How to Get Customized Team Merchandise!

How do I buy or sell team merchandise?
How do I design my own pictures?
Does it have to be tennis or sports related?
What kind of stuff can I sell?
Why is everything white or gray?
I already have team shirts. How can you help me?
Who sends out the orders and collects the money?
How much do I make on each item?
How do I get paid?
Can I buy stuff from my own store?
Do I get any quantity discount?
How much does it cost to get started?
How long does it take to get started?
Do I need a web site of my own?
Can I quit any time?
I have more questions

How do buy or sell team merchandise?
First, you set up a virtual "store" with a company called Cafe Press. They will set you up with a personalized web page for your merchandise, like "cafepress.com/myteam". You link to this page from your web site, or just tell your customers where to link directly. All you need to do is upload your design or photo in a standard computer format, then configure your store with prices and how the designs will appear on your merchandise. All the available items can be previewed on this page, so the customer sees exactly what they are getting. If you have more than one design to sell, you just set up additional virtual stores. The only information you give Cafe Press is your name and address, so they know where to send the profits. You do not need a credit card to set up a store, and you will not be asked for any financial information. THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO SET-UP FEES WHATSOEVER!!! REALLY!!!

How do I design my own pictures?
All you need is a logo, photograph or design in a standard computer format, i.e. a BMP (Windows bitmap), JPG (compressed photo) or GIF (graphic interchange format). Any decent PC drawing program can create files in this format -- Microsoft PaintBrush for example. If your design is on paper, or you want a photo converted, just take it to a copy shop like Kinko's and they'll do it for you. You can also go to many drugstores or department stores, like WalMart or K-Mart, that have a self-service scanner in the photo department. You may not use any image you do not hold the copyright to.

Does it have to be tennis or sports related?
Of course not! You can use any design you want. Photos of Grandma or your favorite pet, business logos, special event souvenirs, team names, family reunions, church or youth organizations. We'll even help rock bands! Since there is no minimum quantity, you can even personalize gifts for family and friends.


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What kind of things can I sell?
Cafe Press currently offers T-shirts in all sizes S through 4XL, sweatshirts, baseball caps and bucket hats, boxer shorts, tote bags, mugs, and mousepads. Your on-line store can be configured to sell all of the items, or only the ones you select.

Here's a complete list of items currently available --

  • White T-Shirts -- Children S, M, L -- Adult S,M,L,XL,XXL,XXXL,XXXXL
  • Grey T-Shirts -- Adult S,M,L,XL,XXL,XXXL,XXXXL
  • Grey Sweatshirts -- Adult S,M,L,XL,XXL
  • White Long Sleeve Tee -- Adult S,M,L,XL,XXL,XXXL
  • Women's T-Shirt (Hanes Her Way) - S,M,L,XL
  • Tank Tops - M,L,XL,XXL
  • Baseball caps (white, grey, khaki)
  • Bucket hats (white)
  • Boxer Shorts - S,M,L,XL
  • Tote Bags
  • Coffee Mugs -- 11 oz. and 15 oz.
  • Mouse Pads
Shirts are 100% cotton Hanes Beefy-T quality wear (sweatshirts are 50/50 cotton/polyester). They are printed using a high quality dye sublimation process, similar to silk screening, and do not fade, crack or peel like iron-ons.


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Why is everything white or gray?
All the merchandise is printed by computer. Unfortunately, computer printers can't print the color white (check your ink jet printer -- see any white ink?). The only way to get white is to let the background show through. So any white in your design is converted to "transparent", allowing the shirt color to show through as white or gray.

Cafe Press is currently investigating various methods of printing on colored items, but so far no method has met their high standards.

I already have team shirts. How can you help me?
This is perfect way to raise money by selling items to your team boosters or alumni. You can offer additional sizes, styles or items you don't have available now to augment your physical inventory. Example -- post a sign or hand out flyers saying "Team merchandise available on-line" and give your URL or Cafe Press store address. Orders are then shipped directly to their door within 3 weeks. Your on-line store can be configured to sell only the items you choose -- you do not need to sell every item available.

You can also use Cafe Press for special event and one-of-a-kind items. Remember, no set up cost and no minimum quanities!.

Who sends out the orders and collects the money?
You don't handle any money or merchandise. Orders are custom printed after they are received. You do not need to stock any inventory, and there are no set-up fees and no minimum quantities required. Cafe Press will print your customer's order, collect the money, and send it via Priority Mail. Delivery time is usually 2 weeks. Cafe Press accepts VISA, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and of course checks or money orders. Cafe Press also handles returns and offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Cafe Press is a large company in California with over 100,000 different on-line stores selling merchandise.

How much do I make on each item?
YOU determine your profit! Cafe Press sets a base price for each item, and you decide the actual selling price. Cafe Press makes all their overhead and profit (and pays the commissions) out of the base price. The difference between the base and the selling price is your profit-- usually $3-5 per item. You call sell at NO profit, or sell one T-shirt for $1,000,000 and build a new stadium. You can also buy as much stuff as you like from your own store at the base price, if you want your own inventory.

How do I get paid?
Once a month, Cafe Press will send you a check for the profits from your store. Your current sales figures are available on-line at any time. If your accumulated monthly profit is less than $10, you get no check and the profit rolls over to the next month.


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Can I buy stuff from my own store?
You can always buy as much merchandise as you want from your own store, at the item base price.

Are there any quantity discounts?
Sort of, but not exactly. Starting March 1, 2001, CafePress has changed their pricing structure. They raised the single base price, but if you sell 20 or more of an item each month you get a discount. Check here for pricing details. If you are interested in quantity sales or a large inventory, you should look into conventional silk screen printing --check your Yellow Pages. Then you can expand your sales by using Cafe Press for additional sizes and items.

How much does it cost to get started?
NOTHING, ZIP, NADA, ZILCH, GOOSE-EGG, NIL, ZERO!!!!. Cafe Press charges NOTHING to open a virtual store. All you need is a design to upload and you're ready to go!

How long does it take to get started?
It takes about 2 minutes to sign up with Cafe Press, and about 15-30 minutes to upload your design, configure the style (front or back printing, alignments, etc.) and set your prices. That's it--then you're ready to sell! You can set up as many stores as you like -- 1 design per store, or each item in your store can have a different design.

Do I need a web site of my own?
No web site is required! If you have a team web site, you can add a link to your Cafe Press store. If you don't have a web site, just tell you customers to connect to "www.cafepress.com/myteam" (or whatever your store name is).

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Can I quit anytime?
You may close your on-line virtual store at any time with no cost or penalty.

I have more questions

Send us an email. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
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Last revision 08/16/02