I first want to start out by saying what a pleasure it's been to work on this project. Back in 2013, in a time when desktop 3D printing was taking the world by storm, I found myself swept into a culture of limitless creation, with a steep learning curve and a ton of really passionate people. Many people, myself included, weren’t really sure what the promise of 3D printing meant to the world. But with each update in the news, as new companies were proving the sustainability and value of the technology, and with the democratization of printable models and printing resources, the future looked really bright. Along the way, I met so many talented individuals that were willing to offer their time to further the craft, and to inspire others just starting out.
Printer Playground started as my first foray into running an online business. I poured hundreds of hours into building the site, the sales pipeline, and most importantly the relationships with customers, manufacturers, and creators. It was truly a learning process each day. And though I made plenty of mistakes, I feel confident knowing it was something worth doing, because it meant each day, I had something to work towards – a vision for the future that I could create – and as they say, it’s more about the process than the result.
So, it’s with a heavy heart that I must announce today we will be shutting down business operations indefinitely. The company is not growing as it needs to survive, and isn’t able to provide the level of service our customers deserve. We set out to be the premier source of online 3d printing products; a destination that inspired creativity and provided the tools to carry out the ideas of anyone daring to try. And until I see a clear path for making that happen, I’ll be taking a step back. That said, I want to personally thank every person who has placed their trust in us over the past six years. I hope in some way we’ve helped you create something amazing.
With warm regards,
Michael Caporale
Founder, Printer Playground