Re: Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
Kevin Tarr wrote: I'm only asking this from a business POV. There are many things I do not know and would like some details. Let me back up a step. I get t-shirts made for two groups I'm involved in. I'm assuming you are not the one making those shirts, that physically you never touch them. Correct. My point is: if you are only making $3, then the company charges $14. Subtracting the cost of shipping, they are making up to if not over 200% profit. Some of that may be taken by their location (California), and definitely by website costs but that is a nice margin for not doing any extra work. On your side is the infamous Laffer curve. You aren't collecting taxes, but there is a relationship between what you charge and what you'll get back. Do you expect a hundred people to buy the shirt? Would 150 buy it if the price dropped another dollar? (I'm assuming no on both questions.) Yeah, you're probably right -- it's hard to imagine me getting that many sales, at least at first. My initial plan was to sell a few shirts through the site as a proof of concept, to see how they sell, before trying to get my own shirts made locally, and shipping them out myself. The first shirt isn't selling through the site so far, at least not at the current price. Some time this week, I'll see what it takes (and costs) to print shirts locally, and see if doing that can lower the price enough to help. What does the image feel like? Is it inkjetted on or like an iron-on? I'm embarassed to say that I haven't tried ordering from there yet. I just plain didn't do enough research beforehand. At least I was careful to read the legal agreement, to make sure I get to keep copyright on the images I upload to them (I do). I didn't think to check out reviews of the print quality. What I've found doesn't sound too good, like this epinions.com review of the store: http://www.epinions.com/content_67901361796 FABRIC ITEMS NEED IMPROVEMENT: The fabric items are much like the print-at-home and iron-on products you can buy locally. They only have white and ash shirts because the design is printed on a white heat-applied fabric. It's not professional looking, in my opinion. I've ordered the boxers and t-shirts and while I think they're a great idea, they need more work to be worth the money. The reviewer does seem to really like the quality of other items like mugs and ceramic tiles. Maybe I should concentrate on those. Charities, what about the WWF? Their expenditures are high, but I don't give them money so no harm no foul. It's certainly one to research, at least. Thanks. __ Steve Sloan . Huntsville, Alabama = [EMAIL PROTECTED] Brin-L list pages .. http://www.brin-l.org Science Fiction-themed online store . http://www.sloan3d.com/store Chmeee's 3D Objects http://www.sloan3d.com/chmeee 3D and Drawing Galleries .. http://www.sloansteady.com Software Science Fiction, Science, and Computer Links Science fiction scans . http://www.sloan3d.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Best Environmental Charities Re: Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
At 09:53 PM 1/2/2004 -0600 Steve Sloan II wrote: As for the Irregulars question, Dr. Brin suggested that I donate part of each sale I make at my store to an appropriate charity, as a way to promote my store and do good at the same time. Which groups do good work preserving wildlife in general? Which ones are good at protecting the individual species that are so important to the Uplift stories, the dolphins, whales, chimps, and gorillas? One of my favorite charities for a long time, the recent Washington Post expose' notwithstanding, has been The Nature Conservancy.The philosophy behind The Nature Conservany is simple - just buy the land that needs preserving.I particularly like them because the operate worldwide - buying up everything from rainforests to things almost literally in our own backyards here in the States.In addition, as a geologist, I was particularly impressed that they stepped up to buy and preserve the land where Jack Horner discovered the Maiasauria breeding colony. Another charity in a similar vein that claims lots of rave reviews (unlike The Nature Conservancy) from the people who review charities is The Conservation Fund. JDG ___ John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to humanity. - George W. Bush 1/29/03 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
Steve Sloan II wrote: I'm pretty sure I set the price of the shirt at my online store too high, so as an apology, I've decreased it from $19.99 to $16.99. Do y'all consider $3 of profit per shirt fair? http://www.cafeshops.com/Sloan3D As for the Irregulars question, Dr. Brin suggested that I donate part of each sale I make at my store to an appropriate charity, as a way to promote my store and do good at the same time. Which groups do good work preserving wildlife in general? Which ones are good at protecting the individual species that are so important to the Uplift stories, the dolphins, whales, chimps, and gorillas? If you're making donations to a charitable organization and say so up front, in theory I'd be happy to pay an extra $1-3 per shirt to help that out. In practice, I'm not buying any shirts this month except maybe from Special Addition on North Lamar in Austin. :) But there's always next month and the month after As for the charity, off the top of my head, maybe the World Wildlife Fund would be good. And one other thing: Please don't hesitate to gripe at me if you think I'm spamming the list. :-) I determined earlier today that griping is not the optimal way to achieve the results you want. If I am ever of the opinion that you are spamming the list, I'll let you know in a direct, matter-of-fact way, doing my best to keep the tone not-griping. :) Julia an apology wins a lot more points than a confrontation, and makes the person who yelled at you look foolish (and then drives you to do interesting things to avoid that particular situation less than an hour later) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
At 10:53 PM 1/2/2004, you wrote: I'm pretty sure I set the price of the shirt at my online store too high, so as an apology, I've decreased it from $19.99 to $16.99. Do y'all consider $3 of profit per shirt fair? http://www.cafeshops.com/Sloan3D As for the Irregulars question, Dr. Brin suggested that I donate part of each sale I make at my store to an appropriate charity, as a way to promote my store and do good at the same time. Which groups do good work preserving wildlife in general? Which ones are good at protecting the individual species that are so important to the Uplift stories, the dolphins, whales, chimps, and gorillas? And one other thing: Please don't hesitate to gripe at me if you think I'm spamming the list. :-) I'm only asking this from a business POV. There are many things I do not know and would like some details. Let me back up a step. I get t-shirts made for two groups I'm involved in. I'm assuming you are not the one making those shirts, that physically you never touch them. My point is: if you are only making $3, then the company charges $14. Subtracting the cost of shipping, they are making up to if not over 200% profit. Some of that may be taken by their location (California), and definitely by website costs but that is a nice margin for not doing any extra work. On your side is the infamous Laffer curve. You aren't collecting taxes, but there is a relationship between what you charge and what you'll get back. Do you expect a hundred people to buy the shirt? Would 150 buy it if the price dropped another dollar? (I'm assuming no on both questions.) What does the image feel like? Is it inkjetted on or like an iron-on? Charities, what about the WWF? Their expenditures are high, but I don't give them money so no harm no foul. Kevin T. No real help ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
Steve wrote: And one other thing: Please don't hesitate to gripe at me if you think I'm spamming the list. :-) Looks on-topic to me... 8^) -- Doug ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
Steve wrote: As for the Irregulars question, Dr. Brin suggested that I donate part of each sale I make at my store to an appropriate charity, as a way to promote my store and do good at the same time. Which groups do good work preserving wildlife in general? Which ones are good at protecting the individual species that are so important to the Uplift stories, the dolphins, whales, chimps, and gorillas? Erik replied: I'm not aware of any good wildlife-specific charities, but I think my favorite charity is also very much in the Brin spirit of regular people using their innovative ideas to efficiently accomplish worthwhile goals: Ashoka. http://www.ashoka.org/ Wow. That's one of the reasons I love this list. You learn about the coolest organizations... Reggie Bautista Rethinking his charitable spending Maru ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
Erik Reuter wrote: For approximately $20,000, Ashoka enabled Dr. Vera Cordeiro to develop 'Renascer', an organization providing critical outpatient follow-up care to poor children who have suffered acute illnesses. It has spread to 11 hospitals in 5 states throughout Brazil, befitting more than 11,000 so far and reducing hospital re-admission rates by 60%. Her approach integrates health care, skill building and education services for children as well as for their families based on multidisciplinary teams and community support. My wife - a pediatrician - knows about this program. It's a small world, isn't it? Alberto Monteiro ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
I'm pretty sure I set the price of the shirt at my online store too high, so as an apology, I've decreased it from $19.99 to $16.99. Do y'all consider $3 of profit per shirt fair? http://www.cafeshops.com/Sloan3D As for the Irregulars question, Dr. Brin suggested that I donate part of each sale I make at my store to an appropriate charity, as a way to promote my store and do good at the same time. Which groups do good work preserving wildlife in general? Which ones are good at protecting the individual species that are so important to the Uplift stories, the dolphins, whales, chimps, and gorillas? And one other thing: Please don't hesitate to gripe at me if you think I'm spamming the list. :-) __ Steve Sloan . Huntsville, Alabama = [EMAIL PROTECTED] Brin-L list pages .. http://www.brin-l.org Science Fiction-themed online store . http://www.sloan3d.com/store Chmeee's 3D Objects http://www.sloan3d.com/chmeee 3D and Drawing Galleries .. http://www.sloansteady.com Software Science Fiction, Science, and Computer Links Science fiction scans . http://www.sloan3d.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Overpriced Shirts and Irregulars Question
On Fri, Jan 02, 2004 at 09:53:45PM -0600, Steve Sloan II wrote: As for the Irregulars question, Dr. Brin suggested that I donate part of each sale I make at my store to an appropriate charity, as a way to promote my store and do good at the same time. Which groups do good work preserving wildlife in general? Which ones are good at protecting the individual species that are so important to the Uplift stories, the dolphins, whales, chimps, and gorillas? I'm not aware of any good wildlife-specific charities, but I think my favorite charity is also very much in the Brin spirit of regular people using their innovative ideas to efficiently accomplish worthwhile goals: Ashoka. http://www.ashoka.org/ In the last 21 years, Ashoka has invested in more than 1,200 leading social entrepreneurs in 43 countries around the globe (including the U.S.), working on issues such as education, healthcare, the environment, human/gender rights, economic development, and poverty alleviation. Ashoka is unique in that it searches the world for local visionaries with local solutions to local problems, whose models can be replicated nationally and globally. Here's a link to a New York Times article about Ashoka: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/20/arts/20SOCI.html Here's an older, but very good, article from the Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/98jan/ashoka.htm EXAMPLES: Investing about $30,000, Ashoka helped Mary Allegretti save more than 9 million acres of the Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil -- that's less than a penny per acre. She developed the first system of extractive reserves by setting aside areas for jungle dwellers whose livelihood depends on the forest. By encouraging sustainable use of the tropical forest, the plan has also benefited more than 70,000 rubber tappers and 200,000 native inhabitants in the rain forest. Investing a total of approximately $11,000 over three years, Ashoka enabled Jeroo Billimoria to launch Childline, India's first 24-hour emergency telephone hotline for street children. They also receive follow-up support services such as police assistance and healthcare. Launched in Mumbai (Bombay),Childline has answered more than 2 million calls and directly provided assistance to more than 26,000 street children in the city over the past four years. Ashoka's investment amounts to a mere $0.42 per child. The model has spread to 38 cities nationally and to Thailand. Within 10 years, Jeroo plans to replicate it in 158 cities in India and Asia. For approximately $20,000, Ashoka enabled Dr. Vera Cordeiro to develop 'Renascer', an organization providing critical outpatient follow-up care to poor children who have suffered acute illnesses. It has spread to 11 hospitals in 5 states throughout Brazil, befitting more than 11,000 so far and reducing hospital re-admission rates by 60%. Her approach integrates health care, skill building and education services for children as well as for their families based on multidisciplinary teams and community support. Since 1998, five consultants from McKinsey have worked with her organization on a 'pro bono' basis to spread the model nationally. The first lady of S. Africa, Graca Machel plans to import it to southern Africa. For $23,000 Ashoka enabled Ngozi Iwere to develop the first model program for HIV/AIDS prevention in Nigeria benefiting several hundred teachers and more than 5,000 youth both in and out of school. It targets and involves the entire community instead of focusing on small high-risk target populations. Her Community Life Project works within existing community networks to develop and aggressively disseminate prevention and treatment information. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
