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Re: [AGA SC] T-shirts
Yes, they were only sold at conventions, because no one wanted to deal with
mail-order. (remember, this was even pre-website) Basically, Dorothy and I
took them with us when we went places.<g>
You DON'T get a great deal on good quality T's when you buy small numbers...
I know because I was the one who dealt with the whole thing. At the time we
did those, the only good quality way of doing shirts was silk screening,
each color cost more, (separate screen) and the process was quite limiting
in terms of design because you have to use just one color at a time.
I think there are better quality computer generated techniques for image
reproduction now... In those days, the "decal" type transfers didn't last
well at all, which is why we went with silk screening. Those HAVE heald up
well... every time I see one at a convention, even now, they look great.
I'm happy to do a design. My hand is in working shape again so that's no
problem. I think it would be fun to do a new design every year, for each
convention. Then people have to buy more than one ;-) (for the NEC
convention, you actually order your shirt with your convention registration)
BUT (you knew that was coming, right?<g>) I DON'T want to handle chasing
around to find the best deal, manage the printing of the shirts or (heaven
forbid!!!) handle distribution. I've made this offer before, but this is
where the conversation usually stops, when that elusive person, "Somebody",
fails to turn up.<g>
As far as somebody who currently does specifically aquatic hobby shirts, I
don't know of any such beast... do you, Scott? Most of the clubs I know do
it pretty much independently.
That's why this ready-made solution appealed to me. Not that it will make
us a lot of money... clearly it won't. But it gives people the opportunity
to buy a shirt or other piece of apparel (some of us don't do T-shirts) and
share in a little camraderie. It also gets our name out in public.
----- Original Message -----
From: "S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>
To: <aga-sc@thekrib.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 12:35 PM
Subject: Re: [AGA SC] T-shirts
> Then we'd have a better idea on options and it only costs a
> day or two. We're not in a hurry are we. Which reminds me:
>
> Cherrrrrrrrryl,
> Should I expect brochures in hand to take up to NEC. I just
> want to know if I need to save room in the car (i.e., clean
> the darn thing out for a change).
>
>
> sh
> --- Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com> wrote:
> > When the shirts were sold, weren't they only sold at
> > conventions? I never
> > remember reading about them in TAG. I have a small set
> > of the remaining
> > pins, and was going to offer them on the website (well,
> > right after I add
> > Diana's new offer -- boy she's being bitchy and
> > unreasonable about that,
> > as if suddenly this offer's going to just fly those back
> > issues out of her
> > trailer...but I digress). Anyway, I think it would be
> > cool to do a small
> > T-shirt run. Cafepress is pretty humdrum and tends to
> > charge a lot. We
> > could probably get a small run for less. I almost would
> > volunteer for
> > distribution, as they make great padding for videos and
> > CD's... but no,
> > the main thing would be having another AGA volunteer to
> > do this. Hey, why
> > not ask the membership? Maybe someone new WOULD like to
> > handle this?
> >
> > - Erik
> >
> > On Tue, 9 Mar 2004, S. Hieber wrote:
> >
> > > The biggest piece of change goes to the intermediary,
> > Cafe
> > > Press. E.g, roughly estimatingm on a T-shirt: $2 to
> > bulk
> > > wholesaler, $13 markup to CafesPress, $2-$5 markup to
> > AGA
> > > selling at $18 to $20. That's a lot of money for a
> > T-shirt
> > > unless these are very nice T-shirts. I mean the cotton
> > -- I
> > > know the logo is nice ;-)
> > >
> > > There are others we could enter into business with, no?
> > How
> > > about someone that does aquatic hobby T-shirts. We add
> > our
> > > design to their inventory; the inventory/selection is
> > > bigger; we sell it off the AGA site; the T-shirt person
> > > handles "manufacture" and fullfillment; and we take a
> > piece
> > > for the AGA website point of sale.
> > >
> > >
> > > Otoh, this is easy with little up front cost in time
> > and
> > > none in money. Little return--little risk. ( and little
> > > inventory shrinkage due to comps ;-) )
> > >
> > > When we had shirt, how did they move? Sold fast;
> > > give-aways, etc???
> > >
> > > Just, pardon the expression, spitballing.
> > >
> > > sh
> > >
> > > --- Karen Randall <krandall@rdrcpa.biz> wrote:
> > > > I took this to the SC list, because I didn't think it
> > was
> > > > something to be
> > > > decided in public. But actually, I don't think it's
> > a
> > > > bad idea at all. The
> > > > reason we haven't done T-shirts or pins again is not
> > > > because people didn't
> > > > like/want them, but because no one wanted to handle
> > the
> > > > production, sales,
> > > > inventory and shipping. The one time we did
> > t-shirts, I
> > > > did all the
> > > > production work, and still have the last few
> > remaining
> > > > "collectors item"<g>
> > > > shirts. Dorothy did the pins, and likewise, I think
> > if
> > > > there are any left,
> > > > she has them. When I looked at the prices this place
> > was
> > > > charging, they
> > > > were just about the same as what we needed to charge
> > whn
> > > > we did them, simply
> > > > because we had a relatively small order, and needed
> > to be
> > > > sure to get our
> > > > money back out of them.
> > > >
> > > > I don't see any harm in doing this, and it might
> > bring in
> > > > a little money.
> > > > Between Cheryl and me, we have the "design team" in
> > place
> > > > already. If we
> > > > did a new design annually, people could keep buying
> > > > updates. Even if we
> > > > didn't sell THAT many, if there is no up-front cost,
> > it
> > > > seems to me that
> > > > ANYTHING that adds to the bottom line might be a good
> > > > idea. In this case,
> > > > it's also something that people enjoy, and promote a
> > > > sense of community.
> > > > T-shirts are a big part of the "aquarium hobby
> > culture"
> > > > here in the U.S.
> > > >
> > > > Any thoughts from the rest of you?
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > =====
> > > S. Hieber
> > >
> > > - - - - - - - -
> > > Amano Returns
> > > to the AGA Annual Convention
> > > Nov 12, 13 & 14, 2004 -- Crystal City, Virginia
> > >
> > > __________________________________
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> >
> > --
> > Erik Olson
> > erik at thekrib dot com
> >
> > ------------------
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>
>
> =====
> S. Hieber
>
> - - - - - - - -
> Amano Returns
> to the AGA Annual Convention
> Nov 12, 13 & 14, 2004 -- Crystal City, Virginia
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Search - Find what you're looking for faster
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