Where’s the Merch?
I’ve received a few emails, asking me where the Bug merchandise is.
I’m with you. Where the hell’s the merch?!
I planned on becoming a syndicated, newspaper cartoonist and assumed that merchandising would be handled by the suits. Little did I know that I’d make a webcomic instead where that responsibility would fall on my shoulders.
I want to provide you guys with all sorts of Bug merchandise, and plan to have some sort of store before the end of the year, but this is my first foray into merchandising and I want to make sure I do it right. I’ve looked at print-on-demand sites like CafePress and Zazzle and I’m not interested in using them. Sure, it’d be easy as pie to make Bug products through them but their stuff seems rather overpriced and who knows what the quality of their items are?
I’d rather pay money and have the products produced myself. This is going to take some time as I already have a full time job on top of drawing the comic, but I’m hopeful I’ll find time next month to talk to some local T-shirt makers and get some quotes from them. I’d rather spend extra time and money to provide you guys with reasonably-priced merch rather than over-priced, print-on-demand stuff.
I plan to have T-shirts available soon but I’d love to hear other things you guys would like to see.
Have you considered trying to work with Topatoco? I only ask because it seems every webcomic on Earth works with them.
I definitely want to work with TopatoCo. They seem to do exactly what I want. I want to prepare a few things before I talk to them.
Mugs, Stickers (bumpers etc.), neck tie, key chains, pin buttons, stress balls plush toys and vinyl action figures just to name a few
I second, a plush to sit next to tux. But it will be difficult to choose between nerd bug and bug himself.
Ooh, how about the cheap but cute plastic 'collect them all' figurines we get at the supermarkets here. you could do a souvenir action like the guy from thedailywtf.com where he sends stickers if you send him a souvenir.
Yeah, Bug Plushies would be sweet as sweet can be!
A Bug Mug… or BuMug? Maybe with some cartoon depicting the relationship of bug and coffee around it? 🙂
Magnets and patches!
Try http://topatoco.com/ or their printing company, http://www.brunettotshirts.com/
They do a lot of webcomic stuff, and as far as I can tell, are pretty cool people and would be willing to work with you!
yay for tees!
WWBD (What Would Bug Do) Bracelets!
coffee cups….but not those sissy standard size coffee cups…i'm talking HUGE ASS GINORMOUS coffee cups….that would be amazing
I don't know anything about CafePress, but my husband designed and sold a ton of stuff through Zazzle and it always turned out well. And I'm a very picky person. If you have the time and an extra twenty bucks I'd recommend designing one shirt and buying it yourself, then you'll know the quality and it might save you a ton of time and hassle of trying to find a private t-shirt vendor (who will likely only print several hundred at a time) and then shipping them all yourself.
Either way, make the bug merch happen!
The most redneck hat you can make that reads WWBD.
Stickers for me to plaster over my city, especially all over the Digital Summer stickers.
Woot
If they some of your more popular comics (the ones with the most prints purchased) i'll be very interested in buying more then one shirt
the "safe for work" aspect is the part i like the most. I can proudly show these to my friends
Adam I run a print shop for paper and cloth. Do screen printing and print on demand. I provide a free website with lots of products and low prices. (Half the prices of cafe press) you have no inventory and one person to deal with if there are any issues with product. Please call my office at 407-826-0810 or email me at joeboy@yctp.com and I will send you my cell phone number. Most of my staff are great fans and would love to be producing your stuff. (they keep asking me to contact you)
A bug plushie. Bug motivational posters. How about a bug business-card holder thingy, like your Twitter icon? You could slide the card right in where it says Follow and, um, yeah. Not sure.
I am one such emailer! I definitely second the mug suggestion.
Mugs for sure. I want one for work. Stickers and bumper stickers are awesome too!
Don't forget your "big" fans. We do not mind paying extra for the larger sizes when you offer them!
Voting for shirts, coffee mugs, and maybe some of those testicles that go on the back of pickup trucks.
Mugs are easy. We can produce them for around $7.00 each customized with a client name and favorite bug comic strip. You could then add a dollar or two to the cost for your artwork and offer them for sale. We can produce anything from a shower curtain to cutting boards, car mats, yeah we still do the standard T-shirts etc. But I prefer the custom stuff. We just a line for an artist and she did bathmats and napkins. Each product is approved by you and can send direct links from your site to the product page. Only your company name is on anything and everything is drop shipped to the client. I also handle any issues personally. I want to ensure every client is happy with the products. It has to be perfect because your name and artwork in going on it. Drop me an email when you have time or call my office 24/7 We can do print on demand or high volume orders. We did 5000 fridge mags the other day. Anything is possible if you can think it.
Bath-mats would actually be kinda cool. You could have a couple of bugs going "Oh god, don't look, he's/she's/they're nekkid again!" or something similarly witty. ("Don't worry, size doesn't matter." for example, or just a look of horror.)
Definitely a unique bit of merch I've never seen before.
I would really like a sticker for my computer and an action figure/plush doll for my desk. Yes, I think that would be perfect. THANKS!
babydoll tees for the ladies, stickers, keychains, and (in)action figures.
Beanie Buggies!
Hey Bug (I know, its Adam), I think asking your visitors is a great idea, and lots of people have already given great suggestions, but another way to go about it is to simply poll your viewers or ask them to fill out a quick survey, either something like polldaddy or survey monkey, which are quick and easy to set up, and youll probably get more responses because theyre easier to fill out than leaving comments
Personally, looking forward to wearing a bug tshirt, but a good poll or survey will let you know lots more about your viewers and what they really want!
Tote bags..
That is all.
"WWBD (What Would Bug Do) Bracelets!"
maybe not bracelets for myself but putting that joke on other options and i'd totally buy it
"Bug motivational posters"
YES some de-motivational mugs / posters / t-shirts
I usually look to buy tote bags, plushs, mugs, or shirts. Some other fun/random items would be cool too though
Item Ideas: What about just vinyl stickers, outlines of your bugs… different ones. I know i'd pay 5 bucks for the geek bug, maybe put up the lady bug, and bug himself.
Next thin you know you'd have a way for all the bug fans to know "hey, there goes a lady bug, and ooooh that geek bug just cut me off…"
when i say outlines, i mean think of some of the hot topic character vinyls, rather than a solid vinyl object, it's just the lines that's the sticker. You could even sell like little arm / leg / head packs, and it could be a "make your own bug vinyl decal" that way instead of like the dad / mom / kid / kid / dog stickers you see on the back of a mini van, you could have like a dad bug hauling butt in the opposite direction of a mom bug w/ kid in tow…
Oh yes please "HUGE ASS GINORMOUS coffee cups"… would be amazing for sure.
"layla
October 18, 2010 at 7:04 am | # | Reply
coffee cups….but not those sissy standard size coffee cups…i’m talking HUGE ASS GINORMOUS coffee cups….that would be amazing"
I think you should sell out as much as possible. Have "you must be this tall for a relationship" posters, Bug Radon Detectors, and Bug limbs added to every order (just from the elbow down)!
Best yet: Bug action figures with things like changeable costumes. You could sell catapults and other accessories. Be sure to have extra Nerd Bugs printed – they'll sell out fast.
Oh, and a Bug Adventurer Kit. Give us the ability to Be Like BugTM! (Not actually trademarked … yet.)
Practical point: you do NOT want the chores of "order fulfillment" which means receiving orders, handling the money, wrapping, shipping. That is the genuine service all the online places like Zazzle, or Joseph Boy up there, provide (along with storing and tracking inventory), and it more than justifies the cut they take of the gross. Do not even think about buying a bunch of from a vendor, storing it in your basement, and doing all the work of retailing it. You will hate it for a giant time-suck.