Success with CafePress.com Published

Success with CafePress.com Published

The first book of its kind teaches readers to maximize their earning potential using the CafePress.com online service.

ORLANDO, FL (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) March 6, 2006 -- Orlando-based author Daniel M. Clark has published his first book, Success With CafePress.com, a work that aides consumers in finding their own success designing and selling merchandise using CafePress.com, a marketplace offering sellers complete e-commerce services to independently create and sell a wide variety of products. The book is available for purchase exclusively through CafePress.com, at www.cafepress.com/swcp

Inspired by his own success selling items on CafePress for nearly two years, Clark set out to write a book loaded with tips and advice for selling items ranging from personalized t-shirts to mugs, framed prints, compact discs and more than 80 other customizable products.

"I decided to write this for the CafePress community and the future Shopkeepers who will affect the shape of the Company in years to come. I wanted to share the experience and knowledge I have; the things that have made me a success with CafePress," Clark said.

As a shopkeeper Clark's shop Hectic Studios ( www.cafepress.com/hecticstudios ) focuses on humorous items like his "I AM NOT A TERRORIST" design, and items for gamers, geeks and kids. After experimenting with marketing his own shop and products Clark focused his efforts on educating others on how to reap success with CafePress.com.

"As a moderator and very active member of the CafePress online message boards, I see many new Shopkeepers coming in with the same questions about how they can make their shops successful," explains Clark. "This book aims to gather all the knowledge I've gleaned from various sources, including CafePress itself, into one place.

"Success with CafePress.com is the first book of its kind approved and authorized by CafePress.com. Highlights include a Q&A chapter with CafePress co-founders Fred Durham and Maheesh Jain, a complete walkthrough of shop setup, product creation, and customization options for Premium Shops.

"Daniel's book is quite an accomplishment, and the first book written to offer a step-by-step manual for using CafePress," adds CafePress.com co-founder Maheesh Jain. "It's sure to help new and existing Shopkeepers on their way to success on CafePress.

"Highly anticipated since its announcement in the CafePress online message boards last year, this is Clark's first published work. Future editions of the book are planned as the service grows and expands.

Success with CafePress.com has 15 chapters, over 239 pages, and is available in both spiral binding and perfect binding (both paperback).

About Daniel M. Clark
Daniel M. Clark has been a CafePress.com Shopkeeper since early 2004. A native of Rhode Island, he now lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife, new daughter and two cats, Pete and RePete.

About CafePress.com
CafePress.com is the leading online marketplace that offers sellers complete e-commerce services to independently create and sell a wide variety of products, and offers buyers unique merchandise across virtually every topic.

Launched in 1999, CafePress.com has empowered individuals, organizations and businesses to create buy and sell customized merchandise online using the company's unique print-on-demand and e-commerce services. Today, CafePress.com is a growing network of over 2.9 million members who have unleashed their creativity to transform their artwork and ideas into unique gifts and new revenue streams.

(c) copyright 2006 Daniel M. Clark. CafePress.com, CafePress, the CafePress.com logo, and related trade dress are registered trademarks or trademarks of CafePress.com in the United States and other countries and may not be used without written permission. Other product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their owners.

Daniel has been a HUGE help for BurnTees.com so I can honestly say that I know his book is going to tell you what you need to know to have a successful CafePress shop.

Hoboken St. Patrick's Day

As some people may know, Saturday March 4th was the great St. Patrick's Day celebration in Hoboken, NJ. In case you don't know anything about it, it's 2 weeks before the real St. Patty's Day and really just an excuse for people to start drinking at 8am. (you can find more info about the day here: Hoboken St. Patrick's Day Visitor Guide .

Anway, I arrived in Hoboken at about 9 and there were already lines at the bars...I couldn't believe it. After a hearty breakfast of kegs and eggs (really jello shots, bagels, red bull and vodka, and beer) we headed out to promote BurnTees. We came prepared with 100 buttons to give out to people on line at the bars and some flyers as well. While we were out, the greatest thing on the planet happened...we ran into someone wearing one of our shirts. Granted all my friends and myself were wearing BurnTees shirts...but this was a RANDOM person. Greatest thing in the world. And what could possibly top that? Running into someone else about 30 seconds later!!

So, thank you to everyone who bought a BurnTees St. Patty's Day shirt and wore it on Saturday in Hoboken...you're all awesome. And to those of you who I didn't see...please send pictures if you have them! I hope to see everyone out on the real St. Patrick's Day sporting your shirts again.











And don't forget, it's not too late to get your St. Patrick's Day shirt from BurnTees.com. Just check out the selection here

Our First Hate Mail

So, we've been at this for a while, but we just hit a new milestone here at BurnTees.com that I just HAD to share with everyone. This month, CafePress featured our Jesus Saves design (found here) and it's been really great for us...we couldn't be happier and more appreciative towards CafePress for featuring us. A day after the CafePress newsletter was sent out to the mailing list, we received the following email. Note that I have not modified this in ANY way:

I know everyone has a right to do as they please, so I'm exercising my rights to stop getting any advertisements from CafePress because of your Tee shirts. The one about Jesus was offensive and I do believe that people like you that make fun of Jesus and little jokes like that will one day have to pay. I'm not perfect and I have done a lot of things that I'm sure God didn't approve of but one thing I have NOT EVER done is to poke fun of Jesus or use him in a joke. Please don't bother to respond to this email.

From Ray and Shirley "Live Life to the fullest.


My first reaction? Write back to them, tell them they're fucking crazy and get into a great argument in which I KNOW I'd be amused. Instead, I took the higher road and just posted the email in the CafePress forum :) The reaction to the email from everyone was pretty much the same as mine but the thread was soon shut down for reasons beyond me. Since that's the case, I thought I'd post the email here in the BurnTees blog where as far as I'm concerned...I run the show...and I can do WHATEVER THE FUCK I WANT.

So, let's begin....I know everyone has a right to do as they please, so I'm exercising my rights to stop getting any advertisements from CafePress because of your Tee shirts". If my t shirt was the first one to offend you, I really don't know where you've been. Why don't you look around the CP marketplace and get back to me on where this design ranks.

"The one about Jesus was offensive and I do believe that people like you that make fun of Jesus and little jokes like that will one day have to pay." First off...where did i MAKE FUN of Jesus? Did I call him Jebus? Did I call him Big Daddy J? Second of all....I'll one day have to pay?! ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!? By saying this, you're basically calling yourself an ignorant bigot who doesn't respect what anyone else believes in.

"I'm not perfect and I have done a lot of things that I'm sure God didn't approve of but one thing I have NOT EVER done is to poke fun of Jesus or use him in a joke." Well, I guess you're just a better person than me....but I'm sure you know that already. However, if you were so great, you would know not to ever write out G-d's name....minus one for you. And what kind of things have you done that G-d won't approve of? Do you and your husband have your weekly ass rape sessions? We all know how Jesus would probably frown upon sodomy. And for your information, I would never make fun of Jesus...he was a quality Jew.

"Please don't bother to respond to this email." I won't...instead, I'll post it in my blog and share with the world what an idiot you are. I hope that your email leads to a ton of publicity for my shop and I end up selling thousands of these Jesus Saves designs.

"From Ray and Shirley "Live Life to the fullest." I doubt you're living life to the fullest when you secretly think that everyone who doesn't follow the same ideas as you will one day have to pay.

Oh, and by the way Ray and Shirley....I'm Jewish and not really concerned about what Jesus thinks of me. I love gay people, I'm pro choice, and I'm all for stem cell research.

Love always,
BurnTees.com

The BurnTees Rant n Rave

I have a few things i'd like to rant about and what better place to do it than on my BurnTees blog. So, I hope I don't offend anyone because that, of course, is not the point. But if you have something to say, please just leave a comment.

1) Tipping the doorman

It has recently dawned on me that come the holidays, it is necessary to tip your doorman. Now, I have no problem with the thinking behind that, but when you have about 10 doormen, 5 maintenence guys, and a concierge (as I currently do), the tipping seems to get just a bit out of hand. My understanding is that the minimum acceptable is amount is about $25 per doorman, maybe $15 per maintenence guy, and $35 for the concierge (remember, this is the MINIMUM). That comes out to $250 on doormen, $75 for maintenence, and $35 for the concierge for a grand total of........$360!!!! Am I the only person that thinks this is insane?!

Don't get me wrong, I really do appreciate the doormen. Anytime they help me out (bring up packages, help me unload and carry up groceries) I give them a tip. So, does this mean I should stop tipping them and only tip them during the holidays? Or should I not tip them during the holidays and only tip when they actually do something for me? What if I don't tip during the holidays or tip too little...are they not going to do their job anymore when it comes time to help me out?

If someone has some further information on this, I'd really appreciate it...cause to be honest...I just can't afford this.


Well, time to get back to work. hopefully i'll have some more time and I can rant a little more because I have quite a few things to say about the widely loved Extreme Home Makeover.

Kiss My Ass Dunkin Donuts

This has bothered me for a while, but I'm a little bored, so I figured I'd take this opportunity to rant about Dunkin Donuts.

Does Dunkin Donuts believe that since they're food and coffee are just so amazingly good that they can have the world's dumbest people working there and the customers will just keep coming back anyway? Has anyone else noticed this? ANYONE?!

Pet Peeve number 1: Why do they ask me what I want when they're never going to remember in the first place??!?!?

Dunkin Donuts Employee: "CAN I HELP NEXT PLEASE!" (no, that's not a typo, that's what they say)
Me: "Hello, can I please have a toasted whole wheat bagel with egg and cheese please?"
DDE: "Sure"
(as they reach for the plain bagel)
Me: "Excuse Me! I said whole wheat, not plain"
DDE: "No sir, you said plain"
Me: (in disbelief) "Fine, then i'd like to change it. Can I please have whole wheat"
DDE: "And what do you want on it?"
Me: "I'm thinking the same thing I asked for originally. Egg and Cheese please"

Now, this is my favorite part. Peering over the counter to try and watch so if they start to fuck up, you can catch it early. Oh yea...insert Jeopardy music here while you wait and wait and wait.

DDE: "Whole wheat bagel with cream cheese!! Whole wheat bagel with cream cheese!! Who ordered a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese?!?!?"
Me: "Um, I ordered whole wheat with egg and cheese?"
DDE: "Not a whole with with cream cheese?"
Me: "No, like I've said twice now...whole wheat with egg and cheese."
DDE: "ok, sorry, one minute"

Now, that's just one example!! I used to go to dunkin donuts EVERYDAY before work, an at least 3 times a week that would happen. I mean, how is that possible?!

Another thing that really chaps my ass is their lack of knowledge in regards to english muffins. Does anyone out there eat their english muffin without toasting it?! anyone?!?!? THEN WHY DO I HAVE TO ASK THEM TO TOAST MY ENGLISH MUFFIN?!!? Last time I was there, I ordered an egg and cheese sandwich on an english muffin. After getting my order, I opened the bag (see example number 1 for reasons why I always check my order before leaving) and notice that my sandwich isn't hot...it's not even warm. So, I open the wrapping only to notice that my english muffin isn't toasted. GREAT!

Me: "Excuse me. You didn't toast my english muffin"
DDE: "You didn't ask for it to be toasted"

WHAT?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!? Who DOESN'T toast their english muffin?! So now, everytime I order an english muffin, I have to ask for them to toast it. And just a little advice? chances are they're going to have to put it thru the toaster again because it will NOT be toasted after one time thru.

Now, many other things can happen while at Dunkin Donuts that'll really chap your ass, but this last one really gets to me. Now, I guess it would just be too much work for them, but some Dunkin Donuts won't put sugar, sweet n low, or anything like that in your coffee because they leave it on the side for you to do yourself. Issue 1 with this: WHY ARE THEY NOT DOING THIS FOR ME?!!?? You're making me coffee and that's part of the process. SO DO IT YOUR-FUCKING-SELF!

Issue 2 with this...they never tell you until AFTER that you have to do it yourself. So, when you go up and ask for a coffee with cream and two sweet n low, they just kind of nod at you as if to say,"No problem". When you get your coffee and take that first sip, you of course notice that there's no sweet n low in your coffe (of course, you think back to issue one and figure they were just stupid and didn't get your order right). So you say to them,"Excuse me, I don't think there's any sweet n low in here." And they inevitably respond with "Sweet n low is on the side, you have to do it yourself"

YOU BASTARD!!! Don't you think that this happens like 90 times a day at these Dunkin Donuts? Don't you think they'd at least have a sign or something that said "Do it yourself sweetners on the side". Or maybe when I asked for cream and two sweet n low she could respond with,"I'm sorry, you have to do the sweet n low yourself on the side" But NO! She just smiles and nods knowing that she won't be putting any sweet n low in. I hate you.

So Dunkin Donuts, how bout you get your fucknig act together. Because if you don't, not only will I kill every employee that fucks up my order, I may just start going there once a day instead of twice a day.

Slacker

Ok, I know I've been slacking with the blog, but 1) I've been busy and 2) Just haven't had much to write about. I guess I can do more of those features, but to be honest, the only ones that i've gotten recently just haven't been that good. I'm thinking about doing features and picking my favorites...but that's just so much more work than having someone else write it...although it looks like my only choice.

Might as well take this opportunity to plug our affiliate program again. You can find information in our Affiliate Section and sign up thru that link. Remember...everytime you direct someone to BurnTees and they purchase a product, you get 20% of the sale. If they buy 2 t shirts for $20 each, you make $8. Also, the cookie remains for 30 days so if they go to the shop, don't buy anything, but come back again after a week and buy something, you still get the affiliate sale. It's a really good deal (honestly one of the highest payouts on the web) and all it takes is copying and pasting a few links. Could be on your webpage, blog, or even a MySpace or Friendster profile.

The BurnTees affiliate program

We'll make this short and sweet. If you're interested in becoming a BurnTees affiliate, email us at affiliate@burntees.com. All you need to do is post some links, and you'll be able to make 20% of every sale that you send to BurnTees.

A Few More Favorite Designs

HoSpace

I just found this blog and you HAVE to go check it out. Great stuff.

Some Random Stuff

I just want to put a link up to this article...it's a good read:

Part 1
Part II

But You Don't Look Sick

From the age of fifteen, I has been diagnosed with a myriad of illnesses from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to Epstein Barr, and finally, many years later to a determination of Lupus and Fibromyalgia. Though battling a shopping list of symptoms, I have consistently been told, by both well-wishers and doctors alike, “But you don't look sick.” as if that was some kind of compensation for being chronically ill. Many times, being pretty or not sickly looking, made it harder to validate an illness you cannot see.

I guess it started back in college when friends would see pills on my desk and ask what they were for....I had to explain that the pills weren't recreational and that I was sick. Without fail I would always here the now infamous words "But you don't Look sick?". I would always try to respond with something witty like... "I forgot to stamp my forehead with sick girl", or "would you rather if I was pale, skinny and puking?" The best response so far as been my standard reply of "That's just the look I was going for!" It always threw people off, got them to ask questions, laugh, or talk... and in the end they got to learn a little bit about me, and hopefully a little bit about anyone dealing with an invisible illness.

I get stared at when I use my handicapped-parking pass. I get judged when I wait in the same doctors office as the elderly. When I take out my pocketbook, and you see 8 bottles of pills--instead of makeup and a wallet--I get the same confused stare. I don’t fit the mold that people expect when they see someone with a disability.

I started making shirts on cafepress for myself or for friends that said But you don't look sick, everyone loved them so much- that I started making more that said Lupus sucks! (As positive of a person as I try to be... There is no better way to say it-- it just sucks!) I wore but Lupus sucks shirt to the grocery store and stranger stopped me and asked me where I purchased the shirt, I said that I made it-- and before long- she bought one for her daughter etc.

I run a website and a message boards called Butyoudontlooksick.com and I started receiving requests for many illnesses on the "sucks" shirts... and even other quotes like "sick and tired of being sick and tired" etc. I add new designs and quotes every week.

So far it has been a big hit! I love the people I have met through cafepress and it makes me happy to add some humor to living with sickness.


Thank you,

-Christine
ButYouDontLookSick.com

Obviously Christine's shop couldn't be more different than BurnTees, but we're still huge fans. I browsed around Chrstine's website, and you have to make sure you check it out. Even though Christine emailed me the above story, I almost used this story instead...it's a must read.

So make sure to check out Christine's site. There's a message board, articles, all kinds of interesting stuff. And Chrstine...our prayers are with you.

Some Random Stuff

Just like it says in the title...some random stuff.

I'm totally addicted to this game...check it out: Sudoku. It's a logic game...you can sit there all day at work doing these.

You're going to love me for this. This website, quickbase.com tells you how to skip all the automated answering machines (press 1 for this, press 2 for that). what a lifesaver!!!

And of course, I'd like to express my disappointment in the Giants run defense. At least Eli looked good.

Also, I wanted to take this opportunity to announce our new Halloween Section in BurnTees. Make sure you order now so you'll get your Halloween shirts in time for the holiday.

And lastly, these are some of my favorite designs that I've seen on CafePress...feel free to check them out (sorry it looks so messy - just scroll down a bit to see them. just click on the picture to check them out):

The Seventh Sense

Neither my husband nor I are huge car fans, but when you spend a year of Fridays and Sundays driving for six hours straight, you start to get a little obsessed. We're newlyweds, and we just finished spending our engagement in different states. We are one of those hopelessly clingy couples, so every single Friday night he would drive from Boston to Connecticut then home to New Hampshire, so we could spend weekends together. Then he would do it all over again on Sunday night, so I could collapse into bed and go to class on Monday morning, and he could collapse into bed and go to work.

With all this driving, you can imagine that we saw some pretty funny and freaky driving. We had more than our share of old ladies who looked like the witch on a bicycle from the Wizard of Oz: "You just try to pass me. Just try." It was always so satisfying when my now-husband left them in the dust…or it would have been if they had noticed that their obnoxiously slow driving was pissing people off.

We made this design after a pretty scary incident with a Scion just outside of Boston. This guy decided to pass us on the right and cut us off leaving us only two inches of space between our cars instead of the courteous Boston standard of three. He, of course, had no idea why this was a problem, and spent a good ten minutes with his finger in the air. The incident sparked a long discussion about idiot drivers—especially idiot drivers from Connecticut.

We like to joke that Connecticut drivers are Massachusetts drivers without the skill and New York drivers without the attention span. The closer you get to the New York or Massachusetts lines, the worse the drivers get. Everyone I've ever talked to about it seems to agree on this, though, there are a million opinions on what this actually looks like. Since I spent 3,120 hours driving last year, I consider myself an expert on the subject.

Massachusetts drivers are ruthless, but at least they have skill if they're from Boston—and every driver east of Worcester swears they're from "Bah-ston". If you enter the state expecting Survival of the Fittest to be the rule of the road, and you're sure that your Civic is the fittest, you'll be fine. Connecticut drivers are rude, too, but they have the added bonus of not just being obnoxious but also completely clueless. Maybe it's the cell phones. Maybe it's the toxic fumes coming from the constant construction on every single road in the whole entire state. If you don't get out these drivers' way, you're toast, especially if you're still in that tough little Civic, and they're driving an SUV—and most Connecticutians drive SUVs.

When you get to the New York border of Fairfield County in Connecticut (think Stepford Wives) you meet an entirely different brand of driver—the Wanna-Be New Yorker. Massachusetts drivers drive at least 20 M.P.H. over the speed limit, but New York drivers crawl. Maybe it's because they're used to grid-lock in "the city"; or maybe it's because of the infamous New York traffic cops; but New York drivers drive way below the speed limit, talk on their cell phones, and slam on their brakes for absolutely no reason at all. You'd think this style of driving would be the recipe for an accident, right? Well, in all my driving, I have yet to see a New York plate on a smashed up car. Maybe this is because New Yorkers are highly skilled, but I doubt it. My theory is that it's because they're consistent. They always drive the same speed—even if it is 35 MPH on the highway.

New York drivers might pull this kind of insanity off; but, you guessed it, Connecticut drivers do not. These New York influenced drivers might drive slowly, but this isn't because they're afraid of hefty tickets. Oh, no. They drive slowly because they're so distracted by the cell phone that's been surgically attached to their ear that they gradually take their foot off the gas until they stop. When there's a Massachusetts driver tailgating them, this is when accidents happen—causing the infamous Connecticut Accordion Effect. It's not a pretty sight. However, if you've spent 1/3 of a year driving like me, watching accidents is sometimes the only entertainment available—creating the also infamous Connecticut Rubber-Neck Syndrome

see, this is why i don't own a car and never have. Ok, maybe it's because I can't afford one, but when you hear horror stories like this...who wants one?!

Make sure to check out The Seventh Sense often because they like to rotate their designs and there's always something new on the site.

Montlcair Wear

MontclairWear.com

I grew up in Kansas and like many queers do, I migrated to NYC 6 years ago.
(Toto - I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, thank god!) When we decided
that we needed to live in Jersey for tuition purposes, a wave of panic
rushed over me. Joisey!?! Oh no!! Was I going to be back in the land of
"big box" stores and outdated hair? We were advised that not all of New
Jersey lives up to its bad reputation. Luckily, we found Montclair.

Have you ever lived in one of those towns that's so quaint, so chic, so
desired - that whenever you tell folks where you live, the response is
always "Oooooooh, you live in _____." Well, it turns out that Montclair is
one of those towns. Who knew! Montclair is 12 miles west of NYC and has
become home to many Upper West Siders and Park Slopers who want the suburban
conveniences with all the benefits of a city life. We have tons of arts and
culture, a beautiful housing stock, a top-notch public school system, and
unlimited fine dining opportunities. In short, we are one of the "it"
places to live in New Jersey.

I've become pretty involved in the community and started up a queer
organization. From that spawned a local queer blog and I made some tshirts
at Cafepress to support the site. After a few weeks, I realized that I was
pretty good with the tshirt designs and went full throttle!

MontclairWear.com sells tshirts and other products which show off our 07042
status. Our designs vary in style, from modern to retro. Our main line of
shirts are "Montclair-inspired" original designs. These graphic tees are
similar to those you see in Old Navy, GAP, Abercrombie and
the like, featuring unique designs for (ficticious) local businesses. Our
products range from sex kitten to urban hipster. And because Montclair is
full of NYC-transplants, our tagline is "Montclair Wear - Urban Chic for the
Surbanite."

Since Montclair is notoriously liberal, we have a large selection of
products in our "Politics & Social Commentary" section which deal with
local, state and national issues. I'm naturally a sarcastic person with a
pretty dry sense of humor, which is carried over to my tshirts. We get a
lot of hits to our Politics Section, as we have lots of anti-bush shirts and
so forth.

I think the cornerstone to my site is showing off the pride one has for
their community. It's a wonderful thing to find a place that truly feels
like home to you and where you can thrive, build a family, create
friendships and have a sense of community. For this reason, we will soon be
expanding our designs beyond Montclair and into all of Northern NJ. Maybe
Dorothy was right - there is no place like home.







Since we're from Jersey, we of course are biased towards this shop. HOWEVER...now that you're here...can you admit that no one actually says Joisey? I never really understood where that came from.

What a great mix on this shop...Montclair NJ t shirts, anti Bush tees, and gay shirts...a PERFECT combination. We may have to change our format over at BurnTees. Also, I think the fans of montclairwear.com might also enjoy our latest anti Bush design: click here to see it

Still Accepting Submissions

Just wanted to let everyone know that we're still accepting submissions for featured shops on the BurnTees blog. email us at our gmail account with your shop info and your story and we'll work on getting your shop featured.

Also, every once in a while we still have to promote our own shop. Make sure you check out BurnTees because there are a bunch of new designs up and a LOT more coming very soon. We're also in the process of adding a holiday section, so check back soon for Halloween and Christmas/chanukah/kwanza shirts just in time for the holidays!!!

Oh yea...one other thing...GO GIANTS!!!!!!