It’s the technology that has the potential to make everyone a maker.

3D printing has been deemed as a game changer to the way we live and shop. The technology offers powerful possibilities for retailers in terms of customisation, distributed manufacturing and unleashing personal creativity.

3D printing is already being explored by some of the world’s biggest entities; Airbus, Siemens and Tesco to name a few. In the fashion space, Melbourne workshop XYZ recently showcased an impressive showpiece at the New York 3D printshow (pictured below).

Above: XYZ workshop showcases a 3D printed dress

Whether this technology will become adopted by the masses or be dumped in the trough of disillusionment remains to be seen, however it seems that the possibilities and opportunities for disruption are endless. Imagine a world where a car dealership can print spare parts on demand, or one step further; consumers print products they need from their own lounge rooms. Will we reach a point where one can simply visit an e-commerce site and print off their favourite item, making delivery instantaneous? Mass adoption of 3D printing would certainly shake up the way that companies think about delivering to their core customers needs.

Barriers to adoption are breaking down. The technology is becoming more affordable, in fact just last Christmas Selfridges successfully pushed sales of 3D printers ranging in price from £750 to £3,200. One of the biggest barriers currently is making it simple for consumers to bring physical form to the ideas in their head. Currently many models require CAD knowledge or complex and expensive hardware in order to create products, however this is slowly changing. Take Printeer for example, a 3D printer created with the goal of being accessible to kids in schools. 
What are your thoughts, do you think 3D printing is overhyped or will it cause a retail renaissance?