We were lucky to catch up with Nick Nikkhah recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, thanks for joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

Just like most businesses around the world, the COVID pandemic was an unexpected problem for our business. Until that moment, our key business was scanning humans and pets and then turning that scan into a 3D file which would then print in full color creating a lifelike figurine of the person or pet. Once everything was shut down, that basically ended that portion of our business and all of our prospects as most of what was on our calendar was related to that business. Since we were not able to produce anything for that segment of our business, we decided to reach out to the healthcare and first responders and let them know if they ever run into a situation where they are not able to source parts or certain equipment, we would be able to design and produce them locally. This stemmed from a story in Italy where the hospitals needed a part for their ventilators and could not get them and a group started 3D printing them locally. During these calls, we were told almost unanimously that they are in desperate need for PPE’s (Personal Protection Equipment such as facemasks and shields).
We then started producing them in large quantities and had to get even more equipment to face the demand. We got recognition from the media and the public turned to us as well to get these to them and within a couple of weeks, we got a letter from our congressmen thanking us for our efforts.
Because of this, we leaned into that portion of our business which is the 3D design and 3D print on demand and it now accounts for over half of our sales.

Nick, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got into this industry when I saw the technology back in 2017 and knew I wanted to be a part of it. I spent the following year researching and coming up with a plan to bring this tech to my city. At that time, the business was solely based on the unique replicas of humans and pets we created by scanning the subject in our studio and creating a 3D file and then printing it in full color and creating a lifelike replica of the person or pet. This seemed to me as something that would or will eventually get great traction as it serves a need that people didn’t know they have. Meaning most people didn’t and don’t know this is an option so they don’t know they need or want it. However, its a very unique way to memorialize a person, pet, or a time in someone’s life. Its great for wedding cake toppers where the two people getting married can be themselves and be able to show their personalities instead of two generic statues that look nothing like them. Furthermore, its a great way to freeze movements in time and document ages and stages of the kids along with being able to memorialize parents and grand parents. Once the businesses was started, we realized the challenge of having such a new technology out for mass markets without them knowing about it and without the needed resources to educate the public because it simply would have cost way too much in marketing. So we added other services to our line up and rebranded our name to 3DHQ and decided we wanted to be the headquarters for everything 3D and that has been the path we have been on since and our goal is bring 3D printed homes to our market and to other cities.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think the story about the pandemic fits here as well. It shows the resilience of the entire company as it was a group effort and allowed us to not only survive the pandemic but thrive and grow.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Pivoting during the pandemic to a new business model that we were working on was extremely effective and its been the one part of our businesses which we have not needed to market even to this date.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.3dheadquarter.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3dhq.kc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3Dhq.kc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/3dhq/
• Twitter: @3dhqkc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmjjhqo0JO_efHqd3SfQx1w