Just a minute!!!!!
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It's kind of funny...
Not saying that people don't mean what they say here, but in the past we also had many users encouraging us to make Kerkythea merchandise and finally we made mousepads, t-shirts, polo-shirts and caps with a nice KT embroidery...
However, although the prices were very low and fair (shipping costs included) only a very few items were sold and we decided to close the KT web-shop...
(I still have a lot of these items at my home, so if anyone is interested...
)This is not to say that I don't find it being a good idea with some SCF merchandise, but no-one should expect huge income on it...
(Perhaps it's also worth mentioning that there's A LOT of work involved in handling the shipment, packaging, storing in various sizes, lost items etc...!!)
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That baseball cap/hat is actually a photo of my own (I took it for the Píranesí contest).
Guys, why don't you join the contest? The first ten entries will get this hat for free!
(No crappy models/renders allowed JUST to get the baseball hat tho).
Kim; yes, this is exactly what we are "afraid" of. If we start a "business" like this and it fails...
The original idea was what Pete says; to show up/off in 3D BC in these polo shirts/hats but then the manufacturer was late to deliver...
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@gaieus said:
Kim; yes, this is exactly what we are "afraid" of. If we start a "business" like this and it fails...
It's not that I want to scare you from making and offer SCF merchandise...!
However, I can't stress enough how many things you need to consider before doing this...There's so many things you need to take into account such as...
1. Stock availability
(This isn't as big an issue with caps, mousepads, mugs or other items available in "one size only"...)
However, you'll need to have a stock available in various sizes (in the range from Small to XXX-Large) and in all available colors...
Please also remember that although the size names are the same, the actual sizes are not...
I.e. Size X-Large in France, Spain and Italy is a size Large in Germany, Scandinavia, US, Canada...2. Packaging and shipping method
Some will order several items and you'll need to have various sizes of envelopes and boxes enabling you to ship these items and to ensure that the items are not being damaged on their way to the receiver...
You'll need to determine the countries you can and want to ship to...
(The KT merchandise was available for shipment to 78 countries...)3. Customer Service
Users tend to ask many questions about quality, price, color and other things... Or some have an issue with items they've received - or shipped items they've ordered and paid for, but haven't received...
Someone will need to take care of these questions and enquiries...4. Setting up the web-shop
You'll need a web-shop system...
(we used VirtueMart but there are others...)
You'll need "Terms of Service and Trade Terms" as well as a "Privacy Policy"...
You'll need Payment methods and an Invoicing system...As you can see there's A LOT you need to think about...
Starting something like this is actually quite complex...The below diagram shows an example of how we calculated things...
It's worth mentioning that the handling cost was primary covering cost related to special envelopes and boxes...The idea was that the KT merchandise should be non-profitable, and the items were supposed to strengthen the community...
But as I wrote previously, we had to shut it down...
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BTW... Here's a cool web-shop...
http://producten.hema.nl/ -
I wonder if thered be more mileage in a system where people pay for the goods then we send off for them. A lot easier and cheaper to setup than a full blown shop and gets rid of having to worry about posting etc.
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I didn't mean to suggest opening a webshop or something similar. In our company they sell branded merchandise on a 'by demand' basis. People will either want it or not and those that do an order is placed once the numbers are sufficient enough.
Point taken on the shipping issue, this could lead to issues but is there any occasion when you won't meet certain issues?
Basically i want a t-shirt
Like the mouse mats and t-shirts
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@remus said:
I wonder if thered be more mileage in a system where people pay for the goods then we send off for them. A lot easier and cheaper to setup than a full blown shop and gets rid of having to worry about posting etc.
Well... Whatever you do, you'll still need to have stock available in various sizes and colors...
Making an embroidery on one item per order placed is not an option...
(unless Mike have his own maschine...)I'd say that having a web-shop is also a "pay for the goods" and "then we deliver" system...
Unfortunately - and based on the limited number of orders we had - items were lost on their way to the customer...
These items/goods needs to be replaced...Another thing is that there are some rules that apply for eCommerce trade and you can't take the money before you've shipped the goods...
This means that you book the amount the customer have purchased goods for on a credit card, but you are not allowed to execute the transaction before the goods are being shipped...Like I said... Although you don't think about it, it's actually quite complex...
@unknownuser said:
Like the mouse mats and t-shirts
Cheers...
I still have stock available... -
Frederik, do you have any prices for the Kerky stuff?
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I'd buy a kerky hat. I don't use it much, but I like the word cuz everyone who sees it will wonder "What the heck is a kerkythea?" It would give me an air of mystery and intrigue! Lemme know!
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Well, I can see Frederik's point. Although I could see the potential for a small e-commerce business here that would take all the hassle away from administrators of Forums like this, and handle the, merchandising, billing and shipping etc. Big potential client base here with all the forums etc. that are out there in cyberville, each with there base of dedicated fans. The marketing would be the easy part.
So.... maybe we could start a bidding war on Gaieus's hat, or Solo's polo's (love the rhyme).
But first, here is why I should get Gaieus's hat. Here is a picture of mine, taken this morning. Look at this pathetic thing! So here is the thing. Gaeius's hat is too clean, obviously not worn enough, this is almost hat abuse! Hat's love to be worn, exploited. Besides, as someone pointed out Europeans don't play baseball, and you guessed it.... this is a baseball cap
. You can't wear this will playing football (which those of us in the know call soccer), or cricket...
Aside from that, I would promise to never wear it cranked hip hop style, but can't guarantee not wearing it backwards, as I am a catcher, (that's right I play baseball, just one more reason).
So to start the bidding, I will offer $20.00 (almost par to the American dollar) Canadian Loonies for that hat. I will give it to Gaieus or the charity of his choice. Anybody do better?
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There's also the option to use a 3rd party like Smustard is doing with their merchandise through Cafepress...
@escapeartist said:
Frederik, do you have any prices for the Kerky stuff?
All of it or just some single items...??
I'm sure we can find something out...@unknownuser said:
I'd buy a kerky hat. I don't use it much, but I like the word cuz everyone who sees it will wonder "What the heck is a kerkythea?" It would give me an air of mystery and intrigue! Lemme know!
If you'll cover the shipping costs, I can send you one... -
Oh and P.S.
To bid you must post a picture of your hat. No it doesn't have to be a baseball hat, and give us your best explanation as to why this endearing hat should grace your noggin.
(I don't think Gaeius should really have any say in this, do you?)
Oh and don't hesitate to try and talk Solo out of his shirt.
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@frederik said:
It's kind of funny...
Not saying that people don't mean what they say here, but in the past we also had many users encouraging us to make Kerkythea merchandise and finally we made mousepads, t-shirts, polo-shirts and caps with a nice KT embroidery...
However, although the prices were very low and fair (shipping costs included) only a very few items were sold and we decided to close the KT web-shop...
(I still have a lot of these items at my home, so if anyone is interested... )This is not to say that I don't find it being a good idea with some SCF merchandise, but no-one should expect huge income on it...
(Perhaps it's also worth mentioning that there's A LOT of work involved in handling the shipment, packaging, storing in various sizes, lost items etc...!!)I like the maroon shirt!
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Here is a clean unused one.
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But what's written on the front of it ? You have only shown us the back...
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@frederik said:
@unknownuser said:
I'd buy a kerky hat. I don't use it much, but I like the word cuz everyone who sees it will wonder "What the heck is a kerkythea?" It would give me an air of mystery and intrigue! Lemme know!
If you'll cover the shipping costs, I can send you one... you're on!!!! PM moi!
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@tig said:
But what's written on the front of it ? You have only shown us the back...
Or the Side.
Rick
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@frederik said:
All of it or just some single items...??
I'm sure we can find something out...Lol, not all of it. I'd be interested in maybe a mouse pad and a shirt; I have a big head, so it's heard to find hats that'll fit - even one-size-fits-tall type hats. What size are the hats, or are they the standard OSFA?
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@frederik said:
The idea was that the KT merchandise should be non-profitable, and the items were supposed to strengthen the community...
Surely we would/did not want to become rich from this either.
I believe it could be a cool thing but I understand that it would almost need a full time employee to "run" such an online store.
So even if we do something, we may stick to this "prize" thing that we have added to the Píranesí contest now. Or next time we meet at a 3D BaseCamp, SCF members travelling there can get a baseball cap or T-shirt.
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A little worn out, but here is a two year old SCF polo.
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