The Fab Store: Difference between revisions
Expanded Fab Store/Shop distinction. Cleaned up notes. Added placeholders for final sections. |
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Let's look at each's role in the Fab Store's success. | Let's look at each's role in the Fab Store's success. | ||
=== Fab Stores: Neighborhood Storefronts === | ===Fab Stores: Neighborhood Storefronts=== | ||
Convenient, neighborhood Fab Store locations serve customers where they live- anywhere you might find a 7-Eleven. The retail stores diagnose problems and make common, minor repairs. | Convenient, neighborhood Fab Store locations serve customers where they live- anywhere you might find a 7-Eleven. The retail stores diagnose problems and make common, minor repairs. | ||
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Fab Stores also sell unique products, [[The Fab Store#Beyond Repairs: A Small-scale Manufacturing Revolution|manufactured in small quantities]] on Fab Store equipment. These items draw new people into the store and give offer repair customers impulse buying opportunities. The designs for these products are freely available online and one of them might be the next Rubik's Cube or Hula Hoop. | Fab Stores also sell unique products, [[The Fab Store#Beyond Repairs: A Small-scale Manufacturing Revolution|manufactured in small quantities]] on Fab Store equipment. These items draw new people into the store and give offer repair customers impulse buying opportunities. The designs for these products are freely available online and one of them might be the next Rubik's Cube or Hula Hoop. | ||
=== Fab Shops: Fabricating Happens Here === | ===Fab Shops: Fabricating Happens Here=== | ||
Fixing, fabricating and manufacturing happen here at the Fab Shops. Here you'll find all the expensive equipment, including a 3D Scanner, 3D printer, CNC machinery and more. | Fixing, fabricating and manufacturing happen here at the Fab Shops. Here you'll find all the expensive equipment, including a 3D Scanner, 3D printer, CNC machinery and more. | ||
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But even if the machines were permitted in a Fab Store by law, here are several reasons why you still shouldn't do it: | But even if the machines were permitted in a Fab Store by law, here are several reasons why you still shouldn't do it: | ||
* These machines take a lot of space. You'd have to find a building big enough to house both the retail and fabrication sides. This would cost more to lease and limit the locations where you could open a Fab Store | *These machines take a lot of space. You'd have to find a building big enough to house both the retail and fabrication sides. This would cost more to lease and limit the locations where you could open a Fab Store | ||
* The machines are noisy and dusty. You don't want to have to yell over the CNC lathe to talk to the customer! | *The machines are noisy and dusty. You don't want to have to yell over the CNC lathe to talk to the customer! | ||
* Fab Stores will have a smaller, repair cafe-style shop on site that will handle most repairs. | *Fab Stores will have a smaller, repair cafe-style shop on site that will handle most repairs. | ||
== Anatomy of Fab Stores and Shops == | ==Anatomy of Fab Stores and Shops== | ||
[[File:Tormach 770M CNC Mill.png|alt=Marketing photo of the Tormach 770M CNC Mill. A large machine with a computer screen on a post.|thumb|An example of a CNC mill for cutting and shaping metal parts. It's one of two CNC machines needed to cover most metal needs. [https://tormach.com/machines/mills.html Image courtesy of Tormarch]]]We've seen the distinction between Fab Stores and Fab Shops. Now let's dive deeper into what goes into each. | [[File:Tormach 770M CNC Mill.png|alt=Marketing photo of the Tormach 770M CNC Mill. A large machine with a computer screen on a post.|thumb|An example of a CNC mill for cutting and shaping metal parts. It's one of two CNC machines needed to cover most metal needs. [https://tormach.com/machines/mills.html Image courtesy of Tormarch]]]We've seen the distinction between Fab Stores and Fab Shops. Now let's dive deeper into what goes into each. | ||
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At some point, enough demand builds to support mass manufacturing. That's when you become the brand leader in the new product space. | At some point, enough demand builds to support mass manufacturing. That's when you become the brand leader in the new product space. | ||
[[File:2023-10-01 xx2dgkhdxv3i.jpg|alt=Tubes of toothpaste with a small, round device with a knob is attached to the bottom of the tube. In the background are examples of the device standalone.|thumb|The [https://makerworld.com/en/models/30246-ratcheted-toothpaste-tube-squeezer Ratcheted Toothpaste Tube Squeezer] solves the age-old problem of extracting the last bit of toothpaste from the tube. Could this be a hot selling item in Fab Stores?]] | |||
The Fab Store network contains the collective wisdom of all Fab Stores on which items sell and which are duds. You decide which products are ready for the big time (mass manufacturing) through this collective data. | The Fab Store network contains the collective wisdom of all Fab Stores on which items sell and which are duds. You decide which products are ready for the big time (mass manufacturing) through this collective data. | ||
Who knows which design might turn into a commercial success. Producing a limited quantity of a wide range of products in search of a winner is a low-cost, low-risk way to discover the next hula hoop, hot jewelry trend or must-have phone case. Imagination is about the only limit! | Who knows which design might turn into a commercial success. Producing a limited quantity of a wide range of products in search of a winner is a low-cost, low-risk way to discover the next hula hoop, hot jewelry trend or must-have phone case. Imagination is about the only limit! | ||
===User-requested Products: Bring Your Own Design=== | ===User-requested Products: Bring Your Own Design=== | ||
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Today, such a hobbyist would have to depend on their own skills and a maker's space to create the item from their design. It doesn't have to be this hard. | Today, such a hobbyist would have to depend on their own skills and a maker's space to create the item from their design. It doesn't have to be this hard. | ||
[[File:Thingaverse - Floating Cup - by bwaslo.jpg|alt=Four coffee mugs dumping out their coffee. The stream falls to the table where it splashes. The mugs appear to be floating in mid-air. Closer inspection reveals these are 3D printed coffee mugs and their suspension in the air is supported by the splash and stream of the 3D printed coffee spills.|thumb|[https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3689716 Another free design] to display the in the store window. Producing small batches of unique and clever items is a low-risk way to discover the next, must-have product. After finding a winner, mass-produce it and sell millions of them.]] | |||
Fab Stores could professionally manufacture the item with better equipment, materials and skills. The convenience and value to the customer is far beyond the price you would charge. | Fab Stores could professionally manufacture the item with better equipment, materials and skills. The convenience and value to the customer is far beyond the price you would charge. | ||
You should view customer-supplied designs as an insight into what kinds of products sell. If one customer wants the item, others likely do too. Look at the product space, not just the product, and you may find a profitable niche. | You should view customer-supplied designs as an insight into what kinds of products sell. If one customer wants the item, others likely do too. Look at the product space, not just the product, and you may find a profitable niche. | ||
===Custom-designed Products: Giving the Customer Exactly What They Want=== | ===Custom-designed Products: Giving the Customer Exactly What They Want=== | ||
Customizing a user-requested product opens up a consulting revenue stream for the Fab Store. The user brings in a design that they would like to improve in some way. Maybe it's putting their name in the design. Maybe a certain part of the item needs to be larger. Maybe they want to combine two designs. Fab Store experts have the skills to create unique designs for customers who can pay for the expert's time. | Customizing a user-requested product opens up a consulting revenue stream for the Fab Store. The user brings in a design that they would like to improve in some way. Maybe it's putting their name in the design. Maybe a certain part of the item needs to be larger. Maybe they want to combine two designs. Fab Store experts have the skills to create unique designs for customers who can pay for the expert's time. | ||
[[File:3D Printed Split Flap Display.png|alt=A Split Flap machine created with a 3D printer. The display has 10 characters and can show both letters and numbers.|thumb|3D printed parts can combine with other standard parts, like motors and Arduinos, to make some pretty amazing products! This [https://www.printables.com/model/69464-split-flap-display split-flap display] from Printables is a great example.]] | |||
==The Fab Store Network== | ==The Fab Store Network== | ||
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[[File:Venn Diagram of 3D Printer Materials by Printer Technology.png|alt=Venn diagram showing 3 bubbles. Each bubble represents a different 3D printing technology, which are FDM, SLS and SLA. Inside the bubble is a list of materials each prints can use.|thumb|Which 3D printing can utilize which material. See the accompanying table for details about each printer type's capabilities.]] | [[File:Venn Diagram of 3D Printer Materials by Printer Technology.png|alt=Venn diagram showing 3 bubbles. Each bubble represents a different 3D printing technology, which are FDM, SLS and SLA. Inside the bubble is a list of materials each prints can use.|thumb|Which 3D printing can utilize which material. See the accompanying table for details about each printer type's capabilities.]] | ||
=== Specialized Parts from High-end 3D Printers === | ===Specialized Parts from High-end 3D Printers=== | ||
Each Fab Store has the following equipment: | Each Fab Store has the following equipment: | ||
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*'''Customers should regularly see Fab Store products in the experience''' The physical stores display products to draw in window shoppers. The online experience should also offer window shopping. The small-scale manufacturing revolution waits. Fab Stores should be a part of it from the beginning. | *'''Customers should regularly see Fab Store products in the experience''' The physical stores display products to draw in window shoppers. The online experience should also offer window shopping. The small-scale manufacturing revolution waits. Fab Stores should be a part of it from the beginning. | ||
== Starting Out == | ==Starting Out== | ||
The vision is a Fab Store everywhere you might find a 7-Eleven, multiple Fab Shops supporting the stores and the Fab Store Network. You first need to get it off the ground, though. Here are some thoughts on starting small and scaling up to the global fabricating repair cafe behemoth it is bound to be! | The vision is a Fab Store everywhere you might find a 7-Eleven, multiple Fab Shops supporting the stores and the Fab Store Network. You first need to get it off the ground, though. Here are some thoughts on starting small and scaling up to the global fabricating repair cafe behemoth it is bound to be! | ||
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One Building Does It All | One Building Does It All | ||
== Obstacles == | ==Obstacles== | ||
== Conclusion == | ==Conclusion== | ||
Dump Throwaway Culture | Dump Throwaway Culture | ||