Question/suggestion

Raymei · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 4:08 pm Post subject:

I know at one point (not TOO long ago) we had an FAC store.
Is that still up? Just kinda floating around on the net or did the idea just kind of die?

If not, then I think I have a new product for the store (if enough people were committed to buying enough), I could arrange for Feral, the FAC cat, Plushies to be made.

But if the store's gone then you can just ignore this.

cstdenis · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 4:11 pm Post subject:

The store is still around, but the 99dogs site never worked correctly (merch page 2 gave an error) and 99dogs never did respond to my email about it. I'd like to find a better supplier for that kinda stuff.

I dont know if custom plushies like that can be sold through it anyway, but something like that could be sold directly through the site. Provice more details.
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Raymei · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 8:23 pm Post subject:

It's Binkley Toys ^^

Basically it's not a they make the products as people order them site like 99dogs, it's a company that you have to order the products in bulk (with plushi toys, minimum is 500).

You send them a picture of what you want, or you can describe it and they'll make up some sketches. YOu discuss with them how tall, thick, and wide you want the toy to be at most and how detailed you want it (like as simple as a sack-like animal or something with arms, legs etc).

You work with them on colors and fabric and then they send you a prototype (at this stage you have to put a downpayment towards the project to make sure you're dedicated to finishing it)

Once you get the prototype (3-4 weeks usually) then you approve it or tell them what you want changed about it (if any changes are needed then they'll send you a second prototype -- but if you change your mind about some things completely you MAY have to put some money into the second prototype .... so just be sure you know what you want)

After that they start on the order (anywhere from 500 pieces to 120,000 ....with this I'd start low Razz

) and they'll ship out the order to your destination (or destinations if applicable) in about 12 weeks.

The toys are made in China and shipped via sea for cost effeciency.

In order to sell anything made by these guys (messenger bags, bobble heads, figurines, plushies, etc) you'd have to have a way to manage money and shipping independently (not like most of the online stores where they take care of that and you get some of the money )

Anymore questions? ^^

PhunkYMunkY · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 9:22 pm Post subject:

Hey this is a great idea and I fully support and I look forward to seeing some growth with this new direction of merchandise...... Though I'd like to offer a small suggestion.. not so much small as it is probably a medium-to-large sized one... but.. well, here it is;

Obviously no offense to the existing Pheral, though some questions have been raised about his specie, but I think maybe a lighter approach to him would be more suitable. Something more aesthetically pleasing and something more practical to use..

Trawling through FAC, I remembered a member named Evee1 had a suggestion for Pheral's appearance which I thought would be pretty much perfect.. He's cute, playful, colourful, natural and kinda looks like a pokemon, which can't be bad for a kid's site :)

Check it out: http://www.fanart-central.net/pic-156649.html

Any thoughts?

layzcarter · I used to work here Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 3988

My thoughts - I love Evee1 and her version of the cat. I think it would be awesome to base the plushie on Evee1s version. No offense of course to the original one. I would for sure buy it if it looked like the Evee one.
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Raymei · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 9:50 pm Post subject:

the kitty is real cute, but I can't deny being really offended.

Altering what the stuffed animal would look like for improvment reasons is one thing, but completely changing it in every where except for the pencil in its mouth?
It's not even the same character. It's not just a difference of style, but personality and all around design.
o.o I can't understand how you could start a suggestion like that with "no offense".

FAC is more than welcome to do what it will, but if you want to sell a stuffed animal that looks like the one Eevee1 drew, I request you just make it a different character all together than altering what I created so drastically.

cstdenis · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 10:23 pm Post subject:

Personally, I think Eevee1's version to tooo cute. I like the Raymei version, tho perhaps some minor changes can improve it (based on the feedback of others so far in this thread)

Any idea what it'll cost? At the minimum looks like it'll cost somewhere in the range of $1500-$2500, probably more with the smaller quantities.

The main concerns with this kind of thing, is can FAC sell 500 of them?
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Raymei · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 10:44 pm Post subject:

right, which is why I brought it up here.

It would probably cost the seller (with shipping charges included) about $5 per plushie.
So if you sold them at $10 (which isn't that expensive) you'd do fine. It's getting the initial cost that's the hard part (unless you did pre-orders to help pay for the production costs).
Aim on around $3000 for 600 dolls (cost you $5, sell for $10, make about $2500 on top of the original $3000 you paid for if you sell at least 550 out of the original 600)

There are other sites that will allow you to do a fully customizable store, but I think you'd have to still manage shipping and whatnot (not sure, haven't looked into details on that stuff yet)
I'll check more out tomorrow for you. I think if FAC were able to have a store in the site where you could have a tab and everything it would get more attention.

Maybe even have the little tab (link) you have to click on off to the side or something to catch the eye a bit more.

I think something like Sam and Pheral plushies or whatever would sell better than T-shirts though.
Something about having toys for a website like FAC just seems like a secret club thing. But we'd definitely have to take a poll on the site (and to be safe, it would probably have to be higher than 600 votes to account for those who are just saying they'd buy one)

cstdenis · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:16 pm Post subject:

I do really like the idea.

I'll need to get a better survey of interest (maybe I'll put a poll on the main site or something) before going ahead with it, but it definitely sounds like a good idea.

As for the e-commerce. There are some interesting complexities related with that (such as tax) but I could build one without too much trouble and do shipping myself or something.

I can take payment via cash, cheque (maybe), money order, credit card, or maybe paypal.

Hmm, 500 plushies, where would I store them.....

More ideas if other manufacturers can be found.
* Fac art supplies (I'm sure FAC prisma colors or something could be popular)
* Fac mouse pads
* Fac mugs

I have thought of opening a store using stuff like amazon.com affiliate program, If I combine that with FAC's own products it has much potential.
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PhunkYMunkY · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 9:49 am Post subject:

Is there any way possible to have like a store on Amazon, like where you said, the site can have relevant items for sale though not FAC branded. Sort of like commision sales on items Amazon sells.. Such as Anime/Manga artist tutorial books, small mannequins, perhaps, stencils? You know.. artsy stuff.
Plus the plushies would be really good...

Evee's version is an artist's rendition of Pheral. I said 'no offense' as I was speaking purely business. Hence the points with long words like "aesthetically" and "pokemon". I still didn't mean to cause offense and I'm sorry you see it that way Sad

layzcarter · I used to work here Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 3988

When I look at the Eevee version it looks like the same character to me, and not just because of the pencil. But anyway I was just thinking that maybe a ... softer/cuter kind of look would work better for a plushie. Considering it looks like a neopet/pokemon helps because that kind lof look is more popular I would think. But whatever, just my opinion. If you go ahead with it, we'll see with the prototype. Smile

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rikuschick · Very bored Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 148

there's... a fac store? man, where have I been for the past 2 years. maybe someone already has a linked the store. but I'd just like to know where it is, so I could check it out.

cherry-chi-hiwatari · Forum Stalker Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 1143

i prefer the pheral we have at the moment....the other one is just TOO cute and poke'mon-ish ...i like the one we have at the moment..it seems to have more character than the other one .....just my opinion

we had a store ? ...man i need to pay attention more often . . . .

Raymei · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 12:46 pm Post subject:

mugs and mousepads shouldn't be too hard.
As for art supplies...hm... That'd be a great idea considering the site. I'll see if I can find anything like that.

But yeah, if you can get a more thurough survey, we can start talking about how big you'd want it to be and how complex.
When you put the survey up, you could maybe also have an option if they'd be more willing to get a Pheral or Sam doll (since that's possible too)

fallenangel · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 2:55 pm Post subject:

If you have the overhead ability, you can get practically [b]anything[/b] customized. Look for companies that cater to casinos/hotels/large corporations for promotional purposes, and they typically have a huge range of products they can put your image/logo on. It's a matter of having the money to put into it in the first place (and of course the fact even small runs are pretty big).

Art supplies could be extremely tricky because you won't be able to get customized name brands. Meaning the quality will almost be guaranteed to suck, so as a novelty item it could be cool, but not as a practical art supply. HOWEVER, things like sketch books could be entirely possible, with an FAC cover.

99Dogs was just a temporary solution when having orders done in advance didn't seem like the best option. With limited interest, having 300 t-shirts printed and only selling ten could have easily happened. If there's more interest in merch, there's countless companies that will print/screenprint clothing at a reasonable price. A generic logo or whatnot would be cheap.

Generally speaking, I don't like the cutesy version of Pheral. FAC is already largely populated by younger people, but it's a matter of what image do you [i]want[/i] to have? If you have a mascot that makes it look like a Neopets clone, it'll not only attract more young kids but discourage more serious artists from joining. I'd think twice before putting my art anywhere that looked overly childish. In plushie form, the current Pheral would be acceptably cute. It wouldn't look [i]exactly[/i] like the current drawing, and as it is, it has character. Get too cutesy and it's another generic cat plushie.
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layzcarter · I used to work here Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 3988

It may be overly cute yes... but that is not what the final product would look exactly like... I just think for a plush.. cuter is better than... scraggily? Is that a word?
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August · Still very bored Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 341

I think we should make another mascot and it should be a penguin... or an elephant Wink

layzcarter · I used to work here Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 3988

lol.. or a ferret Wink

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fallenangel · Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:28 pm Post subject:

[quote] It may be overly cute yes... but that is not what the final product would look exactly like... I just think for a plush.. cuter is better than... scraggily? Is that a word?
[/quote]

It's hard to make a plushie scraggily. The eyes and attitude will make a much more distinctive plush, still cute, than a generic cross between a pokemon and neopet. It takes revisions of any character design that wasn't initially made to be 3D. The big feet and eyes should make it plenty cute without being sickeningly disgusting.
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layzcarter · I used to work here Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 3988

Either way... i think this is a good idea if put into effect in a couple of months.
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