Merch Coming in 2024! Getting the Ideas Together
Looking forward to some fun things on coffee mugs and notebooks.
I’ve always been interested in the idea of selling products associated with my various brands. One of my favorite coffee mugs has ColoradoPlays’s logo on it. But ever since Mom published her book and went the whole nine yards with merchandise for Defiant Souls, It’s sparked an even greater inferno of putting my own together.
Now that Kingmaker is published and I am making my way through the second book, Fury, I’ve decided to put in the effort to set something up for merch regarding all of my projects.
For instance, there are a few quotes from Kingmaker or Fury I wouldn’t mind seeing on something like a shirt or hat. Not to mention that I already have a few ideas for the newest book. Here’s a hint, I would love to see dual Colt Peacemakers on a coffee mug with a quote from the main character.
When Will Merch Be Available?
I’m currently getting the ideas together and looking for an outlet that will be quick and easy for me to manage. Keep in mind that I still have a lot on my plate and need to work something like this into my day. Until I can bring in enough to pay someone a livable wage, I do everything myself, which is why a lot of things are slow to grow lately.
In any event, I am hoping to have some semblance of a store set up in January using Fourth Wall. From what I’ve heard, it’s one of the best printing services for creators while using high-quality materials.
The problem I often have with these kinds of services is the incredibly low payout. It’s the same with Amazon KDP’s print-on-demand service. I’ll sell a printed copy of Kingmaker and I’ll only make about $2.50…out of $12.99. So, I only get about 19% of the total sale. That is unless I jack the price up to the point no one wants to buy it.
Printing services like Fourth Wall, T-Spring, and many others are similar. When you buy that $20 shirt from a creator, most of them are only making a buck or two.
It’s a sign of the times, I guess.
Anyway, I’ll be working on the ideas over the next few weeks and hope to have a few things on the store before I start pushing it. You don’t want to announce a grand opening if you only have one thing to buy.
What Projects Are Involved?
Initially, I was going to focus purely on my books. But as I think about it some, I’m wondering if I should include all of the projects in which I’m involved. That would include WriterSanctuary, Crossing Colorado, and ColoradoPlays. Some products would simply work better than others depending on the branding.
For example, I want a yoga mat with Crossing Colorado’s logo on it, as it pertains to health and fitness.
I just don’t know if that would be a wise idea at the end of the day. Not everyone who reads my books even knows that the other brands exist. Then again, I could just make the store more centric to being a fan of everything I create. But doesn’t that sound a bit narcissistic?
One idea I have is to put all of the main characters from Fury on a series of notebooks. That’s going to be a bit of a fun one because I’ll need to hire an artist. I refuse to use AI-generated content in any form for professional use. Plus, I’d rather support someone who puts passion and soul into what they create. In any case, I already have an idea of how they’d look and am extremely excited to get started on them.
Regardless, I’m starting with products that are more centric to the books. And yes, this includes a poster map of the area in which the Witcham series takes place. I’m hoping that I can set up discounts for those who are members of my Buy Me a Coffee profile and those who follow this Substack account.
If not, I’ll figure something out. I would love to give everyone who supports me a discount in some fashion. After all, you’re the reason why I do what I do.
A Chance for Charity
I’ve always been a fan of sharing my income with various charities. It’s the whole reason why I built ColoradoPlays.com to begin with. I could easily set up a few things in a store where the proceeds go to causes I support. Especially in November, when we play games to help drive donations for Extra Life, an organization that helps the Children’s Miracle Network.
I’ve also donated to Operation Supply Drop and the Hornocker Wildlife Institute while supporting Siberian tigers. Not to mention the Susan G. Koman breast cancer platform that we’ve supported for years.
I’m not just an author…I’m a philanthropist.
If Nothing Else, At Least I’ll Have My Own Merch
Even if I don’t sell a single product, I think it would be cool to have my own stuff. I’d love a tank top with my logos, coffee mugs with sayings, and notebooks galore focusing on characters from my books. Sure, I’m not all that popular today as a creator or author, but just having those things in my hands would bring a smile to my face. Plus, they’d be unique as no one else would have one. My ColoradoPlays coffee mug is one of my prized possessions as it is the only one in existence.
If you have any ideas of what you’d like to see in the shop, feel free to comment or hit me up on social media. I’m open to most suggestions that are reasonable.