When Lawrence spotted a 3D Crystal commercial while watching a hockey game, he didn't expect it would transform his 30-year corporate career. Intrigued by the ad, he purchased his first custom 3D crystal photo of his brother's prized northern pike catch for an upcoming 50th birthday celebration. The product was so impressive that he ordered a second crystal picture for his wife before the first one even arrived.
The Moment That Sparked a Business
At the birthday party, he set up the 3D crystal photo on a light base in a separate room and watched as 15 family members gathered around it with admiration and pure amazement. Then came the unexpected moment that changed Lawrence's life. His father, who he describes as having "not an entrepreneurial bone in his body," looked at the glass picture cube and said simply: "That would make a good business." That single, honest reaction from his father made him realize the true potential of 3D crystal both as a gift and a business.
The in-store customer journey
Lawrence opened a small retail space with foot traffic and focused on three trust-builders that helped pave the way to his success.
- Samples with stories
Instead of using random stock photos for his display, he chose to use his own family photos (prom, kids, even a larger trophy fish than his brother’s!) and varied stock images to showcase diverse faces and occasions. When customers ask, “Can you do this?” he points to a sample and says, “That’s me” or “Those are my kids”, which makes him convincing and trustworthy.
- Collaborative previews
At times, he had customers ask for a collage of their pictures. This is where he went above and beyond to create collage options for the customers, allowing them to choose their final version, while keeping the other as store samples for future reference. This made him versatile and also brought in more sales.
- Pick-up wall for social proof
Since customers couldn’t take their crystals home immediately, Lawrence had to come up with a way to earn their trust. His simple yet effective solution was to exhibit all his pending pick-up orders in branded bags along his store wall, which helped him gain the trust of a new customer by just telling them that "These are all the orders from last week."
The pricing tweak that changed everything: bundle the light base
Lawrence noticed that though the customers admired the crystals, they were reluctant to pay an extra price to purchase the light stand, and knowing that the crystals are best appreciated when lit, he decided to bundle the base into one simple price. Friction dropped. Conversions rose. The product looked its best, and customers felt they were getting the complete experience.
Why customers return and line up?
- Heartfelt Reactions: Customers picking up memorials and pet tributes often had tears of joy seeing their loved ones engraved in a beautiful crystal, which earned the tissue box a permanent spot on the counter.
- Instant endorsements: Many customers placed a second order on the spot after seeing their finished piece.
- Tradition in the making: One customer bought 14 custom ornaments for the Christmas tree and planned to add more every year, making it their Christmas tradition.
- Queue for creation: As people watched him design 3D crystal collages in-store with one of his customers, others waited for even 30 minutes just to have their turn in creating a collage.
Your simple 3-step path to a stunning 3D crystal (customer journey)
- Choose your photo (clear faces, good contrast).
- Preview & personalize (background removal, text, collage layout).
- Light it up (a light base makes the 3D “float” effect pop).
Lessons for Any Entrepreneur
While Lawrence's story centers on 3D crystals, his strategies apply universally:
- Start by experiencing the product yourself - Genuine belief drives authentic sales
- Use personal examples when possible - Authenticity builds trust faster than generic samples
- Invest properly from the start - Half-measures yield half-results
- Create experiences, not transactions - Involve customers in the creation process
- Simplify pricing - Bundle value rather than itemizing add-ons
- Leverage your unique skills - Lawrence's tech background became a competitive advantage
From Customer to Business Owner in Weeks
Lawrence's transformation happened remarkably fast. Within weeks of his first purchase, he'd established a retail location, built his sample collection, and started serving customers. The key factors driving his success were :
- Immediate product validation from his family's authentic reaction
- Personal connection and genuine enthusiasm for the product
- Strategic execution with professional materials and smart pricing
- Continuous learning and adaptation based on customer feedback
- Technical skills that enabled unique services like collaborative collages
Today, Lawrence serves thousands of customers annually, creating custom 3D crystal photos that preserve life's most meaningful moments. More importantly, he's found something his 30-year corporate career never provided: work that creates genuine emotional fulfillment alongside financial success.
Ready to experience 3D crystals yourself? Visit 3dcrystal.com to transform your favorite photos into lasting three-dimensional keepsakes. Like Lawrence discovered, first-time customers almost always become repeat buyers.
Interested in the business opportunity? Learn how 3D Crystal supports entrepreneurs globally in building their own crystal engraving businesses, with everything from software to strategic guidance included.