The Fab Store
While I give this idea away freely, here's what I'd like if you decide to make my idea come true.
- Own a small percentage of company
- Opportunities for additional, early investment.
Your Neighborhood, Next-Level Repair Cafe
How often have you trashed an entire product because of a single broken part? What if you could simply replace the part, at a fraction of the cost and waste? The Fab Store pairs advanced 3D printing with repair experts to fix previously unfixable items. These stores keep more stuff out of our landfills and more money in your pocket!
In addition, Fab Stores may finally deliver on the promise of a small-scale manufacturing revolution.
To Repair is Rare
Too often, a single broken part means sending the sum of all its parts to a landfill. For example- A hinge broke on my old electric tea kettle, preventing me from closing the lid properly.
You can't buy a new hinge. I wouldn't know how to install the hinge even if I had one.
In cases like this, I can't find a practical solution to repairing my item instead of replacing it.
The Fab Store Expertly 3D Prints Parts and Fixes Products
Imagine a store equipped with 3D printers and CNC machines capable of fabricating parts made of metal, wood, plastic, rubber, ceramic and more. An expert greets you, examines your broken item, prints out the broken pieces and repairs your item for you. We have the technology and talent available today. If only there were someone to make the store a reality.
The Anatomy of Fab Stores
Services provided
People
Equipment
Procedures
Beyond Repairs: A Small-scale Manufacturing Revolution
One-off and small batch manufacturing has the potential to explode into mass manufacturing success. Places like the Thingaverse are filled with designs for imaginative items you can't buy in stores. But you can print with them your Fab Store equipment. Lurking among those designs might be the next best-selling product.
Using your existing equipment and talent, you could offer:
- Pre-fabricated products
- User-requested products
- Custom designed products
Pre-fabricated Products: Unique Item Window Shopping
You start by producing a single, intriguing item. Then you put it in the store window. Repeat until your store window is filled with unique and interesting items.
When an item sells, produce another. Maybe two. Increase your production as demand increases.
At some point, enough demand builds to support mass manufacturing. That's when you become the brand leader in the new product space.
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 Rubik's Cube, hot jewelry trend or must-have phone case. Imagination is about the only limit!
Nothing lasts forever. It just seems a lot of things should last much longer.
What the Fab Store Does
Repair household items
Fabricate broken pieces
Small-scale, custom manufacturing
Unique, pre-fabricated items for sale
Dump Throwaway Culture
They build exactly what you need for you. They always have better equipment, deeper integration and more supplies than you do at home.
Suggest and advise on variations of original designs. Have a library of customization presets.
Order online. Pick up at the store or ship.
Simply Fab
Next level repair cafes
On every block. Come in and browse finished products (also for sale), chat with a fabbing expert and build something just to your liking.
Repair shops too- building custom parts to replace broken ones
Share designs with other Fab Stores. Perhaps even the public. Example- hinge on tea kettle
What if cost is more than it's worth
Picture - rubber gromet on tea cups.
https://www.3dsourced.com/3d-printers/metal-3d-printer-buyers-guide/
https://all3dp.com/2/silicone-3d-printer-all-you-need-to-know/