Little real estate project - any advice/comments?

[VicHockeyFan]

I've been working on a little side project (I derive a portion of my earnings selling direct mailers and other marketing materials to Realtors) and I need a little advice or comments on it.

Essentailly, its a customized home plaque, to hang inside the home, that includes a digital photo of the home, filtered to make it appear more like a pencil drawing or watercolour, and its positioned below a mock-up of a municipal street sign, and above some narrative about the street name origin, or other editorial as requested.

Theitem will be available by special order through regular retailers, hardware shops, specialty gift and garden shops, but a major push will be as a fund-raiser for sports/community groups, and sales to Realtors as a welcome-to-your-new-home gift to clients.

Here is a crude mock-up:http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/undefined

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/VicHockeyFan/linedrawdouglas.jpg



The printed item will either be sublimated onto an alumnium plate, or printed onto some type of paper suitable to be laminated onto the backer, which is a wood, or faux-wood backing board. Size has not yet been determined, but I imagine not greater than 9x12".

Each one is custom-made. a photographer has to take the shot, manipulate the file and add the editorial and "street-sign" prior to print output.



Any thoughts?



Post Edited (VicHockeyFan) : 3/6/2005 2:19:53 PM GMT

[PrintDriver]

$$$$$$$

but I guess that's the point.

Do you have a dedicated supplier of said objects? One-offs of anything in the sublimation/printed custom plaque world can get pricey unless you have VOLUME and someone that can handle variable data on a template. And a Photographer? Anywhere in the country? Resolution (realtor shots won't do)? File transfers? Marketing costs? Who's doing the research and writing the copy? Have you run this by any of your Realtor clients?

Just an observation, literally 1/2 of the street names in my hometown created after 1990 are all named after the kids, grandkids, aunts, uncles, etc of the development firm owners who built the warrens of $0.5 million houses on 0.5 acre lots. No history there... but you did say other copy as requested...

As a consumer of expensive fund-raising objects - I barely buy Girl Scout cookies anymore.

(PD is a skeptic of anything and everything. LOL!)

Welcome to the forum!
Some more comments will be around after the weekend, I'm sure. Slow here weekends.

PD is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[VicHockeyFan]

Projected retail, $25-40 CDN


Accumulating suppliers, once I determine the printing process... I can afford to buy in volumes of perhaps 1000 pieces.


Photographer, dime a dozen for half-decent hi-res shots, I operate an internet classified ads site Canada-wide, we have no trouble hiring folks at $9/hr + expenses to drive around and take shots of vehicles, Canada-wide.The more difficult (expensive)part may be getting someone to do the image manipulation/effects. The sublimation sounds nice, but yes, sounds expensive in custom quantities. I could use a little more advice on direct paper-to backing lamination or dry-mounting processes.


I have a local history writerset to do editorial for what she doesn't already have (she has written three books on Victoria Street names), most streets here are named historically, if not, each area has history behind it.


122 of my +/-165 Realtor clients (that responded to my emails on the topic)have expressed positive interest.


Thanks for the welcome, skeptics MOST appreciated! Blind boosters are too easy to find!









PD said...
$$$$$$$

but I guess that's the point.

Do you have a dedicated supplier of said objects? One-offs of anything in the sublimation/printed custom plaque world can get pricey unless you have VOLUME and someone that can handle variable data on a template. And a Photographer? Anywhere in the country? Resolution (realtor shots won't do)? File transfers? Marketing costs? Who's doing the research and writing the copy? Have you run this by any of your Realtor clients?

Just an observation, literally 1/2 of the street names in my hometown created after 1990 are all named after the kids, grandkids, aunts, uncles, etc of the development firm owners who built the warrens of $0.5 million houses on 0.5 acre lots. No history there... but you did say other copy as requested...

As a consumer of expensive fund-raising objects - I barely buy Girl Scout cookies anymore.

(PD is a skeptic of anything and everything. LOL!)

Welcome to the forum!
Some more comments will be around after the weekend, I'm sure. Slow here weekends.

[PrintDriver]

Sounds like you've done a good bit of research.
And thanks for taking my comments in stride.
:)

Again, good luck!

PD is a grande format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[uncle carbunkle]

you're in bc?

firstly, welcome to the forum.

personally, i wouldn't buy one. just a matter of personal taste. if i were your prospective clientelle, i would be more inclined to buy an actual drawing of the house. but maybe that's because i know the filters it would take to do that to a photo and would run screaming. street sign - don't like it. who are you selling these to again? i know you said retailers/mail order...have you pitched the idea to realters yet? is that the sort of thing they would give a client as a freebie? hmmm...

however, the historical detail - awesome. i would be more likely to consider a plaque (or something more substantial/official/historical looking) that looked like something you'd see in or on a heritage building. something less 'computery' and more 'civic heritagey'.

i don't know. does that help?

::Don't call me Foreman, for I am your Boss::

[VicHockeyFan]

Ya, it definately only will sell to those with "pride of ownership" in their home.


The street sign matches the font, colour of what we have here, 13 municipalitites with quite distinct signage for each.


The majority of my Realtor clienst like it, as long as the price is right.


I agree people would prefer an actual drawing, but that's $200-$1000, I want these to be $25-$40.


Your last statement, I know what you mean, I'm trying to strike abalance between quality and price, a custom plaque for outside would be over $100 at least. This is for indoors.


Yes, all input helps, good or bad.. thanks for taking the time!






uncle carbunkle said...
you're in bc?

firstly, welcome to the forum.

personally, i wouldn't buy one. just a matter of personal taste. if i were your prospective clientelle, i would be more inclined to buy an actual drawing of the house. but maybe that's because i know the filters it would take to do that to a photo and would run screaming. street sign - don't like it. who are you selling these to again? i know you said retailers/mail order...have you pitched the idea to realters yet? is that the sort of thing they would give a client as a freebie? hmmm...

however, the historical detail - awesome. i would be more likely to consider a plaque (or something more substantial/official/historical looking) that looked like something you'd see in or on a heritage building. something less 'computery' and more 'civic heritagey'.

i don't know. does that help?