Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

***Craig*** · 07-13-2006, 04:53 PM

What would you all think of having semi-monthly design contests for a fencing shirt design where the winning design (as voted by fencing.net members) gets printed and put on sale via Fencing.Net?

I was talking to some people at nationals and they thought it would be a neat way to provide some cool shirts for the community.

The idea would be to have the design contest, take pre-orders for the shirt, and then I would run a batch of 50-100 and put them up for sale on the fencing.net store.

Craig

Mr Epee · 07-13-2006, 04:58 PM

It'll interfere with the 178 people who use f.net to promote their cafe press stores.

Goldgar · 07-13-2006, 04:59 PM

Only time will tell, but semi-monthly may be too often. After the initial spate of great designs, you may need to widen the interval in order to have a good set of designs to vote on each time.

rac · 07-13-2006, 05:03 PM

I have to agree with the interval timing comments. Semi-Monthly is to frequent. How about quarterly then you can get seasonal (anywhere other then down here in FL).

Otherwise, it is a wonderful idea.

HDG · 07-13-2006, 05:04 PM

Print the designs on underarmour shirts and you'll have a hit.

seven6ty · 07-13-2006, 05:05 PM

Yeah, I was gonna say it might be more reasonable to do this once ever two months or so?

Zilverzmurfen · 07-13-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rac

Semi-Monthly is to frequent. How about quarterly then you can get seasonal (anywhere other then down here in FL).

Great idea!

But I agree on the timing interval. Quarterly or tertially would suffice, I think.

labelle · 07-13-2006, 05:28 PM

Sweet! Ditto the frequency thing.

***Craig*** · 07-13-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

It'll interfere with the 178 people who use f.net to promote their cafe press stores.

Yeah...well that's a separate issue that I need to tackle at some point. Look for a separate thread for discussion of product advertising in the near future.

Craig

ParryRiposte · 07-13-2006, 05:54 PM

Awsome. About frequency, I say once a month.

Mr Epee · 07-13-2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Yeah...well that's a separate issue that I need to tackle at some point. Look for a separate thread for discussion of product advertising in the near future.

Craig

Thank you...

I can tolerate a reasonable amount of advertising from a site hoster.

But utilizing someone else's site for personal profit is annoying and super tacky.

D'Art · 07-13-2006, 07:26 PM

I would say an annual competition would be plenty frequent enough.

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 07-13-2006, 08:17 PM

Quarterly would be sweet.

You can count on me to win.

Mr Epee · 07-14-2006, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

You can count on me to win.

Yes, but can he count on you to BUY?

People like to play, but will they pay?

That's the real question.

Think about it... even if it's a quarterly issue, then you're looking at an annual t-shirt budget of around 80 bucks?

Assuming that you like/need the shirt.
-------------------------------------------

Call me jaded, but how many fencing t-shirts does a person need?

I don't get the facination.

Phaeton · 07-14-2006, 03:06 AM

I think it'd be pretty awesome, we'd have our own little threadlessesque place.

big daddy · 07-14-2006, 09:00 AM

I like the quarterly idea. I think Craig's shirts were better looking than the official USFA shirt at this summer's nationals.

Gav · 07-14-2006, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Epee

It'll interfere with the 178 people who use f.net to promote their cafe press stores.

Isn't there a name for this? "Piggy Back Marketing" or something. It doesn't bother me - but then I don't pay for the site. Without pre-empting Craig's 'future thread' would it not make sense for people to pay a small fee towards Craig's hosting fees?

Just stirring the pot a little.

Gav · 07-14-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

What would you all think of having semi-monthly design contests for a fencing shirt design where the winning design (as voted by fencing.net members) gets printed and put on sale via Fencing.Net?

I was talking to some people at nationals and they thought it would be a neat way to provide some cool shirts for the community.

The idea would be to have the design contest, take pre-orders for the shirt, and then I would run a batch of 50-100 and put them up for sale on the fencing.net store.

Craig

Interesting idea, but I think that an annual contest would be better. It would be very easy to overdo this concept.

A monthly photography or artwork contest would, in my opinion, work better.

***Craig*** · 07-14-2006, 09:44 AM

Good comments thus far. Quarterly seems the most frequently a shirt design contest could be run. That would allow for a seasonal focus to the entries.

I wouldn't expect someone to purchase every shirt. I'm sure some designs will be weapon-centric and not appeal to the broad mass of fencers here.

A photo or art contest also sounds neat, but I'm not sure about frequency. I'd have to give someone moderator access to run those contests - but it sounds like a good way to have some more interaction.

Craig

restlesscheese · 07-14-2006, 09:40 PM

I'm cool with any kind of creative contest. Count on me to put a few entries in!