I started up PlastiPrint 3D in 2014 after realising that there were no
3D printing services readily available to the North East of Scotland. I had been in a rather dull meeting involving
finding a leak path on a large piece of equipment using an enormous printed out
schematic when one of the senior engineers on the project made an offhand
comment “Wouldn't it be great if we could have this 3D printed?”.
For those not familiar with the technique, 3D printing or additive
manufacturing typically works by adding material to an empty build volume in
layers to form a solid object. The
process can create incredibly intricate parts that couldn't be conventionally
manufactured.
I have learned a lot since that offhand comment about running a
business and made a number of mistakes along the way. In hindsight some of these are obvious now
but being an engineer I didn't have any prior business experience.
The most important thing I have learned is when to say no. This sounds like an easy concept however is
far harder to put into practice. As a
fledgeling business, you always want to say yes to clients and you want to keep
money flowing in. You are always looking
to please and to push what your capabilities are, especially when manufacturing
custom one off pieces based on your clients specifications. However this is always not possible, and as
hard as it is to turn down an order worth a lot of money, sometimes this is the
best course of action. Alternatively I
have found that discussing the clients needs will allow me to come to a new
solution that they perhaps didn't foresee as they aren't as experienced with
the technology and it's limitations as I am.
This leads me on nicely to discuss 3D printing in general. There is a lot written about 3D printing and
how it will change the world. Everything
from houses, to cars and custom medical parts are commonly discussed and
articles appear on an almost daily basis.
Whilst there is some truth to the use of 3D printing in these markets,
it's almost always overblown. This sadly
sets up an expectation as to the capabilities of 3D printing which the
technology can't always live up to.
3D printing is a wonderful technology however rather than replacing
common manufacturing techniques such as turning, milling, drilling and casting,
it is instead a complimentary method for manufacture. The turn around on a piece can be incredibly
quick when compared to conventional manufacture for certain pieces however when
the part in question is fairly simple in design, it doesn't always make sense
to use 3D printing.
Back to the business side of things, if you are a young start up
without a large amount of funding from the get go, then you are going to have
to become a jack of all trades. Again as
engineers, we generally have the mindset that we can turn our hands to
anything. Running a business means that
you become a lawyer, an accountant, a
secretary, a marketing and social media wizard, web designer and so much
more. Oh and there is a good bit of
engineering thrown into the mix too!
This can be intimidating at first however some of the best advice I ever
heard was “Those who say they can and those who say they can't are both usually
right”. I keep this in mind whenever I'm
tackling something that is unfamiliar to me.
Following on with the lack of finance, there are a wealth of ways to do
things far cheaper than you ever could before.
There are free office packages such as Libre Office which offer all the
same functions as Microsoft Office but without the associated cost. A web presence nowadays is a given. This can be done easily using a service such
as Weebly. A drag and drop style web
design package. Facebook and other
social media can be a great way to spread the word about your new enterprise
without the huge price tag associated with it.
When are you watching the bottom line every month, a few pounds saved
here and there can make all the difference.
With regards to getting your message out there, something I learned a
few months after I started PlastiPrint 3D was to always be switched on to
potential opportunities to meet new clients.
I was sat in the hair dresser and as with any hair cut I was asked what
I was doing that day. I explained about
setting up and running the new company.
The gentleman sat in the chair next to me turned and started asking me
more questions about what I could do for him.
As it turned out, he was a marketing director for a fairly sizeable
local company. I talk all about what I
could do but I made the cardinal sin of not having any business cards on
me. I never heard from him again. Handing over a business card may have still
resulted in the same conclusion but I will never know if I missed out on a
potential new customer because of this mistake.
I now make sure to always carry business cards in my wallet and be ready
to launch into a carefully put together summary of what I can deliver to a
customer at a moments notice.
I have met clients at family gatherings, marketing events and even at
the airport when sitting in the departure lounge when someone overheard me
discussing the business. You always have
to be switched on to new opportunities.
I hope this short piece has given a bit of insight into some elements
of business start up that you may not have been aware of. If you think you may have a need for 3D
printing or have an interest in discussing the technology then get in touch.
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