Printable View
What do you guys think about a CAG store. I have a few connections where I can get product on demand with logos and images. I think this could be a good way for CAG to earn some money and help pay for this place. Everything from decals to t shirts and hoodies. just about anything you can think of. Let me know if you are interested in exploring this option.
Sound alike a good way for us to show we're CAG proud outside the forums as much as we are inside of them. And if this a way to help the site get donations and remain here for all of us to enjoy then it deserves an in depth look for sure...
I think we had a discussion about this before( not really sure) and nothing happened. I'm on board with it. From a business background yea it will make money, but it depends on how many people actually want it...If not a lot of people want apparel it will be expensive and then other people won't want to get it. I like the idea though
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
The nice part of the people I use you can order product as you sell it. That means no inventory to keep or money to spend up front. If things go well then having some stock could be done.
That can be overcome by getting enough quantity to lower the fabrication cost and limiting the quantity of available SKUS. Also if you make it so the items are literally limited edition, meaning if say we had a run of T-shirt with a particular design and we ordered say 150 once they are gone, they're gone the next time a teeshirt is on again it will be a different design that way there people will want to be able to brag amongst the clan that they have one of every shirt. Makes them collectors items
We have had many people say they have "connections" in the past and when it comes down to it we hear nothing back ... Setting up a CAG Store is not hard at all but staying on top of it ...maintaining it and having someone to hold the position of say "Treasurer" or "Sales" is the hard part ... Unless it's a place where you can just pay individually and not have to worry about money coming in and out ...but the how do we profit ..make any revenue or bring in income from these sales?
The only bad thing is say only 50 people buy it, then we have 100 just sitting there. That's my only concern...Quote:
Originally Posted by OnixEwok
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Exactly Phoenix.... that is why preorders would be required up front to see if this would work out ...
with my venders we would pay a few dollars more but we could order as needed. Once again no inventory.
So what are we looking at?
If the price we acquire them is low enough, if we are stuck with a little we reduce them or combine them with another SKU for a bundle price, ad long as there is some level of profitability occurring.
Preorder test to sample the willingness is a safer way than straight up diving in. But if as reaper mentioned he can attain a good price for on demand creation then we could implement a weekly order system by say mon-thurs orders are taken and moneys collected(including shipping costs) then Friday the order is placed with supplier. Items ship when ready. In the meantime the following Monday ordering reopens and the process repeats.
I am by no means saying that there wouldn't be work involved, I am just saying three are many ways to make it successful if the right minds are on task.
Cheech valid concerns. The company I have used in the past has been great. They have a great selection. Their website is easy to use to create your products and they are quick. I use vistaprint.com. I have been very happy with them. I also use a company called Skinit for xbox and playstation decals. They also have covers and cases for most phones and tablets. Both companies allow for a single item order. of course the more you buy the better the price gets.
As far a someone to maintain it and handle money paypal would be the best course of action to take in money. I would have to check to see if either company accepts paypal. I would be willing to work it out where I could accept payment and send a portion to CAG paypal and then pay for the items when I order them. It would be a simple sales book to keep track of orders and prove sales.
Really Im looking for anythign that would help CAG earn some income to help pay for all the things you do Cheech.
Visatprint rocks I order from the Canadian counterpart all the time
I know of an option also.. I think cafepress lets you run shops thru websites... not 100% sure how it works but they can sell custom stuffs from shirts.. magnets.. mugs. housewares.. intimate apparel.... quite a bit. NOt sure if its a bulk thing or order as you need though.
I got a t-shirt from vista print a couple years back and found the overall quality to be quite bad. Cheap material with what seemed to be an iron on style sticker......
--Feel free to add me if you play AW on the X1--
I'd sport a badass CAG shirt when I attend tourneys, E3, events, and releases. They're my form of concerts/movies/entertainment, so I tend to go to as many as possible when ever I can.
I like exeprog's idea.
If you could set up a store type of thing on another website then somehow link it to CAGclan.com which enables a member to purchase as they need. That would be cool
--Feel free to add me if you play AW on the X1--
The quality of the product depends on what you purchase. You cant judge everything they have by 1 item. I have gotten lots of things made by them and been very happy.Quote:
Originally Posted by SprayAim
You make a good point reaper. Being British we are quite judgmental and rarely give a second chance to store we feel have been inadequate the first time round.
--Feel free to add me if you play AW on the X1--
Most online stores give you the choice of material you want your "brand" to go on as well. It really depends on how much each individual is willing to spend on apparel or what ever else they decide to purchase. Cheech does have the design for shirts available already for anyone to use on shirts or other clothing items, mugs, stickers what ever you guys choose to add to. The file is located somewhere in the forums and it is ready for print, so you can use any online clothing store that does printing on shirts.
You guys to take some time to think this through a little more and keep perfect record of how much money and where it goes you may even need to set CAG up as a nonprofit company because Uncle Sam will want his cut
I'm Toxicbob and I approve this message
... Why not just go through custom ink? You can even design and buy your own shirts. Since you're buying from a company I don't think you'd have set anything up really... Could always make it where with a certain donation amount a person gets a free T-shirt, another amount a hoodie, another amount a beanie/hat. You're not really "selling" them, you're just giving them away as thank you gifts.
great ideaQuote:
Originally Posted by xsilentgoodbyexx
Toxic and I had talked about making CAG and LLC. a year or so ago .... all the money that we would be making would have to go right back into the site though right Toxic? Then we wouldn't have to worry about Uncle Sam?
I fucking hate when uncles are assholes... Bumming around looking for change to and get drunk and shit....
But seriously this is why I love tight knit forums always so many viable ideas.
The store idea needs to become a reality. There should be items we could all afford from nick-knacks to apparel.
If tax was paid when the item was purchased I'm not sure you would have to worry about Uncle Sam. The additional amount added to the item would be handeling and I don't think you tax that. It's considered labor. I may be way wrong here.
using the items as gifts for donations is a good move i think
this shop thing does need to become a reality though - it has been suggested so many times on the forums and everytime it has received a good response
If it's done as a reward for a donation you get to limit the selection. This makes things a lot easier for who ever dose it.
This is one reason why I haven't really done this ...the tax issues and concerns .... I just don't have time to get all that shit worked out lol ....
Exactly..yes this would make money but you have to look at it through a business aspect.. it would be cool but when you first start doing this it won't make a lot due to wonderful taxes and the government. (Usually you loss money when you start a company)Quote:
Originally Posted by CAG CheechDogg
At this time I would love a CAG store but I think it's too much of risk.
These are just my opinions though.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Yes you would have to charge local state tax and it is a pain in the assQuote:
Originally Posted by CAG RE4PER
I'm Toxicbob and I approve this message
So long as we set it up as a nonprofit company you are correctQuote:
Originally Posted by CAG CheechDogg
I'm Toxicbob and I approve this message
What about the donation aspect if you donate x you get x then its a gift so you make the donation amount high enough that the tax and item are covered. This way your not selling anything. If its not for sale its not taxed. You also wouldn't have an real time restrictions. If I pay for something I expect it quick but it I make a donation and I get a gift for it then I don't care if it takes a few weeks to show up.
I was going to ask about that donate then get a gift if you want I can make up the shirts I have a silk screen to make them.. just give me a design and I can put it on there.. probably could make vinyl stickers to got a vinyl machine also..just give me heads up
Like I said, make it gifts for donation amounts. If the t-shirt costs 25 bucks, then make the donation amount 30. When I go to food giveaways and church they always ask for donations, and I haven't ever seen one IRS agent standing there taking their cut, cause it's a donation. It's a thank you gift nothing more, makes it easier than having to get complicated with it. Just ask the person their size and to pm their address and you can ship it directly to their house, and you can use the clan's paypal to buy the shirt. You don't have to make 5 different style of shirts either. Just one with the CAG logo on the front with the motto on the back. I did a mock up on customink last night and it looks really good on a black shirt.
If we could get enough donations to cover say about 25-50 shirts up front we can text it out with the "donation method" that way we don't have to deal with tax bullshit ....then if it works out Toxic, Covie and I will discuss an LLC. together..I Know Covie wanted in on the LLC. idea ...
Cheech to start why have an over head. With companies like vistaprint ( I am sure there are others as well ) you could one at a time for only a few dollars more. This way you wouldn't have an outlay of money. You would take the donation then order and direct ship the item. You would do less work and it would take less time. If you had 25 to 50 shirts on hand you would have to package and ship. If you did them one at a time vistaprint would ship directly to the member. I just think you could start this with no out of pocket money. It would be up to the member to make the donation first once it cleared PayPal all you would need to do is place an order and forget about it.
If it is too happen that would be awesome but here is the thing that needs to be done first
A few examples made to start off with Say Hats Hoodies and Shirts both long sleeve and short sleeve.
Next Have member check them out and let us know if they would buy them if they were made readily available.
I think once you have some products designed you would have better chances at getting members of CAG interested
People are not about to order a product that they dont know if they will like it or not.
There is amazing potential for it and I say come up with the designs and give us a look.