A PRACTICAL campaign to inform, educate and PERHAPS assist in releasing YOUR FAMILY and friends. Would you support it?

by nicolaou 68 Replies latest members private

  • nicolaou
    nicolaou

    A series of simple, anonymous postcards - that's it.

    I've secured a domain name from which to organise the project and, most importantly, I've got a great deal from the bulk printers I use for my business - but this is not and never will be totally free. I have to be up front and state that from the beginning.

    The idea.

    It's easy. An eye-catching postcard with a powerful image on one side and 2 or 3 short sentences on the other. Many will of course throw them away immediately but here's the thing - a regular card with new information sent no more than once a month will be hard to ignore forever, it may even become anticipated!

    We could have standard 'stock' cards for long standing issues like blood, shunning, 1914/generation etc and topical cards as needs arise. I've knocked out a few intro cards to prime friends and relatives for what's coming their way and posted them below.

    Technical Specs.

    Flyer DIN A6 long
    250gsm gloss card
    4/4 (full colour) double-sided print

    Finished format: 7.4 cm x 21 cm
    Artwork format: 7.6 cm x 21.2 cm

    If you would like to assist in producing new cards you can send me artwork in .jpeg format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Text will be limited to approximately 800 characters so brevity is essential - edit, edit then edit again!

    Costs.

    I anticipate charging no more than £0.04 per card. That's right just 4p plus p&p. To make this viable I'll need to sell the cards in minimum quantities, probably a pack of 25 because that will fall within the 'Large Letter' rates for postage in the UK and International size and weight restrictions for postage overseas. I will not 'pad' postal fees.

    Will I be making any profit? Define profit. I'll cover all costs involved but at £0.04 per card I'm hardly going to give up my day job. I'm simply considering this as an ongoing campaign in our collective efforts.

    Summary.

    A couple of quid will buy you a pack of 25 glossy, professionally produced postcards that you can mail anonymously to family or friends. There will be a website you can order from and new postcards will be offered regularly to keep the interest and attention of your loved ones.

    You are encouraged to offer suggestions, artwork and text for new postcards on any topic you feel would benefit a JW recipient. Let's collaborate!


    Actual size examples:

    Here's one that will look familiar to many, does anyone care to finish it?



    Does an idea like this have any potential? Is it worth me investing the time, effort and perhaps £200+ to get the whole thing setup?

    Nicolaou

  • dontplaceliterature
    dontplaceliterature

    You're likely to get this thread locked. See rule 6. I like the idea, personally. But cedars got clamped because of mentioning donations for his survey website. I don't see how this is any different. Especially since it is you who would be handling the production and receiving the funds. If it were and outside print shop, etc...there likely wouldn't be an issue.

  • Jeffro
    Jeffro

    Apart from the issue of soliciting donations, you would also need to ensure that you have permission from the copyright owners of the pictures you are using, including the stock images of people.

  • Fernando
    Fernando

    Hey Nicolaou!

    Great idea, I love it.

    Great artwork. Simple and powerful message and concept. Pricing seems great too. 1914 postcard is great too!

    I just love and applaud anyone with vision and passion.

    Please do all you can to avoid the draining, unnecessary, unpleasant and damaging debacle that erupted around Cedars and his equally great idea and project, in relation to rule 6 below as mentioned by Dontplaceliterature above! Would avoiding self-promotion on this site help? What about offerering a great service and letting others voluntarily promote the service?

    Please also don't give up and quit - you can and will make a difference. Anyone of us can and do similarly make a difference with our various skills, ideas and contributions. Even the widow's mite has value!

    Please stay humble, simple, fresh, innovative and on point.

    Best wishes

    Fernando

  • cedars
    cedars

    Hi Nicolaou, I love the idea and would gladly support it, good for you! However (as dontplaceliterature has said) I've been stung myself for mentioning anything remotely connected with money on this site. It would be better to get your website up and running with all the infrastructure in place to start receiving orders, and then maybe post a well-worded and discreet thread on this forum when you're ready to rock'n'roll.

    If you need help with putting the postcards together, I will gladly help.

    Cedars

  • nicolaou
    nicolaou

    I take on board the comments about advertising, especially relating to Posting Guideline 6. It may allay most concerns to reiterate that this is NOT a commercial venture just a campaign with necessary costs that need to be paid for. I accept that for some that may be a distinction without much difference but I feel it's important.

    If Simon or a moderator feel this topic is not appropriate and choose to lock it that is fine but I hope it can stay open just so that we can discuss the options and tactics.

    How about a kindly, thoughtful Memorial card? A concise intro to 'Comments You Will Not Hear in February' (March, April etc - how about it Blondie?). Complex topics like 587/607 could be summarised in a series of say 5 or 6 cards sent at the usual, calm pace of one a month. Suggested links could be offered for further reading.

    The possibilities are endless.

  • cedars
  • Mad Sweeney
    Mad Sweeney

    Nic, we're FB friends, right? I'm gonna look you up and send you a PM. If you don't get one, look me up and send me a pm please.

  • cedars
    cedars

    You make it sound like my survey idea WAS a commercial venture?! I'm sure that's not what you meant, was it?

    It's a shame that we can't discuss the financial aspects of brilliant ideas such as yours on this forum, but I guess we need to draw the line somewhere.

    If you want me to help with text, graphics, or maybe reciprocal links to your postcard site, please PM me.

    Cedars

  • nicolaou
    nicolaou
    You make it sound like my survey idea WAS a commercial venture?! I'm sure that's not what you meant, was it?

    Oh cedars! No mate, no insinuation intended at all! The first I even heard about your survey idea was right here in this thread, I still don't know what the idea actually is/was so if you'd like to explain it . . .

    For Mad Sweeney and anyone else who'd like to get in touch you can reach me via;

    [email protected] or https://www.facebook.com/nicolaou

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