Okay, so how do we finance the printing?

[urstwile]

Sorry to be all edgy here, people, but we've got a splendiferous calendar here, and the only thing holding it back is getting it printed.

So I started this thread to hear your thoughts about how we make that happen. It's my intention to get some printing quotes tomorrow, I'd love to hear your feedback as well, as well as also hear from some of you with great printing contacts, but this thing had some major momentum going for it which seems to have come to a standstill. This thread has been started to get that going again.

We have a great cause, a great logo, and some great designs. We need to take the next step. Use this thread to share your thoughts about what the next steps should be.

I'm thinking we need to get some kind of printing in motion within the next two weeks, mid-September at the latest. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks in advance. :) And I really don't intend to step on any toes here, there's been a lot of great effort and energy put into this project. My concern is that it's going to fizzle out, so we need to make it as pressing as it was a few months ago. It's my intention to make that happen. :)

[budafist]

Either we set up somewhere where we can preorder, or we can ask for a tiny loan (to be repaid) from members.

Or both.

[SpugNothuson]

I take it that we can't talk about exact pricing values on here openly.

How much finds do we need to raise to make this a reality? I'd be willing to stump up some wonga.

[WannaBrie]

I've been wondering this myself...I also think we should look into maybe getting paper donated from one of the big mills. A lot of us here do a lot of printing and maybe we can use that pull to get some donations that way. Just a thought...

[urstwile]

I think that's a great idea Brie. You've mentioned that you love getting samples and things, do you have any contacts?

Spug, I'm going to try and get a couple of quotes from some printers here in S.D. That'll at least give us a ballpark figure and even if we don't end up printing with them, I would imagine it'd give us at least a clue as to how much things will run.

If I remember correctly, we were talking about doing a run of 500.

[WannaBrie]

I do have a contact or two, so I'll see if anyone bites..but it might be helpful to wait til we have the site up in order to have something to show them. Although, I know time is an issue, here.

[budafist]

Yes a ballpark figure would be great Urst. I got a quote once upon a time from my work for a ballpark figure, but I don't know where I put it. Not that we would print it in NZ coz the shipping would be insane!

Speaking of shipping, my flatmate wanted to send a 250gm parcel home to Brazil. It would have cost $75NZ which is around $60US! She decided against it.

[Ned]

Being a worthy cause, I believe the printer will likely give us a big discount for printing it, if we give them credit for it on the calendar. If we can split up all the different resources, so each are able to donate a little bit, ie, get the paperstock from one source, and the printing for another, we may be able to get it all donated for free, with thanks and credit to each source printed on the calendar.

[budafist]

Can we get someone to draft up a letter addressed to a printing sponsor and one addressed to a paper supplier?

We can request and invite them to print or supply paper in return, they get their logo on the calendar somewhere and also a link on a thank-you/sponsor page on the website.

I think it would be good to have a letter than anyone on this forum can send to their paper/print contact.

[Ned]

I can try.... but imma not a very good inglish.

[urstwile]

Sorry guys, didn't mean to drop the ball on this one, but today turned into some unexpected madness both at work and then with some freelance (clients late with content, but no change in the deadline, GRRRR, you know the drill). I was barely able to get on here at all today, and only to check on the GDF calendar project threads, for the most part.

I expect to have the PayPal stuff hooked up tomorrow, late morning PST, at which point I'll post the link in here.

I'm also waiting on a couple of quotes from some printers in my area, but I think the draft letter thing is a very good idea, as I don't generally do much print buying, so whoever can pitch in as well, who might have better contacts, would be great.

Drazan, when do you suppose we might have a site up and running? I agree that will give us more credibility when trying to get quotes from printers and paper companies. :)

[urstwile]

Okay, I have a quote in to one of our local printers, will be requesting a couple more tomorrow.

I haven't set up a Paypal account yet, I PM'd Drazan because I've never done this before, but perhaps someone else knowledgeable can tell me if this is the way to go? It only deals with U.S. payments, however, so I'm not sure how to deal with international payments (the pro version is $30 a month, the standard is free). Paypal Web Pay Standard (https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_wp-standard-overview-outside).

[JPnyc]

How many overseas persons are involved?

[urstwile]

I'd have to plow the list in the layouts section, but I'm guessing it's at least 10+.

[budafist]

I'd definately like this to be set up for international I'm planning to send links to everyone I know here. I haven't used Paypal before myself, but my bf gets paid on it from his US customers so it must be doable.

[JPnyc]

Well that's a significant amount. Perhaps then PayPal isn't the only solution or the best one. But offhand I can't think of another.

[urstwile]

I'm a blithering idiot. I can ask at work, we have a "digital" arm that works with us, they can probably help with some ideas towards a solution. Will keep everyone updated. :) They might even be willing to help with some of the other stuff as well.

[JPnyc]

I'm checking out some possibilities as well. I don't know that there is anything I can do at all, but I'm going to find out.

[urstwile]

Between the two of us, I'm sure we can figure something out. Some of our clients have shopping cart set up and they sell their stuff internationally, as well (can't divulge who), I'm sure we can figure something out. Thanks for looking into it as well, Joe.

Also, it's been mentioned that Ana's dad is a moderator on another (Jupiter?) forum, any chance of getting that forum involved in some of this stuff, in terms of contacts and resources?

[JPnyc]

Well that's the problem, that forum that he moderates is a web development forum, strictly. Doubtful that they would have any reach into the world of print. Likewise with the company itself. I want to see if I can get Jupitermedia involved, but we're Internet publishers. We have nothing to do with print. Still, I intend to give it a shot

[urstwile]

Cool, Joe. Maybe we can get some of the web developers over there to help with some of the online payment issues, anyway? Just a thought. :)

[JPnyc]

In what way? To develop a payment gateway? As I understand it, the real issue is how to process the payments themselves. A gateway still requires a billing company. People will be reluctant to donate via credit card, and building a secure system for that is a large undertaking.

[morea]

Paypal is pretty universally accepted. It's simple to set up and maintain, as well.

I believe that you need to set up a "premium" account to receive lower fees. The premium account is free, btw. There ARE international currency fees to the account receiving the funds, but they are lower than what my credit cards charge me for "international use". :rolleyes:

[WannaBrie]

Hey guys, sorry I popped in and out yesterday crazy day for me too! I will work on drafting a letter this weekend if that's ok. (to send to printers and paper companies) I'll try to get it on here by saturday at the latest.

[urstwile]

Okay, I was wrong about the international thing and Paypal, my bad. I will set up an account. I've already created a gmail address called "cause4design" which I will assign the Paypal account to.

[Samakimoto Graphics]

Once we have worked out all the costs I'm game to send over my contribution equivalent in USDollars via Western Union to the designated overseer.

No prob.

[urstwile]

Thanks Sama. :)

As soon as I have the PayPal account approved, I will post the details in this thread.

[WannaBrie]

Acck, sorry, all, I didn't get a chance to draft the letter over the weekend, but I will work on it today and should have something posted by tommorrow.

[Tea]

That would be great Wanna...I do have one or two printers I can send it too.

Out of curiousity, anything to look for to determine if they are a quality printer?

[urstwile]

A PayPal account has been created for the calendar. For the moment, while the website is still being developed, you'll need to just go to PayPal and type in "cause4design@gmail.com" as the recipient. Unfortunately, until there's a payment button on the website, this method will require you to have (or create) a PayPal account.

Any donations you can afford are greatly appreciated. Proceeds will go first to the hard costs of printing the calendar, any excess will go to Ana's fund. :)

[budafist]

Are we able to do pre pay calendars at this stage Urst?

[urstwile]

I don't think we should think about that until the website is up, Buda.

[JPnyc]

Who's doing the website?

[Drazan]

Me, but I'm also in the middle of moving work and moving the server - so I'll have time starting middle of this week to get the ball rolling.

[urstwile]

bump!

The e-mail address to send PayPal payments to is cause4design@gmail.com. At this juncture, you'll need to have a PayPal account to donate to the calendar printing costs, but that will hopefully be resolved soon once the website is up and running.

Every little bit helps, folks. Thanks! :)