Love and robots spark genius
The Spark of Genius award-winner at the Dublin Web Summit, the company is now harnessing technology, the internet, and the skills of 6,000 designers in 48 countries to create a range of highly unique products.
“Love & Robots is a new type of design brand for the digital age. We have a range of products which can be edited and personalised by customers when they buy them from our website,” says chief executive Emer O’Daly, explaining that the products are printed at 3D factories located near the customers.
Popular products include an ampersand necklace, which can be used to join two initials and is available in gold for €325 and silver for €150.
“One of our best sellers is a set of four coasters which can be printed with a map selected by the customers,” says Ms O’Daly.
The attraction for customers is that customised products created using 3D printing are less costly than individually customised products and, according to Ms O’Daly, the demand for these types of products is growing globally. “The mass customisation market is only 10 years old, worth £20bn (€25bn) in the US and UK alone and is seeing a 25% growth rate year–on-year.”
Back in 2012, Ms O’Daly, an architect, set up the company which was called Faballthings with her sisters, Kate — also an architect — and Aoibheann, a computer scientist.
The market had already taken off in the US and they saw an opportunity to be one of the first in Europe in this space. Joined by software designer Miguel Alonso, the sisters began by designing some products and partnering with 3D printing companies in Europe.
In August 2013, Faballthings’ website with 20 products was launched to test the market.
Devising a creative process which is a little different from the norm, the website began holding design challenges, inviting designers from around the world to submit product ideas.
The products are chosen by vote and designers whose products are used are paid royalties on sales, says Ms O’Daly, adding that about 6,000 designers are now participating. Last year, the company began work on making the products customisable, rented an office in Dawson St, Dublin, and, early this year, took on its first staff member.
Getting a good response to the beta website, Faballthings began fundraising.
It got funding from Angel and Venture Capital investors, secured €50,000 in Competitive Start Funding from Enterprise Ireland and in May was accepted onto Seedcamp, an accelerator programme in London.
In October, the company, renamed Love & Robots, launched a new website offering a range of over 100 fully customisable products.
“We have now raised $420,000 (€335,000) in funding and are currently the fourth-fastest growing 3D printing business in the world,” says Ms O’Daly. Competing against 29 other companies in Electric Ireland’s Spark of Genius start-up competition in November, Love & Robots took the title and €25,000 in prize money.
Sales have been rising by the week in the run-up to Christmas. “Since the launch in October, sales have grown by 300%.
“Most of our buyers are based in Ireland and the UK, but we are getting orders from all over the world,” says Ms O’Daly.
For 2015, the company, now with a staff of seven, is planning an international marketing campaign. It will also be launching ranges of both personalisable jewellery and customisable ceramics in the New Year.
www.Loveandrobots.com
After some beta testing, the Dublin-based 3D-printing company Love & Robots is wooing many suitors and is the fourth-fastest growing firm of its type in the world, writes Trish Dromey
Since the launch in October, sales have grown by 300%
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
