Diary of a newb miniature printer - Origin Story and the end (new beginnings).

Nine months ago, I made a decision that would completely change my life—I decided to open an Etsy shop. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment choice; it was the culmination of many decisions and circumstances leading up to that point. Let me take you back a bit.

I used to tinker with 3D printing back in Las Vegas, crafting things out of my garage before life brought me to Grain Valley, Missouri. Moving here meant new beginnings for my family. My wife, Tamara, had spent years in the medical field but found herself needing a change. In Vegas, her job as an ER tech didn’t require as much formal education as it did here, where she ended up working as a phlebotomist. It was a pivot that came with its challenges, including a significant pay cut. Eventually, we decided she would go back to school to finish her nursing degree, and I needed to find a way to support our family beyond my job at a local credit union.

I dabbled in Uber and Lyft briefly but realized it wasn’t for me. Then fate intervened in the form of David and Karma, a couple we met through our kids. They ran a successful Etsy shop and introduced me to the world of 3D printing again. Their insights and encouragement reignited my passion for creating with technology, and soon enough, Dungeon Master Minis was born—thanks to Tamara for the name!

Initially, I tried my hand at filament printing for miniatures, armed with my new knowledge of filament printing and plenty of enthusiasm. However, reality hit hard—it turned out filament prints weren’t suited for the detailed miniatures I envisioned. After many failed attempts, I pivoted to resin printing, investing in a new machine, despite some initial mishaps with cracked screens and leaks. But perseverance paid off; the print quality and speed were phenomenal, cutting my production time drastically and eventually purchase a second machine.

Just as things were picking up steam with my new resin prints, disaster struck. Right before the holiday rush, Etsy suspended my account due to a misunderstanding—a red banner of doom that left me scrambling to appeal and get back online. Thankfully, it was resolved, and my shop continued to grow. By the end of the holiday season, I had painted miniatures for dozens of customers, received over 2,000 orders, and garnered an impressive 811 positive reviews.

With momentum on my side and customer requests pouring in, I expanded my offerings to include pin-up models, a niche request that promised to attract even more customers. Little did I know, this decision would lead to my shop’s downfall on Etsy. Despite having a spotless record and stellar seller ratings, my account was permanently banned over what I can only describe as unfair and unexplained takedowns of my listings.

Now, here I am, back at square one, rebuilding from scratch after building a loyal customer base on Etsy. It’s a daunting task, but one thing I’ve learned from this journey is resilience. Starting over is never easy, but with the support of my family and the lessons learned from my Etsy experience, I’m determined to carve out a new path and continue doing what I love—creating and sharing my passion for 3D printing with the world.

Stay tuned as I embark on this new chapter, navigating the challenges of starting afresh in the competitive world of online selling. And remember, setbacks are just setups for comebacks. Here’s to new beginnings and the exciting journey ahead!