Photizo: Office Depot to Increase In-Store 3D Printing

According to research group Photizo, office products retail giant Office Depot claimed it will expand its in-store 3D printing experience areas to 150 retail shops in the United States. Office Depot made the decision in response to positive feedback from customers in its global stores, where the firm delivers personal 3D printers from 3D Systems.

Photizo observes that the move by Office Depot “Merges the worlds of big-box retail and 3D printer experience stores in a way that hasn’t quite been done to this level yet”.

Further, Photizo claims the retail channel for 3D printers has exploded in 2013, both online and in entity shops, adding that 3D “experience” stores have been enjoying an ever-increasing boom. The research group also points out that to offer 3D Systems’ line of personal 3D printers on a wide scale, the office products company Staples has taken a slightly varied way by testing an in-store 3D printing service in Europe. Photizo says the development of a retail sales channel is a major growth driver in the adoption of personal 3D printers.