2008
Preparing For India And TUK T-Shirts
Posted by Jason in Daily RamblingI might have mentioned this, but anyways; I’ll be leaving for India tomorrow (Wednesday) night so this is probably the second last blog post for a while. I will try and get on the Internet occasionally, as I’m taking my laptop, however posts on the blog will be sparse unless I have a lot of time free. I’m still looking for guest posters – if you’d like some exposure and the ability to plug your own blog/website, register here and write up a draft post. I have three at the moment, and while they’re great a few more wouldn’t go amiss.
I will not be using my Paypal account in India, so will probably see a drop in revenue (seeing as my income is not residual as yet) – I’m still waiting for $650.00 eCheck to clear for my eBook website, while I have a few writing jobs in the pipeline that I will try and complete before I leave. Between the 13rd to the 25th though, I’ll confess that my earnings will be pretty much zilch – I don’t really have time. I will be working on marketing the blog a bit more though, and the first thing I want are t-shirts.
If you remember, I wanted t-shirts right when this blog started – sadly, the guy that was supposed to make them (and he offered a killer deal too) has not been online for months. Being in India, where quality is available for a pretty cheap price, I might look at getting them done there and then manually shipping it out from Dubai, unless any of you that live there want to pick one up off me of course 
The first t-shirt I got done was one that is simple, but I like it; I wanted to have one with the header of this blog made, but colouring issues (the extensive amount of colour used) means that they would end up costing a bomb. What I asked my designer to do was one of those I (heart) t-shirts made, similar to ones that state I (heart) New York. Here’s what it looks like:
Would you wear a shirt with that on it? I think it’s clean, yet will promote the blog well; I’m thinking of getting say, 20 made at the beginning and if they prove to be semi-wanted, I’ll put in an order for a few more.
I’m also thinking of using a black and white version of the character in the header, and then adding the name of the blog/URL below. Which do you think is better?
If you have any ideas on what good go on a t-shirt and promote this blog, feel free to post them up. I’m running a contest and I’ll give $10.00 through Paypal to the best one. A lot of people have suggested slogans, but I’m more looking for ideas – something like ‘a copy of I (heart) New York’ would be an idea, whereas I’m not sure how many people would get a t-shirt just with a slogan and URL on it.
As for marketing the t-shirt, I’m thinking of charging $5 – $10 for them (slightly less than what they will cost to make and ship), and for the first month/fifty customers… offering a full refund if you take a picture of yourself wearing it in public. This will be displayed in a gallery on the blog along with a link back to your website, so if you’ve ever wanted to get a link + t-shirt for free, that could be a good method. Again, it sounds great to me, but others may feel it’s a rubbish idea – what do you think?
The contest – don’t worry about that, I’ll still be promoting it from India; I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve that will be going into action. I’m doing alright at the moment I think; I think this blog should have a much larger readership, and I will work on getting it there. 
That’s all for now – I’ve gotta run to a class on the joys of Philosophy. Feel free to leave your comments below 
I don’t know, but I think wearing a “I Love The University Kid” may make me feel a bit gay (and I’m definitely NOT)!! I think the header (or something similar) would be very cool and something I would sport.
Anyway, whatever shirt you come up with I’m in (I think).
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Where in India are you going Jason?
Anyway, good idea about the shirts. UPS are delivering mine today, can’t wait to see the result
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@ EGK, hehe… people thinking it would be gay is not something I foresaw
The shirts can only be 1/2 colour each at most, otherwise they’ll end up costing $20 USD+ a shirt… got any other ideas? I’d love the header on a shirt too, just don’t know how many people would buy them (and I can’t afford to drop so much and have them sitting here
).
@ Viking Blogger, going to Mumbai (or Bombay). Place where I was born, haven’t visited for ages though. Should be… interesting, to say the least. Take photos of your shirts, it’ll be cool to see
Interesting idea with t-shirts. Really don’t know how it’s going to end, but hey like in one of your previous posts, if you don’t take initiative….
I was wondering what this TUK word means but I finally understood.
Anyway that black and white picture looks cool but the eyes look strange.You look like an alien
Kidding lol
Try and fix them
I think the photo would be better. An ‘I Love TUK’ design doesn’t seem to be catchy anymore.
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would love to pick up the tshirt when you are in india. drop a mail.
There are lots of cheap tshirt manufacturers in mumbai.Could get a good
bargain.so happy valentine in mumbai. would be even better if you
could manage to spend valentine’s in Goa
@ Aleks, damn straight!
I’ve always wanted a t-shirt for something I run too….
@ Trevormanut, hehe I thought that too. We’ll see eh
@ Gian P, thanks for the insight. Let me find out how much it’ll cost to print the character
@ Chenzen, didn’t know you lived in India buddy. I’ll drop you an email when there, probably won’t have time for a meetup but will be able to mail you one if you give me your address.
As for Goa, haven’t been there either for ages… damn. It’s a bit boring though to be honest, only beaches and not much else. You get fine chicks in Dubai too
I definitely think that the character looks better and more professional. Shoemoney and a few other sites have simply used their logos as well. I know I wouldn’t wear a shirt with a heart on it because I’m a dude. What you may want to do is buy a few of each to begin with to see which sells better for you, plus it gives everyone a few choices. You should set up a store or something where they can place orders, that way you can get them produced as they have the demand.
If you produce the one with your logo character on it, I’ll purchase it AND take a picture of myself in class or something wearing it.
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I personally like a ‘clean’ look better. I think that even though the graphic is smaller it catches the eye more because there is so much more contrast of graphic vs. rest of the shirt
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Great marketing plan!
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Hey, you know what? At first I wasn’t exactly sure of the whole t-shirt thing, however your last bit was good.
I really liked the idea that people would get a refund (free tshirt and all) + free backlink/exposure for (proving) they’re going to wear your shirt out and promote your site.
Have fun in India, and if India is anything like Vietnam, I dont think you’d get much done online.
Hi Jason
I wonder whether your female followers will be happy to wear the one with ‘I love TUK’ LOL. You are definitely on the right track and good luck with it.
I really like your character and see it as all part of branding. As you get bigger and more well known, people will associate with it and trust you when they see your character, so it needs to be used all the time. What better way to get your brand out there than on T Shirts
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I like the character how it is, the color brings it out. Also, I hope you have fun in India.
Hey Jason , where would you land in India. please reply by email so that I may have a chance to meet you.
I am from India.
Hi,
Where in India, you are going? I live in India. May be I can take one of those t-shirts and will send you pics me wearning in public.:)
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So u going to Mumbai?
Any one there to receive you? I might have got the T-Shirt Pics of me wearing it but i live in Hyderabad(South India).
Good to see you go to Hyd though
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By the way I forgot to add.This T-shirt thing sounds really cool but what would the cost for shipping be ?
I mean I live in Bulgaria and this like on the other side of the planet from India and the shipping would cost like 3 or 4 times more than the t-shirt.
lol
I like the idea about the refund but $5-10 is really cheap.
I rather buy it. Tell me when ready.
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I think $5-10 is really cheap as well. If you gave a refund to everyone (the first fifty customers), I think you would lose a lot of money. However, if each person attracts two people, and then they come to the website and buy a t-shirt each, I think it will work.
trevomanut ..
I am from southern part of India. To be precise Tiruppur, where T-shirts are made.
The shipping part of the T-shirts, You need to ship some huge quantity, otherwise just forget it. Freight will take lots of money..
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