From printer to profit: 10-year-old’s 3D creations take off

A young entrepreneur is on the rise in Connersville! Read this one-on-one interview with ten-year-old Colton Roberts, son of Tara and Jordan Roberts, who are both business owners in the community.

A young boy focused on a computer screen, working on 3D modeling software. — Colton works on his computer to create a 3D creature.

(These are straight from the mouth of Colton; no editing has been done.)

How old are you? I am ten years old, 4th grade

What made you want to start making 3d printed items? I wanted to make 3D printed items because I was like playing with them, and it is entertaining to me.

What do you like most about it? Playing with the fidgets and it just helps me concentrate and stuff.

What are some things you have made? Fidgets, snakes, paper towel holders, lizards, dragons, spinner figets, and other stuff and a glow in the dark shark and a glow in the dark snake and Stanley cup keychains and little Axel keychains and a big red lizard (a boy bought it and said he was going to take it home as a pet) and a big octopus. I am still making some now.

What’s the hardest part of making items? It takes a long time, and sometimes it can malfunction. (Mom said you don’t know they malfunction until the end, after three or four hours).

What made you want to start selling them? I could make money, and that I can make them and use the 3D printer and I can actually have something of my time to do.

Who helps you? My mom helps me make a lot of them. (Mom sometimes help comes up with other ideas, like other household items or other things adults might like)

What do you not like about making them? Ummmm….like I said, how it malfunctions, and it will take a long time if you make some cool big ones. We make hairy ones, the extra when it’s going back and forth to it, there is a 3d printed and we have to cut it off.

What are your future plans? What do you want to be when you grow up? I’m going to keep selling them and I am going to try to sell as much as I can.

Uh, a policeman or a wrestler.

Where can someone purchase the items you make? At my mom’s store in Connersville, Indiana, Home Improvement Warehouse.

What will you do with the money? Keep it for savings and to help with college. To help to buy more film.

Favorite thing you’ve made? Probably a big glow in the dark snake.

Other fun facts:

Colton started with a beginner printer.

“We just had beginner ones (printers), it my was birthday present.

On the weekends I like to work at the store. My favorite job is to help people if they are looking at if, if they need help, or if anyone needs help, I help them.”

Even before he brought fidgets in, he enjoyed helping. He would take trash out and help around the store.

Colton will be trying to make new items every other week. His mom said he tries to make one before school and sometimes after school.

To check out his items, stop in Home Improvement Warehouse or visit the Facebook page.