Connecting with communities via printing on demand

How Printing on demand project can nurture learning and build communities of interests and skills

Fanstatic how conversations and people can motivate you to get on with little pet projects ;-)

I recently Met Graham from 'poet in the city' at an event hosted by 'The National Council of Vountary Organisations' (NCVO) which does so much fantastic training and support for third sector workers at the coal face of social change.

Graham nurtures inclusive poetry, embracing London's rich ethnic, language and cultural divercity. Poetry events are held around the city across various indoor and outdoor venues (as far as I can remember Graham).

Straight away I thought, wow...what about linking poetry to other groups who use 'poetry in so many ways'...

...but that's me thinking about bringing everyone together!

Why wear Nike when you can wear pride...?..imagine a remixed brand, by the people and for the people!
When I think of Merchandizing in the third sector, straight away I think of community generated designs, integration of self-taught artists, and gathering all of this potential, initially under Creative Commons. Then this pool of content can be farmed and remixed to produce fantastic original pieces that can be atributed to the contributors!

This is the creative bomb that imploded in my head as Graham said, "I'm thinking about merchadizing".

I thought, fanstastic!

...what if?

What if 'poetry in the city' where to create T-shirt poetry and artistic rendering on T-shirts driven by their audiences for their audiences?

What if they co-produced funky branded pieces?

What if 'people couture' could be the new 'visual poetry?

What if co-merchandizing could be a project to be shared at events?

What if initial contributors could be initially identified through a Flickr Group?

What if they checked out threadless and collarfree to get an idea of this fanstastic new people power?

Otherwise, chasing bodies for T-shirts makes any charity look like any other commercial setup, intrusive and only wanting your £ove when you pay by credit card!

If this opportunity was embraced - then the organisation could get closer to the audiences so they become contributors in the development and creation of brand merchandizing - a bit like threadless, and collarfree.

For more details about the Printing-on-demand providers, check out the PDF I did for you Graham. I looked at the most established and well known ones. Please make sure you do a thorough web check on complaints and your 'communities copyrights' so that you can all benefit from your effort and no other hijack artists get to piggy back on your hard efforts...that could be a separate project ;-) first fatten up the piggy bank.



Resource(s) Reference(s)

competitions...

PDF reviewing print-on-demand main contenders
http://issuu.com/williamdoust/docs/printingondemand

spreadshirt competitions
http://blog.spreadshirt.net/uk/category/competitions/

submit a t-shirt design idea (winner-exclusive print)
http://www.collarfree.com/

submit a t-shirt design idea (winner-exclusive print)
http://www.threadless.com/


opinions, reviews, tips about printing on demand contenders...

Cafe Press Complaints regarding print quality of T-shirts
http://www.t-shirtforums.com/t-shirt-fulfillment-services/t41579-2.html

blog about t-shirt designs & trends
http://www.cottonable.com/

Copyright issues about zazzle on techcrunch
http://www.techcrunch.com/2005/07/20/profile-zazzle/

5 Tips That Will Improve Your Online Store
http://www.cotygonzales.com/2008/10/15/5-tips-that-will-improve-your-online-store/

spreashirt blog...
http://blog.spreadshirt.net/uk/

self-promo & web - cafepress
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/learn/shop_promo

T-thirt forums
http://www.t-shirtforums.com/t-shirt-fulfillment-services/t41579-2.html

zazzle - rss
http://www.zazzle.com/sell/tools/feeds

zazzle - promo tools
http://www.zazzle.com/sell/promotion/tools

zazzle - referrals
http://www.zazzle.com/sell/incentive/associate

zazzle - promo tutorial
http://www.zazzle.com/sell/promotion/promotionbasic

even more about Ts
http://www.tshirtchat.com/

lenz on zazzle...about T-shirts
http://www.squidoo.com/zazzle101

Promoting your T-shirt designs..

Rumplo
http://rumplo.com/

about Rumplo
http://rumplo.com/help/general#1

Rumplo blog
http://rumplo.com/blog/ http://rumplo.com/help/general#1

Videos...
cafepress quick basic free store intro...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWJT4fUuP9w

spreadhirt - working with vectors...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9a14oWkESA

spreadhirt - designer views (preparing designs)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghzLk4j0wCU

spreadhirt - company indie tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ5OBhlJEhQ

zazzle-intro (site & tour)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG4c7X_-ydk

zazzle - intro, about the company
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XdHfs3TyuM





blog comments powered by Disqus