The 3D Lab built a set-it-and-forget-it booking system

About The 3D Lab

The 3D Lab in Flemington, New Jersey, is a unique concept built around creativity and community. Founded by Jessica Wallace, the business introduces kids and families to 3D printing through hands-on classes, camps, birthday parties, and walk-in experiences.

The idea was inspired by Jessica's son.

He got a 3D printer for Christmas, and we both loved it. But I realized it was something he'd wind up doing alone, and I thought, what if I socialize this? What if we bring kids together and let them learn from each other?

The idea quickly turned into a business, and demand took off faster than she expected.

Building a business that runs at high volume

From the start, The 3D Lab was built to be hands-on and easy to join. Kids can walk in with no experience, make something, and leave feeling proud and part of a community.

We have people leaving with their hands full of things they made.

With classes, camps, birthday parties, and open lab sessions all running regularly, there's a lot going on, and it takes constant juggling. That made the right booking system essential from day one.

Why Occasion became the foundation

Jessica had already used Occasion in a previous business, and she'd tried other platforms over the years. But she kept landing on the same conclusion.

There's nobody else that I could find that runs the same gamut. Even when I looked at other options, I always wound up back with Occasion.

What set Occasion apart was how much it could handle. Running scheduled classes, blocking out time for private events, and posting walk-ins to customers, all in one system, was something Jessica couldn't find anywhere else.

I was able to find things that maybe met some of that, but not all of that.

A true set-it-and-forget-it system

For Jessica, the biggest thing about Occasion is how much simpler it makes her day. Running every part of the business on her own, time is precious.

It's very set-it-and-forget-it, which I need. I'm swamped right now.

With everything in one place, from bookings and customer details to messages and reports, there's very little manual work to keep the business running.

I do everything, so it's really important to streamline that process.

Even creating new listings has become faster and easier over time.

I almost never create new ones anymore. I just duplicate what I already have.

Running the entire business from one calendar

At the heart of The 3D Lab is the Occasion calendar. It's the one place that holds every class, event, and registration. From there, Jessica handles bookings, tracks orders, messages customers, and sets up events. Doing it all in one place, instead of jumping between tools, saves time and keeps her from missing important details.

That calendar is my whole entire life! I open up my orders page, cross-reference everything, and I know exactly what kind of event it was.

Improving things on the fly

As the business has grown, Occasion has also helped Jessica fine-tune how she works day to day. One recent example was how she swapped printed class rosters for a fully digital check-in.

I was printing rosters, and it was annoying. Now I just open Occasion on the iPad and check people in right there.

That got rid of last-minute printing headaches and gives her instant access to key details like allergies, preferences, and event notes.

Everything is in one place. It's very organized.

A booking page that just works

For Jessica, a good booking experience is one customers don't even think about. Jessica's own experience has taught her that.

I've never had anybody express any kind of difficulty with it. As a mom, if I can't find what I need and do it easily, I'm leaving. I'm clicking off.

By making booking quick and easy, Occasion helps customers follow through instead of giving up and going somewhere else.

Support that grows with the business

Jessica has used Occasion across several businesses and has watched it get better over time. Having a dedicated account manager who understands her business has also made a difference.

I love that I can get a video response walking me through exactly what I need. It's very personal. And I like that.

The result: a solid base to grow on

Today, The 3D Lab runs almost entirely on Occasion. That base hasn't just kept the business running well. It's let Jessica think bigger. She's now getting ready to franchise the idea, with Occasion built in for every future location.

What started as a simple idea, bringing kids together around 3D printing, has grown into a business ready to expand. And behind it all is a system that keeps everything running.

It's almost the entire backbone of the business. Everything runs through Occasion.