29 Oct 2014
Welcome our 100,000th member! 3D designer community grows 100x in less than 2 years
News
Like many other start-ups, CGTrader is an ambition born out of frustration. In 2011, Marius Kalytis, the Founder and CEO of the company, embarked on a journey to create an online platform with just and favorable working conditions for 3D designers in search of a mutually-beneficial partnership. As a 3D artist himself, he knew all too well the aggressive approach of the majority of existing platforms that paid little or no thought to fair royalty system, robbing their users of most of their earnings. Seeing no other solution, Marius started his own business, granting exceptionally generous royalties to 3D artists and vowing to democratize the 3D modeling market. Today CGTrader is ecstatic to welcome the 100,000th member to its family. So, how did that happen so quickly?
As a new kid in the playground, CGTrader had to think bigger to be able to make a change. So we focused entirely on empowering 3D designers by giving them all the support we could think of: helping them sell, share and improve their work, take custom jobs and choose their clients. A kind of freedom that every artist deserves.
A little over a year ago we had an active community of 1,500 3D designers and now, ka-boom! - 10% of world's 3D designers is actively engaged on our platform. You wanted a proof that hard work pays off? Woops, there it is.
We've asked some of our community members to share their thoughts on CGTrader and the features that set us apart. Here is what we heard.
SAM: I discovered CGTrader through a 3D Printing challenge. Loved it ever since! CGTrader has opened up new contacts and interests of people from around the world to my works. Also, I have made sales of my products, which is always exciting. It is really helpful to see which designs people on the community are downloading, but also the viewings of my works. That’s such a great feature!
HUSEYIN: I discovered CGTrader when I was surfing on the web. At first I could not believe CGTrader gave me such a high royalty rate. When I was applying for jobs on CGTrader, I met many people and became friends with some of them. I enjoy being able to contact people directly. As you know, most marketplaces do not allow this, but CGTrader is not an ordinary marketplace at all.
SUPERCIGALE: I support and appreciate the concept of CGTrader. I'm one of the first members, the team there is young and dynamic. I especially appreciate its philosophy based on communication, even the communication with buyers is a great evidence of trust and honesty.
SAJID: I’m excited about how the site operates, the high royalty income, which is more than many other 3D marketing sites. I admire the friendly connection with the CGT team, they always keep in touch and provide opportunities for their artists’ recognition. Challenges are an amazing motivation to get inspiration to work here, regardless if you win or not, they are still so much fun. Now CGT is my second work place.
GUIDO: CGTrader discovered me and asked me to upload my models. Indeed, they offered to upload them for me and, although I was initially skeptical, I agreed. And I have to thank them for that, because CGTrader has become, for me, a great way to improve my business. I think that something like three days after my registration on CGTrader, I had my first sale.
A few days after my registration, the staff of CGTrader informed me about a challenge they were organizing and asked me to participate. I was working on some models that could be right for the challenge so I decided to participate. Well, in the end I won that challenge. But the fantastic thing is that between the fabulous prizes there was a Zbrush license. It was a long time that I thought to buy a license of ZBrush and learn to use it. So I started right away. After a couple of months, between job requests, right on the CGTrader site, I found a customer who needed statues models for 3D printing. I got that job, afterwards I got another one. Now making 3D statues with Zbrush is a daily part of my job. And this all started with the request, from CGTrader, to upload my models on their site...
Target with arrows in the center
IterateCGI: My favorite subject has always been Sci-fi oriented stuff but creative freedom on that subject has been a bit of a challenge in this financially based world. I believe that places like CGtrader can bridge the gap between creative freedom and the economic world, that's way I find myself these days making more items/products for a global market niche via places like CGtrader. Thanks to the internet and the evolution of web applications connecting to a global market has never been so easy. CGtrader in this regard delivers a wonderful reference platform with a lot of modern features, it's a real game changer.
I'm glad to have found this place that to me embodies the ultimate democratic 3D art sales platform and it also represents artistic freedom to me. I would definitely like to see this place the number one place for artist to connect, share and trade their artistic 3D works. There is great potential in the coming decades in this area and I'm glad to see CGtrader is making the right moves to become the ultimate hub in this area.
EMERSON: Everyone who knows CGTrader, hopes for it to become the #1 marketplace, because it's a more designer-friendly place, with a more personal approach by the administration. It's a community where artists are respected (not just by the higher royalty rates, but by the website and staff itself) and gives the possibility of higher visibility. And, of course, you end up knowing other artists and sometimes even clients (one thing that doesn't happen on other places). It's a great place to exchange experiences and ideas. Even though it's not *yet* the top profitable website for me, it's really a place where you don't want to leave, and lose all the extra benefits it offers!
JESUS: Without a doubt, CGTrader has always been the marketplace that adopted the policies and business model that we see as the most ideal for all the parts involved: the content creator, the distributor and the customer. Customer support is an area where CGTrader stands above the competition. We grew up very disappointed about the current support systems offered by most companies that promise 24/7 help and support, and when customers get in contact with any problem all they get is a robotic "I will create a Support Ticket for you and talk to my supervisor" standard answer, followed by replies days or weeks later from people that clearly do not have the proper knowledge about the products they are selling. Our Avg. response time in CGTrader is 0.4h, and that's an undeniable fact that is hard to match elsewhere.
Sorry for a long post, we're so excited! Let's celebrate together!
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