Once upon a time in the not so distant past there was company named Smack Apparel. They may still exist, but they certainly don't exist in the manner they once did.
It was two UF fans in Gainesville who were frat brothers, and who started it. They had come across screen printing equipment and had a rudimentary knowledge on how to use it. They'd watch college football all weekend and in between beers would write down funny things that were said by other frat brothers concerning the games- most often of opponents, obviously.
They printed these things on shirts and they sold them around campus, and then around town. it was the official beer fund in no time.
when they graduated and one of them became a home owner, they started doing it again and out of the garage. they were small and agile- making t-shirts with quotes moments after hearing them and having them on sale within hours. It was good for them, financially, as they ballooned into a micro-major, if you can follow that, in a niche market that spanned the entirety of the US with help from the interwebz...
later on they caught the attention of major retailers. they started taking orders for major box stores to the tune of 10, 20, even 50k a month. they started outsourcing as they had no other choice. they were really rolling in the dough at this point. however, they lost their agility to make rapid changes or new graphics based on 'what got them there'... this is when i met them. I tried to become a retailer for them here, licensed to sell their licensed (at that point) merchandise.
Nice guys. They tried to sell me equipment to do what they did and offered to finance and assist. I was in no place to do so at the time, and it had to do with 'time' more than anything. I started looking elsewhere for things to sell in effort to support the site.
Amazon was the logical move. Amazon ain't working. The site pulls in perhaps $15~20 a month on a good month, and comes nowhere near supporting the server lease.
This site is leased on a dedicated server with a comprehensive COOP via fallover/flare. It has a remarkable up time and is something I'm kinda proud of (knocking on wood)... i manage it myself to include all the backend stuff y'all never see. it's a bit of a hobby as much as anything, but, i surely intend to maintain it.
a promise was made to never track y'all or allow others to do so with intrusive ads, and we refuse to beat y'all to death with adverts popping up, over or under, video's you gotta watch before you can see content, ect. it breaks the experience i am desperately trying to be apart from that other sites embrace.
so- how are these tales related?
dues are coming up for the annual lease payment. it's not a trivial amount- i considered it as such when i was working, but now in semi-retirement (for the time being) it's not a trivial amount.
I can create graphics fairly well... i have the tools to make what i produce look good- and i blame those tools not any vision that i have. a matter of fact, i have pretty much zero vision outside of a narrow wise-cracking smart ass way... I'd never be able to adopt the 'way' of smack apparel.
However, i've since licensed through another provider.... these guys print on demand any graphic i choose, so long as it isn't licensed elsewhere, and drop ship for me..... I can do hoodies, t's, phone cases, bags, hats and a host of other stuff... i'm really not interested in anything other than t's hoodies and hats.
I've already listed some on my personal website (set up exclusively to support this place) but that markets to my old marine buddies and those seeking some custom woodworking type something or another...
what i'd LIKE to do is make a sticky thread here (other than this one) with 'smack' type comments, simple (non-licensed) art, and/or just ideas... I can do the graphics (* but i certainly wouldn't tell anyone not to bother) and i can have them on a t-shirt hat or hoodie within minutes, and listed on the site here (sidebar) in an hour.
I'm looking for a way to keep this place alive, y'all. Asking for money isn't my way when we can avoid it and by offering an actual product- and... it can also be advertised elsewhere at same time to make this place finally financially self sustaining.
It would be nice to hear your thoughts on this... The payment to keep the lights on will most likely happen this july, but, it's the last time i can promise that... we need this place to be self sustaining THIS year- it's been too long as it is... gotta be this year. I think this is a feasible way to make it happen and a way to include everyone.... hell, i may even be able to work out a profit share for those who share graphics or ideas for graphics once it's over the hump.
sorry for the long post... i don't have much other choice anymore but to solicit.
