Using CafePress Shops for Podcast Support

[phylaxis]

I am trying to approach this issue up front. It is sort of an experiment, but we will see how it goes. I want to do a podcast, but I am concerned about the bandwidth issues I hear many podcasters talking about. I can't afford to do a podcast and then get slapped with a large bill from an ISP because I exceeded a bandwith cap, so I am attempting to be proactive about it. I decided to try selling t-shirts and stuff on Cafe Press (http://www.cafepress.com/podthreads). I am creating designs to help promote podcasting and I hope by selling these items I might earn enough money to support hosting a podcast. I have my shop set with one design and am working on some others. My next challange is promotion of the site, any ideas? Anyway, I will let you know how it works out.

[SteveWebb]

Very nice designs. I hope you do well with them. I, too, would like to figure a way to start some revenue flowing. Bandwidth, after all, isn't free. As listenership increases, I think we'll be able to think about incorporating some sort of advertising in our podcasts. But it will HAVE to be done creatively. That's going to be the challenge.

[theFerf]

Hey Everybody, this is your PodcastAlley.com admin here. Just wanted to drop this line out there for those of you interested in selling your own tshirts for your show. I own a t-shirt printing business too, and I am going to start up a service printing shirts for podcasters.

You can see my current designs at http://shop.shirtsbymail.com/podcast.html but I would like for podcasters to make their own designs, and then have me print them and sell them online for you (since i have the cart and everything setup already). I am still working out the details, any suggestions for me?

[Craig]

Hey Chris, I just launched a design at Cafe Press:

http://www.cafepress.com/podcastshop

If you're still interested in selling our designs let me know.

Craig

[theFerf]

Craig:

shoot me an email sometime so we can chat. i have no problem making and selling the shirts for you. there is no up front cost, and no work for you ... other than advertising the shirts :)

I will design, print, collect fees, credit cards, ship, and handle customer service...and when it is all said and done, mail you a check for every one of your designs sold (even if not through your site referral).

this is open to any podcaster. want to sell shirts? let me know, i will send you the specs. info@podcastalley.com

[pacopv]

I think CafePress is an excellent idea! I'm planning on a 2006 calendar (I'm a photographer also) and a set of greeting cards. Maybe even a t-shirt. Once I have several podcasts under my belt, I'll ask the listeners to support the podcast and take care of their holiday shopping list at the same time!

Paco


I am trying to approach this issue up front. It is sort of an experiment, but we will see how it goes. I want to do a podcast, but I am concerned about the bandwidth issues I hear many podcasters talking about. I can't afford to do a podcast and then get slapped with a large bill from an ISP because I exceeded a bandwith cap, so I am attempting to be proactive about it. I decided to try selling t-shirts and stuff on Cafe Press (http://www.cafepress.com/podthreads). I am creating designs to help promote podcasting and I hope by selling these items I might earn enough money to support hosting a podcast. I have my shop set with one design and am working on some others. My next challange is promotion of the site, any ideas? Anyway, I will let you know how it works out.

[jawbone]

****, Chris. I wish I would have known that before I set up my Cafepress shop. Can the two work independently? For example, can Cafepress still make my shirts, but if I get orders through you, you'd be able to print them out too? I have a bunch of designs at my shop, so I don't know if it makes sense to print them all out at once...

Here's my Cafepress shop:

http://www.cafepress.com/jawboneradio

[allthewhile]

jawbone, I'd even go so far as to suggest that you sell all of your shirts through chris (if possible). I've seen cafepress shirts that people have bought and they're not nearly the quality of the shirts that chris produces.

I give his shirts 9/10 fishsticks.

[jawbone]

Hmmm...the fishsticks thing may have sold me. :D

[yaz]

oh sweet, my fish stick persistence has given birth to a new rating system, what a breakthrough...

[jawbone]

Chris:

I think I am going to take you up on the shirt printing thing. A listener recieved my shirts today and there was a serious production problem. The "jaw" doesn't show up at all on the shirts. So now she has a shirt that just says "bone", which could get her some strange looks. But it's totally unacceptable.

I am sending you an e-mail as well.

[theFerf]

I give his shirts 9/10 fishsticks.

CLASSIC!

[yaz]

at this rate, the fish sticks are truely never gonna go away...

[spaz]

...no more fishsticks...

...though the only thing fishsticks are good for are playing with...

[yaz]

fish don't come in sticks...so fish sticks should be illegal...

[spaz]

Yes...let us never again discuss fishsticks...

[Craig]

...no more fishsticks...
That could be a shirt of its own.

Craig

[spaz]

...no more fishsticks...
That could be a shirt of its own.

Craig

:lol: I thought we aren't discussing fishsticks anymore...

but I would think about that shirt....(I like shirts...)

[yaz]

that would be the craziest inside joke, i can imagine walking around with a shirt that said, "no more fish sticks" and people lookin at me like i was an alien...

[Craig]

It could have a picture of two little squished fishsticks with tire tracks on them.

Craig

[spaz]

:lol: ok, now I really want one....

[yaz]

craig, we should team up on this one...

[jawbone]

Why did he put fishsticks in nose again? :?

[yaz]

nah, there are just so many references...