Our Story
How we started with one 3d printer in a basement to a growing 3D printing business
The beginning
In early 2020, as the world paused and I found myself with extra time at home, I finally ordered something I had always been curious about, a 3D printer. What began as a fun way to stay creative with my family quickly turned into a full-on passion.
We spent hours experimenting with new filaments, exploring the work of talented 3D artists, and coming up with fun print ideas to share with friends and family. I started carrying pockets full of fidgets wherever I went and even brought boxes of prints to work meetings. I loved seeing the wonder in people’s eyes as they tried to figure out how something so intricate could come out of a single print. One crowd favorite? The articulating Cinderwing Crystal Dragon, printed in one piece with no assembly required, a true conversation starter that never failed to amaze.
Getting Started
By the end of 2023, my wife Heather and I had become newly minted empty nesters, with both of our daughters off at college. We stayed busy with home projects, pickleball, and reconnecting with friends, finally enjoying some free time after years of packed family schedules.
Starting a business had always been on our minds, especially as a way to create passive income and fast-track our path to retirement. During a conversation with our financial advisors at Evexia Wealth, the topic of hobbies came up, specifically 3D printing. I had been giving away prints for fun, but the idea of turning it into a business clicked. We jumped right in, and by “we,” I mostly mean Heather. She took charge of everything from setting up the LLC and organizing our inventory to managing the finances, launching our Etsy and TikTok shops, and securing a spot at a local artisan market. Just like that, Wonder 3D Prints was born.
Where were at now
Today, we stock over 150 filament colors and styles, with our prints available at four physical locations across the Fox Valley area in Chicago. You can also find us online through Etsy, TikTok, and right here on our Shopify store
If you’ve made it this far, thank you! Be sure to follow us to stay up to date on new prints, pop-up locations, and upcoming events.
Learn about 3d printing
3d printing is a fun new way to be creative and get to hold your imagination in your hands
Learn about 3d printing
