3D Printing Saves the Air Force Money

How do we the U.S. taxpayer end up paying $10,000 for a toilet seat?

Fraud.  Waste.  Government incompetence.

No.

How about when the aircraft that is still in service has a specially designed toilet seat and the company making those is no longer able to do so?  Special order 1 at a time as needed.  $10,000.00.

Hello 3D Printing.

Need a new, special, toilet seat to replace a broken one?  Print it.

Cost savings at nearly .... $10,000.00

Wow!

Read the full story here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0186 Retail Ideas, 3D Printing, Mobile, & Omnichannel

A slew of stories came out late yesterday that caught my eye, and one from early this month I missed.  All are worthy of your attention.

First up is a good one from Stores magazine on NRF.com titled "20 Ideas Worth Stealing".

https://nrf.com/news/20-ideas-worth-stealing

Next is a fine article on the anticipated impact of 3D printing, along with some of what we are seeing already.  Did you know Amazon has a 3D printing area you can order from?

http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/article/5-ways-that-3-d-printing-going-shake-up-retail/1

Mobile Commerce Daily has 2 contradicting articles, as they point out, and both are worth reading:

The first article takes a stand against focusing on mobile conversions:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/mobile-commerce-extends-past-mobile-based-transactions


The competing article makes the counterpoint:

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/mcommerce-marketers-must-identify-conversion-rates-eliminate-friction-in-2015

Finally is a good article on Mobile and Omnichannel:

http://multichannelmerchant.com/news/mobile-huge-omnichannel-engagement-retailers-report-nrf-15012015/

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

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.

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0138 3D Printing of Ice Cream

What a great idea!

3D printing is the printing of physical objects.  Just like printing out a picture on a piece of paper except in three dimensions ... and a lot more complicated.

MIT students have created the ability to perform 3D printing using ice cream as the material.  What better way to help people visualize what 3D printing actually is?  Pictures, diagrams, and more explain the process.

Read this story:

http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/16/mit-students-create-an-ice-cream-printer/

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant