Staples began offering 3D printing services in two stores this week, one in New York and another in Los Angeles. Rather than just selling the actual printers, which Staples has done for a few years, customers at those stores now have access the 3D printing technology without spending thousands of dollars on a printer.
If the pilot takes off, Staples says it will expand 3D printing services to more stores.
The program is seen as an extension of the companies copying and printing services, which has grown during the past two years, partially offsetting the fact that it’s making less money selling office supplies, ink cartridges, and computers.
Staples has already been offering 3D printing services in Europe for about a year. Customers so far are primarily small businesses, and　Staples is trying to distinguish itself by helping those customers through the entire process, says Damien Leigh, senior vice president of business services at Staples.
“The way we envision this working is from soup to nuts,” says Leigh.
The company plans to begin training its graphic design consultants, who work in the stores, to hold customers’ hands as they move through the process.
The New York location has seven printers that can make objects in six different materials. For bigger jobs, Staples will outsource the printing to 3D Systems.
Staples declined to give much of an idea how much the service will cost, saying it will vary widely, depending on the complexity of the design and the amount of material involved. Leigh says some objects cost as little as a few dollars, while a printed guitar can run into the thousands.
