One of my companies products are corrugated plastic sign blanks for sports and a lot of other designs marketed under the name of Shape Man. I don't know how many of you use such items but I had a request to create a generic Nascar shape. These would be intended for sign shops to put on their customers favorite number and to display in a yard or elsewhere. Any opinions on whether this would be a good item. I'd appreciate any feedback and comments. Thanks, Bob
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Boy, Mr. Kistler . . .if ONE racer's promo band hires a shop to print up a bunch of these for novelty sales . . .then they ALL will.
Another opportunity for the screeners to get a large job!!
I can think of a thousand die-hard race fans who would proudly display their hero's colours and # in their yard.
They already have their numbers and stickers all over their truck windows, mailboxes, and clothes . . .the YARD needs SOMETHING too!! LOL!!
Screen printers alert!!!: If you have inside connection with a racing team promoter, or WANT to have one, opportunity just knocked on your door!!
Good luck with it!! Sounds cute!!
Posted by Dale Manor (Member # 4858) on :
Might want to explore the use of trademarked racing numbers and sponsor names.
Earnhardt's no. 5 and 8 and many others have their numbers trademarked and can't be printed or used without license.
Just a thought...
take care,
Posted by Bob Kistler (Member # 4049) on :
Thanks for your comments Sheila.
Dale, my part of the business is suppling unprinted blanks to the sign shops and typically they would decorate to their clients specs. More than likely onsey twosey types of things. I would make a generic shape to not represent any one style or model of car. Otherwise it becomes Pandora's box. Thanks for the comeback.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
NASCAR shape! Whats that the shape of a bottle of Budweiser ?
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
(lol Joey)
Dale, have you ever thought about who is producing all the keepsake, and novelty items for sale at the track, in convenience stores, magazine ads, and other such places where these things are found?
They are produced by screen or digital printers somewhere who are hired by the racing team promoters who give license for such things to be produced enmass.
Then they are distributed by the promoter to their selling point locations where the seller marks them up for a little profit too.
While all this is going on . . .some "SIGNS-IN-SECONDS" is making up Earnhardt vinyl stuff and Calvin peeing on any race number you want him to pee on and sellin' this stuff for 3 -10 bux a pop!!
I do not wanna hijack Mr.Kistler's post with getting into copy right stuff.
I still stand by my prior statement, which if it materializes, is the stuff that supply and demand and bein' in business is all about... :
Screen printers alert!!!: If you have an inside connection with a racing team promoter, or WANT to have one, opportunity just knocked on your door!!
Posted by Pam Eddy (Member # 1858) on :
I have several race fans interested in the stockcar shapes. Not all want them for NASCAR favorites. Some want to have a little sign in their yard for their son, husband, nephew that races locally.
Unless someone went to extremes to paint/vinyl the shape to look just like, say Jeff Gordon's car, I don't think it would come anywhere close to copyright infringment.
I have bought over a dozen of the sports/holiday shapes and have the samples hanging in the shop. The Halloween shapes didn't even make it on the wall before they were sold.
I have a guy that said he wants a car shape BAD and if he has one in his yard, he says he has several friends that would want one also.
It's similar to the ball team rivilries with the neighbors hanging their team flags out on game day.
I will buy if they are available.
Pam
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Bob,
The car shapes will fly not only for NASCAR fans, but many local track fans as well. The lower cost of coroplast should make it more cost effective in the long run.
Good luck! Rapid
Posted by Glenn Norton (Member # 3776) on :
NASCAR is very tough about their trademarks.
[ February 07, 2005, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: Glenn Norton ]
Posted by Bob Kistler (Member # 4049) on :
Thanks everone for you comments and suggestions. We will be putting a shape together and producing soon Pam. I don't think a racing car shape is any more of a problem than producing a shape of a van. It's up to the individual shop to stay away from copyright laws. Perhaps this is much more of an individual promotion than a Nascar thing. I'll be in touch Pam and thanks to all.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
. . .hey, I just thought of another cute promo use for the car shape: (Though it may have to be made somewhat smaller)
Everyone who letters race cars knows that the driver usually has in-feild 'groupies', and their own little group of bleacher fans . . .it would be a novel little item for your best racin' customer to have 50 of these made up like his car/colour/number with a little dowel or 'paint stick' attached to it to wave at the race!!
It would make a great 'fan' too...HA! A pun.
I'm just sayin' it's usually hot weather when the races are happenin' is all ...
OK. WHATEVER. I thought it was a good idea . . . . Posted by Bob Kistler (Member # 4049) on :
Thanks Sheila, we do have a hand fan already, possible new use?
Posted by Pam Eddy (Member # 1858) on :
Sheila,
You have a great idea there. Back when I was involved in the indoor mudracing, (RCA Dome, SilverDome, AstroDome etc.) I made Mudshark (car's name) banners for our crew to hold up in front of the TV cameras to help promote the car and hopefully find a good sponsor. I could have sold dozens of those banners. The kids could have used them to get driver autographs and had a great souvenir to take home. People who go to the races spend big money on all the goodies. We also bootlegged our T shirts out of the trailer for some extra money to put into the car. (yep racing is expensive).
People love to have something to show their support for their favorite race team. I was amazed at how much money people were willing to spend above the cost of the tickets for the race.
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Good luck with it!! Sounds cute!!
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