Help! My Cafepress Store Is A Miserable Failure! Any Ideas???

[DistressedAmerican]

(This post kind of straddles the line between GD and the Lounge. I dropped it on this side. Hope you don't mind!)

I set up my cafepress store several months ago hoping that the sales would help support me, my wife and new baby. Many people had told me my graphics would make great t-shirts etc. So I figured it was worth the effort to get them out.

Unfortunately my total sales for the site have been less than 40 bucks in all that time. That is less than I have spent to advertise. At this point I am nearly $100 in the hole on this venture!

Am I missing something or are these things just not as popular as everyone assumes?

Does anyone have one of these stores set up? If so how are your sales?

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the word out a bit more effectively?

I'd really appreciate the input. I'm getting kind of desperate here!

I Figured At The Minimum I'd Be Able To Move This Design! It is quite popular on the street:

[proud patriot]

1. I like Al

:shrug:

[alfredo]

2. do a link swap with other

progressive sites.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

3. Give a few T-shirts away to local activist friends.

When they wear the T-shirts, others will see them. It's amazing how "I like your shirt- where'd ya get it?!" can translate into increased visibility of the product.

[Lone Pawn]

4. What all do you sell?

Link to store?

[DistressedAmerican]

5. Shirts, Stickers, Mugs, Mousepads, Tons of other stuff as well!

Here is the link:
http://www.cafepress.com/distressedgear

It is in my sig line but, not very obvious with the rest of the crap there. I should streamline it.

[thebigidea]

6. I like the graphics, but the fonts are headache-inducing... hard to read

[DistressedAmerican]

8. That is a reduced version. Here's The Same Full Size:

Better? I Usually Space out the text at the bottom a bit more is is kind of cramped.

Check out my website. There are tons more there:
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/mdistressedamerican/main.htm

[thebigidea]

10. I think its the combination of red text with both white and black shadowin

perhaps just red text? or red with a black shadow? It would look crisper...

I always thought about setting up a cafepress thingie for my own odd graphics, but your tale of woe nudges me closer to the "geez, why bother" pov...

[CitySky]

11. psst...

if "summer's eve" is a real brand & logo (I think it is?), then they may smack you down for trademark infringement the second they get wind of this. just between u & me, of course.

[thebigidea]

12. to which you could scream "fair use! fuck off, douchepeople!"

[RebelOne]

7. I don't know it this is any help, but maybe Eric

at BushFlash would put your link in his products section.

http://www.bushflash.com/links.html#p

[DistressedAmerican]

9. For Some Reason I Have Yet To Meet Him. Good Suggestion.

I've been meaning to drop him a line and introduce myself. Think I will. Thanks.

[amazona]

13. virtually all cafepress stores are miserable failures

Don't know what to tell you. Making a living off cafepress is not going to happen. You probably have a better chance of getting struck by lightning.

I think people most happy with cafepress are people making T-shirts for everyone to wear on their sports team or family re-union or the like. Sorry. It's sort of a scam to let people think they'll earn money this way.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[minerva50]

15. I suspected that was the truth

but I lack the knowledge or experience to confirm.

[DistressedAmerican]

20. Never even occured to me that I'd make a living at it.

Just some spare bucks. I figured I'd at least sell a couple of shirts a week. Which isn't much considering I do not have much markup at all.

Oh well. Maybe it isn't even that!

[RebelOne]

47. I order quite often from Cafepress.

But it is mostly for political expression T-shirts for my dog. The last two read: "My IQ is higher than the president's" and "I heart Democrats." Ordered a bumper sticker that read "Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home."

[iconoclastNYC]

14. Suggested Redesign - Simplify

The border, the background, the text, and the URL, all diminish the gag...this is how i'd make it look. Change this and I bet your sales increase. Also....just go with your top 5 designs.

[lectrobyte]

17. LOL. That one works for me! nt

[DistressedAmerican]

21. I Admit, It Looks Pretty Nice

The designs were more intended as web graphics. I haven't done any designs specifically foe this or that product. Maybe I should.

[iconoclastNYC]

27. You could say : "simpleton math" for a bad pun too n/t

[readmoreoften]

42. I don't buy at cafe press because I don't like white clothes.

I thought about setting up a site but I just don't like their products. I've seen slogans I loved but didn't buy because I don't wear white. I'd love it if they had black hoodie sweatshirts and black tees.

[lectrobyte]

16. I buy a fair amount of bumperstickers, since I either get tired of

them, or they get messed up from the sun and humidity. No offense, but your stickers didn't really grab me the way the ones do on this page: http://www.cafepress.com/irregulargoods But looking at your page again, I don't think you intend for your stickers to be bumper stickers. Perhaps you should consider making some barbed pointy bumperstickers and adding those to your line?

[DistressedAmerican]

22. I Just Worked This The Other Day. It Is My First Design For That Format.

What do you think?

[iconoclastNYC]

24. I don't see why a purchasers wants to advertise your site

I mean unless its a Democratic Underground or Free Republic, something that has a brand established. Otherwise the text just diminishes your overall message.

[DistressedAmerican]

26. Just Plain Then?

I went with something dark so it would not be too obvious...

[iconoclastNYC]

32. That is an improvement but

I bet the URL still turns some people off. Especially on a tshirt, people want very clean design and nothign to distract from the message.

I think you should just leave it off.

[DistressedAmerican]

34. Duely noted!

[lectrobyte]

29. I like it, but right now, I have bumper stickers about Social Security

and Deficits.

[DistressedAmerican]

30. PLEASE NO ONE TAKE THIS AS PRESSURE TO BUY!

Not my goal at all.

Just looking for your much prized feedback!

Thanks:toast:

[R. A. Fuqua]

18. I hate to say this

(because I know you have worked hard on your designs and your stuff looks cool and all that) --but a lot of people are having hard times right now--and the last thing they are going to spend money on is novelty t-shirts and mugs that they don't necessarily need.

I have been really cutting down on my consumption of consumer goods--I know a lot of other people have been doing the same. This may be a bad time to be hawking such products (even though I like your concepts and designs).

[Just Me]

19. Could be due to this being an "off" election year.

Your business may pick up quickly early next year.

The first year of any new business is the hardest to get through.

[JNelson6563]

23. Too ambitous of a menu

IMO you need to go bumper stickers and buttons so you can pick up bulk orders. As a Co. party buyer and District chair I am looking for stuff my counties can use as fundraisers. Tee-shirts, mugs etc. are cool but not practical in this way. Another angle of swag on the local level, besides fundraising, is visibility. You can wear a button on your backpack, purse, shirt, jacket, whatever the weather, whatever you wear, you can add the button. A bumper sticker is also cool, many thousands can see your message that way. Not so with tee-shirts or mouse pads.

Just some marketing pointers.

Good luck-
Julie

[DistressedAmerican]

25. Thanks! I Was Wondeering About That. I Was Serously Considering

cutting it down. I fear that people just get too bogged down in all of the options.

[JNelson6563]

28. Sure, here's another thought

My county party, remember we're like 70% Rethug, we rocked so much last year that we bought and sold so much swag it wasn't funny. We easily spent $20,000 on the stuff. But we bought in big bulk which allowed us to make some serious cash. Another thing, remember that folks buying for many, as I do, can't necessarily go with too hard-line of a message. Now that things are a bit slower I am buying smaller amounts and a big variety. This enables me to buy some of the more hard-line stuff but I also buy plenty of the in-no-possible-way offensive stuff.

Cheers-
Julie

[DistressedAmerican]

31. Great input. Everyone is being super helpful!

I'll keep that in mind for future work!

[cap]

33. do you have any local off-year elections coming up in fall?

can you gear something around that ...

You just missed Earth Day... what else is coming up??

[Disturbed]

37. Excellent concepts that need to be..

simplified. T-shirts are a hard sell. Marketing is the most difficult part of any venture, esp. on the Net. Hooking up with as many sites as possible is a route to go. I wish you more success.

[JNelson6563]

44. It was very smart of you to ask for advice

Glad so many have helpful suggestions. :toast:

Julie

[DistressedAmerican]

46. My Experience Suggests You Guys Are Smart (And Brutally Honest) Folks

I really appreciate all of the feedback I've been getting.

Some of it discourages me, some gives me hope. But it is all very useful! Thanks again!

[ChickMagic]

35. Well, I just ordered a shirt.

Hope it helps out!

[DistressedAmerican]

36. That Is Great! Do Want To Reiterate, Do Not Feel Pressured

I really am just curious nabout what folks think.

I appreciate it though! 3 more bucks for me! You rock!:pals:

On Edit: What design? Just curious...

[ChickMagic]

40. I didn't feel pressured

I just liked it! I got the pink and white shirt with douchbag on it. :) It's awesome!

[DistressedAmerican]

43. Well Thank You. I Do Think It IS Pretty Stylish Myself!

You are the best! Hope you enjoy it!

I bet it get lots of interesting comments!

[seabeyond]

38. distressamerican you arent going to like this

all your stuff is anti.........aggressive, distressed. to blatant towards bush. though i love a lot of them, i do, i cant put any on my car, or wear any of the tshirts. just not a way to communicate with people in a red state, my people, texans. i want to open to dialogue, not yelling and closed ears

i really like the sheep on. may just buy that tshirt.

really good stuff for rebellous young, or blue state, but not where i am in life

[DistressedAmerican]

41. Well, I Guess They Are Not Very Texas Friendly. I'll give you that!

Maybe I need to do a fly over your state and drop flyers from a nice safe altitude!

[lectrobyte]

45. I'm trying to have more thought-provoking bumper stickers, and

less confrontational ones, too, I'm in a red state.

[sweetheart]

39. subtle marketing

Perhaps a white background would be less "dark" on the web page.

I don't have seeds of doubt or distress, or if i did, would i ever
mention it.

I have Intense feelings of patriotic betrayal, as one who's had their
house broken in to by burglars.

I never buy anything (ANYTHING) with bush's face on it. He makes me
sick... sick, and no point in spreading that, or wearing it, even if
the message is progressive.

I love design, colours, art, feelings, flames, something emotive and
filled with design( something beautiful with or without its message)
... just me i realize, but you asked.

I hate american Tea-cups. They're thick, and suck. YOU could
investigate a UK supplier of bone-china Tea-cups that would be hot
sellers... from Stoke-on-trent, berkshire (said: barkshire). It might
give you an angle to have a better T-cup than is produced on the north
american continent.

The colours are too many.... better to down-tone and be less flashy,
as it will out-design your competitors.

Honestly, i've got 30+ T-shirts with designs on them, and most are
from places, like national parks, or things where my heart is somehow
equated with the feelings in the design.

A T-shirt with feathers and a sunset, "American natives for justice"
is more something i'd snap up.

Best fortune with your site.

-s