Aibu to tell BF his business idea is terrible

[LimeSegment]

I've been with my boyfriend for two years, we don't live together, we are in our 40s. Three months ago he quit his job. He had been unhappy in the job for a while, so that was fair enough. He planned to get another job, but instead had the idea to start a business. The "business" that he settled on is 3D printing. I've mentioned a few times that surely this is more of a side hustle, not something that can replace a full time job, but he just told me that he's "sure it's going to work".

First he made dog models, some were OK, some were really tacky and never would have sold. I tried to tell him this politely but he said some people might disagree (they wouldn't have).

Then he abandoned that idea and came up with a new idea that he's been keeping a secret from me. Last night he finally showed me. It's 3D printed characters that kids can paint, and he plans to sell them for £10+, along with t shirts with kids names on them. There are so many issues with this. You can't sell licensed characters, and there's better, cheaper (official) stuff available at the supermarket. Also kids shouldn't wear shirts advertising their names!

Parents wouldn't buy this. I'm a mum so I would know. He doesn't have kids. I tried to say a few nice things, because I know he wants me to support him and he'll be disappointed if I don't. But I want to tell him it's a shit idea, and he's wasted months on.

Tbh I feel like I've lost respect for him. He cannot possibly be this lacking in intelligence to think this is a great idea. He hasn't done any market research, even on me and I'm a mum and right there. What am I supposed to say? Aibu?

OP I don’t think you’re being a snob. It’s totally ok to feel what you feel. You’re not trying to say you’re better than him. But you’ve found out your values and aspirations don’t necessarily align, and it’s ok to be disappointed and question the future. Far far better to know now than when homes, money and families are entangled.

YOU ARE NOT A SNOB
Stop that nonsense! You sound like you have your head screwed on! I echo the posters above saying do NOT let him move in even for 1 second.

@LimeSegment Standard method for making miniatures is injection moulding, not 3D printing.

Does he know this? There are reasons why 3D printing isn't a standard method.

OP, I really feel for you. You're not a snob at all. I totally understand how your ex's coldness makes you quite happy with someone who is kind, and prepared to imagine future plans with them. You're not asking for much. But discovering this kind of cluelessness is a big snag.

Actually that one is printed quite well quality wise. I just think it's tacky and no one would buy it, and what even is it - it's not a bowl for a dog because the dog would tip it over.

You're not asking for much.

This is slightly off the topic, but this is why most of us feel so frustrated with dating and relationships, isn't it. I don't feel I'm looking for much. I'm looking for a reasonably nice guy, who doesn't have serious addictions or commit crimes, that has some job (any job) and a modicum of common sense. Why is that impossible to find? It seems like the basics.

I hate people who go into 3d printing as though they can make a profitable business.

I have a 3d printer, and various other crafting machines, and it really is hard to profit from 3d printing alone.

That said, I have a friend who has a large local online presence and she 3d prints molds, creates silicone casts, and then makes plaster casts of childrens paint your own kits that she sells as a monthly subscription box and she lives off of that quite comfortably, but she's a highly likeable, very present both online and in person, marketable sort of lady, and all of her designs are handmade, simple and don't breach any IP laws. She also does paint along videos on her tiktok and Instagram accounts because it isn't just marketed for children.

The reason it works for her is because 3d printing is only part of the process, her molds are reusable, she isn't having to spend time calibrating her machines, her spool waste is next to zero because she isn't having to make print after print after print because she's not constantly testing print settings, getting errors etc.

We use our 3d printer to make things that enhance our life, like spare parts, custom parts etc. The more "profitable" machines are more like blade and laser cutting machines, or laser printing machines. They have a much more versatile function.

I would still never rely on them for a full time income though. They simply supplement, if that, because they seldom make up the upstart costs of setting up an at home manufacturing system.

These are not affluent times at all. Some jobs are uncertain. Price of food, water, gas and electric - all basic necessities are becoming more and more expensive. People will not throw money on stuff that's really not necessary, worth while or a good ''buy'' and discount outlets have loads of reduced price tat anyway.. Does he not see/read the News?

I'd be encouraging him to get a part time job for security whilst he "works" on his new business. At least that way he'll have some income while he dabbles around.

He might get some sales for the dogs and shirts but it's never going to be more than a side hussle.

Tshirts with company logos are likely to be more marketable if the quality and quantity he can produce is OK.

Go to any crafty type fair and there are so many stalls trying to sell this type of stuff. He should talk to someone doing this already who could give it to him straight. Or a small business adviser.

Meh. I would let him crack on to be honest. A friend of mine, her partner set up a 3D printing business that he does with his teenage son. They do all sorts, some figurines, some cartoon animal ones (I have one of their giraffes on my mantlepiece in fact!) You would be amazed what people buy, and selling 'gifts' for people is a good option.

It's actually been surprisingly successful and they do markets on a Sunday and over xmas. It's made them a fair bit of money considering it's only a part time thing (enough for the son to pay for overseas school trips out of the profits and a few savings too).

We had a teeny weeny coffeeshop nearby called Starbox. They got an injunction from Starbucks and had to change the name. This was a few years ago, before AI was on the scene. He won’t get away with it. And that dog bowl thing is horrible. 😆

its a hobby mascarading as a job.

Part of the issue is that he's an immigrant from a developing country, he sort of has the view that people here are very affluent and will "waste" money on anything. I've tried to explain that it's not that simple, while there's far less absolute poverty here, lifestyles are also different, living expenses are high, it's hard to compare. People might spend more on some things but it can be quite specific what people think is worth splurging on.

If he's doing anything that the BBC own they will hunt him down like a dog.

I don’t actually hate the dog bowl, but if what you say is right ie that it can’t be used as bowl for dogs, then that’s daft. If he adjusted the design so that it could be used by a dog, I can see some pet owners would buy a bowl that looked like their actual pet.

Farking hell

I think you need to make it very clear to him (now, not in the future) that if he gets into financial difficulty, you won't be lending him money, or letting him move in.

He may be dense business-wise, but I wouldn't put it past him to assume that you will be the cash cow when needed...

Doesn’t he need a job to stay in the country then?

Has he applied for any other jobs yet ?

If not, then I suspect the 3d printing is him just not wanting to work / being uninspired by the job market.

If you say anything then he will just think you are ‘nagging’ him. Best leave that to his parents.

He came here many years ago and took citizenship, so visa status isn't an issue. So he knows well about the cost of living here etc, but he still has that view to some extent.

Have you got the ick? I’ve got it from reading your comments and I haven’t even met him.

Sorry if that’s trivialising the situation, but I don’t think I could get past this. The lack of planning, lack of common sense, and the prejudice is deeply unattractive 😬

Exactly left, this whole situation is giving me the ick.

He needs to be aware that companies like Disney, with popular characters, actually have a whole department dedicated to finding small creators like him, because going after them is hands down the cheapest way to actively defend their IP.

Silly people think that because they are 1 person, they'll fly under the radar, big companies will never notice them but as a PP says, they're actively looking for them - IP, particularly trademarked characters, has to be actively defended to stay current, or it can lapse and a company can lose the right to it. It is monumentally expensive to go after the faceless Chinese mass producers of stolen IP based works... but extremely cost effective to take down Steven from Tring!

If he wants to 3d print - he needs to look at the miniature modelling market - the various table top games and fantasy figures and get the appropriate licencing to produce those if he can. There is money in that if you do it properly...

Thanks everyone, I don't think I am going to say anything, I'll just deflect if asked. How he interprets that is up to him. I'll try not to think about his financial situation and just focus on my own.

At every craft fair several stalls have this stuff already . 3d printers are very popular. My nephew makes loads of things . Lots of young people use them . He wont make money. Its a hobby .