TSHIRT ENTREPRENEUR ONLINE

Cafepress announced that it is going to start offering yard signs:

scheduled to launch on October 10th, but if you want to get started on designs the following specs may be helpful:* Image size: 21″ x 14″ (150 - 300 dpi, 200 recommended)
  * Double Sided: submit a single image it will be printed on both sides of the sign
  * Product size: 22″ x 15″
  * Frame: ships with collapsible U frame stand that measures 21″ x 33″
  * Base price: $14.99
  * Material: Printed on flexible 10 oz outdoor sign vinyl
  * Features:
  o Weather resistant for up to 2 years
  o Heat Sealed Edges
  o Double sided

Of course they can be used for a lot of other things too, but mostly they are going to be political in nature. The only drawback I see is that price tag. Base price $14.99? That’s a hefty price especially when political candidates and organizations give out signs for free. So if you want someone to plunk down $14.99 + commission for a yard sign that design better be the best design ever.

They also announced larger, 3.5″ buttons and that the paper in there perfect bound books will now be on white, instead of cream, paper.

—————————————————————–
J.J. Jackson is President of Land of the Free Studios, Inc. and Cafepress “Top Shopkeeper”. He has been selling t-shirts on-line since 2004 and is the owner of the T-Shirt Entrepreneur, a site dedicated to helping people get involved in the T-shirt Economy. He is also the owner of Funny When Wet T-shirts, American Infidel Tshirts, Uber Gamer T-shirts as well as many other online t-shirt and gift stores.

Cafepress announces that 2008 Calendars are now available for design:

Create a theme — think animals, architecture, humor — or showcase your body of creative work. Have fun with it! Calendar season is officially here, so make the most of it by targeting your gift-giving customers. Be on the ball and announce your new 2008 Calendar to generate pre-holiday buzz around your shop.

Full-bleed dynamic color printing

Durable 100-lb. cover weight high-gloss
  paper, wire bound

US holidays noted with plenty of room to jot
  down appointments

Vertical Calendar has 11″x11″ images
  for easy design

Oversized Calendar showcases 17″x11″ landscape images

Calendars are a top seller during the Holidays so be sure to add them to your shop!

and an upgrade to their keepsake boxes:

We’ve upgraded our Tile Box. Perfect for stylishly storing jewelry and mementos, this hardwood box showcases a ceramic tile. With the new Keepsake Box you’ll notice substantial improvements in overall quality, including these feature upgrades:

• High-shine piano lacquered wood finish
• Spring-loaded hinged lid
• Velvet-lined interior and felt-lined bottom
• Superior build quality

For more information, click here. If you already have Tile Boxes in your shop, this upgrade is automatic. If you don’t, add them now!

From the Spreadshirt Newsletter, new products and more:

An assortment of assortment updatesNew products, new colors, new sizes, new price reductions! Here’s what’s new, just in time for back-to-school… NEW PRODUCTS!

-	Women’s Lightweight Tee by Anvil: This new product is equivalent to our men’s lightweight tee. Available to shop partners only, this shirt comes in sizes S - 2XL in white, black, red and navy.
-	Women’s V-Neck Tee by Anvil: Available in sizes S - XL in white, black and gray.
-	Women’s Long Sleeve Jersey Tee by Bella: Available in sizes S - XL in white, black, chocolate, navy, red, light pink, powder blue and gray.

We’re still waiting on some of the stock to arrive, but when these products are ready to go we’ll let you know! Make sure you check the Spreadshirt Forum and our blog frequently for updates.
 

NEW COLORS & SIZE!

-	Men’s Jersey Tee by American Apparel: Now available in lemon, grass green, kelly green, gold, navy, red, brown, and light blue. And we’ll now be carrying this shirt in size small.
-	Men’s Lightweight Tee: Now available in ash, red, brown and navy.
-	Children’s Tee by Gildan: Now available in yellow.

NEW PRICE REDUCTIONS!

We’re reducing the base price on the contrast stitch tee, messenger bag, cinch sack, tag bag, sneakers and all of our specialty flex prints! All price reductions will be live by Wednesday, August 15th.

Today in an email, Cafepress informed shopkeepers that in late August they will be adding a $3.00 fee to garments that have printing on both sides:

In late August we will be introducing a new pricing structure for garments featuring more than one printing area, and launching a product update to the existing Tile Box. We see you sell merchandise featuring second side printing, so we thought we’d give you a heads up.With this launch we will begin charging a $3 second side printing surcharge for all garments* featuring more than one print area. To minimize work on your end and to ensure you don’t see a margin impact on these products, we will automatically add $3 to the current retail price for each second side garment in your shop(s). Of course you can always readjust the retail prices of your products as you see fit once this release goes live.

Please note that there is no action required on your part unless you wish to remove or change second side images in your shop(s).

Printing on more than one side obviously costs more, but one has to wonder how much more considering this fee has not been needed before.

Sounds to me like the bean counters are out and about and trying to justify their existence … much to the dismay of many shopkeepers. This will certainly have an effect on who I will be bulk ordering stock from in the future as other sites do not charge this extra amount (at least on white shirts).

—————————————————————–
J.J. Jackson is President of Land of the Free Studios, Inc. and Cafepress “Top Shopkeeper”. He has been selling t-shirts on-line since 2004 and is the owner of the T-Shirt Entrepreneur, a site dedicated to helping people get involved in the T-shirt Economy. He is also the owner of Funny When Wet T-shirts, American Infidel Tshirts, Uber Gamer T-shirts as well as many other online t-shirt and gift stores.

According to a post by AngCP on June 29th, “5” x 7” Greeting Cards: 6 packs are no longer available.”

However, the following are what they are replacing them with:

5″ x 7″ Greeting Cards
• Single pack: $2.49
• 10 pack: $14.99 (6 packs will update to the 10 packs, retaining mark-up)
• 20 pack: $23.99

New Size! 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ Note Card
• 10 pack: $9.99
• 20 pack: $17.99

Cards are now available on glossy or matte paper. Shoppers can choose their preference when ordering.

Not a huge change probably for most Cafepress shop keepers.  I know that I’ve never really focused on Greeting Cards nor have many that I have spoke to over the years.

—————————————————————–

J.J. Jackson is President of Land of the Free Studios, Inc. and Cafepress “Top Shopkeeper”. He has been selling t-shirts on-line since 2004 and is the owner of the T-Shirt Entrepreneur, a site dedicated to helping people get involved in the T-shirt Economy. He is also the owner of Funny When Wet T-shirts, American Infidel Tshirts, Uber Gamer T-shirts as well as many other online t-shirt and gift stores.