Barbasol shaving cream now offers T-shirts for sale

The company Barbasol, makers of the men's shaving cream recently released a new advertising campaign.  Their first in five years.  The new, and humorous, commercials have generated a lot of new visits to their website.  As a result, Barbasol took notice of the attention and thought there would be a passionate fan base will to wear clothes with the Barbasol logo.  So, they create an online store to sell T-shirts.

Jill Crumbacher, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said this is the first time since Barbasol was acquired by Dublin-based Perio Inc, that they've offered clothes for sale with the well-known brand.

This example further shows that T-shirts, and their use for making a statement, or generating income sources is constantly evolving.  Many new and well established companies are seeing T-shirts as a viable income source from marketing a brand is still possible.  

Oklahoma Thunder gives away 18,000 T-shirts to build community with the team

Aside from music concert T-shirts, sport team T-shirts are a MASSIVE portion of the T-shirt sector.  Right now, the NBA playoffs are occurring and the Oklahoma Thunder in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma are using T-shirts to establish a connection with fans and community.

The Thunder team operates under three primary principles; Team Work, Community and Selflessness.  To engage the fan base and establish a sense of community, the Thunder organization has been printing and putting 18,000 T-shirts on seats in the area - each playoff game.  As seen by the pictures below, the slogan is the same "Rise Together", but each section of the arena is outfitted with either blue or white T-shirts, alternating between sections.  The results is an eye-catching visual treat for those in the arena and the estimate 4 million viewers on the cable network channel TNT.  (KJRH)

As estimated and noted in the story, there are a potential of 27 playoff games that could be played in Thunder's arena.  At 18,000 T-shirts per game, that's a total of 490,000 T-shirts.  Staggering numbers.  Staggering dollars too.  Considering each T-shirt is printed for maybe $5 each, that's an estimated $90,000 a game going to some lucky screen printer, with a full deal of all 27 playoff games of equating to $2,450,000.  Again, these are my estimates.  Even at $1 per T-shirt, some screen printer is making $18,000 a game.  Nice coin.

Getting away from the glitter of the money, the visual presentation, the offering of free T-shirts to the fans, the building and maintaining of community with the team is a very powerful action and step taken by the Oklahoma Thunder organization.  This is an excellent example of how T-shirts, given away in great quantities can have a positive reflection and reaction by those physically wearing the T-shirts, and those who see the T-shirts and know the story behind it.  It certainly helps when you have 4 million views on TV, when they're watching the game.

Here's an interesting note.  As of May 15, 2013 the 500,000th free T-shirt was given away.  That's half a million T-shirts given away since 2010.  

Atheist group in Utah considering legal action over T-shirts

In what has to be the saddest story I've covered in this blog is a group of atheists in Utah are considering legal action against the TIKI Printing company, which is a Christian printing company, for not printing anti-God messages on T-shirts for a LGBT Pride Parade.  

Its the classic case of a business owner refusing to make their services or products available to a person or group, based on their rules.  Its their right.  Its a dangerous area to tip-toe through, as you don't want to be suggest racial and gender discriminations.  But, religion, sexual preference, age is that gray area where it generates bad press, when standing up for your beliefs.

In this case, the Christian printing company refused to print the slogan "Gotta Be Real Cuz God Ain't" on a T-shirt because it demanded their belief in God.  You can't challenge that, regardless if you feel they over-reacted or not.  They can feel however they want.

All that aside, the contemplation over legal action is the stunning part of this.  Sure, parties on both sides of the disagreement have hurt feelings.  Fine.  But, TIKI Printing is in West Valley City, UT, which is in the far west side of the great Salt Lake City, UT area.  Are we to honestly believe that TIKI Printing is the only T-shirt printer in the Salt Lake City area…?  The atheist group needs to refocus, take their money elsewhere and get on with their lives.  But, I understand.  This is a battle for God.  The poor T-shirts in this sad story are the true un-intended victims.

It goes to show that T-shirts, even when not yet printed, can evoke a very strong emotional response.  The right message to the correct target audience can gain you the publicity you desire.  Just be aware that is you push things too far, you'll get a negative reaction.  Bad press, while still bad press.

Red Hot Inkers participate in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5-mile walk

Red Hot Inkers participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5-mile walk by joining with the Chemo Courage Crusaders on April 28, 2013 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Our 'Crusaders' group comprised of three contestants from the Miss America's Outstanding Teen New Mexico pageant (reigning title holder for New Mexico Natalie Benson, Miss Route 66 Feliz Romero and Miss Rio Rancho Gabrielle Torres, and one contestant from Miss America New Mexico pageant; Catherine Compton.

It was beautiful weather for a walk.  Overall, the event was great.  They raised $258,825.39.  And for much of the walk, it was shoulder-to-shoulder walkers.  I don't know the exact count, but I'd estimate many thousands of people participated.

Where is the line between Free Speech and Offensive T-shirts?

In this blog we've coverage numerous good deeds done through T-shirts.  We've even covered cases where people in positions of power seek to crush the expressions of a few because they felt the T-shirt was 'offensive' or could spark something more troublesome.

Here, I'd like to dig a little deeper into the subject of suppressing T-shirt designs.  I'm not referring to cases where public opinion dictates how a company conducts business through T-shirts.  A recent example of that is Nike removing their 'Boston Massacre' T-shirts from sale.  A common theme in Boston used in the past as a rallying cry.  But, with the recent Boston Marathon bombings, the populace is still rightfully raw about the subject.  I predict the pain will pass, and Boston will re-adopt the 'Boston Massacre' slogan and a rallying cry.  Maybe not for anti-bad guy reasons, but for sports, as it once was used.

The most common cases of suppression of free speech through T-shirts which supposedly contain offensive material, which is argued as our First Amendment right, occur in our public schools here in the USA.  And, most commonly, I see junior high school students being at the forefront of this conflict between self-expression and suppression of that expression.  The other, and more disturbing case of suppression, occurs from city officials declaring they know what's best for the city by imposing laws on what constitutes an offensive T-shirt.

Before we can question the right to suppress offensive T-shirt designs, we first have to define the terms.

What is an offensive T-shirt design?

If we're looking into the public school realm, offensive leans to sensitive subject matter in relation to the Gay issue.  Or, racial issues.  In the case of race, its usually someone showing support of their own heritage or showing respect for another.  Those are usually shut down rather quickly, as the school does not want to risk any racial-induced riots or fights.  I can understand.  In my youth, in my latter years of high school, we had an infusion of Vietnamese kids come into our school.  Mind you, we weren't that long removed from the Vietnam war, er, conflict.  TV and movies were still showing Vietnam as the bad guys.  We had a few kids band together with T-shirts with crudely written hate messages with unfortunate racial slurs towards the Vietnamese.  Things came to a head when a big fight broke out near the buses at the end of the school day.  It was got really scary there until the fight was stopped by teachers and school officials.  

The Gay issue in public schools is very unique.  I think for as long as there has been public school, there have been anti-gay statements made within the schools.  The word 'fag' was so over-used that it became this ubiquitous term used to denote anyone who was stupid, dumb or dorky.  If someone wasn't liked, for whatever reason, they were labelled a fag.  I don't mean homosexual in nature, just in a general dumb-ass nature.  With that in mind, kids today are incredibly savvy when it comes to proclaiming their beliefs via a T-shirt in response to the Gay issue.  As an 8th grader recently showed last month, wearing a message that indicated she didn't approve of Gays was challenged by a school board.  They felt it was hate speech, but the ACLU stepped in and forced the school to change its position on the grounds that the student's beliefs said that being Gay was not correct.  Not acceptable.  It was evil.  Wrong.  Her T-shirt made that point.  She was not claiming hatred or acts of violence against Gays, only that she didn't approve of being Gay.  There's your First Amendment right working as designed.  Even if the message sets your blood on fire, its the student's right to make that declaration.  Its your beliefs versus the other person's beliefs.  Its only positions of power that can suppress the beliefs of one in favor of another.

If we're talking about city officials, the word offensive usually has a sexual origin to it.  Its these people in positions of power who will create laws to force one agenda over another.  In recent memory, city officials in southern Florida towns have taken upon themselves to decry the abomination of sexually oriented T-shirts, and force retailers to position these T-shirts into newly created 'adult' areas for 18 yeas and older for viewing.

I'm going to step out on this subject with common sense and declare these suppression of rights, to display in store and sell these so-called offensive T-shirts, a very poor choice for two core reasons.

First, once the offensive T-shirt is legally viewed by an adult, and purchased by an adult, said adult can wear the T-shirt in public, in direct and unhindered view of children (gasp - oh the horrors).  We're talking about the same T-shirt which could see the store owner fined (substantially) for displaying it in their store in direct, unhindered view of children.  That reason alone shows a desire to punish the store owner for daring to even sell the T-shirt.  I'm sure city officials would love to fine and jail anyone wearing an offensive T-shirt in public, but they are at least smart enough to know when they are overtly trampling the First Amendment and common basic civil rights.

Second, with the curious, and unnatural aversion to sexually oriented T-shirts, why is not the same attention drawn to violent themed T-shirts.  Its my position that violence is much more corrosive to our youth than sex.  Have you actually seen some of the cartoons today's youth watch?  Try making it through just one episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants without cringing in view of the exaggerated violence.  One only has to dial the time machine back a few ears to the Power Rangers.  In its zenith of popularity, children were wearing clothes, had lunch boxes and all manner of merchandise of their heroes.  I personally witnessed children mock beating the shit out of each in their desire to replay those wildly violent battles they saw on Saturday morning cartoons.  

I find it truly mind boggling that people are more accepting of allowing our youth frequent and unhindered access to violence, but fall to near seizure mode when considering how to explain the world of sexually oriented material to a child.  I'm not calling into question the violence consumed by children, as I grew up watching the Roadrunner cartoons and I consider myself a respectable and stable person.  I'm no one special in that department though.  In the USA entertainment culture, it is incredibly difficult to to navigate life without seeing some level of violence in entertainment.  I hope that's not an argument for suppressing sexually oriented T-shirts.

So, what have we learned?  Have we defined what offensive means?  No, because offensive is subjective.  Offensive is defined by those in positions of power.  As a king may dictate laws of the land, edicts are established, based on the those currently in power, to suppress views and beliefs of others.  In some cases, those rules are in place to maintain a sense of peace, but in most cases its to further a personal agenda which is believed to be for the betterment of society.  

In closing, let me try a definition of offensive.  I believe any T-shirt with imagery or slogans which promote Fraud, Force or Coercion towards another person is offensive.  Those acts are morally and legally wrong, too, but to wear a T-shirt which promotes that is offensive.  That said, I don't consider "Cereal Killer" an offensive T-shirt.  Its punny.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Haters will Hate the free market for selling Boston Strong T-shirts

Nothing makes a popular story, except those doing good deeds, than bashing those who dare to make a dollar.  In these raw times in the post-Boston Marathon bombings, words like "Entrepreneur" are spat to the sidewalk with terrible distaste.  Why the hate? Its easy to twist the feelings and cheaply play upon the emotions of others and make it seem like there's a feeding of tragic incidents, but all these T-shirts being created and printed are making money.  Some more than others.  And, if they are not making money, its for a limited time only only.  Why?  Because its costs money to print T-shirts.  Ignoring the actual cost of the garments themselves, inks, solvents, cleansers, packing, shipping materials, there's the labor.  Screen printers would go out of business within a month if they had to play to the childish tantrums of those spitting the word "Entrepreneur".  

In an article I saw, the company Chowdaheadz was being demonized by implying they were taking advantage of the Boston Bombings by offers T-shirts.  If one were to take even a casual glance at their site, they'd see Chowdaheadz is donating 20% of each T-shirt sold to The One Fund.  Yes, the same fund that the big named companies and campaigns with more headline news time like Adidas donate to.

So, to all those who are critical of all "Entrepreneurs" for selling Boston Strong T-shirts, change your diaper and put the pacifier back in your mouth.  When you can come to the plate with a real news story of people doing good deeds, stay quiet and allow enterprising individuals and companies make a dollar and help those truly in need.

Remember, before you start pointing an accusing finger at others, how much money have you raised for The One Fund?

   

   

March Madness T-Shirts

The spirit of T-shirts being used to convey a message, good or bad, cannot be disputed.  Great changes and awareness as well as violence and good will have come from wearing a T-shirt with a slogan, or an image.  People; hundreds, thousands will rally to a cause or to fight against a cause by showing solidarity in wearing the same T-shirt.  T-shirts, without a doubt, are a very powerful tool.  

In spite of the good will or harm that can come from a T-shirt, let us not forget those T-shirts originated somewhere.  Usually a T-shirt printing company engaged in commerce.  The selling of T-shirts by printing a custom design as provided by a client.

There are some situations in life in which the frenzy over T-shirts gets crazy.  To a point where greed of making money comes at the expense of the situation.  The NCAA March Madness annual sojourn is one of those crazy events which nets profits for anyone associated to the producing and selling of T-shirts.  Truly an exciting time for T-shirt vendors.

As we rally around a cause or a basketball team and show our support by wearing a collective T-shirt, let's give thanks to an industry that allows all of us to show our support and unity.

Go team!

Red Hot Inkers appear on The Corbett Report

Today, April 3rd, I was interviewed by James Corbett of The Corbett Report.  I was given the opportunity to make an offer to the listening audience that if they bought a T-shirt I printed for The Corbett Report, I will personal donate $7 US dollars to James Corbett so he could continue his excellent efforts and maintain The Corbett Report.  Join me in keeping alternative media going strong by showing your support.

Here's the link to the audio of the interview:

http://www.corbettreport.com/interview-642-kris-andrews-on-red-hot-inkers/

To support James by buying a T-shirt, here's the link to the strain:

http://redhotinkers.storenvy.com/products/1312659-the-corbett-report

Thank you.

It's Now Legal to Wear Pizzeria T-shirts Near Eagan Pizzerias

Whew!  That's good news.  Especially for the Little Caesars pizza franchise on Diffley Road.

http://photos.al.com/4558/gallery/offensive_t-shirts_at_surf_style_in_gulf_shores_orange_beach/index.html

It seems the very act of wearing a T-shirt in public with a company brand upon it constitutes as a sign, which is usually heavily regulated.  City attorney reviewed the laws and said its ok for the employees to continue to wear the T-shirts, so long as they stay on the companies private property.

Let that be a lesson to you.  If you wear a company-branded T-shirt, do wave at anyone, else it will make you a sing, and that is forbidden.

Who else is hungry for pizza, now?

CUSTOMIZE - Collection

Today we have a massive update to the online store.  We added 26 inventory entries to a new collection; CUSTOMIZE.

http://redhotinkers.storenvy.com/collections/204781-customize

Each item in this collection is an opportunity for the buyer to select from a template design and fully customize it.  Change text, color, graphics.  Add things.  Delete things.  Move things around.  Once they've worked with us to create a custom design, we'll print on one t-shirt of their choice.

There are close to 200 template designs to choose from.  School sports & mascots.  Events.  Professions and Trades.  Spiritual.  Food.  Beverages.  Travel.  And many many more.

Below are just a few of the 26 CUSTOMIZE items in our online store.

Old School Tattoo:
http://redhotinkers.storenvy.com/products/1200947-customize-rhi-designs-old-school-tattoo

Events:
http://redhotinkers.storenvy.com/products/1200988-customize-rhi-designs-events

Sports:
http://redhotinkers.storenvy.com/products/1200915-customize-rhi-designs-sports

Religious:
http://redhotinkers.storenvy.com/products/1201282-customize-rhi-designs-religious

Here's your chance to get shirts for your team, group or event and customize it to your specific needs.

Wear it well.  Advertise yourself.

Use Your Logo

There are times the simplest design is the best design.  We could discuss, all day, the qualities of what makes a good design, but sometimes we need to step back and consider just placing your company logo on the t-shirt.  Its simple. Clean.  And, unobstructed by any notion of being associated to a specific event or considered in associations with any other person or entity.  Its just brand X.  If people believe in, and enjoy your product or service, they will wear a t-shirt with brand X on it.  

Be seen.  Advertise yourself.

What if you don't have any artwork

As is often the case, a client will want a design on a t-shirt, but they do not have any art work. Maybe they'll have a logo or a phrase, slogan and a basic array of colors.  Fearing the cost of art services, many people never get the t-shirts made.

Fear not my friends.  We here at Red Hot Inkers can work with you to create a simple yet effective design for little or no art service cost.  We can also work with you in create more complex and detailed designs which may involve art services costs.  Either way, we have the graphical software to establish and build a design which meets your specifications.

Don't let the fact that you are without art stop you from getting personalized t-shirts designed.  We can help.

Front and Back

Thats the ongoing discussion when it comes to the design on a t-shirt.  What to put on the front, and what to put on the back.  It depends on source of the design.  Is it for an event?  A function?  Company dress code?  In that vein, its best to have all of the design on the front of the shirt, and a minimal (if anything at all) on the back.

This is further reinforced when considering promotional or self-promotional t-shirts.  You want the most vibrant part of the design on the front of the shirt.  The reason being is you want the shirt to initiate conversation.  As you approach someone, they will view your shirt, and if feel comfortable enough doing so, will compliment the shirt.  This opens a channel of conversation and allows you pursue the conversation to perhaps a sales pitch or at the very least an opportunity to market yourself and your company or organization to which you are representing.

As for the back of the shirt, this can ben extremely useful in displaying information concerning the company or organization such as contact information via phone or email.  Think of yourself standing in line at the grocery store, bank, post office.  Or, walking around a crowded venue where someone might be walking near or behind you in which they'll have ample opportunity to see and take notice of your business or organization and possibly tap you on the shoulder for more information.

In summary, if your best design is on the front, and its good enough to prompt a compliment from someone facing you, you'll already be facing them to continue a conversation they initiated.  If you best design is on the back, many people are no so inclined or comfortable with tapping you on the shoulder, a perceived intrusion into your personal space.  Keep the god design on the front to initiate conversation, and informational content on the back.  

Advertise yourself.

Seasonal Message

When considering ideas for advertising look to the holidays, or the seasons.  A colorful design on a t-shirt or hoodie, and worn in conjunction with the appropriate holiday / season is sure to catch the eye of most passerby's.  Once the eye is captured, they can read your message.  For example, A winter season design could say something like "Be warm and safe this winter.  Make sure you get your tires checked at Jojo's Tire Shop.  Call us at nnn-nnn-nnnn".  

Wearing a self-promoting design is always encouraged, but we believe a design worn in conjunction with a specific holiday or season will be noticed by those around you.  And, those around you will respond positively towards your attention to that specific holiday or season.  It should spark a conversion which should allow you to speak about your business.

Advertise yourself.

Timeless Message

Having a t-shirt with attractive art and a message, such as Fifth Annual Fishing Adventure 2008, is a great way to commemorate an event.  Displaying a date and location along with the art is a badge of honor for the wearer of the t-shirt.  They are saying, I was there.  And, I have the t-shirt to prove it.

T-shirts can also be used to advertise.  Just the company logo on the front is a very good choice.  Adding company contact information is a great way to advertise, as well.  Especially useful for local businesses.  

We recommend when designs for self promotional t-shirts be timeless.  What does that mean?  Well, we recommend against having a t-shirt saying "Presidents Day Sales 2013", because time does march on and this once current design will look odd when where it in the year 2015.  So, keep the design timeless.  If you want a Presidents Day sale t-shirt, excellent.  Just don't associate a date into the design, unless it is specially associated to an event, of which you want to commemorate.  

Self advertise yourself on a t-shirt, but keep the design timeless.

Full Color - Unlimited Colors

So, there you are.  You have design for a shirt consisting of a sweet artistic centerpiece.  Fabulous colors, one flowing into another through beautiful transitions.  But, you're concerned about gradient transitions of color and if the screen printing company down the street can reproduce the full magnificence of the art.  

Worry no more.  With direct to garment printing there are no screen setups for color separations.  No limitations to the number colors and certainly no setup fees.  Full color in direct to garment printing means unlimited colors.  Millions of colors.  With direct to garment printing, we can achieved those subtle color transitions as one color blends into another.

Bring on the color.  Yeah, we can do that.

No Minimum Quantity

As a screen printer, I was constantly encountering requests for designs printed on shirts of less than a quantity of 12.  Twelve is that magic number where the number of shirts printed upon are at a minimum to justify the laborious effort required to make a screen for printing.  And, that's just for one color.  Additional colors  in the art work make that effort even greater.  

Direct-to-garment printing is not limited by minimum quantity.  Single shirt orders are welcomed and just as easy at orders consisting of hundreds of shirts. 

When you want to consider placing an order, know that you can place an order for any quantity; even as low as one.

Promote yourself!

Do You ReWear?

As noted in our previous posting, we have a green and environmentally friendly approach to business.  We're not there yet, but we're always moving in that direction.  Our water based non-toxic inks are part of that model.  Another aspect is our ReWear brand.  

What is ReWear?  Its recycled, reused, reduced, refurbished, repurposed clothing.  It is previously owned clothing.  But, its also new clothing from our core business.  Occasionally we have goofs on jobs, experimental designs and extras which are all new garments.

We feel, in our green approach, that something positive can be done with the extra clothing that comes into our possession.  Something to help stimulate the economy and supporting of jobs here in the USA.  So, we created a brand which supports the notion that wearing previously owned clothing, production goofs is cool, in that it shows you support wearing this ReWear clothing over foreign made new clothing when the opportunity presents itself.  We recognize our core business is selling new shirts, but let's make a difference where we can.

As we expand the ReWear brand beyond the mostly one-of-a-kind garments, we plan on introducing regular repurposed items such as pillows and blankets made from garments too shabby and dysfunctional to wear.  Additionally, we'll be offering garments with the upcoming ReWear logo.

Regularly, ReWear items will be associated to campaigns in which Red Hot Inkers will donate part of the sale to a non-profit agency.

Do you ReWear?