Poll: Cafe Press

[Berylanna]

Cafe Press is pretty expensive but it lets you set up a store requiring no bandwidth, and has a wide variety of merchandise.

I'm proposing that CASAA make some images and buyable things available for purchase, after approval by an art committee and the board.

I'd like to see $1-$2 added to the prices of the orders (if I can figure out how to make it be per-item without multiplying for bulk orders! ) to go into the CASAA treasury.

None of this would mean the free downloadable images would disappear from the casaa.org web site.

We already have some folks that would like to be able to just click-and-get car magnets, mugs, window clingy's, and other things without bothering CASAA volunteers.

So I'd like to hear some feedback on this idea. My concept is to make it easy for members and fans of CASAA to put magnets on our cars and/or clingy's in various places before the October deeming, without bothering the casaa board, because they're getting ready for the Deeming Doomsday.

1. What is a reasonable markup?
2. Does anybody else besides Cafe Press have such a huge variety AND the ability to have the online store with no additional labor?
3. Any horrible downsides?

Thanks!

 

[Arnie H]

If CASAA gear was available I would definately purchase some. I particularly need T-shirts. Provided of course, a portion of the proceeds is donated to CASAA. A great way to show our pride and support.

 

[Rickajho]

If you are talking about volunteering to do this for CASAA... I don't think that will fly. The problem being it would be handing off control to a second party for merchandise being created by yet a third party and...

It comes down to an image thing. I don't think CASAA would turn this kind of thing over to an outside party - there's just too much potential for a problem which CASAA would have no control over and no way to rectify. I would mos def would buy a CASAA mug etc. if they were available but I'm betting CASAA would want direct control over any merchandising. (There may be tax related issues to as to why they need to do this.)

 

[retired1]

If you are talking about volunteering to do this for CASAA... I don't think that will fly. The problem being it would be handing off control to a second party for merchandise being created by yet a third party and...

CASAA doesn't have the manpower to handle it. It's either through volunteers or it doesn't get done at all. Take your pick.

 

[Berylanna]

CASAA doesn't have the manpower to handle it. It's either through volunteers or it doesn't get done at all. Take your pick.

CASAA is aware I'm asking and they are not sure how they feel about it. That's why I'm trying to take a poll. They might decide either way. If it goes forward, the treasurer and a volunteer or art committee would have to handle it.

But the board does NOT have time for this, and I want to see stuff out there before they GET time for this.
.
So the idea is to present them with a specific proposal, instead of a general idea, and they say go or no-go.

 

[retired1]

Yes, I know. I've been listening in on the meetings, too.

 

[AgentAnia]

CASAA is aware I'm asking and they are not sure how they feel about it. That's why I'm trying to take a poll. They might decide either way. If it goes forward, the treasurer and a volunteer or art committee would have to handle it.

But the board does NOT have time for this, and I want to see stuff out there before they GET time for this.
.
So the idea is to present them with a specific proposal, instead of a general idea, and they say go or no-go.

I would be willing, with tremendous enthusiasm, to volunteer for such an art committee; am retired, so I have the time. Just not sure I have whatever skills or expertise might be required to accomplish the task, since I'm not clear on what exactly would need to be done or how to go about it.

The way it's been discussed, I don't see a problem that CASAA might lose control of the merchandise by turning over the planning and design functions to a group of volunteers, as CASAA would have final approval to release mdse, wouldn't they?

Oh, and of course I'd be a willing purchaser of whatever mdse CASAA might come up with!