад

    You should make a special limited edition cup holder called the Shad 9000
    Priced at 90 dolllars limited to 99 only printed with his fingerprint and a cut as a celebrity sponsorship

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      Unfortunately I missed the chance to collect his fingerprint 😞

    • @jackolantern610
      @jackolantern610 3 месяца назад

      @@TheTinkeringTechie how are you gonna mail him his sponsorship checks ?

  • @986Black
    @986Black 3 месяца назад

    So it is better to sell a boomerang than a cup holder, nice

  • @jackolantern610
    @jackolantern610 3 месяца назад

    Offer card payments
    And also multiple colors - also get the media kids to film a fake meme infomercial to sell the cup holder

  • @MartinPittBradley
    @MartinPittBradley 3 месяца назад

    Maybe a TPU , squishy pad for grip

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      That would work! I would be able to do multiple filament prints all in 1 print if I had a filament changer (I use bambu labs P1S), and that'd be cool too. But I could print a pad and then screw it into the top section.

  • @BuiltByLines3D
    @BuiltByLines3D 3 месяца назад

    Love it!! But for the etsy, try doing 25% off sale :)

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      Thanks! I might try the sale out!

    • @BuiltByLines3D
      @BuiltByLines3D 3 месяца назад

      @@TheTinkeringTechie you’re welcome :)
      Always trying to help out newer shop owners :)

  • @spencerlange125
    @spencerlange125 3 месяца назад

    If you need some help with optimizing the design for better strength I do product design. You have a good product here but I can think of a few ways to improve strength even further. Some people like me drink from big heavy coffee cups lol. And I have already made my own version of this that fits all but the biggest coffee mugs.

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      Good suggestion! A bigger cupholder would fit a wider target demographic. Someone else also said to make it deeper, to fit the tall thermoses, but too big in any dimension could make things worse, so it's a balance of dimensions.

  • @bobbybotbop
    @bobbybotbop 2 дня назад

    YOO IS THAT THE UNIVERISTY OF MARYLAND?? IM A FRESHMAN THERE RN LMAO

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  2 дня назад

      Yeah 😂. You might see me around the engineering buildings.

  • @senfdame528
    @senfdame528 3 месяца назад

    I am glad you did NOT check if the sky is sky blue! xD

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад +1

      Oh yeah, totally didn't. I was just thinking, about how the sky was sky
      blue!

  • @joehanika
    @joehanika 3 месяца назад

    So awkward, I love it. 😂 keep it up.

  • @GregTheJunior
    @GregTheJunior 3 месяца назад

    Can I suggest a redesign?

  • @krassevideos4162
    @krassevideos4162 3 месяца назад

    How can the best be so crazy cheap. Wrong pricing and wrong marketing. 😅

  • @sandingo
    @sandingo 2 месяца назад

    this isnt a 3d printing business tho, its a cup holder business.

  • @evanmasiello
    @evanmasiello 3 месяца назад

    Whose the ripped guy with the mustache

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад

      Who are you talking about? One of my friends that I introduced at the beginning or somewhere else in the video?

  • @ahmadhasan3258
    @ahmadhasan3258 6 часов назад

    ur definitely the micro :P

  • @WhenDovesCry1982
    @WhenDovesCry1982 2 месяца назад +1

    Start a RUclips business, print some nonsense that doesn't work and try to sell it on campus. It will work!

  • @JustGoAndFly
    @JustGoAndFly 3 месяца назад

    inspiring

  • @voiddav
    @voiddav 3 месяца назад +4

    let me teach you how to sell

  • @LilApe
    @LilApe Месяц назад

    Need an original product or idea. Cupholders aren't original.

  • @theo._.5593
    @theo._.5593 2 месяца назад

    I mean I can at least follow and suggest you to make a comunity, do a discord for exemple my guy and make me a special role

  • @diederichgarz6317
    @diederichgarz6317 2 месяца назад

    Very funny.

  • @Ovyoo8
    @Ovyoo8 28 дней назад

    Painful to watch 😂 but keep going 👍

  • @stealthwang
    @stealthwang 3 месяца назад

    cash sales to young people in 2024?

  • @smug_cat1
    @smug_cat1 3 месяца назад +1

    A 3d printing business is the most stupid stressful thing I've ever heard

    • @TheTinkeringTechie
      @TheTinkeringTechie  3 месяца назад +2

      Well you are talking to a (small) RUclipsr :P. We're more inclined to experiment with things. I watched a few videos about how a full on 3D printing business requires basically more than a 40 hour work week to keep it going. And what did I do after that? I decided to start one. Probably won't make it into an actual business though, just something fun (for me) on the side. I'll probably mainly sell the 3D design files so that there isn't much time/effort spent on making a sale.

    • @gedediva
      @gedediva 3 месяца назад

      Bro I started 3d print with outsourcing 3d to someone . In my country the some seller have sell to 10.000k order.
      The standards income in my country is 200 dolar per month for average people. With 3d printer i can buy brand new cash bambu labs a1 with ams.
      Maybe it's stupid for you but work for some people

  • @C650101
    @C650101 Месяц назад

    I would not trust it

  • @twofathoms1
    @twofathoms1 11 дней назад

    Trying to sell to broke college kids?

  • @skigui1
    @skigui1 3 месяца назад

    Fix the design 😶‍🌫️ .force sales 🤗