links for 2008-05-07

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Personalize to the max

I’ve just read an article about a new service called Ponoko on Techcrunch. With Ponoko, you can create, buy an sell unique products. Professional or hobby artists can turn their ideas into reality. In this case, we’re not only talking about putting your design on T-shirts or mugs. Numerous sites like Cafepress or Spreadshirt offer this type of service.

ponoko screenshot

Ponoko goes a step further. It is possible to create a customized necklace, bookcase, puzzle or table. Designers are only limited by their imagination and by the materials they can use which range from acrylic to plywood. There are no uprfront costs or minimum orders and artists don’t need to manage their inventory. Basically, they just need to submit their creation an wait for people to buy them.

There are more and more services offering nearly unlimited customization options. Popular brands like Nike or Timberland also encourage their customers to design their own shoes. On the Nike ID page, you can chose the colors, materials, the logos, names and numbers you want to put on your shoes or other Nike products. It is also possible to create customized Timberland boots.

Those services and brands respond to the need of the customer who always wants to be different and own original and unique products.

links for 2008-04-29

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