If you follow around here, you know that I have been pretty much against making merchandise. This is, frankly, because I think that the time I could spend making merchandise is better spent making things that make people want merchandise. In other words, another podcast or post is better than a shirt.
Also, there’s the problem of capital. How much cash do you put into merchandise, confident that you can break even. This is a constant problem around these parts. Not the MAKING of money, but the reduction of ways that I’m LOSING money.
A few weeks ago, this came up on the radio show, and listener Matt suggested I check out a web site, Teespring, as they have a model that might work for me. And they totally do.
Here’s the deal. You design a shirt, they let you set the goal quantity. They also let you set the profit, although there’s a limit of some kind. And then, people can purchase your design, and if you reach the goal quantity, the purchasers are charged, the shirts are printed, and everything is rad.
Let’s talk real quick about the design.
It’s hand-drawn by me, and I’m no visual artist. I was trying to make something that looked alright, and that was in line with what we do here at the site.
I also set the shirt type to be a nice, American Apparel shirt. You can go for crappier types, but I don’t want to put up a lousy shirt. I want this shirt to be one that comes up in your drawer, and you’re happy to see it. If you’re still keeping all your shirts in a drawer instead of hanging them. Trust me, hanging shirts is the bestest.
I set the profit super low. I think I make like a buck off each shirt. It would only let me go so low.
And I set the quantity at 15, which wasn’t the lowest, but would be a good indicator to me of whether or not this was worthwhile. Because if I can’t unload 15 of these fuckers, then I’m pretty sure there’s not much call for them.
That’s the deal.
If you want one, buy one. Buy one for a friend, if you’d like. I’m going to buy one, maybe even two because I’m a saucy muhfucker.
If we don’t hit the 15, I apologize. Maybe we can work something else out.
If we do, awesome, and I hope they turn out really nice, and I hope you like wearing them.
Thanks to those who asked. And I don’t know Excelsior or some shit.
https://teespring.com/helpful-snowman-radio-tees