Roland DG’s VersaSTUDIO line of devices is designed for makers, creatives, and small business dreamers ready to elevate their brand. These compact and professional machines are perfect for creating eye-catching custom pieces like motel keychains, chic notebooks, statement coasters, and even stylish apparel.
Roland DGA’s Small Business Segment Manager Angelyn Cubacub recently took the VersaSTUDIO line on the road, attending Wondercon in Anaheim, California. For the Wondercon show, Roland DGA teamed up with artist Amber Aki Huang from DeerCat & Friends to bring her adorable characters to life with Roland DG printers.
We caught up with Angelyn to find out what applications resonated with attendees, what new trends she heard about from audiences, how the devices were received by small business owners and crafters… and more!
How did you first connect with Amber Aki Huang from DeerCat & Friends? What made this such a great collaboration?
Angelyn Cubacub: I first saw DeerCat & Friends at Lightbox Expo in Pasadena, California, a show that I was scouting. I thought their booth was very unique and appreciated their visual storytelling. I took a business card and emailed Aki shortly after that, introducing Roland DGA and what we offer.
It turned out that Aki had been researching machines and was therefore familiar with Roland DG. She was pleased we reached out, and excited about the idea of collaborating with us.
From my perspective, it was a great collaboration because Aki had a vision that she wanted to bring to life, and we had the capability to make that happen. Her strengths are in art direction and illustration, and we were able to use Roland DG devices to turn her vision into something tangible.
How did you and Aki decide on the café shop theme?
When we first started discussing the project, we were both aligned with creating a booth experience or activation — not just a quick buy-and-go shop. Aki’s art already leans towards a café shop theme as she enjoys drawing pastries, so we decided to use that as our creative inspiration.
It was important to us to show the process, and we were able to do that in a fun way while keeping on theme. I knew that our machines could be wrapped, so I suggested that we wrap the VersaSTUDIO BD-8 desktop UV flatbed printer, and Aki put a bakery spin on the design. That way the audience can see the machine in action, but it wouldn’t feel out of place in the booth. It was an excellent attraction in terms of drawing attendees to our booth – and we were able to offer the printed tins “fresh out of the oven!”'
What products did you produce on the VersaSTUDIO BD-8 and BN2-20A? How were they received?
We direct-printed sticker tins using the BD-8. The die-cut stickers inside the tins were printed and cut on the VersaSTUDIO BN2-20A printer/cutter utilizing the perfortated cut feature. We also printed keychain charms on the BD-8. We had live demonstrations of each of these UV-printed applications and alternated between the two to show the versatility of the machine.
People love themed items, so these items were a hit in the booth and with online viewers as well. The items were not for sale but came free with a purchase and social media follow.
What did attendees think of the BD-8 and its production? Did it seem to them to be easy to use? What impressed them most about the device?
A UV printer is not something you would expect to see at a convention, especially a pop culture convention, but people were so naturally curious about how it works and what it could do. Our team did a great job explaining how the device works in plain language. Many were fascinated and a handful were interested in purchasing one, but the majority were seeing a UV printer for the first time. It’s nice that Roland DG was able to introduce them to UV printing in a fun way.
What makes Roland DG’s VersaSTUDIO line of devices a great fit for small business owners and crafters?
VersaSTUDIO devices are our entry-level machines, and as such, are more affordable while still offering professional-grade production and quality. Additionally, they are compact, which makes them perfect for small businesses and crafters. They are also simple to use, low maintenance, and extremely reliable. Roland DG offers a warranty with the machines so new users can be confident in having support post-purchase.
Do you have any advice for those thinking of launching a brand or store?
If they’re in the early stages of starting a brand or store, I would really encourage them to explore the creative side of it and not get bogged down in the details of running a business until later. It’s common for new entrepreneurs to get slowed down or even stopped by logistics and then become discouraged because the business becomes operational but lacks what they were passionate about in the first place. If their business is in a more developed stage where they are wanting to scale it and are considering purchasing a device, I would advise them to evaluate what’s most important to them – whether that’s the support offered, ease of use, cost, production speeds, or other factors.
Where can people go to learn more about the VersaSTUDIO line?
People can visit our VersaSTUDIO webpage, watch how-to videos on our CRAFT YouTube channel or connect directly with a Roland DG expert.
