Printies: Paradigm Shifter #3

In my previous blog entries, I spoke about two of three products that I saw over the course of my visits to the Dallas, Hong Kong, Nuremberg and New York toy shows. I see all three as true paradigm busters for the toy industry. These products are, I fully believe, harbingers for how toy companies will do business in the future.

The third of the three, and the one I will talk about today is “Printies” from Techno Source. What I like about “Printies” is that it shows the way for how toy manufacturers may eventually bypass the entire factory based manufacturing process. In short, every kid’s bedroom could become a potential mini manufacturing center.

Here is how the New York Times described it: “Using their home PCs, inkjet printers and special patent-pending Printies(TM) fabric sheets, children can bring their online designs to life as soft 3-D collectible stuffed toys. It’s simple: design online at MyPrinties.com, print on both sides of "Printies" fabric sheets with any inkjet printer, tear along the perforated shape and pop out the Printies design, stuff it and put it on display!”

Using cloth is only the beginning. 360 degree printers that could extrude plastic toys are already available but carry a hefty price point. Costs are, however, coming down and in a few years we may see 360 degre printers becoming as ubiquitous as their ink based cousins.

When that happens, remember that Techno Source led the way. Great job Techno Source!