TechPowerUp Merch Store Idea

[regorwin56]

I've had the coffee mug made from the original idea back when ATI existed - still use it a lot

The T-Shirt got too many questions asked and eventually tore a hole in it - although if i was doing TPU video content of any kind it'd be a no-brainer

TPU cup made 16 years ago(?

 

[P4-630]

Maybe better to make it a Frontpage poll....

 

[JATownes]

Mailman used to do it I think? I also have a TPU mug from many years ago. Doesn't get much use as a mug now and holds screws and various bits in my computer closet.

JAT

 

[A Computer Guy]

Random idea. TechPowerUp matchbox/hotweels cars. Fun for the kids, my 2yr old seems to be a racecar driver now.

 

[INSTG8R]

Hook me up with stickers or T-shirts I’d totally be down to buy them!

 

[bonehead123]

This could be a good thing, or a very bad one, depending on the execution and amount of resources that can be committed to it...

Running a basic, everyday website is 1 thing, running an complete ecommerce site is quite another...

Think about all of the costs, time, and expertise required:

A) Warehouse/office space
B) Inventory acquisition/management/control
C) Regulatory/legal/compliance issues
D) Employee hiring/training/retention
E) Shipping/receiving/logistics
F) Warranty implementation
G) Design implementation/copyright acquisition/enforcement
H) Bookkeeping/accounting
I) Advertising/promotion/search engine optimization
J) Where do the profits end up ?

And if you intend to go global, these issues will most certainly get even more complex & time consuming.

Probably alot of other things too, but these are 1st ones that popped into my head

And putting the storefront on Amazon may sound like a great idea in some aspects, since they can/will do alot of the back-end things for you, but they certainly don't do them for FREE !

My thing would be to make/sell stuff that is exclusive to TPU and for members only, cause custom made coffee mugs, mousepads, teeshirts etc are available just about anywherez....

 

[lexluthermiester]

Maybe better to make it a Frontpage poll....

I don't have that kind of access.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

It would be relatively simple to do a 3rd party storefront and a 3rd party production-on-demand (possibly automated) for merch. This would reduce some of your concerns - marked below.

A) Warehouse/office space - Negated
B) Inventory acquisition/management/control - Negated
C) Regulatory/legal/compliance issues - Reduced
D) Employee hiring/training/retention - Reduced
E) Shipping/receiving/logistics - Negated
F) Warranty implementation - Reduced
G) Design implementation/copyright acquisition/enforcement
H) Bookkeeping/accounting - Reduced
I) Advertising/promotion/search engine optimization - Negated
J) Where do the profits end up ? - Reduce advertisements - make the main site more attractive.

Just some random thoughts I had.

 

[Mussels]

TPU cup made 16 years ago(?

It was a long, long time ago - i have no idea how many years but it's aged really well

@lexluthermiester was involved so he might remember the store that did it, it was an authorised unofficial thing back then too


This could be used as a way to get funds for certain review hardware, people were discussing how low end motherboards never get sent as review samples- a merch store could raise funding, and people can vote on where it goes?

 

[Toothless]

Duuuuude I'd love a TPU shirt or light hoodie. Maybe I'll see a fellow TPU'er at work and do some weird tech mating dance.

 

[cvaldes]

This could be a good thing, or a very bad one, depending on the execution and amount of resources that can be committed to it...

Running a basic, everyday website is 1 thing, running an complete ecommerce site is quite another...

Think about all of the costs, time, and expertise required:

A) Warehouse/office space
B) Inventory acquisition/management/control
C) Regulatory/legal/compliance issues
D) Employee hiring/training/retention
E) Shipping/receiving/logistics
F) Warranty implementation
G) Design implementation/copyright acquisition/enforcement
H) Bookkeeping/accounting
I) Advertising/promotion/search engine optimization
J) Where do the profits end up ?

And if you intend to go global, these issues will most certainly get even more complex & time consuming.

Probably alot of other things too, but these are 1st ones that popped into my head

And putting the storefront on Amazon may sound like a great idea in some aspects, since they can/will do alot of the back-end things for you, but they certainly don't do them for FREE !

My thing would be to make/sell stuff that is exclusive to TPU and for members only, cause custom made coffee mugs, mousepads, teeshirts etc are available just about anywherez....

No reason to reinvent the wheel. There are companies that have been doing online merchandising for decades.

As I mentioned earlier in this discussion back on post #23, CafePress.com was one of the early pioneers in the late Nineties, pretty much as close as one could get to a turnkey store.

I created an account at CafePress.com, uploaded some graphics files, picked products (even thong underwear for women), typed in some dimensions into a form (at the time) and was able to see a visual preview of the finished product. Finally I set retail pricing as a delta over the base product price (i.e., my cost). I have a vague memory of ordering something (probably a t-shirt) at cost so I could review the merchandise and printing quality which was fine. There was no recurring cost to keep the storefront open. All of CafePress.com's fees were built into the merchandise cost and shipping/handling fees.

This was twenty years ago. I never did any major promotion for the store and after a few years of being totally idle, CafePress informed me that they would be closing my store and removing its products from their search index.

I even had a private store where I'd upload photos for personal projects that I couldn't accomplish at Shutterfly, Snapfish, etc. at the time.

CafePress.com is still around after 20+ years so they're probably doing something right.

 

[Arjai]

T-Shirt and Coffee Mug, my vote. I have been wanting a Coffee Mug for YEARS!!! I got here in 2012 and the previous cups were all gone. So, 10 years I've wanted one! Please, do it!! If only, for me?

 

[P4-630]

I don't have that kind of access.

I know, ask W1zz.

 

[R-T-B]

No. There is only frog.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It was a long, long time ago - i have no idea how many years but it's aged really well

@lexluthermiester was involved so he might remember the store that did it, it was an authorised unofficial thing back then too


This could be used as a way to get funds for certain review hardware, people were discussing how low end motherboards never get sent as review samples- a merch store could raise funding, and people can vote on where it goes?

Nope, that wasn't me.. My ideas were more recent. I didn't even know BITD. Would have bought a few tshirts had I known..

I know, ask W1zz.

Actually, W1zzard and I have had a discussion about another matter, but if he's agreeable, I'd be willing to take on such a task. @W1zzard ; Shall we discuss?

 

[Flanker]

It would be cool, but at the same time i understand running a store is a lot of work

 

[Mussels]

Nope, that wasn't me.. My ideas were more recent. I didn't even know BITD. Would have bought a few tshirts had I known..


Actually, W1zzard and I have had a discussion about another matter, but if he's agreeable, I'd be willing to take on such a task. @W1zzard ; Shall we discuss?

Wait it wasn't you?
It was so long ago. So so long ago.

 

[Ferrum Master]

I have an idea... some CH341 video BIOS recovery kit with clips and signed instructions from eidairaman1