TOGETHER WITH
Good morning, Swansea!
In Llansamlet, there's a new shop where shelves glow with every colour you can imagine and machines whirr quietly at all hours of the day, making almost anything your imagination can conjour up.
3DFLO is Wales's first dedicated 3D printing shop - and the man behind it, James, only decided to open it a few months after getting into the hobby.
We sat down with James to find out how he came to start Swansea's most unexpected new business - and why he reckons a 3D printer belongs in every home.
Catch you on Sunday!
Andrew.
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On how it all started
James wasn't looking for a new hobby. A colleague at his previous job kept telling him he needed a 3D printer. James's response was simple.
"Why do I need a 3D printer? He kept going on and on, and I eventually took the plunge, bought a cheap one, and I absolutely loved it. I was addicted to it. The first print, I sat there for six hours straight and just watched it print from start to finish. I was completely amazed by it."
From there, it spiralled - more colours, bigger prints, an Etsy shop selling Minecraft toys - and soon, the printer had paid for itself.
On the mask that changed everything
Every business has a lightbulb moment. For James, it was a half-finished Deadpool mask and an empty spool of filament.
"I ran out of filament and couldn't find anywhere local to buy some more. I had to wait three days for the same colour to come from Amazon — and while it's travelling to me, it's sitting on my 3D printer, wasting electricity. I thought I'd drive miles and miles to go and buy some filament, but there's nothing around. There was a gap in the market."
But James spotted something else too. A 3D printer isn't a small purchase, and unlike most things you'd spend a few hundred pounds on, you can't walk into a shop anywhere in Wales to see one, hear one, or get a feel for the size of it.
"Unless you watch YouTube videos, you can't actually physically see one. There was no demo shop - so I thought having one would encourage people to come and have a look for themselves rather than making a blind purchase online," explaned James.
In just four months starting in September 2025, James had done his market research, hired an accountant, secured a unit, and opened the doors to 3DFLO.
On what 3D printing actually is
"They're not as big as you think, not as loud as you think, and not as expensive as you think. But what they create is very surprising.
If you’re not familiar with how 3D printing works, James explains it like having a syringe filled with melted plastic that builds into layers.
You start with a design - either one you've made yourself on a computer, or one of the hundreds of thousands of free models available to download online - then simply load it up, press print, and watch it build like magic.
And you can make allsorts - toys, props, household items, colour-layed photo prints, car parts, and more. James’ favourite example involves his sister, who was heading off in her caravan one morning when a window latch broke. She sent James a photo, who tracked down a 3D-printed design of a replacement that someone had already created - and he’d printed multiple spares within the hour.
One of the things James loves most is what happens when children get inspired to start 3D printing: "I have parents coming in saying that their kids are now designing stuff,” he says. “They're using their heads rather than playing on the PlayStation. They're actually becoming designers and really excited to print stuff. It gets their mind going."
On being your 3D printing emergency contact
James stocks printers from £319 through to over £1,000, partnered with Creality — one of the most well-known manufacturers in the world. Filament rolls run from £11.99 to £19.99, with bundle deals available. Colours range from silks and metallics to glow-in-the-dark, rainbow, and starry finishes.
But the real difference to buying online, James says, is what happens after.
"I offer local deliveries and setup of printers, and I'm always on hand for advice - they've got my mobile number. If they need any help, they can message me and I'll message them straight back. Just that friendly customer service you don't get if you buy from abroad."
He can also repair. Because he's an official Creality partner (a leading 3D printer brand), he can source parts and fix printers in-house - so if something goes wrong, you're not shipping a machine back to a warehouse in Germany and waiting three weeks.
On where he wants to take it
James only opened 3DFLO at the end of January, and he's already seeing customers travel from as far as West Wales for filament, and picking up five-star Google reviews along the way. Mid-interview, a regular walked in to grab more stock - "Another loyal customer there who loves it," James said, grinning, once he'd sent him off to pick his colours.
"I want every home to have one, every school in their DT department to have one, and I want to be the main filament supplier for the whole of Wales - and more, hopefully. Fingers crossed."
His pitch to anyone who thinks 3D printing isn't for them is simple: "TVs weren't people's things when they probably first came out - but look at them now, they're in every house. Same with the kettle and the toaster. Come down and have a look. It will enhance your life. It'll make your life better - I can promise you that."
More About 3DFLO
Visit 3DFLO is at Llansamlet Enterprise Park, Unit 12, Tower Court St Davids Road, Swansea SA6 8RU - open six days a week (closed Wednesday). You can also browse printers, filament, and accessories at 3dflo.com. James also offers local delivery and printer setup - and yes, you can get his number.
I’ll catch you on Sunday!
Andrew.
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