3D Printed Products from Amazon

Every once in a while you see or hear something and it strikes you.  "This is likely going to be seen as a big deal some day."

I've just had that feeling.

3D printing is still in its infancy but it is already being commercialized, with printers ready to buy now, and even products made through the process are being commercialized.  Amazon has thrown its weight in to this and I think that is the start of something.

Imagine the retail store of the future where you walk in and the store only has one of every item.  You don't buy the actual product at the store, you merely get the tactile sensations associated with shopping, make your selection, and pay for it.  The actual item is then printed for you and sent to your home, or picked up at a central printing station.  Retail stores would need less than a quarter of their current space to perform the same task.

Folks, this isn't science fiction.

Here is the article on Amazon's efforts:

http://www.internetretailer.com/2014/07/28/amazon-launches-online-store-3-d-printed-wares

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Amazon.com Inc. has introduced an online store featuring toys, earrings, customizable bobble heads and other products made by 3-D printers. The store offers more than 200 products that consumers can customize and print on demand.

“The introduction of our 3-D Printed Products store suggests the beginnings of a shift in online retail—that manufacturing can be more nimble to provide an immersive customer experience,” says Petra Schindler-Carter, director for Amazon marketplace sales.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

**UPDATE** Looks like I'm not the only blogger interested in 3D printing.  Good writing here:
https://econsultancy.com/blog/65263-3d-printing-check-me-out

**UPDATE #2** Not directly related to 3D printing but fits perfectly with the imaginary store of the future I described.  Here is a story about the "mall of the future".
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101876655

Check out this part:
One company at the forefront of this thinking is Seattle-based Hointer, which licenses its technology to retailers and operates its own apparel store. Its eponymous store keeps only one version of each item on the selling floor, and shoppers use a smartphone app to scan the tags attached to the pieces they want to try on. The items are then dispensed into a dressing room.