Summer Chat Transcript 5-28-08
[2008.05.28 18:54:51] Welcome to the CafePress Chat Room
[2008.05.28 18:54:51] Dooni Designs has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 18:54:51] All users in this room have been allowed to talk
[2008.05.28 18:56:36] TexasFiddler has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 18:58:12] BrittaCP has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:00:12] Lorilei has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:00:30] Winter has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:00:56] TexasFiddler: Lorilei! Haven't seen you in a while!
[2008.05.28 19:01:07] kaosnorway has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:01:34] BrittaCP: Greetings and salutations! Welcome to another action packed Shopkeeper discsussion!
[2008.05.28 19:01:37] Lorilei: :)
[2008.05.28 19:01:54] Sag: :-D
[2008.05.28 19:02:08] BrittaCP: Alright... what do we have for you today?
[2008.05.28 19:02:13] BrittaCP: Summer Sales
[2008.05.28 19:02:15] CAMO BABY: ;)
[2008.05.28 19:02:24] PhotoGirl has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:02:45] BrittaCP: I beleive the official first day of summer is 6/20 or 6/21
[2008.05.28 19:02:47] AngelaCP has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:03:08] PeggyWvB has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:03:19] arty1 has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:03:40] BrittaCP: And as we head into those warmer days... what are some ways as shopkeepers that you can boost your sales, and cash in on the season?
[2008.05.28 19:03:47] PeggyWvB: Britta I owe you a cookie, but all I have are scones
[2008.05.28 19:03:50] BrittaCP: i like scones
[2008.05.28 19:04:10] PeggyWvB: Fresh from the ovven too
[2008.05.28 19:04:12] BrittaCP: awesome
[2008.05.28 19:04:49] BrittaCP: Summer has a lack of super holidays... like vday or xmas... and motehrs day has passed
[2008.05.28 19:04:54] PeggyWvB: v
[2008.05.28 19:04:57] CAMO BABY: do some spring cleaning in your shop and get it ready for summer
[2008.05.28 19:04:59] BrittaCP: right
[2008.05.28 19:05:09] BrittaCP: There is Fathers's Day just around the corner
[2008.05.28 19:05:33] electricgreen has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:05:35] BrittaCP: if you haven't added anything in your shop yet, there's still a little time to get something in the Marketplace
[2008.05.28 19:05:39] PhotoGirl: 4th July
[2008.05.28 19:05:41] CAMO BABY: forth of july
[2008.05.28 19:05:48] BrittaCP: right... 4th of july
[2008.05.28 19:06:12] BrittaCP: What does a Shopkeeper do with 4th of July?
[2008.05.28 19:06:36] CAMO BABY: you can do alot tee's yard signs ect
[2008.05.28 19:07:18] BrittaCP: Yard signs... right, especially since many people will be havinh large parties in the park, or in the back yard
[2008.05.28 19:07:20] Sag: They bar-b-que and have a party!
[2008.05.28 19:07:51] CAMO BABY: bbq aprons
[2008.05.28 19:07:53] yogaspeak has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:08:34] BrittaCP: Right... so something you may want to consider doing is moving all your summer products to the front of your shop
[2008.05.28 19:09:05] nanwrightart: the new denim shirt?
[2008.05.28 19:09:33] BrittaCP: T-Shirts and Tank Tops for these warmer months... BBQ Aprons and Steins for the bakyard party crew
[2008.05.28 19:10:02] BrittaCP: Hats are great summer item too... and with the new styles InfiniStitch offers... it's worth promoting
[2008.05.28 19:10:17] nanwrightart: There's Garfield the Cat day on June 19th! And "Take your dog to work" day the 20th?????
[2008.05.28 19:10:27] BrittaCP: Is there really a Cat Day?
[2008.05.28 19:10:34] Message sent to moderator(s)
[2008.05.28 19:10:36] BrittaCP: and Dog Day?
[2008.05.28 19:10:42] Dooni Designs: july 21st or something is monkey day!
[2008.05.28 19:10:52] BrittaCP: jeez, who knew!
[2008.05.28 19:11:14] BrittaCP: well I suppose a pet bowl could be good for Monkey Day, or dog day
[2008.05.28 19:11:16] Lorilei: I got a hat today! I love it <3
[2008.05.28 19:11:18] Sag: weddings - class reunions - sports - etc. etc.
[2008.05.28 19:11:35] BrittaCP: Weddings are big in the Spring and summer
[2008.05.28 19:11:56] Stratman has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:11:57] Sag: Oh and tons of beach activities so get that beach wear made.:-D
[2008.05.28 19:12:19] CAMO BABY: back to school
[2008.05.28 19:12:49] BrittaCP: Yes... right now is the perfect time to start planning your Back 2 School Campaign
[2008.05.28 19:13:17] Scarebaby has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:13:39] TexasFiddler: When do the Back to School sales really start?
[2008.05.28 19:14:46] BrittaCP: colleges will start usually in late august early sept. I believe most elementry, middle, and high schools start in mid Sept... of course it's been forver since i was in HS.... so I'm sure it's changed
[2008.05.28 19:14:50] PeggyWvB: school starts in late August here...
[2008.05.28 19:14:53] CAMO BABY: here is ga they start in july kids start aug. 1
[2008.05.28 19:15:06] PeggyWvB: so figure a few weeks ahead.
[2008.05.28 19:15:09] PeggyWvB: but it can start as late as the week after labor day
[2008.05.28 19:15:42] BrittaCP: By starting on B2S now, you can make sure your stuff gets picked up by Google, in time for the B2S rush
[2008.05.28 19:15:44] HooahGirls has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:15:49] Sag: No, schools in this area start in Aug.
[2008.05.28 19:16:09] BrittaCP: We'll be having a B2S chat in the upcoming weeks
[2008.05.28 19:16:21] TexasFiddler: gr8
[2008.05.28 19:16:35] BrittaCP: So start your planning now, and come to chat with your ideas!
[2008.05.28 19:16:37] PeggyWvB: summer isn't as long as it used to be..
[2008.05.28 19:16:45] BrittaCP: it really isn't
[2008.05.28 19:16:48] nanwrightart: what beach wear:-o
[2008.05.28 19:17:01] nanwrightart: :-c B2S
[2008.05.28 19:17:19] BrittaCP: Back 2 School... sorry that is the way of chat lingo
[2008.05.28 19:17:26] TexasFiddler: I grew up in NY and moved to TX 23 yrs ago. Here it seems summer (weather at least) starts in April and ends in October
[2008.05.28 19:17:33] CAMO BABY: you can also do a christmas in july camopaign
[2008.05.28 19:17:35] Sag: You can have a Christmas in July sale! Love those sales:bow:
[2008.05.28 19:17:51] BrittaCP: It seems the two of you are on the same brainwave!
[2008.05.28 19:18:09] CAMO BABY: lol
[2008.05.28 19:18:12] TexasFiddler: I haven't been successful with that...what's the secret on Christmas in July?
[2008.05.28 19:18:18] Sag: I think so too!:-D
[2008.05.28 19:18:28] PeggyWvB: fruit cake!
[2008.05.28 19:18:38] PhotoGirl has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:18:38] CAMO BABY: i seel the ornaments 1.00 above cost
[2008.05.28 19:19:18] BrittaCP: you can easily do the same with bulk xmas cards
[2008.05.28 19:19:52] BrittaCP: Has anyone thought of or tried have a "sale" with your long sleeves and sweatshirts?
[2008.05.28 19:20:02] BarbD has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:20:03] Sag: Tex - advertise it - reduce prices as low as possible and go for volume.
[2008.05.28 19:20:46] CAMO BABY: thats true to great to buld 3rd teir sales bounis
[2008.05.28 19:21:06] Sag: People buy early on the net and you can make donots with winter and fall wear in the summer.
[2008.05.28 19:22:08] BrittaCP: I know personally... I buy winter wear all year... there's nothing better than a warm hoodie to me... so I am always picking through the clearance section of shops around this time of year
[2008.05.28 19:22:14] PeggyWvB: just be sure that your designs fit the merchandise (sizing, ect..)
[2008.05.28 19:22:24] CAMO BABY: im still selling vday and ground hog day items
[2008.05.28 19:22:52] Sag: Ah heck, you can check out the local schools mascots - design your own (don't use their logos) and advertise locally and sell to the parents and kids for B2S specials.
[2008.05.28 19:23:12] PeggyWvB: also remember that summer here is winter in Australia
[2008.05.28 19:23:47] PeggyWvB: about a quarter of my sales come from there
[2008.05.28 19:25:04] yogaspeak has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:25:28] Adam has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:25:38] Nan has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:25:38] BrittaCP: With Back 2 School... there's tons of things you can do with out actually using a schools mascot... think about the people in school... and the activities
[2008.05.28 19:25:48] BrittaCP: things like cheerleading, or football
[2008.05.28 19:26:19] Sag: Heck yeah, spanish club, drama club, etc.
[2008.05.28 19:26:30] PeggyWvB: band, theater, debate,
[2008.05.28 19:26:56] BrittaCP: another thing that's big in the summer... is craft and art fairs
[2008.05.28 19:27:26] BrittaCP: if you can... setting up a booth at a fair is a good way to promote your mech
[2008.05.28 19:27:29] BrittaCP: *merch
[2008.05.28 19:29:17] BrittaCP: this may take some planning... but if you are a fine artist... consider it
[2008.05.28 19:29:19] PeggyWvB: just be sure that if you a booth that the event is going to have enough people to justfy the cost.
[2008.05.28 19:29:21] PeggyWvB: you really have to doyour homework, or you can lose a lot of money
[2008.05.28 19:30:19] PeggyWvB: but a good fair with a lot of advertising a nd people coming to buy and not just look can be a good deal, IF you don't spend too much on your booth set up
[2008.05.28 19:30:20] nanwrightart: and make sure the event is well advertised
[2008.05.28 19:31:07] BrittaCP: if you don't have the funds to set up a booth... perhaps attending and passing out business cards is an option for some donw and dirty self promotion
[2008.05.28 19:31:14] Nan: I used to sell at the local swap meet. It was only $13 for a booth and I always made more :)
[2008.05.28 19:31:22] BrittaCP: Good to know!
[2008.05.28 19:31:30] PeggyWvB: be sure to sell things with a low cost, like value tees, and don't forget about the bulk discount too
[2008.05.28 19:31:55] PeggyWvB: some fairs require insureance for a booth too
[2008.05.28 19:32:00] nanwrightart: I have been leaving mine with my payment at restaurants with a handwritten note on the back side.:)
[2008.05.28 19:32:41] PeggyWvB: but many smaller locals don't
[2008.05.28 19:32:47] cyi has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:33:12] PeggyWvB: but look in to early, the big ones fill up fast
[2008.05.28 19:33:40] PeggyWvB: and established ones often have a waiting list
[2008.05.28 19:34:15] blackunicorn has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:34:34] BrittaCP: who has other summer fun promotional ideas that they would like to share?
[2008.05.28 19:34:36] nanwrightart: I am trying a blog to help get the word out.... published it this week. Hope it helps in the advertising end
[2008.05.28 19:36:52] BrittaCP: I know here in California, some cities have gay pride month in the summer. If your shop features GLBT designs, here's a great opportunity.
[2008.05.28 19:36:55] PeggyWvB: blogs take time to build a following though, so be aware
[2008.05.28 19:37:59] BrittaCP: Plus, now that same sex marriage is legal in California... there is a whole audiance out there looking to celebrate and show off thier pride
[2008.05.28 19:38:52] Winter has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:39:33] BrittaCP: Blogging may take time... but can pay off... the trick is to have something relevant and intersitng to talk about
[2008.05.28 19:39:57] BrittaCP: Like how does a current event tie into some of the merchandise that you have?
[2008.05.28 19:41:38] BrittaCP: Or maybe you have a cause like autism awareness... talk about it and refrence your merch
[2008.05.28 19:41:46] nanwrightart: I am doing a daybyday progression of a painting from beginning to end and then start another.
[2008.05.28 19:42:03] BrittaCP: will you have reproduction available in your shop?
[2008.05.28 19:42:19] Scarebaby has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:42:27] BrittaCP: like posters and framed prints or other items?
[2008.05.28 19:42:29] nanwrightart: My Obama buttons are doing great.
[2008.05.28 19:42:38] Sag: That's awesome Nan!
[2008.05.28 19:43:12] HeidiHoNeighbor has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:43:25] nanwrightart: With the economy in a slump, it seems that whimisical items that are funny seem to be selling the most in my shop. If you remember, when hard times are upon us, we need to laugh!
[2008.05.28 19:43:35] blipfish has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:43:36] Sag: There's always poltics that has everyone running around like a fart in a skillet to out-politic each other.:-D
[2008.05.28 19:44:01] BrittaCP: Yeah... politics will always be there
[2008.05.28 19:44:31] bignumpt has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:44:33] BrittaCP: what would be interesting to see is tying in 4th of july with the race
[2008.05.28 19:44:35] nanwrightart: :-D:-D:-D
[2008.05.28 19:44:36] TexasFiddler: Like a fart in a skillet?
[2008.05.28 19:44:52] PeggyWvB: still blinking over Sag's visual there...
[2008.05.28 19:45:07] blackunicorn: NBA finals start next week...and the world series of poker is going on between now and the beginning of August, so poke and basketball are probably good to push right now...
[2008.05.28 19:45:13] JMGNole has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:45:14] BrittaCP: excellent suggestions
[2008.05.28 19:45:17] Sag: Oh yeah, and fuel prices! Start your own war on the high price of fuel in a humorous way on buttons and small inexpensive products.
[2008.05.28 19:45:19] nanwrightart: Sag that was really good!
[2008.05.28 19:45:57] Sag: :-D
[2008.05.28 19:45:59] nanwrightart: Our fuel isn't that bad....YET!
[2008.05.28 19:46:08] BrittaCP: we're over $4 here in cali
[2008.05.28 19:46:26] donkeymart has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:46:27] bignumpt: Ours is the equivalent of $10 a gallon
[2008.05.28 19:46:30] BarbD has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:46:37] BrittaCP: scarey stuff... that's for sure
[2008.05.28 19:46:40] PeggyWvB: 4.35 where I am Britta!
[2008.05.28 19:46:43] nanwrightart: Minnesota isn't that high yet, but we get ours from CA
[2008.05.28 19:46:48] Sag: It's awful and folks are really wanting a way to express their anger about it, so give them something to do it with.
[2008.05.28 19:47:46] BrittaCP: think t-shirts, and bumper sticker (a bit ironic, but they are great for spreading statements)
[2008.05.28 19:47:49] JMGNole: I paid $3.65 last Thursday and was happy about it, sort of.
[2008.05.28 19:47:51] PeggyWvB: there's nothing like stock speculation!
[2008.05.28 19:48:20] blackunicorn: bumper stickers wrap around bike frames nicely as well
[2008.05.28 19:48:23] matisse has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:48:53] alma has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:49:14] Sag: I've got a shirt where a woman is being robbed by a gas pump, and a Christmas shirt of a guy begging santa for a full tank of gas for Christmas. They hit the mark with lots of folks.
[2008.05.28 19:49:25] CAMO BABY: 4.05 in atlanta
[2008.05.28 19:49:27] PeggyWvB: lol!
[2008.05.28 19:49:35] arty1: Michael Greenberger was on Cspan at midnight last night talking about the people in futures markets driving the pricce of oil sky high. He is a former director of the Futures commission.
[2008.05.28 19:50:00] Alan (deadhippo) has entered the room "CafePress Chat Room"
[2008.05.28 19:51:37] Stratman has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:51:39] BrittaCP: ok... so lets recap summer ideas: Father's day, 4th of July, Politics/ Elections, Gas Prices, Street Fairs, BBQ parties,
[2008.05.28 19:51:49] BrittaCP: gas prices
[2008.05.28 19:52:02] BrittaCP: infaltions
[2008.05.28 19:52:10] BrittaCP: *inflation
[2008.05.28 19:52:16] Kippy: ponies
[2008.05.28 19:52:22] BrittaCP: and pnoies... in a summer field!
[2008.05.28 19:52:34] BrittaCP: Xmas in July
[2008.05.28 19:52:47] TexasFiddler: I knew ponies would come up
[2008.05.28 19:52:49] Sag: Yeah, and ponies too!
[2008.05.28 19:53:05] BrittaCP: oh yeah... back to school
[2008.05.28 19:53:20] BrittaCP: and we mentioned winter clothing sales
[2008.05.28 19:53:22] PeggyWvB: ponies are cheeper than cars these days!
[2008.05.28 19:53:24] Adam: holidays!!!!!
[2008.05.28 19:53:53] bignumpt: Football here in Europe-Euro 2008
[2008.05.28 19:53:55] TexasFiddler: Start preparing for Christmas
[2008.05.28 19:53:58] BrittaCP: yup
[2008.05.28 19:54:01] PeggyWvB: fairs
[2008.05.28 19:54:14] Sag: Doing that now, Tex!:-D
[2008.05.28 19:54:29] TexasFiddler: Me too, hon
[2008.05.28 19:54:31] PeggyWvB: ditto hrer
[2008.05.28 19:54:32] bignumpt: Start preparing for Armageddon lol
[2008.05.28 19:54:41] PeggyWvB: that too!
[2008.05.28 19:54:47] Adam: not that sort of holiday muppets
[2008.05.28 19:54:48] CAMO BABY has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:54:54] BrittaCP: care to elaborate?
[2008.05.28 19:55:57] blackunicorn has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:56:03] bignumpt has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:56:09] PeggyWvB: and polotics too
[2008.05.28 19:56:34] cyi has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 19:56:36] TexasFiddler: Isn't that an exercise craze? Polotics?
[2008.05.28 19:56:52] PeggyWvB: with ponies no less!
[2008.05.28 19:56:55] Alan (deadhippo): Isn't that Pilates
[2008.05.28 19:56:58] Sag: :-D
[2008.05.28 19:56:59] Lorilei: :-D
[2008.05.28 19:57:39] nanwrightart: ditto to all and to all a goodnitte!:zzz:
[2008.05.28 19:57:58] BrittaCP: Great brainstorming guys
[2008.05.28 19:58:32] TexasFiddler: I gotta go. Haven't been to a rehearsal on time in two months. Have a good evening folks...when's the next chat and what's the topic?
[2008.05.28 19:58:55] BrittaCP: next chat is.... onthe 11th
[2008.05.28 19:59:04] BrittaCP: we'll be talking about CPV
[2008.05.28 19:59:11] nanwrightart: thanks Britta
[2008.05.28 19:59:14] JMGNole: I got here late, but it was worth it. Thanks folks, and especially Sag. More good ideas than I can imagine from one person.
[2008.05.28 19:59:22] nanwrightart: :-o
[2008.05.28 19:59:52] BrittaCP: CafePressVoice... we've got new member on the voice team... and new member in the community who don't know anything about CPV
[2008.05.28 20:00:24] BrittaCP: alright gang... i'll open the lobby for you. Thanks for the interesting discussion
[2008.05.28 20:00:27] Sag: :-D
[2008.05.28 20:00:28] nanwrightart: CPV:-o
[2008.05.28 20:00:29] nanwrightart: that's me!
[2008.05.28 20:00:32] blipfish has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 20:00:41] arty1 has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 20:00:50] donkeymart has left the room (logged out)
[2008.05.28 20:00:52] Kippy: thanks, Britta
[2008.05.28 20:00:53] PeggyWvB: Thanks Britta!
[2008.05.28 20:00:58] BrittaCP: have a good eveneing
[2008.05.28 20:01:18] Sag: Thanks Britta! You're a sweetie!