Welcome to the group. Post links to your store in the bookmarks, and announce them here in the messages. Please edit your membership to NO E-MAIL so you don't get every announcement in your mailbox! If you have any questions or suggestions about anything, post them here, too.
Lorilei
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2 From: Matthew A. Davis
Lorilei Lee wrote:
I really hope this just an e-mail error. It doesn't make me really happy with CafePress!
This is probably worth calling them about. I've had a number of problems with Cafepress. It's troubling that there are so many problems, but I have to hand it to them for always (eventually) making it right.
After sending an item as a gift, I ordered some stuff for myself and _my_ invoice included the gift message. I don't know whether the gift recipient got the gift message! So far as I've heard, all the orders have gone to the correct addresses though.
The biggest problem I've had is with quality and consistency. This really worries me, because although I know what it's supposed to look like and can get them to replace items, any customers who get a bad print are likely to assume it's just a crappy product and they won't buy from us again.
--
Matthew A. Davis ( mailto:azami@s... )
"It's not always popular upholding the Constitution, but it's always the right thing to do."
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3 From: Matthew A. Davis
Lorilei Lee wrote:
For artwork, I usually do the work first on paper and scan it in. Then, I use Ulead PhotoImpact to work on the design more, add text, etc. Some of my planned projects involve photos, and some of those are digital photos - so, of course, I can skip the scan step. Sometimes, I"ll combine separately drawn pieces - for example, the text on the winter designs was hand-drawn and scanned in, then sized and colored for each of the mug designs.
PhotoImpact does a really good job of anti-aliasing when reducing the size of an image, so I usually do most of my work oversize (like 400 or 600 DPI). When it's ready, I shrink it down and get it in .jpg, .gif, or .png format. I make the mugs 300 DPI, and for fabric printing I go with 200 DPI.
--
Matthew A. Davis ( mailto:azami@s... )
"It's not always popular upholding the Constitution, but it's always the right thing to do."
-Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt)
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4 From: lorilei363
By the way, the problem I was having with the addresses on two orders
being confused has been resolved. I called CafePress a few minutes ago, and that e-mail was a typo. The shirt being sent to England is being shipped today. The shirts I ordered for myself are on their way here.
Lorilei
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5 From: Matthew A. Davis
Since part of the purpose of this group is to attract customers (they can search for us now on Yahoo), I'd like to discuss ways to get hits - and better yet, sales.
According to eXtreme Tracking, we're averaging 5 hits a day. About a third of those are coming from our web site, and the other two thirds from my Forums posts. I've gotten a hit from the small business webring, and one from this group (was that you, Lorilei?) today.
In the past we've been able to get messages out to some Akita lists/groups, which resulted in significant sales spikes. We haven't done that since I put up the tracker, so I don't know what effect it had on traffic.
Our next plan is to try using an eBay auction to advertise our site. We'll order some items, then put them up for auction. Hopefully, this will help us catch people who are specifically looking to buy Akita stuff.
We're also thinking about taking out an ad in the dead-tree edition of Akita World - this should help us reach a large audience of Akita fanciers.
Any ideas or experiences are welcome! Has anyone else successfully used eBay or a paper publication to draw traffic to Cafepress?
--
Matthew A. Davis ( mailto:azami@s... )
"It's not always popular upholding the Constitution, but it's always the right thing to do."
-Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt)
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7 From: Matthew Davis
http://www.cafepress.com/armacprice
I still need to tie it into the main store and finish the customization part - but the products are there.
-Matthew
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8 From: lorilei363
I love it! It's so funny.
Of course, I'm still partial to your art of the Akitas, but that's just me.
Is the dog yours? One of our dogs is the subject of the art I have in The Dog House, at Animal House. He's my mother's little ragmop, Dusty, half Shih-Tzu and half Pekingese. He's loveable and wiggly and always getting into trouble. When they invented the phrase "the tail wagging the dog," they were anticipating him.
Lorilei
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9 From: azamiryou
Back atcha - what's your software of choice? I seem to recall seeing you mention Ulead on the Cafepress forum.
(I assume from looking at your designs that you scan in your artwork... but correct me if I'm wrong on that!)
-Matthew
Lorilei Lee wrote:
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10 From: blueskyfarm2001
Thank you for setting up this great group for people with Cafepress stores. I have about seven stores that are active, and a couple of
hidden ones I use for personal gifts, etc.
If you like horses, dogs, junk food and the American flag, you will find something you like at one of my stores. You can enter my stores through my website, www.nastylittledog.com. Once there, please sign the guestbook. I also love to exchange links - email me at shirlandis@a... for information.
One thing I can say: If you are considering ordering from ANY cafepress store, there are two things you can be sure of-the customer service is EXCELLENT and the quality of the merchandise is outstanding! Don't hesitate!
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11 From: lorilei363
Actually, I meant to say hello to Barb of Krystikel and C. Jackson of Danesr_us, too. I briefly popped into both stores, and I'm impressed.
:D
Lorilei
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12 From: lorilei363
This group has posts coming in out of order. There should be two others, if Yahoo hasn't eaten them.
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13 From: powerpuff74
I had to get stupid e-mail verification what-not from Yahoo but it's all good now. Thanks for making this group, Lorelei!
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14 From: lorilei363
I'm glad I wasn't the only person to like this idea! It's probably still too new a group for us to be found in search engines, but we'll get there.
In the meantime, make sure your main store or website is listed in the bookmarks. I'm thinking of also making thumbnails of some of my designs to go into a folder in Photos. If anyone tried to enlarge them to copy, they wouldn't be able to reproduce the quality of the larger images I have at CafePress. Yahoo may have changed the photos section enough to make this an unworkable idea, though, so I'll have to get back to you on that.
Welcome to Nathan Rudy and Laura Sullivan, as well. I'm glad to see both of you. Thanks for the mention in the webring newsletter, Laura! BTW, not only does the mouse need a name, but I think he needs to be on a shirt, too.
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15 From: lorilei363
I'm starting a folder with my main store name on it. There is an option that makes it so no one can order prints of photos, and I think enlarging small pics would distort them. That should discourage people from trying to copy any of them.
Lorilei
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16 From: lorilei363
I'm trying to create a Frequently Asked Questions section for our Ezboard. I have never actually made one of these, and I'm open for suggestions.
:D
GrearGear Ezboard with Quick Links
Date: Tue Feb 19, 2002 1:08pm
Subject: Re: Yahoo Group
>> ... I got a notification that the shirt I had ordered from you and one
from Indigo Phoenix Studio had been shipped to Merseyside, England. I think
this was a typographic error, but I haven't received an e-mail response yet.
I may have to call CafePress again. I had donated one of my Animal House shirts
to a fund-raising group in England in a different order, but I have copies of
the two transactions that prove these were separate, and the two shirts I bought from other stores were to be shipped to me. <<
http://www.speakeasy.net/~azami
-Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt)
Date: Tue Feb 19, 2002 1:15pm
Subject: Re: Yahoo Group
>> Just curious --- do you draw or paint your designs and then scan them, or how do you produce your graphics? And what program/software do you prefer? <<
http://www.speakeasy.net/~azami
Date: Tue Feb 19, 2002 2:49pm
Subject: Shipping typo
Whew! That's a relief.
In case anyone ever needs to call, their toll-free number is 1-877-809-1659 in the U.S. Their number for international calls is 1-510-575-2140. (I haven't had to use the international one, so I don't know if it's toll-free.)
I'm trying to post links to this group in the forum, but they aren't posted yet. It may be days, or it may be hours.
I plan to write to Laura Sullivan about linking the group with the webring, if that's possible.
My hope is that people who have never heard of CafePress but are on the computer shopping can find us a good resource for a variety of designs.
Date: Tue Feb 19, 2002 3:21pm
Subject: Advertising
So far, I've indexed our storefront with the main search engines. Other than that, we have a link from our organization's web site, and I've been keeping an active presence in the Cafepress owners' forums - with links from most of my messages. I'm not sure if the search engines have indexed us yet - it can take a few weeks.
http://www.speakeasy.net/~azami
Date: Tue Feb 19, 2002 8:00pm
Subject: Check it out
Date: Wed Feb 20, 2002 1:09am
Subject: Re: Check it out
Animals are so much fun.
I need to finish up a few things and go to bed. It's been a long day.
Date: Wed Feb 20, 2002 8:45pm
Subject: Artwork (was Re: Yahoo Group)
> Just curious --- do you draw or paint your designs and then scan them, or how do you produce your graphics? And what program/software do you prefer? <<
Date: Thu Feb 21, 2002 1:33pm
Subject: Hi ya from Nasty Little Dog!
Date: Fri Feb 22, 2002 4:22pm
Subject: New members
I'll be back to visit them again, when I have more time.
Date: Fri Feb 22, 2002 4:25pm
Subject: Once again...
If you are getting too many e-mails from this group and would prefer to read posts by visiting the site, you can edit your membership to the NO E-MAIL option.
Thanks to everyone for joining. Spread the word~
Lorilei
Date: Sat Feb 23, 2002 4:44pm
Subject: I finally made it...
Date: Sun Feb 24, 2002 1:46am
Subject: Wow! Eight members!
Yahoo never posted two messages I put in here the other day. One was in answer to Matthew's post about art, and the other was a welcome to Little Nasty Dog. (I'm sure you're not really a little nasty dog, but I'm not sure what to call you!) Anyone who looks at my art will figure out I love animals and children. I really liked your horses, and I'll probably be ordering a t-shirt with one of the horse designs. Today I wore the shirt I got from ARMAC to work, and the
playful puppy got several compliments!
BTW, I do use Ulead Photo Express 3, but I also use another Ulead program (Photo Plus 4, I believe). I have dabbled with PSP, but I don't have a copy on my computer at this time. Most of my editing skills have come by trial and error. I minored in art in college, but I have never taken computer design. I scan my hand-drawn or -painted art into my computer and work from there. I love it. It's fun. If I never sell a shirt to anyone but family, I still love making the designs.
Keep up the good work, everyone.
:D
Lorilei
Date: Sun Feb 24, 2002 1:58am
Subject: About Photos...
I'm not sure what the restrictions are on the amount of storage we are allotted, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Subject: FAQ
More ideas? I want people who stumble across this site in search of the perfect links to t-shirts says "Wow! I love this place!"
Feel free to add folders to the Photos at Yahoo. Create an album with your name or site name on it.
There's also a calendar here where we can post reminders about
limited edition specials.
Lorilei