T-shirts

[kriscook]

This design is going out for pricing now.  Once I have pricing, there has to be a vote, so it will be a little while before these come in.

The patches, however, are in!!  As soon as I get one of my own, I'll post an actual photograph of them.  We'll be selling them for $5.00 each, but one comes free with each membership.  (Two for couples membership.) 

[Jim]

How about some other marketing products with Dixie ABATE on them like mugs, pins, and what I would also like to see is car magnets! Not many people I know actually want to stick on bumper stickers on cars anymore and ruin their paint. But the same bumper sticker on a car magnet that you can stick on anywhere and also remove easily would be great! Any thoughts on any of this? Or is my deranged mind just off the rails again??!!

Jim
;-)

[2WheelerFred]

I really like the car magnet thing, never thought about that much before until now.

[maschroeder]

 Thanks for the suggestions. We have discussed several ideas for promotional items including mugs,pins and magnets. Right now we're checking out our options and making plans for the up coming year. The patches finally arrived and Kris will be getting them out to all our members. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the contributors to the" Forum", it's making for some great conversations. As always, With Deepest Respect and Be Safe-----------------MAS

[kriscook]

I bought a big ABATE magnetic sign for my door, and rode around with it several months, then it got stolen.  Or fell off, maybe.  Fatdog recently mentioned something about window tints, which made me consider getting a total car wrap.   

Seriously, though, everything we can buy that will SELL will make us money.  The trick is to only buy things that will sell.  I think these new shirts and the new patches will wipe us out enough financially that we need to slow down a little.  I want to build the treasury enough to do the billboard in 2011.  That will bring us incredible visibility.  Everyone who rides a bike knows of some other biker who was killed by a car or truck driver who didn't have his mind on his business and wasn't looking out for the motorcycle.  As soon as they all know there's an MRO in Alabama that is trying to address that huge problem, I think we'll grow exponentially.

Our job is to grow and organize, and then to show 'em something, give them a voice, bring them together.  Think we can do that?
Was this a total thread hijack?   

[Jim]

Yea...pretty much a downer there!

;-)

[Jim]

But....

I found this website today with very little searching effort...

http://www.vistaprint.com/car-magnets/car-door-magnets.aspx?xnav=LeftItem&xnid=_CarDoorMagnets

They have a sale right now on the magnets and you can provide your own logo. How about if abate provides the official logo with something underneath like the website or phone number for anyone wanting to join up. That way those of us interested and can have our own signs made up and not touch the abate treasury. At the same time, it will help promote the cause. You could probably contact this company and they could have them available on an as needed basis to people that want to buy them. It won't net abate any money but it will not cost anything and will add to the marketing.

But...you could advertise these as available and take orders...that way abate can buy from the order money and add a margin to it for the cause. And still not dig in to the treasury!

Thoughts from above??!!

;-)

Jim
L.A.

[kriscook]

That's exactly where I bought mine.  I think it was around 14 bucks.  A great deal!  I paid for it myself, and rode all around with it until I lost it.   

I'm all up for anything that will bring us increased visibility.  Ultimately, lawmakers in Alabama need to know we're out here and that we're watching them.  We aren't adversarial, but we want to help them make informed choices on any matter that involves us.  What I REALLY need is a list of our legislators, separated into columns - who rides, and who doesn't.  I wonder if anyone has this information?  If not, we'll need to poll them all so that WE know.

Did I just hijack this thread?   

Your ideas are great!  I can only work on one project at a time, and the new black t-shirts are my current project.  I'll be glad to get that one done.  I think we're going to love the look of the new shirts.  And you've talked me into buying myself a new set of car magnets! 

[Jim]

Is there an official logo in a jpg format I could use to get a magnet made?

[Jim]

More specifically....I can use the picture listed above...but...what is best to put underneath it? Something to encourage people to join. Website URL? Phone#?

[kriscook]

Email sent.  When I had my car door magnet made, I put the website on it, and I think it even had the address on it. 
www.dixieabate.org

612 32nd St. S, #206
Birmingham, AL  35233

I think I put my cell number on it, but really, people can hit the website or mail an inquiry.  I doubt if anyone would really call.

Let's get some advertising going out there! 

[Jim]

Pretty quiet on this forum of late. Wazzupwiddat>>>!!!
I just got my new abate magnets. I put 4 of them on my truck. I wish I had gotten one a little smaller to put on my bike rack.

[kriscook]

Yahoo!  Jim's putting us all to shame.  OMG that reminds me.  I have to go order Matthew's business cards.  I'm only two weeks late with it.  Maybe I'll get him  a magnet too!  Keep up the good work!   

[Jim]

Uncanny!!! We are so in tune....I was just gonna ask you about business cards....if you can provide the template or file I can make my own. If we can all use the same format...that much the better. I am going to a Meet and Greet from the South Alabama Motorcycle Society tomorrow...sure wish I had abate biz cards to hand out. Another nice marketing tool would be a black and white abate recruiting type flyer.....something easily printed out on a home printer....I could start placing them in various places. Hey! I am unemployed these days and have some time on my hands...at least until...Daytona Bike Week!

Jim

[kriscook]

Both are great ideas!  But for openers, you can just print the flyers we have here on our website in black and white.  I'll have cards made up and will get them to you. 

I should have already thought of that!!