It’s no secret that starting a business the traditional way is quite a bumpy road for minorities like us Latinos. There’s often a long funding approval process, language and cultural barriers, and a lack of established business networks, all of which limit our ability to start and grow.
Luckily, e-commerce offers us a way out, allowing us to sell our products online with lower upfront costs and investment. Even in e-commerce, you have many options: you could create and sell your own products, run a dropshipping business where you source and sell products from third-party suppliers on your website, or blend the best of both worlds and start a 3D print on demand business.
In this article, I’ll bring you up to speed on why starting a 3D print on demand business can be a rewarding idea for Hispanic entrepreneurs.
Let’s dive right in.
What is a 3D Print on Demand Business?
I think it would help first to explain what the 3D print on demand business model is and how it works, so you can better understand how it can benefit you.
A 3D print on demand business is one where you submit your designs for products, and they’re manufactured using 3D printing only after customers place an order, bridging the need to purchase stock.
The printing company also handles the packaging and delivery of orders, sparing you both these expenses.
How it works is that you connect a print on demand company’s app to your online store (I’d recommend Shopify as an e-commerce platform here) and submit your designs. These designs will appear on your website, and once a customer purchases the item, only then will the printing company print those designs on your product, package it, and ship it to the customer.
The very nature of this model brings certain benefits your way, all of which can help Hispanic entrepreneurs like you overcome the traditional systemic barriers. I’ve explored some of the major ones next.
The Benefits of A 3D Print on Demand Business Model
From low barriers to entry to low risk and everything in between, let’s explore all the benefits that starting a 3D print on demand business can bring to Hispanic entrepreneurs like you.
Ease of Entry
Think about it, you don’t have to buy stock or machinery, spend on packaging material, or go around trying to find a fast yet affordable delivery service. All you need is your creativity, a laptop, and a fast and reliable internet connection, and you’re good to go.
You already have your creativity, a laptop might take a few hours to buy, and with internet providers like Cox offering bilingual assistance in English and Spanish, setting up a fast and reliable connection is as easy as dialing the Cox servicio al cliente en español.
E-commerce platforms like Shopify offer plans starting as low as $5 a month, and there are many print on demand services out there, offering various types of services.
Flexibility to Operate
You can perform most of the important business functions, such as marketing online, which means that you can work from anywhere, your bedroom, Iceland, or even the top of the Eiffel Tower if you have internet connectivity.
This flexibility can lead to a more well-balanced lifestyle, where you can pursue personal interests, spend more time with la familia, or travel the world while making an income.
Even if at some point you need to hire employees, the most important function you might have to hire them for is marketing, because you don’t need employees for warehouse management, packaging, or delivery, as your print on demand supplier handles all that.
With remote work models, you can continue to keep both your lifestyle and your employees’ lifestyles convenient, flexible, and more well-balanced.
Creative Freedom
Remember how I mentioned your creativity as one of the prerequisites of starting this business?
Well, that’s because you’re going to have more opportunities than you think to apply it in a 3D print on demand business model. There are a lot of niches you can target, such as clothing, mugs, or even phone cases. And as long as you keep coming up with new designs, the world’s your playground.
It would help you stand out and brand yourself by bringing that Hispanic flair and adding a cultural touch to your designs.
You can highlight your heritage and creative vision using culturally relevant and authentic designs that feature elements such as flags, holidays, Spanish phrases, or art styles. As you progress and learn what your customers like or don’t like, you can optimize accordingly.
No Risk of Unsold or Wasted Stock
One of the biggest expenses in a traditional business is unsold or wasted products, which means all the money spent on buying stock, warehouse rent, and employee salaries is wasted. With a 3D print on demand business model, you don’t have to worry about any of that, since your print on demand supplier manages these functions.
This allows you to experiment with a range of niches to find one or more that work.
For example, if you’re creating men’s T-shirts but are seeing slow sales, you can shift to a more potentially profitable niche or expand your offerings in a short time. Most e-commerce platforms allow you to upgrade your plan as you grow, and this can help diversify your income streams.
3D Print on Demand – Entrepreneurship Without the Hassle
For Hispanic entrepreneurs, going the traditional route can be a long and tough journey, which may slow down the speed at which they can get a business up and running.
3D print on demand offers a way out.
By reducing barriers to entry, costs, and risk and allowing flexibility and creative freedom, there is no limit to what you achieve in this hassle-free form of entrepreneurship.
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