Re: AIS Centennial Shopping

> On Sep 11, 2016, at 8:43 AM, Robert Pries <101p@rewrite.aisboard.org> wrote:
> 
> I have two concerns; but first let me thank Andi for all the effort involved in finding this vender. Perhaps we should immediately sign up because this is the best we can do. But here are my concerns: 
> 
> (1) We have not really explored our membership to see if this could be done by a volunteer. Probably not, we seem to be getting old and tired and everyone today wants to be paid for what they do. But certainly, it seems to me, we should at least announce to our membership that we would like someone to man an AIS boutique and see if there are volunteers. Having a company do this work is an admission we can not do it for ourselves. Certainly a substantial profit is lost paying for this administration and the cost of the merchandize must be higher also meaning fewer sales. But if we do due diligence and at least make the attempt to find an boutique manager and then come up blank, I certainly think we should proceed with this company.

We should recall that from February 2001 through November 2003 we had the online AIS Gift Shop managed by Janna Middleton. She was responsible for carrying the cost of goods, managing the website, and the sales transactions. AIS received 15% of the profits. Among other things she sold AIS Logo polo shirts which many of you have seen me wear at our spring and fall meetings.

Unfortunately there was no enough demand for the products and the AIS Gift Shop closed.

We should all at least remember our past experience(s). You know what they say about “history.”

Andy’s idea at least keeps us out of the inventory business.

Thanks

John
__________________ 
John and Joanne Jones
Registrar-Recorders, American Iris Society
aisregistrar@irises.org

Director, American Iris Society
Chair, AIS Electronic Services Committee

35572 Linda Drive
Fremont, CA 94536


> 
> (2) My other concern is about starting this venture with the one and only thing we have for the 100th anniversary. It think it would be better to start with some other designs, perhaps even the AIS logo, as a first offering. I am sure the 100th Anniversary logo would be a big seller, but the Anniversary is 4 years off. Are we going to create a new design for the Anniversary? If we do not save our best for last we are going to have an anticlimax for the real celebration. I certainly think we should have several AIS designs that could be current now. If we do not do more than what we are doing it is questionable as to how big our organization will be in 4 years or whether we will exist at all as we know it. It would seem ironic to have a t-shirt celebrating 100 years of an organization that never made it that far.
> Bob Pries
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "andi rivarola" <0b5865f51@rewrite.aisboard.org>
> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
> Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2016 10:00:48 AM
> Subject: [AISdiscuss] AIS Centennial Shopping
> 
> Dear all,
> 
> I wanted to invite you to visit the Shopping website for the AIS Centennial
> Anniversary created at CafePress:
> 
> http://www.cafepress.com/theamericanirissociety
> 
> 
> *Benefits:*
> 
> With CafePress, AIS pays nor for costly inventory. All items listed are
> produced on demand, and shipped by CafePress as directed by each customer.
> 
> Easy production, easy shipping, no AIS volunteers are involved, saving time
> and money.
> 
> 
> *Fees (to be paid by AIS) are as follows: *
> 
> *Account holders that have a valid credit card on file will pay a Shop fee
> at the following rates:*
> 
> *$59.95 for 1 year (only $5 per month!)*
> 
> *b*Note: not sure what these fees cover but having a workable shopping
> website alone is worth the fees, if we could at least sell a t-shirt a
> month.
> 
> *b*
> There's a second option, which is deducting these fees from commissions
> bdue, b
> but then
> binstead of $5 per month, b
> it's $10 per month.
> 
> *bIncome for AIS: b*
> Each item sold brings $5 to the AIS Treasury (i.e. one t-shirt sold, pays
> AIS $5; a hat sold pays AIS $5).
> 
> 
> *Other Details: *
> 
> Working with CafePress does not limit AIS the ability to sell merchandise
> only produced by them.
> Merchandise in the website I put together for now are only those recently
> added; check frequently to find added items.
> I can add as much merchandise as necessary from now until 2020.
> 
> Working with CafePress does not limit AIS in any way to produce and sell
> items produced by other vendors.
> 
> Payments by CafePress to AIS are funneled to AIS electronically via PayPal.
> 
> The website is ready to go, and if the AIS Board approval is received we
> can start promoting it via social media, the Bulletin, News & Notes, and
> the AIS website.
> 
> Example: here's how the Hemorrocallis Society handles their shop:
> 
> http://www.zazzle.com/ahsstore/products
> 
> Note: I researched Zazzle, but I find CafePress much easier to work with.
> 
> 
> *MOTION*
> 
> For the record:
> 
> "I would  like to make a motion that the AIS Board gives me (and the 2020
> Centennial Committee) authorization to have this relationship with
> CafePress to produce any items necessary in order to promote The American
> Iris Society's Centennial Anniversary Celebration."
> 
> --
> *Andi Rivarola*
> *bThe American Iris Society, 2nd VP*
> *2020 Centennial Anniversary Committee member*
> *AIS Marketing and PR Committee member*
> 
> *b*
> 
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> 
> -- 
> Bob Pries
> Zone 7a
> Roxboro, NC
> (336)597-8805
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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> <aissecretary@irises.org>
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> 


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