3D backgrounds

[mustang100893]

Hi all. I'm intending to start a project but i'm only at the planning stage at the moment, i would like to built and sell 3D backgrounds, made to order, e.g. colour size, fittings etc. Now i know that there are products on the market but i intend to include caves, tunnels, compartments for water pumps etc and some sort of system for live plants such as integrated pots or containers. I would just like to know what sort of interest a product like this would get and would you but it yourself. I also would be grateful for any info on how i could go about advertising and selling if i was to go ahead with my plans. Thanks everyone.

[mustang100893]

*bump*

[GRB]

The first and most important factor would be ensuring the products are safe for animals and non toxic.

Personally I can make pretty decent décor myself (and only for myself) so I would probably not be interested, but just pointing out that it's more complex when you start to make stuff for sale. You don't want someone blaming you for a £3k snake that suddenly fluffs it after a background install.

[pete-vtr]

you also might want to post pics of previously done backgrounds as its really not that hard to make one yourself. i have made several for myself, family and friends.

you should also ensure you use non-toxic paints and sealents.

also you should consider how much effort these take to make and how much your going to sell these for.

iv thought about doing this before but i think the con's outway the pro's.

ie; alot of time and effort, but tbh i dont think the demand is high enough. if you look in the habitat section there are loads of people that make them theirselves.

[Jim2109]

the only way to make a good profit would be to create the backgrounds from moulds so that you can mass produce, rather than make them one by one from pieces of polystyrene. however youll lose the custom and unique aspect of each one then. but thats how id look at doing it if i was going to make a business of it. apparently some zoos take moulds of real tree bark and real rocks, and can then produce multiple concrete backgrounds/structures to go inside their exhibits without having to hand craft each one, and without using real wood which rots over time. it wouldnt be hard to produce something very good.

[mustang100893]

Thanks for all your replies am starting to think it may be a bit of a waste of time now as you said the cons outweigh the pro's, but i do still wish to make one of my own as seems a cool idea, was wondering if anyone has any info on a non toxic paint or varnish i.e. yacht varnish for water proofing, i've been reading about powder paint mixed with tile grout for the structure, is this safe? Thanks again everyone.