[Hcoop-discuss] T-shirts

[shaun at hcoop.net]

This sounds like a really good project. I'd be down for some shirts.  Let
me know if I can help out.
-Shaun

> I have recently been corresponding with a Nicaraguan cooperative regarding
> some garment orders.  It occurred to me later that seeing as we have just
> developed a logo and are looking for ways to promote HCoop, and since I
> already have this relationship with the sewing cooperative, this would be
> the perfect chance to develop an HCoop T-shirt.
>
> I like this idea on a lot of different levels.  We're not a real internet
> company until we've have a T-shirt!  and I've had this nice retro-looking
> SDF sweat-shirt (sdf.lonestar.org) for some time that I wear occasionally,
> and have thought it a shame that we didn't have some sort of signature
> item that members could show their support with also.  A lot of times such
> geeky T-shirts lead to questions ("What the heck is HCOOP?"), or at least
> someone furtively looking up the URL, which in turn can lead to new
> members.  And if we sourced from COMAMNUVI--an outstanding worker-owned
> women's cooperative in one of the USA's most impoverished neighbors--we
> would really be distinguishing our coop socially as well as following the
> principle of "cooperation among cooperatives."
>
> We need to come up with a design.  I have created a page on the wiki at
> http://wiki.hcoop.net/wiki/T-Shirt for discussing the design of the
> T-Shirt.  I suggest that it include the word "HCOOP," the famous HCOOP
> globe logo (thanks Anil!), our URL, and maybe some sort of slogan.
>
> If members are willing to buy at least 20 shirts I'm willing to go ahead
> and handle the entire transaction after the design is chosen, including
> orders, payment processing, and shipping, at no added cost or bother to
> members, other hardworking boardmembers and admins, or the coop.
>
> If we bought 72 T-shirts (minimum order) in organic unbleached cotten, the
> total cost including screen-printing would be $6.02 per shirt.  To this
> would be added shipping from Nicaragua to NYC (in bulk), plus shipping
> from my place to your place.  They also offer conventional cotton
> T-shirts, which would be $4.61 plus shipping, but unless people feel
> strongly otherwise I'd rather go with the organic (conventional cotton
> farming uses more pesticide than any other crop except coffee--up to half
> a pound per shirt).  The other difference is that the organic shirts are
> natural color (ecru, a sort of cream color) while the conventional T's are
> bleached bright white.
>
> By contrast--if we just set up a basic Cafepress shop, we would have to
> charge at least $14 for a conventional, sweat-shop manufactured cotton
> shirt, or $17 for an organic shirt made with thinner material, plus
> shipping.
>
> So, please provide feedback on the wiki, and also if you are willing to
> purchase a T-shirt please register your interest by voting on the portal
> at https://members.hcoop.net/portal/poll?vote=6
>
> -ntk
>
>
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