Allotments 4 All
General => News => Topic started by: Admin aka Dan on June 30, 2004, 12:03:14
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A few people have suggested to me selling site merchandise - such as t-shirts, badges, pens, key rings - all the usual bits.
It's not a bad idea (we could even have a competition - t-shirt in the most glamorous location!).
But before I order any to sell, I want to find out if I'd end up with loads of unsold stuff !
Let me know what you think.
Cheers
Dan
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I think it would be a scream - perhaps you should have a members' competition for the best strap line on the Tshirts - can I state a preference for poloshirts shape and not in that nasty stretchy cotton that washes out of shape immediately? Kids sizes would be great too!
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Sounds like a good idea to me Dan. A great way to advertise the forums too!!
What colour were you thinking of for the T.shirts? Maybe a neutral colour would be best 'cause then we could wear them with anything!!! :D
Eileen.
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Great idea and if it raises the site some extra cash then it can only be a good thing!
Now Eileen, I don't know about neutral colours....if I wear mine on the plot it needs to be mud proof and have built in stinging nettle armour! ;)
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Yea Dan! I would be proud to wear an A4A t shirt or sweat shirt. A variety of colours and sizes would be good too. Need a new key ring and pen also, so all you suggest would be great.
Perhaps you could award a T-shirt prize for the Sunflower competition. Great idea Dan! ;D busy_lizzie
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Enamel badges are groovy - I could pin one on my stylish allotment baseball cap!
AC
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:D :DHow odd Dan you must be Psychic we were talking about this in Chat the other night hence my remark in Gallery re badges.T-shirts, Sweat shirts whatever yes i'ed certainly buy one.
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I'm a newbie here and I think its a great idea. Could they be sold to associations to sell on and maybe earn funds for the upkeep of the grounds? :)
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Good idea! Give me something to wear when my "Don't tell my mother I play the ukulele - she still thinks I'm the piano-player at the wh0reh0u5e" one's in the wash....
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It is a great idea Dan. Count me in for a tee shirt ...large and baggy please :-*
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An A4A flower pot that can be kept on allotment so all can see it even when your not there.
TrailRat
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Oh an A4All T-shirt would be great!! We should have a competition for the logo on it!!
(I am sure one of these bright sparks on here could come up with a great saying!) Chrissy pressies for the bemused family! ;D
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I would buy one provided it doesn't cost the earth and the logo/picture/slogan whatever you want to call it is not dreadful! Also a selection of sizes would be great, last company I worked for (mainly male environment) gave us project polo shirts and the only time I got to wear it was as a maternity shirt!
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Heaven on earth - browsing my favourite site AND a bit of retail therapy thrown in ;D Things can't get much better - oooh but then I'll have to make decisions about colour ) if there's a choice) size (will I be brutally honest with myself) and quantities. ???
But YES
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Great Idea Dan,
I could buy loads and give them out as runner up prizes in this years allotment comp. I have allready informed all the tenants about the site in my last Halton's Healthy Living Project news letter. Have you considered car stickers as well as the other thing mentioned. I too would prefer a decent polo style shirt , I think they look smarter. Can I also suggest that any logo etc is embroydered as screen print looks naff after a few washes.
Thumbs up and can I order 10 for the 16th July.
Only joking
Alan
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I'm going to stick my oar in and say make mine a medium cyclying jersey and you've gotta sale ;D.
Only kidding, but I do agree with Yarwooda about embroidered. As for a car sticker I could put it on my crud guard on my bike, as I don't drive.
If you want embroidered polo's I could have a word with the lady at work that orders our uniforms. See about costs, colours, designs etc. We have polo shirts that come in many sizes.
TrailRat
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Hi,
I think it is a great idea but already the idea of getting in enough stock for an assortment of likes and dislikes sounds like a nightmare. I think it might be a good idea to start with something small i.e., an iron on logo that we could all transfer to our favourite allotment gear - this could even be made as a purchased down loader as you can now buy the appropriate transfer paper from computer shops.
You also need to consider postage and packing and storage of stock!
Hope to be able to purchase my logo soon - good luck.
jal
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Or how about getting in orders and money and then ordering them - that way you won't be left with unsold stock.
No neutral colours please and nothing too pale, otherwise it won't be noticeable! (and it'll get filthy down the plot!) How about using official a4a colours?
And please can they be in proper sizes for us little 'ens, not just XL that they normally do?!
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Here's one I did earlier....
(http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Kenkew/A4Abadge.jpg)
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A bit more stylised edges on those leaves and Oz will be well happy!
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I have even thought of a slogan for the site t-shirts, how about
Digging the dirt on allotment life.
This slogan is patent pending so I'll want a freebie and 10% of the proceeds. :o ::) ;D
Just Kidding, I still like the slogan though.
TrailRat
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like it TR - I would shorten it even further -
"Digging the Dirt"
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I have a sign on my conservatory wall that says, " Gardeners know the best dirt"! ;D
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I don't think I would buy one if it just had the A4A website address on it. I don't like wearing logos.
Perhaps it would be better to design a t-shirt with a lottie/gardening slogan and put the A4A details on the sleeve or on the back?
Just my 2p.
Ten x
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I am quite happy to wear A4A in blazing capitals on the front and back, Dan. Might even bump into Legless,Ceri or Debs in Sainsbury's with it on! :D busy_lizzie
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Yay! Sounds like a cracking idea. Not too big on badges n stuff, but I like the sound of t-shirt/sweatshirt. Wheel them in ;D
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Any progress on the merchandise?
Maybe for saving money - perhaps we could download the logo/slogan, print it out on special paper and iron it on to a t-shirt.... or even make our own badges with the official A4A logo?
I am very likely to be going to potato day on the Saturday in January at Ryton, so we could meet up there?
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No progress yet, I am awaiting a response from a couple of suppliers.
Hopefully I will get an answer soon, in time for Christmas !
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Second it 8)
Support it ;)
Any more inform available ???
Exciting Idea Dan :)
Dan!!!!!!! If Trail Rat ::) Wants one for Cycling :o I want One for my Motor ;)
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very happy to wear anything with the logo on it!
Great idea!
Jemma
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Hi All,
I have just found this post by Dan, I must say that I am saddened by the fact that 1226 people read this post and only 46 have bothered to vote. :(
I humbly suggest that the members ask themselves how they would feel if the A4A site went under through lack of funding. ::)
It is vital that we ensure the financial viability of this excellent site, T-shirts, badges and donations are the fertilisers which will keep this site in good health. ;D
PS:- Dan I was not aware that I could donate to this site,
I will remedy that hopefully before the end of the week.
PREMTAL :)
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in defence - I looked at the date and saw it was from last year, so figured it was a bit too late to vote! so not sure if everyone else had done the same.
I don't know what came of this in the end - was merchandise produced?
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Lol Daisy...I did the same thing!! :-[
IMHO it proves that the newbies are keen to get involved, so maybe the idea can be resurrected!
We will see!!
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Another one here who has only read the post because of the date.. So who knows maybe as suggested by katynewbie the idea can be brought to life again..
Premtal there are probably a lot more members like you who are not aware of donations., I for one wasn't aware until I noticed Dan's post. Have now rectified. Lorna.
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::) Logically speaking with 2717 members and only 38 votes for these T-shirts to be produced, it's hardly going to support anything. :-\
To get this kind of thing off the ground needs member support to help increase numbers, organised meetings, trips around the country to visit lotties or venues of the vegetable kind, big name places to meet up at like the Malvern spud bash etc: ;D
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YEs please, Dan!! Would buy several and wear them for work!!! Great idea. Often thought it'd be nice to have an A4A bash as well.... ;D ;D ;D Lottie
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Polo or rugby shirt sounds good. Choice of 2 or 3 colours perhaps.
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;D
Ooooh Lottie!! An A4A bash....what a great idea!! Course we would have to go all over the world...Canada. Australia, Holland etc etc..... :( Will start saving up!!
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Not all here... ::)!!!! Each area, I thought, just a thought, only little one........ :-\ Lottie ;D
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Lottie...was only joking!! Not planning on a holiday for the foreseeable...got a plot to tend!! lol
But local gatherings seem like a really good idea.
Maybe in the winter in a pub with a roaring fire when its not possible to be weeding etc???
Northwest plotties...whaddya think?
Eeek what have i said?!! ???
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You've just invited 2,500 potential strangers/friends to your local.... :-\! Let me know how that goes!!!! Lottie ;D
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I think the logo transfer idea is excellent. Then I can put it on all items in my 'couture de jardin' collection.
Only trouble is, how do you iron on to ermine?
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;D ;D
One gets the scullery maid to do it!! ;D ;D
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She'll have to catch the b*gger first!
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Hi,
I'm new to this site and only come across this thread. I for one think this site is amazing, I've picked up so much useful information and feel that I have caught 'the bug' for gardening and growing etc.
I think t-shirts etc. is a great way to promote the site and to raise funds.
Just a thought...why not have a competition to design a logo / picture / phrase to go on the t-shirts etc? I think it would be a good way of getting everybody involved - and imagine having the logo you designed on all the t-shirts?!
Also, I order all our client gifts at work and could give you the name and address of an extremely good company, who have very competative rates? They do everything from t-shirts, baseball caps, gloves, pens and key rings to golfing towels and umbrellas!
Laura
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Think this is a great idea Dan - in time for Christmas?
Could really do with a sun visor (like the tennis players) on the lottie, that would be great ;D
Also how about a special carry bag for seeds etc, at present I use an small black m&s square based shopping bag - but it really should be green ;D
Ooo and don't forget labels !!!!!!!!!!!
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There you are Dan, your own little Trading Shed. I am still very much in favour of at least T shirts, to start with. :) busy_lizzie
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2717 members when I last posted and now 2766 = 59 more members and things are getting quiet? 38 voters increased to 45 = 7 more in favour of T-shirts, I reckon when the price of the shirts are posted maybe only half will be interested in purchasing if we are lucky. ::)
Will 22 T-shirts be specially processed for a few members by a company looking to make a profit? ??? I somehow doubt it and as for the visors and seed bags they would have to be made in their hundreds surely for any company to get a return? How many of those would there be sold ???
If you are prepared to pay around £15 for a cotton T-shirt it may be a viable proposition but then the order will most likely be reduced even further, hope I’m wrong. :)
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oh yes im up for it to.It would be nice to have that un bleached organic cotton wouldnt it and enamel badges are good and so are mud gaurd stickers and flower pots.
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Hi,
The company we use at work allows a minimum order of just 1. I got some good quality polo shirts made up and they worked out about £5 a shirt - sold for £10-15.......
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E-mail Admin aka Dan at those prices I'm sure he would be interested, but maybe you should have kept the cost price secret ::)
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Would be nice to have an A4A design competition to pick a member's design for maybe one item, be it large or small?
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:o Eeek! :o Roy you are probably right, but it's for a good cause eh?!
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Hi Dan,
I hope that you are financially secure, because it would seem that the members of this site are for the most part destitute or indifferent to your ideas for raising cash to help fund the site. :(
I thought that when I resurrected your post that it would galvanise the membership into at least casting a vote. :D
Obviously I was way off the mark with that assumption, I find it difficult to believe that this site is populated by people who are on minimum state pension since they have the finance to sign up to the internet. ???
I require to be careful with my finances, but I could certainly throw caution to the wind and buy a T-Shirt with what ever logo is decided upon. ;D
PS:- Would it be remiss of me to ask how many members there are and how many contribute to the running of A4A. ::)
PPS:- To date 1575 viewings of this post and 69 votes cast how sad is that!!!!! >:(
PREMTAL
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Prem,
I have a wooden spoon in my kitchen its about 3 ft long, I should send it to you ;D
But seriously, I'm all in favour. Dan, could you do an on-line catalogue at the top of the front page of the site?
That way hopefully everybody would be made aware of it. :-\
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As Roy has said, the economics of it are tough.
It could cost around £12 per t-shirt to do a run of 50 shirts, all one size.
By the time postage has been taken into account, £15 per t-shirt would just about cover costs.
I am looking into the price of transfers / badges, which may be viable at around £5 per item.
I'll let you know what I find out.
Cheers
Dan
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Premtal. I do find a note of sarcasm in your post!! .I would support the idea of buying a t/ shirt, I haven't cast a vote, sorry about that .
Like you I have to spread my income, I am on basic income/pension. However, I keep my head above water and when I eventually found the post re. donations my cheque for £10 was winging its way to Dan. Hope you did the same as per your 17th August post.
Yes it would be nice to wear a t/shirt with a nice big a4a logo but as Dan says the economics are tough. Maybe the donations idea is a better road to go, I am sure you are not the only one who hopes this site can keep going. I would not assume that because people are connected to the internet they can also take on other expences..I know that since losing my husband the internet has been a means of enjoyment to me, especially in the winter months.
Best wishes to all from a NOT destitute member. Lorna.
PS flowerlady.. you win my wooden spoon is only 2ft long. ;D ;D
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As Roy has said, the economics of it are tough.
It could cost around £12 per t-shirt to do a run of 50 shirts, all one size.
By the time postage has been taken into account, £15 per t-shirt would just about cover costs.
I am looking into the price of transfers / badges, which may be viable at around £5 per item.
I'll let you know what I find out.
Cheers
Dan
Dan, I can get them cheaper than that for you, I work in marketing and a catalogue which happens to have landed on my desk today sells polo shirts for around £6.50 for 50, or basic t-shirts for around £4.30 for 50, including embroidering a logo onto them. Can give you some contact details of the companies I use?
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Go Daisymay!! ;D
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Would it be worth having a design available for purchase as a graphics file for download. Interested members could take the file to their local printer, or print themselves if they have a colour printer available, and iron on themselves onto their own t-shirt. The costs and time implications to Dan would pretty much be nothing, apart from paypal fees and it would keep costs down for the forum members as well, we could also make sure we all have a t-shirt that fits. A certain amount of trust would be involved that members don't email others free copies of the files. A new design could be issued each year with perhaps a competition to design it.
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sounds like a good idea!
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Would it be worth having a design available for purchase as a graphics file for download. Interested members could take the file to their local printer, or print themselves if they have a colour printer available, and iron on themselves onto their own t-shirt. The costs and time implications to Dan would pretty much be nothing, apart from paypal fees and it would keep costs down for the forum members as well, we could also make sure we all have a t-shirt that fits. A certain amount of trust would be involved that members don't email others free copies of the files. A new design could be issued each year with perhaps a competition to design it.
I've just run up a prototype just to get an idea you understand ;D Mind you I have had this T-shirt for over 3 years now. 8)
(http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3840/roya4a2ee.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
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Lorna:- no disrespect intended, but I do not think that the majority of the membership are in your situation.
The sarcasm I admit to, however Dan requires a better response to the poll. The more votes cast the greater the chance of his ideas becoming a reality.
Daisymay:- that is excellent news. ;D
Roy:- Nice polo shirt good organic colours I like it. ;D
Flowerlady:- I will gratefully accept the 3 foot wooden spoon if it gets members to vote in which ever way they wish.
All I want is for the members to cast a vote, at the end of the day it is just the click of the mouse, how much bother is that. ???
PREMTAL
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I have a 54 inch chest....so we all going xxxxl.........?
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:o Are you male or female? It's so I can get a better picture of you in my mind ;D :P ;D :D
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Hi
Have read this topic and admit I looked and didn't vote. However I don't know how to vote. If some kind soul can tell me how I will vote to buy a t shirt.
Melanie
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at the top of the page there should be a poll where you can click next to which one you want to go for and submit your vote?!?
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Hi
I can see the poll and the choices, but am unable to click anything ???
Melanie
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Are you sure you haven't voted already? Once you vote you will see the results and clicking a choice will disappear. :)
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I don't know, possibly a long time ago.
Doh I am stupid if i did
Sorry :-[
Melanie
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;D Don't worry, I tried to vote again until I realised I voted right at the beginning ::)
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Hi All,
78 votes cast so far, my thanks to the 30 odd members who were kind enough to take the time to take part in the poll after I resurrected it. :)
There was some excellent input in sourcing a manufacturer, and logo design ideas. ;D
At the end of the day it is the number of votes cast which will see this project become a reality. ;)
I have already told my O/H that I want one for Christmas, and she good woman that she is has agreed to purchase same. ;D
So please cast a vote I want my T-Shirt. :)
PREMTAL
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right-i'm in a hurry so i skipped the middle two pages-my apologies if this has already been covered-so-heres the warning!!
we thought i't'd be a good idea to stock t shirts with our images(we are painters)on-WHAT A FLAMIN NIGHTMARE!!!!!
you will end up with all bigs left..
or all smalls left...
or the wrong colour.....or the wrong style-i tell you-its a bugger trying to please all of the people all of the time-or any of the time!so-i would buy a badge-maybe two-but i will not buy a tee shirt- ;D ;D ;D
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Hi All,
My final word on this subject, we were once a nation of people who would find a way to solve a problem regardless of the difficulties, to make an idea a reality. ;D
It would seem that we have become like the young people of this age, if you require to work to make an idea a reality its not worth the bother. ::)
PREMTAL
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Badges,keyrings,notebooks,mugs,flowerpots with logo I would go for .
T-shirts... I would have to be persuaded as I don't do logos across my chest,besides Dan would have to pay me for such a prominent advertising space LOL !
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It would seem that we have become like the young people of this age, if you require to work to make an idea a reality its not worth the bother.
NOT AT ALL PREMTAL!
as 5 or 6 people on this site alone can testify,i bend over backwards to satisfy customers requirements-but having been in retail for 25 years i also know the pitfalls...and one thing nobody should aspire to is to be a busy fool which is so easy to become if you dont listen to advice from people who've been there ,done that and....o no-BOUGHT THE TEE SHIRT! ;)
stick to badges and baseball caps-put me down for 2 badges.
best wishes
kitty ;D
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as 5 or 6 people on this site alone can testify,i bend over backwards to satisfy customers requirements-
I am one of those people and I have never known anyone to be more helpful, it's always been a pleasure to buy from kitty. :)
Having also been in retail I agree it is impossible to please everyone :( even if you had tee shirts in every colour under the sun and in all sizes.
Merlins Mum
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ta mm! ;D
thing is ....its easy to be wise after the event and if people can help you why not listen to 'em?
ah well...you can tell some of the people some of the time..... ;D
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Hi Kitty,
I seem to have struck a verve, having been there done that etc, I have always found it best to tell people what is available rather than ask what they want. ;)
The former allows you to gauge a possible market, the latter leaves you in no man's land. ::)
As the the Busy fool jibe tut tut!!! :o
PREMTAL
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not a jibe prem-bitter experiance! ::)
as for telling people what is available,rather than ask what they want-customers dont work like that-they tend to want what they want and if its only 'what is available-'they wont buy it !
therefore its easy to be left with 'unsaleables'
how many times have you been into a shop for something 'specific' and left emptyhanded when they have 'what is available' but its not quite what you want?
yes-there are people who think-well....i'll have it anyway-but the vast majority will leave emptyhanded!
the main difficulty i see with supplying a limited market(how many people answered the poll?)is the chances of you hitting the right sizes are slim-and if you order from a wholesaler in such small size specific quantities,the price will be ginormous.
but i wish you luck..i dont know your background which might be retail. :)
(i'll still have 2 badges please! ;D)
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So there's no chance of A4A t-shirts with LINCOLN CHAPTER on the back then?
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dam!
i had some available last week and i've just sold out pete... ;D ;D ;D
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Kitty
Disagree with your assessment but such is life. ::)
PREMTAL
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dam!
i had some available last week and i've just sold out pete... ;D ;D ;D
Just my luck! BTW we have a new kitty er.....kitty.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,13673.0.html
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Aaah he looks so sweet, bet he's spoilt but then why shouldn't he be.
Kitty will love him as he looks like a baby freddie cat.
We'll expect updates as he grows.
Merlins Mum
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a mini fred! ;D
our freds e-n-o-r-m-o-u-s now-a very old gentleman....still sleeps a lot,eats like a good'un and always wants company...
you should have a lot of fun with li' smokey!
aaaaw!smokeyboy! :-*
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oh kitty he's not e-n-o-r-m-o-u-s, just a tad portly, bless him. ;D
MM
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fred says
'thank you auntie merlin-mum always says i'm big-i think some people should look for the beam in their own eye before casting nasturtiums!*
aennyway-we cant all be britney spears can we?' ;D
*kitty says'i resemble that remark' ::)
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would we want to be kitty, I don't think so. :)
and I tried to think who I could liken your freddie to, but decided he is too special and unique. I must sort out his train ticket so he can come to stay, toby-dog is looking forward to it. what 2 grey p u s s y cats, I've died and gone to heaven
MM
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so long as the tickets a return one!
what would i do without my feetwarmer,doorstop,bathroom guardian and all round garden helper? ;D
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kitty, he's a real gentleman, not many of them around these days ;D
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freds certainly 'a round' ;D
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enough of this kitty, we have rather strayed from tee shirts ;D ;D
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you're right-sorry-back to the tee shirts..
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Premtal - you are making me feel very guilty for my lack of pics. Honest guv, I 'll get a pics when I can afford it but still waiting for my boat to come in (sorry about mixing my dialects in the same sentence) Very very skint at the moment - and not for the reasons that Kitty thinks ;D
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Hi redclanger,
My intention was not to press the guilt button, but to check if the artery of enthusiasm still had a pulse. ;)
PREMTAL
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Time for revival, I think! Have just received my A4A graphics from Lorna, and put on t-shirts tonight. Had them within a day, wonderful instructions on how to apply, which I followed... ::)...yes, even simple enough for lil'ol me!! And they look really professional, I'm dead chuffed, Tesco in for shock tomorrow!! Lorna, thank you. But bill, Hun!?!?? Lovely letter though........ Lottie ;D
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Hi All,
The T-Shirt problem has finally been solved thanks to Lorna, well done Lorna I doff my cap to you for finding the solution to the what size/ colour etc debacle. ;D
I have now informed the O/H that the obstacles to my getting an A4A T-Shirt are in the past. ;D
It is now a matter of personal choice, those who wish to promote the site and those who don't. ;)
I now feel justified in having resurrected the topic in that it has produced an end result which can be purchased. ;)
PREMTAL