Litopia Merchandise…!

[AgentPete]

It’s been suggested that we should have some Litopia merchandise… t-shirts, obviously, but maybe rather more obscure / writerly objets…

Since we have a preternaturally talented and creative bunch of folk here, I’d like to turn you loose on the subject. What would you like to make…?

The rules are simple. You can make anything you want and offer it for sale (we’ll promote it here). You keep all the proceeds, i.e. Litopia won’t take a percentage. But the objet should mention Litopia®, somewhere. It doesn’t have to be prominent.

And now, over to you for ideas…

 

[E G Logan]

I can't make anything, sadly.

But, given enough coffee, I'm happy to join a brainstorming session on slogans to put on mugs, T-shirts, throwable cushions (I have my most hated rejection lines on cushions)....

How about: Write it down now, before you forget it!

 

[AnnieSummerlee]

I made a mug a while back with "I don't have a book problem" on it, could make something like that again once I've finished with my current batch, with similar writing/books related quotes

 

[Hannah F]

I can't make anything, sadly.

But, given enough coffee, I'm happy to join a brainstorming session on slogans to put on mugs, T-shirts, throwable cushions (I have my most hated rejection lines on cushions)....

How about: Write it down now, before you forget it!

I can't make things either, but I'd LOVE a cushion!

 

[AgentPete]

I can't make anything, sadly.

But, given enough coffee, I'm happy to join a brainstorming session on slogans to put on mugs, T-shirts, throwable cushions (I have my most hated rejection lines on cushions)....

How about: Write it down now, before you forget it!

Go for it! Lots of slogans... then we can vote on the oners we want to see on shirts etc

 

[AgentPete]

I made a mug a while back with "I don't have a book problem" on it, could make something like that again once I've finished with my current batch, with similar writing/books related quotes

Would be fab!

 

[Hannah F]

"I have a novel idea"

 

[Hannah F]

"Stirred by Dreams"

 

[JohnBertel]

I can't make things either, but I'd LOVE a cushion!

Not sure you would actually have to physically make the stuff yourselves, but find companies that customize their products. Like these two for instance. Just examples - I haven't made any calculations.

 

[Hannah F]

Not sure you would actually have to physically make the stuff yourselves, but find companies that customize their products. Like these two for instance. Just examples - I haven't made any calculations.
View attachment 11922View attachment 11923

But if the talent to do so is among our Litopians, why not let them gain a smidgen of income.

 

[AgentPete]

Not sure you would actually have to physically make the stuff yourselves, but find companies that customize their products. Like these two for instance. Just examples - I haven't made any calculations.

Nice John The thing is, once the manufacturer and the person concerned (e.g. the Litopian) have added their markup, you end up with something that’s pretty expensive, e.g. a $50 t-shirt.

But if the talent to do so is among our Litopians, why not let them gain a smidgen of income.

Absolutely!

 

[Dorm Ant]

"Do some merch" is one of those suggestions that people make, though they have no intention of actually buying any of it. Like, sugar-free cake.

I have some slogans in mind that would probably work great on mouse mats, though I'd probably only sell four.

 

[Hannah F]

This is so kinda' special, I think people will buy. I'll buy (some but not all, before I get myself into debt-waters).

 

[Hannah F]

For a cushion: "The only backstory you need"

 

[AnnieSummerlee]

For a cushion: "The only backstory you need"

Genius!

 

[Pamela Jo]

I can't make anything, sadly.

But, given enough coffee, I'm happy to join a brainstorming session on slogans to put on mugs, T-shirts, throwable cushions (I have my most hated rejection lines on cushions)....

How about: Write it down now, before you forget it!

That's brilliant EG Logan. The subtlety. Resting your posterior on their writing... Since my memory seems shorter than my lurchers at the moment....I'd be writing everything down. There's always stealing lines from works in the public domain.

 

[Pamela Jo]

The Etsy crowd I know finds mugs, T shirts etc second hand then adds their artistic magic rather than trying to buy new and sell. The days of free T shirts are long gone. My experience with calendars to actually raise money is just as Pete says. You end up with a very small profit margin.

 

[Hannah F]

The Etsy crowd I know finds mugs, T shirts etc second hand then adds their artistic magic rather than trying to buy new and sell. The days of free T shirts are long gone. My experience with calendars to actually raise money is just as Pete says. You end up with a very small profit margin.

As a sole trader of a different kind, a very small profit margin is still a profit. (I wouldn't bother with Calendars though, and I'm not holding any tiny buns!)

 

[Emily]

You could go through something like Redbubble or Society6, but profit margins are crazy-low (but they WILL print all sorts of gorgeous stuff). You just have to design it. I have found that designing it and then finding a printer to produce your work works better (although you often have to have a minimum quantity, but not always, having said that). I would advise talking to the printer though, as you need to consider dimensions and margins etc etc.

I am thinking about buying a mug press (to print onto mug blanks) for another project I have in the works (these will be nowhere NEAR as beautiful as @AnnieSummerlee 's handcrafted mugs, which I will definitely buy!!) but very practical, and you can do all sorts of surface designs to suit your needs. Many printers will also print these.

The biggest thing is to have a design, and then you can use something like Canva or other similar platforms to fit that design onto the dimensions needed.

I think this is a fantastic idea!! *Brain whirring*

 

[Julie]

Pens would be nice. Andrew gets sent selections from companies with his business printed on it. He’s never bothered outlaying mind, he just uses them as free gifts! Some are very nice ones though.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

I made a mug a while back with "I don't have a book problem" on it, could make something like that again once I've finished with my current batch, with similar writing/books related quotes

I love it! (I live in the USA, where many people do have a book problem...) But what about the current batch you are working on? Do you make mugs? Love to know more...

 

[David Newrick]

Book comforters are very 'in' at the moment. Just saying....

 

[AgentPete]

Book comforters are very 'in' at the moment. Just saying....

Um, what's that? p.

 

[Hannah F]

Um, what's that? p.

Just what I was going to ask. I googled it and found baby blankets. And duvet covers with book designs.

 

[David Newrick]

Um, what's that? p.

I was in Durham last weekend @AgentPete . There are two Waterstones stores leading up to the castle and the cathedral. Both stores had these protective covers in the window. When I saw them it occurred to me that books are different sizes, especially thickness, so didn't see how they would fit properly. However, here is a link to a tasteful example which interestingly has sold out. Will they catch on? Who knows what the fickle public will desire next

V&A book jacket/comforter at Waterstones

Stay safe.

 

[Julie]

I was in Durham last weekend @AgentPete . There are two Waterstones stores leading up to the castle and the cathedral. Both stores had these protective covers in the window. When I saw them it occurred to me that books are different sizes, especially thickness, so didn't see how they would fit properly. However, here is a link to a tasteful example which interestingly has sold out. Will they catch on? Who knows what the fickle public will desire next

V&A book jacket/comforter at Waterstones

Stay safe.

Reminds me of being at school and having to cover our exercise books with wallpaper. I recall woodchip being de rigeur!

 

[Ancora Imparo]

I have a fetish for bookmarks and make many of my own. My favourite (bought) one says f**k off, I'm reading.

Probably a niche market

 

[AgentPete]

I was in Durham last weekend @AgentPete . There are two Waterstones stores leading up to the castle and the cathedral. Both stores had these protective covers in the window. When I saw them it occurred to me that books are different sizes, especially thickness, so didn't see how they would fit properly. However, here is a link to a tasteful example which interestingly has sold out. Will they catch on? Who knows what the fickle public will desire next

V&A book jacket/comforter at Waterstones

Stay safe.

Oh, right! Yes, remember similar thing from school... but not so attractive...

 

[Dorm Ant]

How about we compile some of the poems and short stories into a book, self-publish that and sell it to raise funds? Some of the poems on here are really moving, and some of the short stories really clever or funny.

 

[James Charles]

I want a cap that says: I'm a Litopian! Writers need Writers (and coffee) or