From Keychains to Fidget Clickers: How One Singapore Designer Built a Pop-Up Business with 3D Printing

The Fidget Revolution, Round Two

Remember fidget spinners? The hottest toy of 2017 started as a tool to help students with ADHD focus, then exploded into a global phenomenon. Now a new wave of makers is taking the concept further — this time with 3D printed fidget clickers.

Singaporean product designer Jennifer Ang, founder of Heyo.makers, is proving that 3D printing is not just for prototyping — it can power a real retail business.

From Industrial Designer to Solopreneur

Ang first discovered 3D printing during her Industrial Design studies at Nanyang Polytechnic and continued using it at her first job at a design consultancy. She eventually left her full-time role to pursue a bachelor's degree in design while running her own business.

As a product designer, I found it so amazing that 3D printers can turn ideas into reality almost instantly, Ang told 3DPrint.com. You can do testing within hours, without sending it to a supplier for mock-ups and waiting a week.

During the pandemic, she pivoted from product design services to selling 3D printed items — keychains, coasters, phone stands, and bag tags on platforms like Shopee. Eventually, she invested in a Bambu Lab A1, which enabled higher quality prints and faster production.

The Pop-Up Problem — And Solution

Ang wanted to expand into pop-up shops, but realized her custom 3D printed products were not practical for that format. Not everyone has the time to wait an hour or more for a product to be fabricated, she explained.

That is when the idea struck: pre-printed fidget clickers. Many of us fidget as a way of emotional self-regulation. We may click on a pen, twirl our hair, play with jewellery or tap on the table to soothe anxiety, Ang said. Fidget clickers can be a habit replacement — to fidget in a nicer way.

Her solution: customizable keycap-style fidget clickers. The clicker base holds anywhere from one to nine keycaps, which customers can mix and match. She designs and prints over 400 different keycap designs featuring cursive fonts, smiley faces, cute characters, and Singaporean snacks.

1,000 Sales in Five Months

Ang ran her first pop-up at PLQ Mall in Paya Lebar in fall 2025, printing about 200 keycaps for the event. I thought that fidget clickers would appeal more to kids, but it turns out that adults like them as well, especially women, she noted.

The results exceeded expectations: around 30 fidget clickers with 120 keycaps sold on her very first day. Since then, she has held four additional pop-ups at other locations and has sold over 1,000 fidget clickers since October 2025.

Prices range from S$8 to S$48 (approximately 5-30 GBP), depending on the clicker type and number of keycaps. Customers can choose between loud click-and-bump, bump-only, or quiet versions.

Why 3D Printing Works

The precision required is remarkable: 0.02mm off and the keycaps may not fit well in the base, Ang explained. But that precision is exactly what makes 3D printing ideal for this kind of business.

What I love most is the chance to bring my own ideas to life while connecting directly with customers, she said. Seeing people enjoy what I create is incredibly rewarding.

She may even expand into custom keyboards or other fidget toys. Once you know how to do 3D design, the possibilities are endless.

The Takeaway

Heyo.makers is yet another example of how desktop 3D printers like the Bambu Lab A1 are enabling makers to go from idea to income faster than ever. Whether it is fidget clickers, custom keychains, or niche products, the barrier to entry for small-scale manufacturing has never been lower.