Just dropped $10k on a 3D crystal laser engraver. How do I actually find customers?
Invested $10k in laser engraving gear—need a reality check on marketing and tech.
Hey everyone,
I recently pulled the trigger and invested about $10k into a high-end laser engraving setup. My machines can do both surface etching and sub-surface (inside the glass) 3D engraving on crystals and glass blocks. Everything is 100% customizable.
The tech is cool, but now the "business" part is hitting me. I’m struggling with two main things:
- How do I actually market this?
Is this more of an Etsy/Instagram play, or should I be cold-calling local trophy shops and corporate gift planners? If you were starting from scratch with this kit, where would you look for your first 10 "real" clients?
- The Website Dilemma.
Do I really need a full-blown website to start? I have zero coding knowledge and the idea of building a site scares me. Should I just stick to social media for now, or is there a "dummy-proof" way to set up a shop that doesn't look like it’s from 1995?
Would love to hear from anyone in the personalized gift or CNC/Laser space. What’s the one thing you wish you knew before you started?
Thanks in advance!