Feb.25, 2014
Dutch retail chain HEMA has taken a step into the 3D printed jewelry market by adding 3D printed products to its online catalog. HEMA announced on Monday that it will start selling 3D printed jewelry online. Consumers can order 3D printed necklaces and bracelets made of stainless steel, nylon and 24 carat gold. The company will also bring 3D printed phone cases to the market.
HEMA is the first major retailer in the Netherlands that offers 3D printed jewelry to the average consumers. Last October Neiman Marcus in U.S. has teamed up with 3D printing company Shapeways to add a limited edition of 3D printed jewelry collection to its online store.
Printed by Zazzy, a Dutch 3D printed jewelry company, the jewelry is made-to-order and can be customized to add your initials, or symbols such as an @ sign, heart, star, or hashtag. Consumers can also choose nylon bracelets and metal chains in a number of colors. Items ordered through the HEMA online catalogue will arrive to customers in about 15 to 20 days, says Zazzy CEO Gert Jan Spriensma.
Image: Zazzy
Zazzy was founded in the heart of Amsterdam in early 2013. It offers 3D printed jewelry made of precious metals like 22k gold-plated brass, sterling silver and nylons, and the prices start at €12.50. This 'on-demand' production model lowers risk and investment costs for retailers like HEMA, allowing them to offer products to clients without purchasing a stock of inventory up-front.
Zazzy is not the only 3D printing company that collaborates with HEMA. The department store has also teamed up with another company (the name is not revealed) to provide 3D printed smartphone covers to customers. According to HEMA Spokeswoman Marry Jansen, HEMA will start by selling 3D printed cases for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy.
Buying and selling jewelry is big business. The online jewelry market is a 200 billion-dollar industry and over 2 million people shop for jewelry online every day. While selling jewelry can be a very profitable, it is also a competitive item to sell online. In order to keep buyers interested, retailers continue adding new items to their product range to keep up to date with the latest trends. 3D printed jewelry is of interest to HEMA because of its cutting-edge and fashionable offerings.
Jansen announced that HEMA also has the ambition to sell 3D printed jewelry abroad.
The first HEMA opened in Amsterdam on 4 November 1926, set up by the Jewish owners of the luxury department store De Bijenkorf. Today the company operates more than 600 retail locations and has about 10,000 employees.
Posted in 3D Printing Services
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pavan wrote at 6/3/2014 7:58:19 AM:
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Anke wrote at 2/27/2014 7:14:17 AM:
Smart move of HEMA. Zazzy is a great and trustworthy company to work with.