This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
Turning plastic into high end interior pieces. What's up, friends? Welcome back to Side Hustle School. Today we're gonna hear from a 3D printing enthusiast. She pivots from small gifts to high end home decor, creating unique pieces for upscale interiors.
She gets paid to do this. This is part of our Throwback Thursday series where we take a look at someone whose story has evolved since we first featured them. We've had all kinds of stories in this particular segment. Last week was a Canadian e-commerce expert. He turns his experience running a fulfilled by Amazon shop into a consulting business, basically helping fellow Canadian sellers break into the lucrative US market, a market with much larger population than Canada.
Today, as noted, you're gonna hear from this 3D printing expert who starts making some really small stuff, basically custom gifts. She'll explain how it works. And then she finds a way to kind of turn this into more than just a maker project, more of a project that has some sustainability to it. So I love that she's been able to do that. Let's pass the microphone to her.
I'll be back at the end with a quick wrap up. [Music]
I'm a 3D printing enthusiast based in Boulder, Colorado. My project started with a simple goal, to make cool custom gifts for friends. It began with coasters, planters, and small knickknacks, things that showed off the versatility of 3D printing while staying fun and personal. Before long, I had field requests for everything from quirky pencil holders to mini sculptures.
At first, it was a hobby that paid for itself. But as I started experimenting with more intricate designs, I realized the potential for something much bigger. The turning point came when a friend who worked as an interior designer asked for a custom vase for one of her projects. She wanted something bold, but minimalist in a material that looked like polished stone. After a few prototypes, I delivered a piece that fit her client's modern aesthetic perfectly.
That vase led to a stream of inquiries from other designers, many of whom were looking for unique, high quality pieces they couldn't find in stores. This shift marked a transition from small novelty items to bespoke decor, vases, wall sculptures, and statement pieces designed to complement upscale interiors. To reach a larger audience, I made a deal with a local home store, offering exclusive collections of 3D printed pieces. The collaboration worked because my designs were distinct and customizable, allowing the store to offer something their competitors didn't have. Interior designers have become the largest segment of the business, accounting for about 60% of orders.
Many commissioned custom pieces for specific projects, requesting precise dimensions, textures, or colors to align with their client's vision. Premium rates for these bespoke items start at $150 for smaller pieces and go up to $2,000 for larger installations. The next step was creating an efficient pricing and production system to handle custom orders while maintaining high standards. By streamlining these processes, it became easier to take on larger projects without sacrificing quality or turnaround times. Today, the 3D printed decor business is thriving with steady orders from designers, boutique stores, and individual clients.
A collection of wall art inspired by mid-century modern design is currently in development and will be showcased at a local gallery. Some days, I'm still surprised that I can make real money with this, but I have no complaints. [Music]
All right, all right, thanks to our side hustler. I believe she was in what, Colorado. Yes, thanks to our Colorado side hustler for sharing those updates with us.
Listeners, let me know what you think, who you'd like to see featured from our archives, of thousands of episodes, all kinds of people over the years, going on eight years, in fact. If you have a question as well, if you have an update about your hustle or just looking for some resources, sidehustleschool.com. I write a weekly newsletter at yearofmentalhealth.com. I'm on social media, at least sometimes. I go back and forth in being consistent or not, but at least I'm consistent with the podcast every single day, seven days a week, always completely free.
My name's Chris Guillebeau, this is Side Hustle School. [Music]
From the Onward Project.
