At just 10 years old, Jacob Heitmann has turned his passion for 3D printing into an impressive venture. What began as a hobby inspired by classmates selling their creations has grown into a successful small business. Heitmann combines creativity, hard work, and determination, all while balancing school and sports.
Heitmann’s journey into 3D printing started with a fascination sparked by his peers.
“Some kids at my school were selling 3D-printed items, and I thought it was really cool,” Heitmann said. “I decided to start looking into it myself.”
His interest led him to research 3D printers, eventually convincing his parents to buy his first machine as a Christmas gift.
Initially, Heitmann sold his creations to classmates, but his business quickly expanded to online platforms like Etsy after encountering issues with selling at school.
“We got in trouble for selling at school,” Heitman said with a laugh. “We switched to platforms like Etsy. It started small, but it’s grown bigger and bigger over time.”
Effective time management is crucial for Heitmann, especially when handling large orders.
“When I get a big order with lots of parts, I usually print each part twice so I have extras ready to go,” he said. “We try to stay organized and print ahead of time, so we’re usually never late with orders, but there are times when things can get chaotic.”
Heitmann’s education in 3D printing has been largely self-driven, utilizing YouTube tutorials and online classes.
“I learned mostly through YouTube and tips from friends who had 3D printers,” he said. “I also took some online classes through Outschool, which offers video classes on various topics. I picked up a lot from those classes and just went from there.”
Diane, his mother, has watched her son’s entrepreneurial journey with pride. She is particularly impressed with his business acumen and marketing skills.
“It’s been fun to watch him learn how to market and advertise his products,” she said. “He originally started selling sweatshirts on a website he set up, but then he came to me and said, ‘Mom, no one’s going to visit my random website. If I really want to sell things, I need to set up an Etsy shop to reach more people.’ That was a very forward-thinking moment for him.”
Heitmann took the lead in setting up the Etsy shop and handles customer interactions himself. He messages customers directly and manages everything on his own.
Looking toward the future, Heitmann acknowledges that entrepreneurship runs in his family.
“My dad and grandfather are both small business owners, so I think it’s in my DNA,” Heitmann said.
While he dreams of one day playing in the MLB or NFL, he views entrepreneurship as a solid backup plan.
“If I can’t make it to the minor leagues, I’ll probably continue with this business,” Heitman said. “Even if I do make it to a professional level, I’d still have something on the side.”
Heitmann has faced challenges along the way, including a major setback when his 3D printer malfunctioned shortly after he started his Etsy shop.
“About three months after we got our printer, it completely stopped working,” Heitmann said. “We had to shut down the shop for a while, which I didn’t like doing. We eventually bought a new part, and it took a while to get everything back up and running.”
Another significant challenge involved fulfilling a large order for Chase Bank. Heitmann created 12-inch replicas of the Chase Tower in Chicago for a retirement party.
“Each tower took about nine hours to print, and the order was worth about $540. It was a bit stressful because we had to meet a deadline, but everything worked out in the end,” he said.
Heitmann remains humble, dedicating much of his success to his parents.
“If it weren’t for my parents, I wouldn’t be able to do this,” Heitmann said.
With his creativity, determination, and strong support system, Heitmann is making a name for himself in the world of 3D printing, all while pursuing his dreams of professional sports.