Franchise FastLane Brand Spotlight: Shrunk 3D

Franchise FastLane prides itself on working with what we refer to as “the chosen few,” brands that not only have incredible business models, but unlimited potential in terms of market demand. Of course, there is a certain profile we look for – including great unit economics and a simple to own and operate business model. One such brand that checks all the boxes is Shrunk 3D. This brand is the world’s first mobile-based franchise that combines 3D printing and photogrammetry to deliver a 4-9” full-color statue.  Our stamp of approval in believing that Shrunk 3D is truly one of the “Next Big Things” is evidenced by our own CEO Carey Gille securing the exclusive territorial rights for the entire state of Nebraska!  

Gille invested in this brand because she believes that Shrunk 3D is an “industry disruptor,” sharing the following quote: “…there are two key reasons that 3D figurine printing, the brand’s core offering, is an industry disruptor. First, it combines the power of a fast-growing franchisee network with the advantage of a centralized printing operation on the backend that provides scale and efficiency. Second, and longer-term, I believe Shrunk 3D will be well positioned in their local markets as the place to go to get your 360-degree digitals scans for utilization in applications like the Metaverse.” 

With over 75 units awarded to date, Shrunk 3D is poised for stellar growth in new territories across the U.S. To find out why, keep reading about this unique franchise opportunity… 

What is Shrunk 3D? 

Founded in 2019, Shrunk 3D debuted as a franchise opportunity back in 2021 and teamed up with Franchise FastLane a year later, experiencing steady and responsible growth at the unit level ever since. Billed as the world’s first fully mobile 3D scanning photo booth, Shrunk 3D cranks out precise, high-definition replicas of individuals in their favorite poses – bringing memories to life instantaneously. In a direct appeal to a consumer’s “emotional spending” habits, Shrunk 3D customers are provided with identical replicas in the form of a miniature 4-9” statue.  

Value Proposition and Key Differentiators 

What’s so special about Shrunk 3D? Let’s start with their value proposition – this is an all-mobile franchise operation uniquely designed to take advantage of onsite events in capturing built-in market demand. Shrunk 3D is the perfect fit for creating instant memories at weddings, sporting events, charity galas, concerts, festivals, baby showers, graduations, fairs, corporate outings, school-related functions, and more.  

As for its key differentiators, it’s an industry disrupter, with nothing like it on the market today. Operating squarely in a photo printing and scanning industry valued at more than $15 billion, Shrunk 3D is a simple to own, simple to operate business with no overhead, no inventory, and minimal staff needed. Setup and close down procedures can be accomplished in as little as five minutes, making Shrunk 3D the ultimate “on the go” business opportunity. 

Powerhouse Partnerships 

Shrunk 3D helps ensure the success of new franchisees with a few impactful collaborations and partnerships. One of the first ones announced, with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), provides access to national military contracts in regions across the country. The brand has also partnered with Collegiate Licensing Company, which gives them direct access to the retail market of college athletics’ NIL program valued at $4.6 billion. Shrunk 3D has also partnered with Varsity Spirit! This partnership gives franchisees access to over 400 cheer and dance events across the U.S.  

Hear Directly From Shrunk 3D’s Co-Founder 

Zak Petersen, the co-founder of Shrunk 3D, has been duly impressed with the brand’s trajectory since partnering with Franchise FastLane. He recently shared his thoughts on the brand’s progress, its expanding market reach, and what’s next for Shrunk 3D’s current, and future franchisees. “Since partnering with Franchise FastLane, things have been moving very quickly. As our network has grown, it’s necessitated a few upgrades we didn’t know we needed when we first started out. We’ve now made significant investments in technologies on the backend, culminating in the development and launch of War Plan AI, a multi-faceted, online portal that improves collaboration, connects directly to our CRM platform, and greatly enhances the way we monitor ROI.”  

But according to Petersen, the real benefit of partnering with FastLane has been their success in elevating brand awareness for Shrunk 3D. “The name recognition – just getting our brand and logo out there – has been instrumental in helping us sign exclusive agreements with several prominent organizations. These partnerships will provide opportunities for our franchisees to penetrate corporate, sporting, event, and entertainment markets that align perfectly with our value proposition. Ultimately, we’re not looking for our franchisees to have to pay for the privilege of being at these big events. We want our franchise owners to get paid to be there because we have something of significant value to offer.” 

What Franchise FastLane Has to Say 

Adam DeJong, the Director of Franchise Development for Shrunk 3D feels that the sky is truly the limit when it comes to the brand’s potential for future growth. What exactly does DeJong think makes the Shrunk 3D franchise opportunity so special? “I think what it comes down to is that Shrunk 3D is at the very forefront of the 3D printing industry, with no real competition to speak of. These 3D printed statues have the ability to evoke an emotional response in consumers because - similar to the getting the right photo at the right time – they capture the essence of life’s special moments. Weddings are a great example, as using the statues of couples for cake toppers has been wildly successful. This kind of emotional response makes it easy for franchisees to go out in their own territories, introduce this amazing 3D printing technology, and help the people living in their communities capture their own special moments in life.”  

When asked about how the brand has evolved over time, DeJong brims with excitement as he shares the details of Shrunk 3D’s progress. “In the past year the brand has grown from 20 franchisees to 70+. I think that the new national partnerships Shrunk 3D secured have made the franchise opportunity much more attractive to prospects. They’ve partnered with the Collegiate Licensing Company, which opens up access to an immense NIL market, and two branches of the U.S. Armed Forces for access to military bases and service members. It’s also a big selling point that franchisees don’t have to maintain any inventory. The processing and fulfillment of all consumer purchases is completely handled on the back end by Shrunk 3D’s corporate office.”  

According to DeJong, the best is yet to come for Shrunk 3D, especially considering the new products launches and partnerships the brand is working to close. “There will be new product lines coming in 2025, including one where customers can use their smartphones to scan themselves and create their own avatar. Shrunk 3D will also be launching a line of 3D baseball cards and an exclusive deal with Petco, which will now allow pets to get in on the action. Fanatics, the largest producer of team jerseys and apparel is also on deck. Beyond that, the brand has its sights set on the NHL, the NFL, and all of the other major sporting leagues. Shrunk 3D and its network of franchisees definitely have a lot to look forward to in the near future.” 

Shrunk 3D is poised to become one of the most promising brands in the Franchise FastLane family. The freedom and flexibility of mobile business ownership continues to gain traction among candidates from coast to coast. Here at Franchise FastLane, we’re blessed to work with over two dozen franchisors in our portfolio, each with the potential for accelerated – yet responsible – growth. As another one of our ground floor opportunities, emerging franchisors like Shrunk 3D has the potential to be a significant performer. To learn more about franchising with Shrunk 3D, simply follow this link.  

Are You Ready to Explore Franchise Ownership? 

Franchise FastLane is a proven franchise accelerator and our mission is to responsibly drive extraordinary growth for the chosen few. We have vetted hundreds of brands and partnered with 20+ brands that are ready to grow! To learn more about the brands we represent, explore our brands page today. If you are interested in learning more about the possibility of joining the FastLane or CarPool, please click here to submit an application. To keep up with all the latest happenings, make sure you follow us on LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and check out our collection of photos on Instagram.