It seems everyone is buzzing about 3D printing these days. Magazines and consumers alike are touting the “wow” factor innate in the technology behind 3D printers, scanners and software. It gives brands an entirely new portfolio of products to license and it gives consumers a way to personalize products, if not create their own. For retailers, it’s the opportunity to reduce inventory and shorten time-to-market by utilizing on-demand manufacturing processes.

Source3’s Vice President of Marketing Tom Simon recently sat down with Licensing Expo to discuss how 3D technology stands to improve brand strategies. The company, formed in 2014, plans to share what’s “hot” in the world of 3D for its second year in a row at Licensing Expo 2016.

What are the biggest rewards that came out of last year’s Licensing Expo? We made a lot of strong connections at the show last year with brands, agencies and other attendees who were in the exhibit hall or attended our round table at Licensing University. For a startup, it was a great opportunity to meet so many of these folks in one spot rather than have to try and travel around the country to set up meetings. We also got a lot of great press, including a front-page story in The Wall Street Journal. 

What do you hope to accomplish at this year’s show? We hope to make a bigger impact now that we're a little older and a little wiser. Last year was all about getting to meet people and letting them know we were here, and now it's about continuing to develop those relationships and hopefully create some new ones as well. 

Is there anything that shocked you as a new exhibitor? The shear size of the show caught me completely by surprise. There were so many different brands, agencies and more, not only showcasing their products or services, but also doing it in style with large and incredibly attractive booths.

What are some of the “hot” 3D items? At Source3, we've launched a couple of 3D printed items such as a Street Fighter V 3D printed game cover in conjunction with last year's Comic-Con and the launch of the product. We also have a product with U.S. Army that allows for the customization of unique keepsakes honoring those that have served for our country. And brands like Hasboro have created limited edition 3D printed My Little Ponys with hand selected designers, while other brands are also dabbling in the ecosystem.

What new products will you be showing off at this year’s Licensing Expo? We plan on showcasing two things: The first is our new Content ID and Licensing Platform, which is an end-to-end solution that helps identify, license and administer third party IP (trademark, copyright and other licensable elements) incorporated in user-generated content. This product is geared toward helping creators and commerce with the ability to match both physical and digital products not only in 3D, but in other areas such as handmade and crafts, UGC video and media, short run manufacturing, and more. The second is a whole new line of 3D printed branded products, which we are finalizing now and are excited to promote at the show! 

To learn more about Source3, visit source3.io.