WEEK 10 ACTIVITY 1 Imagine you are being asked to provide a recommendation for Place for The following product - the 3Doodler 3D printing pen (pictured below). For more information on this pen, visit the 3Doodler site. Work your way through the following questions (adapted from MindTools n.d) using the examples as guidance, before hopping on the discussion board to workshop your answers. Try to think differently from your other group members. What are other questions that may arise? "The 3Doodler Create is the latest generation of the world's first and best- selling 3D printing pen." - the product is already confirmed as right. 1. Where will buyers find your product? As well as the3doodler.com online store, at major regional crafts & hobbies- specific outlets, such as Spotlight, where hobbyists and professionals buy their supplies; or, Target. 2. What are the right distribution channels? Trade fair representation in the crafts area for supplying organisational/ educational facilities, in order to inform/ create wider awareness to potential customers - Negates having to set up a self-funded, physical retail outlet; · Online submissions will suit minimum as well as bulk purchases and the current logistics practice can be continued; · Samples to bulk-buyers, such as a school or major outlet (Spotlight), to get the creative point established; 3. What do your competitors do in regards to place? What will be your point of difference? Where to buy 3D printers in 2016? (3dprinterprices.net, 2016) Lix , Samto, & the top recommended 7Tech, all initially placed to supply their product to the buyer via their own home website. "Below is a is a list of the best places to buy 3D printers: . Amazon.com - Amazon is one of the biggest marketplaces in the world. Amazon has a large collection of 3D printers such as the Makerbot, Cubify, etc. . 3DPrintersOnlineStore.com - They are one of the biggest 3D printer stores on the web. They carry Makerbot printers, Cubify printers, Printrbot, among many others. www.goodsatlas.com
. Direct from the manufacture - many manufactures of 3D printers provide the option to purchase directly from them. However, note that shipping times can be slower because they do not specialize in logistics of shipping products." (3dprinterprices.net, 2016) A world-wide "Where to buy 3Doodle?" lists the registered stores which carry their product. None of the other competitors have this specific access point. The 3Doodler is the oldest on the market, therefore it has had the most logistical experience and maybe their retail outlets can place their product on the shelf more quickly than the alternate suppliers. http://www.3dprinterprices.net/where-to-buy-3d-printers/ www.goodsatlas.com