Coding Cat

How it was working?

All were semi-automated. I wrote a script that from the image file (png) was generating a 3D model suitable for a 3D printer. Then I was sending the model over email to someone that I found on the internet who was printing it and sending it directly to the customer. I didn’t have many customers, just a few, but the margin was nice. I charged $30 for one, and printing cost me about $4, shipping $1.

What was done wrong?

I did have a 3D printer (RepRap) so I tested it myself and I was making cookies for the first time in my life. That was the first problem, I didn’t know anything about making cookies.

What could be done better?

I should have found a non-technical partner that knows what to do to find customers and research the market. I didn’t have any motivation to do this. When someone says “marketing” or “sales” I just get instantly bored, I just can’t do this it is so boring for me. So I think the best thing I should have done is find a partner.

What I’ve learned?

Aside from the issues above and technical stuff, the thing that had the biggest impact on me was the margin. I never thought that I could set it so high. It was shocking for me back then, that I can sell for $30 with costs around $5, with almost any work within the order.

Why installing SSL certificate?

SSL certificate is used for encrypting the data transfered between your website and it’s visitors. It encrypts all the data, including passwords, credit cards, files, preventing others from reading them. Nowadays browsers like Google Chrome show security alerts, when such a website has sensitive form data, and is not using SSL encryption.