Money-making idea: need help!

[mtaystl03]

I'm not even sure this is a question that should be directed at you (businees majors) specifically but here is my idea and I am wondering if it has any prospect at all...

I am going to make t-shirts that simply say "Cubs Suck" on the front and "Cubs magic number: 911" on the back.

This idea was inspired by a recent thread here at FOFC.

I can make these t-shirts for like $7 a piece. I would like to sell them on e-bay or my own little store for aroun $10-$12 a piece. Do you as a business man/sports fan think there is a market for a shirt like this? Obviously Cubs fans won't purchase them but I know about a million Cardinals fans that would love to have one. Shipping would be like $3 so maybe a total of $15 for a shirt like this.

This could be open to all people here. Would you pay that kind of money for a shirt like this? I figure I would make close to $3-$4 profit on each shirt.

I need money and I have heard the t-shirt w/ a clever saying or something on it can be a huge instant money maker.

Thanks for any help.

[Fritz]

is that you sundancer?

[mtaystl03]

is that you sundancer?

Not followin' ya.

[Cap Ologist]

My advice:

1. Find out the minimum number of t-shirts you have to order and ask yourself if you are capable of losing that much money. How much risk can you take and handle? They might sell like crazy or it might crash and burn.
2. Find some creative way for people to find them. Ebay would work, maybe also add a signature to all outgoing email you send pointing to the site where they can be bought.
3. Go to a Cubs game and try to sit close to a t.v. camera and get some free publicity.
4. Go to a Cubs game and do something to cost them a game.

Good luck!

[mtaystl03]

Or maybe something like "Steve Bartman is my hero!" The possibilities are endless! Thanks Cap.

[sabotai]

You could try hxxp://www.cafepress.com

The prices are higher than what you said, but they do all of the work. All you have to do is open a free account and upload the image that you want to go on the t-shirt.

[panerd]

I saw a guy at the gym wearing that exact same shirt yesterday, I believe you have been trumped on that idea. (unless it was you?)

[SunDancer]

is that you sundancer?

Good one.

[ageofquarrel]

i know the dudes who did the og yankees suck shirts that they sell at fenway. They know make 6 figure salaries. My advice is too also do stickers and pins because they are cheap and have a high markup. Just call around to different screen printers and get price quotes. The Fenway dudes were friends with a screen printer in jersey so that helped them get a good price.

[JonInMiddleGA]

-- I think $7-$10 is about right for a pricepoint for people who are into that sort of thing. I personally wouldn't pay that for it, but I believe there are people who would.

-- I'd also recommend keeping an eye out for a phone call from the Cubs and/or MLB Properties if you have some success with them. As long as you aren't using their logo or anything, I'd say you're on safe ground, but I'd keep a good attorney's phone number handy anyway.
-- Cap Ologist makes a great point -- invest only as much in the initial run as you could afford/tolerate losing on the project if you never sold a single item.
-- Shop the prices of supplies both online & offline, locally & globally. The best combination of quality & price may be found around the world. And it might also be found around the corner, you really just never know.
-- Don't offer the shirts for sale until you have them in your hand. Nothing sours a deal faster than not being able to deliver. On time, or even "ever".
-- Be prepared to learn a lot about sales tax law in your state, as well as business license,etc. law in your local jurisidiction. You can fly below the radar a lot of times, if you choose to, but all it takes is one person who says "hmm ... I wonder if ... " and it's "Hello, Mr. MT, I'm with the Missouri Dept of Revenue & we'd like to talk to you".
-- Be sure to release the shirts too early with at least two or three errors in them. That should put you in position to release the patches that FOFC'ers have come to know & love ;)
--

[Nyarlahotep]

I have a friend who is a screen printer. What color shirts and how many colors for the lettering (on front and back)?

[Draft Dodger]

is that you sundancer?

that was awesome!

[mtaystl03]

Nyarlahotep - I just want a white t-shirt with "Cubs Suck" on the front in royal blue. So I guess 8 letters.

[mtaystl03]

-- I think $7-$10 is about right for a pricepoint for people who are into that sort of thing. I personally wouldn't pay that for it, but I believe there are people who would.

-- I'd also recommend keeping an eye out for a phone call from the Cubs and/or MLB Properties if you have some success with them. As long as you aren't using their logo or anything, I'd say you're on safe ground, but I'd keep a good attorney's phone number handy anyway.
-- Cap Ologist makes a great point -- invest only as much in the initial run as you could afford/tolerate losing on the project if you never sold a single item.
-- Shop the prices of supplies both online & offline, locally & globally. The best combination of quality & price may be found around the world. And it might also be found around the corner, you really just never know.
-- Don't offer the shirts for sale until you have them in your hand. Nothing sours a deal faster than not being able to deliver. On time, or even "ever".
-- Be prepared to learn a lot about sales tax law in your state, as well as business license,etc. law in your local jurisidiction. You can fly below the radar a lot of times, if you choose to, but all it takes is one person who says "hmm ... I wonder if ... " and it's "Hello, Mr. MT, I'm with the Missouri Dept of Revenue & we'd like to talk to you".
-- Be sure to release the shirts too early with at least two or three errors in them. That should put you in position to release the patches that FOFC'ers have come to know & love ;)
--

If you are trying to scare me off you are doing a pretty good job. :) What if I don't consider this a "business" could I get around the sales tax stuff? I am just looking to make a quick buck and then go from there.

Thanks guys.

[Franklinnoble]

If you really want to make money, find a unique and underserviced porn niche, and sell your wares on the internet.

Some examples:

collegefootballmascotsporn.com
transvestiteunixadmins.com
nakedpostalworkers.com

etc, etc.

[SunDancer]

that was awesome!

Whats with the personal attacks?

I ask for advice previously, and got it. I am actually working, and deep, into my business plan.

[panerd]

Like I said earlier there was a guy at my gym yesterday who had a shirt that said Cubs Suck and the back said magic number = 911. So I think you may be a day late and a dollar short, and I would imagine in some sort of legal hassle if you made the exact same shirt. But if you want to go ahead with your plan, don't say that you haven't been forewarned.

[Cap Ologist]

--
-- Be sure to release the shirts too early with at least two or three errors in them. That should put you in position to release the patches that FOFC'ers have come to know & love ;)
--

This just made my day.

[Anthony]

If you are trying to scare me off you are doing a pretty good job. :) What if I don't consider this a "business" could I get around the sales tax stuff? I am just looking to make a quick buck and then go from there.

Thanks guys.

even if you don't call it a "business", it would fall under the "hobby" heading, and would still be subject to state tax. not sure if income generated through a hobby and through a business are two different rates, but either way you cut it if it brings you income you'll be liable for taxes.

good luck with your shirt.

you want a money making slogan? "Cubs suck" is too generic, sounds like someting i could have done by taking an old t shirt and wrote with a magic marker myself. try something witty, like "Steve Bartman sold me this seat", something like that.

[JonInMiddleGA]

What if I don't consider this a "business" could I get around the sales tax stuff?
What you consider it doesn't usually matter nearly as much as what the various other government entities consider it.

I am just looking to make a quick buck and then go from there. As I said, you might just escape notice by anybody & everybody who would want to put their hand in your wallet. Heck, plenty of people skate right on by without a word from anybody. But I'd be prepared for the distinct possibility that they'll eventually notice, so I recommend that you plan accordingly. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing every bit of your investment. (It's not the tax itself that'll kill you, that can be planned into the pricing. It's the interest penalties, administration costs, and other assorted add-on fees that can swallow you whole if you get tagged for a violation or three)

I'm not so much trying to discourage you as I am trying to at least make sure you consider as many of the realities as possible.

[Draft Dodger]

Whats with the personal attacks?

I ask for advice previously, and got it. I am actually working, and deep, into my business plan.

I'm not attacking you - I'm poking fun at you. No, actually I'm laughing at someone else poking fun at you. Lighten up - it happens.

[Nyarlahotep]

Nyarlahotep - I just want a white t-shirt with "Cubs Suck" on the front in royal blue. So I guess 8 letters.


What about the stuff on back. If front and back are one color on a white shirt I am pretty sure it would be $5 per shirt. If you changed your mind about the back it would be $4.50 I think. Let me know for sure and I will double check with him.

[mtaystl03]

Like I said earlier there was a guy at my gym yesterday who had a shirt that said Cubs Suck and the back said magic number = 911. So I think you may be a day late and a dollar short, and I would imagine in some sort of legal hassle if you made the exact same shirt. But if you want to go ahead with your plan, don't say that you haven't been forewarned.

Damn, I didn't realize it was the EXACT same shirt. If I do go forward with this I better change it up. My other idea was "Steve Bartman is my hero!" I like the "Steve Bartman sold me this seat!" Something with Steve Bartman but can I use his name? Im sure I will get sued by him or something.

[mtaystl03]

What about the stuff on back. If front and back are one color on a white shirt I am pretty sure it would be $5 per shirt. If you changed your mind about the back it would be $4.50 I think. Let me know for sure and I will double check with him.

I have been going back and forth about using the front and the back but if using them both would only cost an additional $.50 I would be stupid not to.

I could put something like "1904 is a long time ago" or "100 years and counting..." on the front and on the back have it say "Cubs Suck".

Something like that.

Hell, I am not going to limit myself to just ripping on the Cubs.

Would everybody here pay $10 for a shirt that says something about FOFC? :) I am still going through ideas.

[BishopMVP]

When I saw the title, I thought you had some money from a Nigerian oil scam you needed help depositing :(

[mckerney]

When I saw the title, I thought you had some money from a Nigerian oil scam you needed help depositing :(

Hey, at least it's better than his "Run on the field naked at the Super Bowl" plan that even if it worked out like he'd planned would have cost him $5000.

[mtaystl03]

Hey, at least it's better than his "Run on the field naked at the Super Bowl" plan that even if it worked out like he'd planned would have cost him $5000.

HA. Glad you remembered that mckerney. This one is a little more realistic (i hope).

[SunDancer]

I'm not attacking you - I'm poking fun at you. No, actually I'm laughing at someone else poking fun at you. Lighten up - it happens.

Sorry, its been a bad day for me. But, I have about twelve pages down a business plan already, (and 12 pretty deep and long pages). Just working on it alittle at a time (college sometimes get in the way). I hope to launch entering my last semester of college.

[panerd]

How about...

"Chicago Cubs Fans: If assholes could fly, wrigley field would be an airport."

[panerd]

dola:

Or the always popular bleacher's ratty T : "Show your tits!"

(which of course becomes very unpopular around the 7th inning when the drunk hag from South County takes them up on the offer)

[Primal]

What if I don't consider this a "business" could I get around the sales tax stuff? I am just looking to make a quick buck and then go from there.
Damn, why didn't I think of this idea before I turned in my taxes... no Uncle Sam this isn't "income"

[Ksyrup]

Dear Mr. Taxman:

The bank account with all the money in it is my "quick bucks, no tax" account; the account with $1.45 in it is my actual income, so feel free to tax away.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

[mtaystl03]

Dear Mr. Taxman:

The bank account with all the money in it is my "quick bucks, no tax" account; the account with $1.45 in it is my actual income, so feel free to tax away.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Dude, there is NO WAY you should have access to my letters to the taxman!

[mtaystl03]

Just in case you haven't seen here is my latest brilliant idea:

http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=24433

[SunDancer]

Could always learn to count blackjack cards, then hit the casinos. Make a nice buck their.

[Subby]

Could always learn to count blackjack cards, then hit the casinos. Make a nice buck their.Please tell me this is not a preview of your business plan.

[johnnyshaka]

nakedpostalworkers.com


If I have to see another "bulldog" shot of Cooleyvol I'M GOING TO GO POSTAL!!!

:D

[rkmsuf]

is that you sundancer?

heh...thought that dude was off making computers or something...

[SunDancer]

Please tell me this is not a preview of your business plan.

Nope, was a bad poke at sacrisim, with the gambling and Vegas talk from other threads.

[SunDancer]

heh...thought that dude was off making computers or something...

Not yet. Working on research, and drafting my business plan.

[rkmsuf]

I'm still a big supporter of the robot butcher idea but good luck with selling computers.

[SunDancer]

I'm still a big supporter of the robot butcher idea but good luck with selling computers.

Maybe can get that robot from the Jetsons cartoon.