# 3D-Printed Postal Objects The Royal Mail Creates & Sells Knickknacks with a 3D Printing Service By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2015-01-12 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-printing-service References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2015/01/uks-royal-mail-offers-3d-printing.html) & [shop.royalmail](https://shop.royalmail.com/gift-shop/3d-printed-products/icat/3dproducts) Refusing to be left behind in a world that's slowly saying goodbye to snail mail, the British national postal service is teaming up with iMakr to offer a unique [3D printing service](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/morrisons-printing-service). Although 3D printing has become a household term, there are plenty of people who have yet to see a 3D printer, or even a 3D-printed object with their own eyes. Since 3D printers and the equipment to run them can be expensive, this [Royal Mail](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/royal-mail-shop) partnership has the potential to make 3D printing much more accessible to the masses. As of now, the collection of 3D-printed goods offered for sale on the Royal Mail's web shop includes whimsical [stamp-shaped magnets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spacethemed-postal-stamp), pencil containers that resemble postboxes, wine coolers, pen holders, phone cases and customized accessories. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 34% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Modern](https://www.trendhunter.com/modern) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Increased Accessibility of 3D Printing:** The Royal Mail's partnership with iMakr makes 3D printing more accessible to the public, allowing a wider audience to experience the technology. - **Expanding Range of 3d-printed Products:** The Royal Mail's web shop offers various 3D-printed goods, including stamp-shaped magnets, postbox pencil containers, wine coolers, pen holders, phone cases, and customized accessories, demonstrating the growing range of 3D-printed products available for purchase. - **Integrating 3D Printing with Traditional Postal Services:** By incorporating 3D printing into their services, the Royal Mail is embracing a disruptive innovation opportunity to enhance their offerings, staying relevant in a world moving away from traditional mail. ### Sectors Adopting This - **3D Printing:** The partnership between the Royal Mail and iMakr reflects the growing trend in the 3D printing industry to make the technology more accessible and diverse in product options. - **Postal Services:** The Royal Mail's foray into 3D printing highlights the potential for innovation and disruptive growth within the postal services industry, as it embraces new technologies to remain competitive. - **Online Retail/e-commerce:** The Royal Mail's introduction of 3D-printed goods on their web shop showcases an opportunity for online retailers to expand their product offerings and cater to the growing demand for unique and customizable products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Mail-Focused Convenience Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/royal-mail-shop.md) - [Retailer Mail Service Lockers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coop-and-royal-mail.md) - [3D-Printed Organization Stationary](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/studio-hopkins.md) - [Hybrid Mail Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/better-letter-card-co.md) - [On-Demand Postage Stamps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/myistamp.md) - [Unique 3D Printing Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-printed-church.md) - [3D-Printed Flip Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stl-sculptures.md) - [Craft-Inspired 3D-Printing Styles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digitally-woven.md) - [On-Demand Printable NFT Assets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rndr.md)