I know this has been done before, however we are actually getting close to creating the GOTH.NET store now. I finally got sick of waiting for the other shopping cart vendor to release his product, so I bought a competing product. So now all I have to do is configure it, and buy merchandise.

To that end, I some community feedback, namely:
- What do you think we should sell. Right now I am going to sell branded T-Shirts, coffee mugs and such. However I would also like to sell some non-GOTH.NET branded stuff, and not just clothing/novelty items. Possibly halloween gear, or anything I take a fancy to.
- Do you know of good places to get such things. Either places to get things made up (eg. the t-shirts and such) or buy (wholesale) other items we would resell.
- Do you know anyone (or can you yourself) who can submit designs for exclusive GOTH.NET use for other shirts and such. I would like to sell other shirts than the GOTH.NET logo branded ones, and while I know some artists who have offered to create designs, it would be nice to get a wider varience (we can discuss payment and such later, however the design must be for exclusive GOTH.NET use).

Basically I'm looking for ideas on what to do with the GOTH.NET shop - obviously we will be starting out small and hopefully growing, and we will also be trying to define what we are and what we are not as a store. Last time some great ideas were come up with, I'd like to have the conversation with the 'next generation' of GOTH.NETers, since the last time this discussion was held was 2 years ago!

So, in a nutshell, what would you spend your hard-earned dough on if GOTH.NET were to offer it.

I'll offer more ideas later, but at the top of my head, pins/badges or patches. A Goth.Net badge one to adorn my leather jacket would bring it one step closer to completion. Unfortunately I don't know where you would be able to get these custom made for you.

For one inch pins I guess we'd be best off investing in a press to make them, and then be able to do other designs too I think. Though there are of course plenty of sites that offer pins too.

It's worth a thought though, thanks.



Lilith

I know that on Cafepress all you have to do is upload the images you want to use and they make everything for you. A friend of mine has a shop set up through them and sells loads of buttons and mugs and such and says they are really good about getting out orders in a timely fashion and are open to using any non-copywrighted material. The only downside was up till recently they didn't do black t-shirts (they do now, though).

You may want to check them out.

~spidey

No way. Not going cafe press, EVER! Sorry spidey, but cafepress has all kinds of other downsides, first and foremost, completely obnoxious charges.

Plus, I want to run the cart myself, have my own merchent account, shipping, etc. ie. I want control over the proces. I'm willing to have to deal with getting things made up from vendors and such to do it. But on the up side, the cost will be much, much lower than getting this kind of thing through. For illustration, cafepress charges about $15 per t-shirt made + a percentage of the profit you make from said shirt (ie. the difference between the $15 and what you charge). And there is no bulk discount since they're made to order.

On the oter hand, getting a shirt printed is cheaper than that, plus you get discounts for higher volumes, AND anything above cost they don't take a cut of. The downside of course being I have to pay up front for all my stock, and store it myself. But thats part of being a merchant.

I think mouse pads would be really cool, and, as you mentioned, t-shirts and mugs. I also like the idea of beanie hats with the goth.net logo on the front.

Also - perhaps a bit OTT but it would be really cool - Ipod covers/cases! :p

Thanks to spiderlimbs for that link as I had been looking for a similar service myself in a different context.

PreZ already pointed out the downsides of Cafepress. Not that we're expecting to retire early off GN merchandise sales, but earning more than what amounts to pennies or maybe a couple dollars off a shirt and such would be nice, and CP does take a fairly hefty cut of the sale between base price and % of profit.

There is obviously more risk to having your own stock, which is what you pay for by having Cafepress make to order, but I think we're in a position where we can take that risk considering the site.



Lilith

Holy moly...I didn't know they charged so much. I never asked my friend that's on there what his cut is, I just assumed it must be ok for him to be using them.

~spidey

I would love pins and patches. Would buy a t shirt, but plus sizes are so hard to find...and they always seem to be printed on T's made for mens shapes. Not exactly good for the full figured. Mouse pads are something I would also buy.

* looks at her shabby pad, covered in slide marks

Right now we're planning Mens sizes from M-XXXL and Lady's from S-XXL. Not sure if we'll do kids T's or babywear, probably will eventually, but not yet.

Is it too soon to ask where all you'll be able to ship stuff?

Shipping? Worldwide (obviously with whatever restrictions US law places). However you'll have to pay international shipping charges if you ship outside the US, of course.

Rock. On.

I can't suggest anything better than has already been touched upon. (Although I would love to see baby shirts and/or doggie Ts).

If you're looking for more artwork, I'm beyond willing to put together a GN exclusive design.

What about stickers? As for cars for example? Broad stickers with various sizes, lets say starting from a size that would fit on a laptop to one that could cover one third of the windscreen or the back screen (not sure how the word is in english) of a car.
The pro is - stickers are easy (and should be quite cheap) to ship, so even people in Europe could effort buying those.. among my assumption that they won´t be so expensive to produce.

And if a nice design shall be found one day I think simple pens or lighters could be great as a gift to people. (I know that sounds more like a Harry Potter Merchandise, but hey - I am sure one who ordered a lot would be pleased to have a free GN-pen as surprise in his package (; )

Unfortunately I won´t be very helpful with hints about stores that produce good qualitiy for reasonable prices outside of Europe. Hopefully you will find something that suits you.

I would definitely be interested in a T-shirt, and probably a mouse-pad or coffee mug. Refrigerator magnets are good, too.

Have you considered postcards? I collect them, and I could leave some at coffee shops, bookstores, etc. I belong to "street teams" for a couple of underground magazines and record labels.