Biz Dev
September 29th, 2005In my experiment of trying to make this blog have a business, I figure I could be all secretive and then launch something, but I want to perform a kind of due diligence and get feedback. The main reason for the openness is that we don’t have the liquidity for me to order up a bunch of stuff and carry stock and do a mega launch. I’m also trying to be very Web 2.0 and develop organically. Kind of like a shampoo.
I’ve had a few comments and emails about selling merchandise (t-shirts) and photos. These are two of the things that we’re working on at the blurbodoocery. And it was before I quit the day job that I wanted to pursue making some art and making some money. A sort of variation on:
- Make stuff.
- ??
- Make money!
Because the web will be the step 2, the question marks kind of go away. To this end, I did a t-shirt mockup and liked the results a couple of months ago, but felt my readership is so small, that it’s kind of pointless to do shirts. Look at these and tell me what you think:
The logo on the back would be much smaller (the vendor I used to build these comps only allows it to shrink to an inch tall, and I’d like the logo to be about a half-inch in height. Part of me wonders about the ringer, if that’s played already and I should go with a solid color. I have a soft spot for orange. My main question with this design is: do you get the front? Do you care if you don’t? Would you buy/wear this? I’m not necessarily looking for design critique, although if you don’t like something, you don’t like it and I can take that kind of feedback. I’m more interested in “Yeah, I’d buy it” or “Nah, not interested.”
The other, larger, more involved idea I’ve had is to sell prints of our photos. The photos wouldn’t just be the raw source, but I would do work to transform the photo into something larger, maybe have a theme and sell them as fine-ish art. Don’t know if people are into that idea, but I’d love it if that could generate some income.
I don’t know if I want to do the printing myself; buy a sweet printer and papers and inks then make the print myself, or outsource it to a high end shop that uses a photographic process to take a file and output it. I like the high end idea, as I wouldn’t sell everything, just a select group of photos for a limited time and even then, I’d probably only want to sell a limited run to increase value. If it got crazy, I’d sign some of the first ones as well. While I think there are excellent solutions for someone to print their own stuff, I don’t know if I have the patience or the bank account to fund the printer and supplies it would take to do what I want. Plus, no printer headaches. The only issue with using a higher end shop is that the fees are going to go up substantially and I’d have to charge a lot more per print. But that might be the best way to go to sell museum quality prints.
Your thoughts?
September 29th, 2005 at 8:58 pm
I love and get the shirt design and love the fact that 99% of the population wont get it. I’m too obsessive-compulsive to wear a ringer tee. Soild orange would be cool.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:05 pm
Jon, forgive me, but I agree with Tarin. You are talented in ways that I can appreciate but not identify with. But for me the truth is that Heather’s writing hits a nerve with me every time. She just has something very special… I’m sure you know better than anybody! And I will buy anything she writes, and I will buy it for everyone I know. Therein lies your fortune!
September 29th, 2005 at 9:12 pm
Here’s the thing, Heather’s doing her thing. She’s doing what she loves. We are aware of the potential upside of a book. I’m just looking at stuff I like to do and wanting to contribute to the family bottom line. I love taking photos. I thought about shirts, but I don’t think that this site is shirt-worthy.
I thought about a design without anything, other than the dingbat itself, but no text, no URL, no nothing. That would probably be a different color scheme altogether. I would definitely offer all sizes and have male/female cuts. Fussy’s shirts (http://www.fussy.org) are a level of Hanes that comopares in feel to American Apparel, so I’d definitely go nicer than those shown.
Thanks for all the feedback! Keep it coming.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:12 pm
I’d buy the shirt for my boyfriend because a) he is a dingbat, and b) he’s all techie, so he would probably “get” it on a deeper level. I don’t know about the orange ringer though… not particularly feeling that.
As far as the photos, I’ve always loved you guys’ pics, though I have a feeling they’d be out of my price range when all’s said & done. Maybe if they really spoke to me I’d be willing to splurge.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:14 pm
Maybe something more personalized. An “I love that shirt and who the f is that blurb guy?”
where not everyone gets it but that doesn’t really matter cause we can all come to the party. If you don’t get it it doesn’t really matter because I saw someone wearing it at the mall and want to find out how to get it and sign us up for that magazine thanks.
My off the cuff suggestion is to put a picture of your nose hairs … chicks love that.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:29 pm
I didn’t notice anyone mentioning CafePress. The paid shops are only about $5 a month, and you can have as much stuff there as you want. You can make it look like your website/blog, too, and it doesn’t cost anything but the $5, unless you order something. They do all the order fulfillment, too, so you don’t have to keep stock and make trips to the P.O.
You can have dozens of things, themed and otherwise. They also have calendars, big right now when people are thinking about the new year, which would be great for your collective pics. They also do posters in a couple of sizes.
No, I don’t work for them, but I have a shop. I mostly use it so clients can have their stuff there for when they want premiums to give away, but it would be great for you guys.
And, if something looks bad, and it’s not your image at fault, they’ll redo until they get it right. So far, I’ve only had one problem, and that was a matter of color density in an image I created. Lots of clothing, mugs, mousepads, all that stuff to choose from.
Really. I don’t work for them. But I’ve been very satisfied with my working relationship with them, going on, maybe three years now.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:30 pm
Sorry, workig on a small display and didn’t notice the no HTML until I’d hit the POST COMMENT button.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:38 pm
If you’re looking for long term income and not just quickly generated groupie cash, I say go for a higher quality print (if you go the print route at all)
People should buy your photos because they are well taken,good quality shots, not just because you were the one behind the camera.
When the ringer tee has made it to the racks at Walmart, it’s time to leave it behind. I do like the dingbat idea though.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:40 pm
I highly recommend you head over to webmasterworld.com and check out what people are doing to make money off the web. Although your sincerity is touching I think shaving a few months off the learning curve is a good idea. Once you’re done hoovering up info on webmasterworld head over to forums.digitalpoint.com and start reading. Pay particular attention to the types of threads that go “How much do you make on the web?” You might be surprised to know that people with less programming experience than you are making $10k+ a month. Some are making $30k+. Some are making more than that!
The comments from your regular readers are well-meaning but seem to be mostly coming from a regular job perspective. To make money on the web you need to know what’s out there: Adsense, affiliate sales, SEO, and everything else. Do the homework early in the game and the next few months will run much better.
If you play your cards right I think both this site and dooce.com are literally goldmines.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:44 pm
i like your site and your family, but i don’t know if there’s really such a market for photog prints and t-shirts. i think, to be realistic about it, you are talkin’ small potatoes. you seem to like design — can you freelance doing that? take projects you like w/defined end dates and no bad bosses? just an idea…it seems that it could get real stressful waiting for blogger fans to buy souvenirs…
September 29th, 2005 at 9:51 pm
If you’re looking to sell quality prints with minimal overhead, you might want to check out http://www.fotki.com
September 29th, 2005 at 9:53 pm
Try asking http://www.thisfish.com if she had success selling her blog-related shirts…..
It seems like a risky venture to me.
I really admire your following your instincts and moving away from a job that wasn’t fulfilling. I wish you, Dooce, & Leta all the best.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:54 pm
Word on the high quality printing. Even tho you’d love to have the awesome printer yourself, don’t waste the $$ on your end. You can’t afford the gear good enough without blowing the profit margin. Shop that sh*t out. You can pass on the expense to the customer and have print professionals to color correct if that’s not your bag.
Re: the shirt. You had me at dingbat. I love it, of course, since I’m a total font lover/geek/loser. And anything insidery is appealing, no? No ringer for me, thanks.
September 29th, 2005 at 9:56 pm
Great ideas. I’d really love a big coffee mug with the dingbat on it. One of those tall ones? Ya know?
I mean, I’d wear a tshirt but…. I’d USE a coffee mug a lot. (I’d buy both actually.)
And I know you’re doing your thing here but my comment in the H arena is that her mastheads would make great mugs. Coffee mugs with the masthead kind of wrapped around. Ladoocavita, cowbell, dork and ahh heck, almost all of them wold make a great coffee mug.
Oh, and I’d buy your art prints. You are great. And my inspiration to get the best digital camera. My canon is working so great for me. I haven’t emailed you my flikr site but I really should. It has been so fun. No great vacations yet to take pics though so mostly just of my kiddos.
Thank you for the inspiration from both of you and in honor and thanks of that I’d definitely buy from the blurbodoocery and wear it with pride…. and hopefully get you an even bigger audience!
September 29th, 2005 at 9:59 pm
Do a Chuck set!
Like the t-shirt, even though orange usually ain’t my color, it’s something I’d wear.
September 29th, 2005 at 10:04 pm
I, too, am all about the photography. Some of your stuff would be amazing silk-screened onto fabric & made into messenger bags, clothing, hell, a thermos! - or as simple as the image on the front of a shirt, stylized & re-worked on the computer, as you do. It’s truly a unique talent & skillset you bring to the party, and the puzzle is finding a funky way to implement it in a couple of directions (broad-based, accessible, lower price point) vs. huge prints, exclusive, triptychs, available at an excessively costly price point. Gee, isn’t that what you asked for, what’s the funky way to market it? I think there are lots of options, whether it’s through uncommongoods.com, or with a vendor that makes it more turnkey for you, OR do you do that legwork (and thus making more money - but doing more work)? I agree with madge, though, let somebody else eat the printing cost & hopefully you get a good rate so they’re still making money & you can afford to do it/sell stuff. I love brainstorming, even if it’s virtual. I wish I were holding up a brilliant nugget! But it’s late here. More later.
September 29th, 2005 at 10:10 pm
I love the shirt idea. If we have true free expression with blogging, then it makes absolute sense to do it with our clothing as well. And, I like the simplicity and style of your design. Orange doesn’t get enough luv, if you ask me. I saw someone mention cafepress. It is good. There’s also a new/similar outfit called Spreadshirt. (No, I don’t work for them.)
A confession - my sister and I both started blogs a month or so ago (she is much better than I). We have used blurbomat and dooce as models/examples for how to get our blogs going correctly. Thanks for providing such a great example. And, about a week ago we started doing shirts too…with “spreadshirt”. Even if we only sell one shirt, it’ll be worth it…because the real intent is to just get the “ideas” out there.
So, like several others have said here, go for it.
September 29th, 2005 at 10:40 pm
I love your photos and would definitely buy prints. A t-shirt too, because I’d love to support you in your new ventures.
Best of luck!
September 29th, 2005 at 10:56 pm
Jon - I would second the coffee table book of your photos - they really are fabulous. I also came across a book of Irma Bombeck in my mom’s bookshelf this weekend and thought - holy shit, Dooce is the Irma Bombeck of my generation… I still remember some of the stories as read to me by my mom when I was a child - priceless stuff… There’s definitely a market for a book and her freebee internet site, as a teaser…? You’re a San Francisco kid, you should find your 6 degrees to Chronicle Books, they’d be a great go-to for something from all y’all… I wonder if you and Heather could get a deal together. A blurb book and a dooce book - they’d be able to package them together…. and sell them seperately. Either way - I have SO been in your “ifIdon’tquitrightnow,I’llkillsomeoneelseormyself” place. Props to you - and congrats on being such a “good world citizen” that you have this much support from friends and strangers.
I also wonder if you couldn’t contract your mad KungFu in a freelance way to help folks in your area remedy their computer/iNet problems… you could be the ‘mooooove’ on the move (a la SNLs “Kevin Burns your Company’s computer guy”)
either way… good luck with everything - every lil thing gonna be all right….
September 29th, 2005 at 10:56 pm
The latest Pottery Barn Teen catalog has these cool oversized wall prints… They are outdoorsy photos (a mountain road, a surfer on a wave) blown up to hang and almost cover like a dormroom wall. I can see your photography blown up like that. Think over the top, seventies wallpaper outdoor murals,Real World house decor, Urban Outfitters,and the like. I would really look at current tshirt designs. Tshirts are the new black.
September 29th, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Shirt? I would absolutely buy one. Ladies cut? Even better.
And the photos? I’ve been waiting for you to decide to sell some of them. I would definitely pay for hi-end prints. You can consider me your first customer on that idea….
September 29th, 2005 at 11:16 pm
I think its great of you to put it all out there on the website for feedback - Jon I think you are the bravest man on earth and even all the way over here in Australia I can FEEL YOUR TALENT!!
As far as what you can do for money…hmmmm, unfortunatley I “work for the man” and have no experience at what sells etc, but thinking of your target market, tecnology nerds, 30+, family’s, into activities, intelligent, educated, fed up with corporate bullshit….
I think your design is fab (clean lines, smart comments) and you and heather are the king and queen of slogans (have you thought about Copywriting!)
I think that all the comments you are getting will get you on the right track - I will be the girl in the corner with the pompoms going Rah Rah Rah!
Oh and if you do sell something - being able to buy it from Oz would be fab - and I will definitely be purchasing from you. It will be my way of giving something back for all the joy you have both brought me!
Oh and Leta rocks!
September 29th, 2005 at 11:21 pm
I’m new to both your sites, but really enjoy them. The t-shirt is o.k., don’t like ringers or the orange. You might want to find out if you can register/copyright the design for some protection. Same goes for your photographs. I used to be an artist rep and I am less familiar with selling on the internet, but perhaps you could visit some galleries that feature photography and look at the presentation to get ideas on mounting and framing, limited prints, seriagraphs, etc. I often buy cards with prints of art I like from local artists whose orignals I cannot afford. It’s a great way to get your stuff out there.
I also used to sell promotional items (mugs, t-shirts, pens, you name it) and you could do a small run of shirts for relatively low dollars. It’s very tempting to spend more for quantity pricing, but unless you have the cash, be conservative. Check out http://www.4logowearables.com/ and http://alternativeapparel.com/ for a decent selection of blank t-shirts styles.
All the best.
September 29th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
I would buy the shirt. My suggestion would be to offer your logo, but let the buyer choose the style, size and color or color combo’s. I would so totally buy a Dooce T shirt too, being a chick and all.
On the photos….hmmmmmm, I dunno. Let me think about that. When I do photo prints, they are typically of my family members. I’m not sure about buying photos of places I haven’t been. I’m stuck though, because I love all of your photos.
September 29th, 2005 at 11:50 pm
I like the thirt design but I don’t “get” the front. I’m sure you would sell some shirts since you have many regular readers. But what about after that? I’m assuming regular readers will not keep buying shirts forever.
You do take some lovely photos. I also love photography and take lots of photos. But this area is very competitive and it’s so much easier to take beautiful photos today compared to 10 years ago. Even clueless amateurs take some nice shots. I would definitely go for the limited edition high end stuff if you decide to do it. Try to offer something that others don’t. Try to find a niche. I also recommend to get the prints at a lab instead of at home. It can be slightly cheaper to do it at home but it’s also lots of work. And it can be frustrating to deal with color profiles etc. With the lab you simply upload over internet and then pick them up/have them shipped. And a good lab will produce beautiful prints. Keep in mind that the price collapses if you do more than one print. You may pay $10 for the first one but the rest will cost you $1 or something like that. So cost can be very low.
Best of luck
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