How Important is the Maker Movement to the Economy?

We've been hearing a lot about the Maker Movement recently. But what is the Maker Movement? Adweek hits it on the head: 

The maker movement, as we know, is the umbrella term for independent inventors, designers and tinkerers. A convergence of computer hackers and traditional artisans, the niche is established enough to have its own magazine, Make, as well as hands-on Maker Faires that are catnip for DIYers who used to toil in solitude. Makers tap into an American admiration for self-reliance and combine that with open-source learning, contemporary design and powerful personal technology like 3-D printers. The creations, born in cluttered local workshops and bedroom offices, stir the imaginations of consumers numbed by generic, mass-produced, made-in–China merchandise.

In other words, the Maker Movement is home to the do-ers, the inventors, the designers of our generation. The people who use creativity to create and do. 

Makers benefit from a space that has the tools to spur their creativity - whether it's a Fab Lab or a Makerspace - this space is designed to give people the tools to "figure it out." Most are filled with the tools of the trade, from 3D printers, lasers, robotics, and more. These people are looking for efficiencies, and driving creators and manufacturers forward with new innovation.  

Have you developed or used a Makerspace? What makes a successful Makerspace? Share your tips in the comments section.