How would you market this idea?

[MyZoeJane]

I keep thinking about how hot it might be while we are at WDW the first week of October. Well, I was at a craft fair and I ended up buying this cooling neck wrap. The woman only had these awful prints but it was SO HOT that I had to buy one. It saved my day! (Literally, the thing is so cool! LOL)

Well, I started looking into how they are made and was able to buy some of the crystals which make them work in a bulk amount online. Then I went on my hunt for Disney fabric. Dang, that stuff is hard to find in a print small enough to be suitable! Anyhow, I've got a nice little inventory of Disney fabrics now and I was thinking that I could make a fortunate selling them at the parks!

Yeah, yeah... cen't sell anything at the parks! Then I asked about posting a link to a website or Ebay here on the DIS and I was told I couldn't post links like that. Perfectly understandable... I'm sure enough people have abused the priviledge that it's just better to make a blanket rule about it.

So, my question is, where do I market these things to Disney freaks like myself? The DIS and TGM are the only Disney sites I visit (sheesh, aren't they, like, the only ones worth bothering with? ) but are there other Disney sites or places that Disney lovers frequent that might allow me to pimp my cool new project?

 

[bjscheel]

I have no idea about Disney related websites but I would just start on eBay and run a few listings and see how that goes. Put Disney and the character that is on the print in your title.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

They sound like the items that are already widely available in the greater Orlando area (and other places) and sometimes on WDW property itself.

 

[SnwflkCts]

E-bay would be the best place. As long as you put Disney in the title ... the disney nuts will find it!

You can also use e-bay to sell some un-needed items to pour back into your fabric and crystals too.

Good luck!

 

[gonemousin']

I think I bought something similar at Walmart for our trip. Here's one on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=74005&item=260000782432

Is this the same thing? If so, then they are great and I would LOVE one in a Disney fabric!!

 

[44disney]

You can also find them at camping stores. Just a warning--they can get pretty nasty after awhile, when the gel seeps through the cloth a bit. We found that the walmart ones were worse than the ones from the camping stores.

Still--I think a Mickey print is a cool idea!!!

 

[mking624]

Marketing just has to come from word of mouth. Ebay really is your best bet. I make and sell cards on ebay and they go for like $20-$30 a piece (I make mind extremely detailed...so people aren't paying a lot and just getting a piece of cardstock with a couple of stamped images and a quote...they get something worthwhile). When I got started, I first "marketed" it towards my family. I offered to make them holiday cards. I did a set for my grandfather before he passed away and he gave them to other family members as Christmas cards. I had a stamp made for me that had my "business" name, my name, and my email...so I'd stamp the back of the cards. He told everyone in the family that I made them. Eventually a few family members ordered cards from me as well. Then they told their friends, and their friends ordered some. I emailed friends and told them what I was doing (not a whole lot of success there, but at least they knew and they also told others about it). So I decided to try my hand at Ebay. I did pretty well on there. I never posted links to my auctions anywhere. What I did do was join craft sites specifically on card making to showcase pictures of my work...and that helped get my name out there. When I tell people my love for card making, I also let them know that I've sold my cards on ebay. I'm not trying to get them to go on ebay to get my cards, but saying that helps them to know that I do this to make some extra money...and maybe they'll think of me next time they want to send out some cards. Anyway, those have just been my experiences with marketing my work.

 

[MyZoeJane]

I think I bought something similar at Walmart for our trip. Here's one on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=74005&item=260000782432

Is this the same thing? If so, then they are great and I would LOVE one in a Disney fabric!!

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

And thanks, guys! I knew Ebay would be a no brainer... but people have to actually SEARCH for something there. I was thinking there might be a place where I could just post a link so people could be INTRODUCED to the concept and see my fabric inventory... Someplace like the DIS (albeit far inferior!) where I know 100% of my market would be nuts like me.

To speak to some of the observations people have made about the neck wraps... Mine got pretty nasty after a month or two of using it, after all, it's designed to cool you off when you're hot and sticky...so grime is a given! But I realized I could let it dry out completely so the crystals were hard again then hand wash it (quickly so the crystals don't absorb too much water) in mild detergent. Good as new!

Keep the ideas comin'! I've already filled a few orders from word of mouth. My DH thinks I'm nuts, but it's pretty fun feeling like "I'm in business"....

Teacher by day... crazy sewing Disney nut by night!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I'm thinking that now that you've posted about it, the word of mouth is out...so now when someone asks "how do I keep cool on hot days?" someone else can answer, "MyZoeJane on ebay makes these cute little Disney-themed neck wraps..."

I certainly would direct another DISer to you!

 

[gonemousin']

I'm thinking that now that you've posted about it, the word of mouth is out...so now when someone asks "how do I keep cool on hot days?" someone else can answer, "MyZoeJane on ebay makes these cute little Disney-themed neck wraps..."

I certainly would direct another DISer to you!

Absolutely! Just like Feralpeg...we know her, we love her, and we recommend her wonderful gift baskets to all that inquire! Good luck to you Allison!!

 

[MyZoeJane]

Absolutely! Just like Feralpeg...we know her, we love her, and we recommend her wonderful gift baskets to all that inquire! Good luck to you Allison!!

Thanks! Now I'm going to have nightmares about having to get up at 4am to fulfill my orders...

"Time to make the neck wraps" <in my best Dunkin Donuts voice>

Good thing they're a seasonal item! Or maybe there's a way I could incorporate "neck wrap sewing" into my high school English classroom?

 

[Feralpeg]

Not to be a downer, but are you sure those things aren't patented? Someone originally came up with the idea and has sold them to large stores such as Walmart. While it would be almost impossible to hunt down folks selling something at a craft fair, it would be fairly easy to find it on ebay. You might want to do some research to make sure that you aren't selling something that could get you into trouble.

Sorry!

 

[orljustin]

And thanks, guys! I knew Ebay would be a no brainer... but people have to actually SEARCH for something there. I was thinking there might be a place where I could just post a link so people could be INTRODUCED to the concept and see my fabric inventory... Someplace like the DIS (albeit far inferior!) where I know 100% of my market would be nuts like me.

Why don't you actually spend money and purchase some ads on google.

 

[MyZoeJane]

Not to be a downer, but are you sure those things aren't patented? Someone originally came up with the idea and has sold them to large stores such as Walmart. While it would be almost impossible to hunt down folks selling something at a craft fair, it would be fairly easy to find it on ebay. You might want to do some research to make sure that you aren't selling something that could get you into trouble.

Sorry!

The only thing patented about the neck wraps are some names... like "Kool Ties".... But the neck wraps themselves can be made by anyone. Not being able ot make the neck wraps just because other people do would be like saying a crafter couldn't make a wooden potty seat just because other companies sell them... That's faulty logic, you know? The only point of contention is the Disney tradmark but as it has already been pointed out, the rule of first sale applies. Since I already paid Disney for their fabric, I can do whatever I want with it as long as I don't market it as having been made by Disney....

But really, this is only a hobby. I'm not going to go buying ad space on Google and I'm not looking to employ anyone or go mass public with the idea. There are enough people selling these neck wraps on Ebay that the world doesn't need another seller! My "idea" stemmed from my inability to find the wraps in Disney fabric. I attribute this to two things:

1) Crafters do not understand the law of first sale and are afraid they'll get in trouble.

2) Disney fabric is very expensive compared to other fabrics. This is because when you buy it, you're giving Disney a cut!

3) When a distributor that sells to Walmart produces their wraps they can't use Disney fabric without permission because they would not be following the "first sale" rule. The way I understand it, this rule protects crafters who sell directly to the consumer but prevents companies from making huge amounts of profits off a trademarked image.

My only hope was to spread the word just enough so that Disney nuts like you and me could stay cool at the parks AND be able to sport our favorite characters... I'm not lookin' to take this very far. So, I'm not worried about legalities...

But thanks so much to all of you for your ideas! I've put "the word" out in the places you suggested and I have a nice little hobby cut out for myself for the next couple of months! Hopefully those of you who will be recieving your neck wraps shortly will be very pleased with them. I'd be so thrilled to see someone wearing one of my wraps when I'm at Disney 9/30-10/6!!!!

 

[disneyaggie]

Yep, count me in to support buying a Disney-themed neck wrap from MyZoeJane and a basket from Ferelpeg anytime!

 

[orljustin]

My only hope was to spread the word just enough so that Disney nuts like you and me could stay cool at the parks AND be able to sport our favorite characters... I'm not lookin' to take this very far. So, I'm not worried about legalities...

Right, so you want to make money without spending any on advertising. You gotta spend it to make it.

 

[Feralpeg]

The only thing patented about the neck wraps are some names... like "Kool Ties".... But the neck wraps themselves can be made by anyone. Not being able ot make the neck wraps just because other people do would be like saying a crafter couldn't make a wooden potty seat just because other companies sell them... That's faulty logic, you know? The only point of contention is the Disney tradmark but as it has already been pointed out, the rule of first sale applies. Since I already paid Disney for their fabric, I can do whatever I want with it as long as I don't market it as having been made by Disney....

But really, this is only a hobby. I'm not going to go buying ad space on Google and I'm not looking to employ anyone or go mass public with the idea. There are enough people selling these neck wraps on Ebay that the world doesn't need another seller! My "idea" stemmed from my inability to find the wraps in Disney fabric. I attribute this to two things:

1) Crafters do not understand the law of first sale and are afraid they'll get in trouble.

2) Disney fabric is very expensive compared to other fabrics. This is because when you buy it, you're giving Disney a cut!

3) When a distributor that sells to Walmart produces their wraps they can't use Disney fabric without permission because they would not be following the "first sale" rule. The way I understand it, this rule protects crafters who sell directly to the consumer but prevents companies from making huge amounts of profits off a trademarked image.

My only hope was to spread the word just enough so that Disney nuts like you and me could stay cool at the parks AND be able to sport our favorite characters... I'm not lookin' to take this very far. So, I'm not worried about legalities...

But thanks so much to all of you for your ideas! I've put "the word" out in the places you suggested and I have a nice little hobby cut out for myself for the next couple of months! Hopefully those of you who will be recieving your neck wraps shortly will be very pleased with them. I'd be so thrilled to see someone wearing one of my wraps when I'm at Disney 9/30-10/6!!!!

Thanks for the info! I'd say go for it!

 

[ReneeA]

Right, so you want to make money without spending any on advertising. You gotta spend it to make it.

She's already a teacher... once school starts she's not going to have tons of time on her hands anyway. It's probably something to dabble in - make a little money, have a little fun.

I didn't see her claiming to want to make a mint off of it.

BTW, SO CUTE! I'm gonna have to look it up on Ebay!

 

[Florida_Mom]

Just another idea...

I used to be a youth minister, and I bought those things 10 years ago for our entire youth group of 22 teenagers when we went to Mexico to build a house. They were life-savers, but oh boy, did they get nasty after a week in the Mexican desert!

What about local youth groups in your area that might be planning trips to WDW?

 

[MyZoeJane]

Just another idea...

I used to be a youth minister, and I bought those things 10 years ago for our entire youth group of 22 teenagers when we went to Mexico to build a house. They were life-savers, but oh boy, did they get nasty after a week in the Mexican desert!

What about local youth groups in your area that might be planning trips to WDW?

Awesome idea! I've taken a break from Ebay right now... word of mouth is working quite well... but that can only last so long! My DH made me my own little webpage to showcase my fabrics and stuff. At first he thought I was nuts, but then again he thinks the fact that I can go to Disney World twice in the same year without batting an eye is nuts, too! Then he saw my orders pouring in and had second thoughts....