POLL / NEWS UPDATE

[West]

So as most of you know I am working on a new design for the site as well as working to upgrade the forum with the new release of the new design. Last night we hit 1000 members. Not to mention be are now growing at about 200+ members a month, way more then expected. Its not that I dont want it to grow into the best nissan community there is but I do have to support the bandwidth. The site now is ran off our server at work which is a dedicated T1 line. With this site along with the other 5+ sites we host and run it gets a little slow.

So in my effort to upgrade the forums and site I am going to be forced to think of ways to pull in a little cash from the site to pay for more bandwidth. Now what I was thinking is to get some ideas from you guy as to way I could possibly make some extra doh to pay for this.

I thought of the basics which would be zilvia.net stickers and license plate frames and anything else related to that, but I wanted everyones feedback as to what you would want to see on the site as far as like Stickers, etc.

IMHO, I dont think Zilvia.net stickers and plates will sell to well, maybe its just me. So I was thinking of having some custom plates done and or custom stickers or whatever else you guys might want. So this is why I am asking everyone this. What would you like best to be sold off this site to bring in a small ammount of cash to support the site.

Im trying to plan this ahead of time so I dont end up with 10,000 members and just one T1 and then not being able to run the site since I cant afford to pay out of my pocket for another T1 line. But dont worry, I wont let that happen.

So please tell me all your ideas!

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nismos14]

some plates might be kewl..... custom stickers.... what about Zilvia.net apparel? hats shirts etc.

[sykikchimp]

check out Clubrsx.com  He actually turned the site into an performance parts shop.  Cool stuff.  I'm not saying go into anything like that, but maybe you could hook up group buys and tack on like 5% markup for the site.  That would be coool.  Are you charging Rollhard, and enjuku, etc. for advertising space??  that would be a good spot too.  But NO pop-ups.  PLEASE!

I would buy a sticker if we had a cool one.

[The Punk Genius]

IMHO, I think those are great ideas. Also a suggestion ......Zilvia.net t-shirts, with the Zilvia.net logo on the front and maybe the Nissan logo on the sleeve or back. I don't know about any copyright issues with Nissan, but I'd buy one.

[twofortysx]

If we were gonna do shirts, I think it would be cool if it said zilvia.net on it but then also had a picture of a kick ass looking 240. &nbsp;We could make a print for the s14/s14a and the s13's as well. &nbsp;I know I would love to have a 240 on a shirt, but since I drive an s14a I'd rather have that <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[J300z28]

actually I think the zilvia.net sticker would be nice. &nbsp;We did the same thing over on twinturbo.net. &nbsp; It's not ricey at all, just a way of showing forum support. &nbsp;Shirts would be nice too.

[gregshin]

hellz yeah i would buys shirts, hats, stickers, and even boxers man!!! i'll even pay pal ya some $$$ for a monthly donation fee.

[S13Grl]

If you're going for T-Shirts, make sure you have cute ones for girls. After all... there are girls on this site.

But I'd go for t-shirts, keychains, calendars, and stickers. Get 12 girls you know, take some pictures, photoshop them onto 12 dope 240s, put zilvia.net logos all over the place, charge $10 and you'll have plenty of guys lining up to buy some.

[Nismos14]

o0o yah keychains fo sho and the Zilvia.net decal in like a phantom color would be sweet or a shiny color something dope

[twofortysx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from S13Grl on 4<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>1 pm on Jan. 30, 2002
If you're going for T-Shirts, make sure you have cute ones for girls. After all... there are girls on this site.

But I'd go for t-shirts, keychains, calendars, and stickers. Get 12 girls you know, take some pictures, photoshop them onto 12 dope 240s, put zilvia.net logos all over the place, charge $10 and you'll have plenty of guys lining up to buy some.
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This is good, but you left something out..we must make sure they are &quot;scantily clad&quot;..

&quot;scantily clad&quot; is the key to selling pictures of girls.

lol <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[DSC]

I'd be up for some plate frames and a sticker or two...Probably wouldn't get a shirt tho. Like sykikchimp asked, are you chargeing pdm, rollhard, ect for advertising? If so is it click based or is it based on the # of (unique?) hits on this site? You could fit a banner ad at the top of the forum...

[transient]

maybe you could set up a paypal account for donations, not require them or anything, but i'm sure many people would donate a bit toward such a worthy cause <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> Hmm, other than that, the license plate frame would be cool, how about a keychain lanyard?

[Krunko]

Maybe some photoshop guys can work up some stickers.

How about:

&quot;MY STICKER ADDS MORE HP THEN YOURS.&quot;

&quot;THIS STICKER MAKES MY CAR GO FAST.&quot;

[S13Grl]

I'm sure West will pick good-looking girls <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> hahahah

[Lancer]

Sell some shirts, sweaters, hats and other possible clothing but not pants! lol.. you should get other stuff like bumper stickers like (example) &quot;Don't like my driving? Call 1-800-FU*K-YOU&quot; , posters all do nice like posters with nice mods with nice chicks on them everyone likes posters with chicks!

Also you should change to vBulletin forums i say vBulletin is kinda easier and has more options than Ikonboard.

[LanceS13]

I'll never let a sticker touch my car, but I have been wanting a large Zilvia.net sticker to put on some magnetic sheeting to sport at the autocrosses. &nbsp;I'd also gladly pay for a nice, simple T-shirt.

[BlankFlip]

BAKE SALE TIME!

i dunno if i'd buy a bunch of ziliva shirts n hats n bookbags n all that good stuff. i'd buy some &quot;Zilvia.net&quot; floormats possibly. basically i'm saying like i'd buy something for my car besides a sticker that's not all flashy n it has to be black!

[DuffMan]

Yeah how bout a sticker that says in big letters &quot;WWW.ZILVIA.NET&quot; and then in small type under that:

'this sticker adds 25Hp'

Or make a window decal since most people dont want to put stickers on their car.

[zephyr]

definitely some nice t shirts with a pic of a 240 on the back (make a few different versions, ie 180sx, s13 silvia, s14 silvia, s15 silvia, 300zx and maybe skylines) and just zilvia.net somewhere...don't do &quot;www.zilvia.net&quot;...that would look way too advertisement.

####...I'll even try to make some illustrations/logos/t-shirt designs for you if i have time.

(Edited by zephyr at 8<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>0 pm on Jan. 30, 2002)

[sykikchimp]

Definately window decals. &nbsp;Decals for windows are WAY better than bumper stickers. &nbsp;As lovers of our cars, and our paint.. &nbsp;do yourself a Flavor, and NEVER put one on your car. I think a white window decal that said &quot;Zilvia.net&quot; just like the image (without the background) at the top of the forum.. &nbsp;not just plain text.. &nbsp;That would be HOT. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[wherezmytofu]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from S13Grl on 5<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>1 pm on Jan. 30, 2002
If you're going for T-Shirts, make sure you have cute ones for girls. After all... there are girls on this site.

But I'd go for t-shirts, keychains, calendars, and stickers. Get 12 girls you know, take some pictures, photoshop them onto 12 dope 240s, put zilvia.net logos all over the place, charge $10 and you'll have plenty of guys lining up to buy some.
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is there 12 girls on zilvia...cuz that would be nice <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

[DSC]

I think small (2.5x5 maybe) zilvia.net stickers would be cool for the side rear windows.

[burgy240]

I was thinking more like a small decal that fits on the side markers of our cars. Simple and discrete. It also would show up at night when the markers are on by blocking out the light in the Zilvia.net logo. As for shirts, I just bought an s15 shirt from ebay and it is tight. I bet you could talk with the guy at URDESIGN.NET. His name is Jorge Pong and his email is [email protected] . He may be able to do the images and design and also use this site to sell shirts, hats etc. Charge him small amount for selling here and get the hookup w/ merchandise that we(you)sell!!!!

[s15dude]

I would buy a hat and possible a sticker. Banners on the site would probably work too.

[s15dude]

I would buy a hat and possible a sticker. Banners on the site would probably work too.

[Archangel]

Keychains, t-shirts, or small stickers (like rear side window size) would work.

Create a links page, and charge a small fee for shops to advertize here. &nbsp;Or if they aren't willing to just pay for the space, work out a deal with some sites, so that when any of us buy from them and mention Zilvia, you get a little kickback for the advertizing space. &nbsp;Kinda like a discount for members, but you get the money for the site.
Transient's idea about a paypal account would work. &nbsp;If a few hundred of us kicked in $5, $10, or $20 you would end up with a nice amount of funding.

We're willing to help Mark, just let us know what we can do.

[The Punk Genius]

How about:

Dont like my driving? Post it on Zilvia.net

Thought of that one on the way to work this morning. It maybe stupid, I havent had my coffee yet.

[Zemus]

Stickers would be kewl, i would put one on my car, well once i get one

[bing]

i'd put zilvia.net on the bottom of my rear windsheild... i'd buy a shirt too.

post pics of the shirts when you get'em, im sure alot of people would buy'em...

my girlfriend is a member now, but i wont let her pose for the calendar...

get irena to pose fully clothed then photoshop her naked body in over every one of our cars.... then make a virtual calandar that shows up on the forum with her pic on it.... hehehehehehhe


(Edited by bing at 8:59 am on Jan. 31, 2002)

[The Punk Genius]

I dont want any 'pis' on my car.

[Jeff240sx]

I dont think that people know the cost implied with creating a shirt, or sticker. &nbsp;Those aren't so bad, but the hats, the floormats that someone mentioned, the calendar, and sweaters would be expensive.
Then the most expensive would of course be the keychains or license frames.

For clothing and hats, you have to ask the question, are these gonna be screen-printed or embroidered. &nbsp;I would only buy imbroidered, and hats HAVE to be, and sweaters SHOULD be. &nbsp;For screen-printing, the cost to get a program written to press would be determined by 1) if the shop has to make the design, and
2) how many colors.
To have 20 shirts made for a club at school, the cost per shirt to make no profit was $25, to pay for the set-up costs of the screenprinting presser.
And the cost to have an embroidery program made would be at least $800. &nbsp;Then a cost per item, be it hats or sweaters. &nbsp;If you sold 200 hats, they would be $30 each. &nbsp;This is an estimate, but I know for 3 letters on a shirt for the club, it was a $400 setup fee, and that was through a teacher with a side-buisness embroidering. &nbsp;So we were getting a discount.
License plate frames would need a mold made, and be injection molded into it. &nbsp;I have limited size issues, or I could do the mold for much cheaper.
And finally, the keychain. &nbsp;This is really expensive, depending on
1) is the keychain gonna be pewter? &nbsp;If it was pewter with the Zilvia.Net, I would buy it. &nbsp;But how do you go about getting pewter keychains made?
2) is the keychain gonna be leather with a brass Zilvia.Net logo on it? &nbsp;How will carve the brass? &nbsp;How much.

So, basically, I am saying these things will be expensive, and time consuming. &nbsp;Since there are a lot of people that photoshop here, we would have a vote-off for what design wins. &nbsp;Then, the expensive items you would have to sell off, or Mark would have a few hundred hats layin around. &nbsp;Next, people would have to provide the time to get the stuff made, and tell all the members the cost of whatever merchandise is. &nbsp;Then how many people would order one, if we're gonna pre-pay for them, wait for all the money to get from our house to the collection agent. &nbsp;Finally, how many of what size would have to be tallied and ordered.
This needs a lot of thought for merchandise. &nbsp;Stickers are easy and cheap to make. &nbsp;I could make them at school, but clothing and keychains would be the best to sell, as they aren't durable goods. &nbsp;And have the highest demand, as so many people are against stickers.
-Jeff

[bing]

theres a store around here that does shirt for $15 canadian, i could have tehm make one but i would rather give loot to the site

[sykikchimp]

I've been in retail my whole, life. &nbsp;Was involved in Real Estate/ Mtg industry for about 5 years, and actual sales for around 10 years. &nbsp;I might be only 21, but I have devoted almost my entire life to the Bottom line, and what makes money. Here are the #1 things that I've learned make you profit. &nbsp;The kinda money you Like!

1. INFORMATION. Very minimal overhead w/ LOTS of demand. (depending on info - but even random info still has demand.). There is tons of information around here. &nbsp;The important part is how you position the information to make money from it.

2. Advertising. Here again. Low overhead, especially on the internet. W/ high margin of profit. &nbsp;The value of the real estate around Zilvia is becomming more and more valuable.

3. Luxury/&quot;wants&quot; Retail items. these items, have lower demand, and often even lower supply (depending on the type of item) There by allowing higher prices. However this is at the bottom of the list because it is very hard to maintain the proper stock levels consumers demand. If you get good at this though. There is A LOT of money to be made, its just harder to Start here because of the high cost of entry into the market.

What does all this mean?? Follow the trend of about every other information site on the Net, and Charge for advertising. You get the best of both worlds. You are basically selling information to the public, and the business are paying for the access to the info. You Make yourself into an invaluable asset. &nbsp;Then once you get the money, begin selling the &quot;luxury&quot; retail items. &nbsp;There you have it. &nbsp;A business plan that could make you More than enough money to live off of. Of course this is much easier said than done. But soliciting money from Business's for advertising space, is MUCH easier than soliciting money from free loading Internet Info junkies, who HATE to pay for information, but love to by gadgets.
#### you could even make a profit, not just buy a bigger bandwidth pipe. Which is what the ultimate goal was here anyway right?

I know If I was setting up a site like this. I would say to myself. Man, It would be great to have a cool place to go and chat about my Favorite stuff in the world. Gain clout, and respect from 1,000's of people. And even make a few bucks on the Side! Sounds like an Amazing situation. Good Luck. &nbsp;Just remember, the most succesfull people on the planet are truly &quot;GREAT&quot; Salesmen.

my $.02 &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[burgy240]

As for the shirts the link I gave above sells the Ts hirts on ebay and they are nice(just bought the s15 one). &nbsp;He seemed really cool and would probably be willing to help us out. &nbsp;<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=601444421&r=0&t=0" target='_blank'>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymot....r=0&t=0</a> &lt;---pic of one of the shirts he does. &nbsp;We dn't have to use THIS image just a sample of the work.

[tnord]

i made t-shirts in high school to pay for my spring break trip, i think i made 100 of them at 7.50 a piece, but that was with no setup costs, so yes the best way to go about making shirts is find someone who already does something similar and have them do it for you, also, i don't know how you feel about throwin down a couple grand to initially pay for the shirts, i agree with sykikchimp, the best way to initially make money is to charge for advertisements, and then once you get money from that you could sell t-shirts which i think quite a few people would buy, you would then have quite the large chunk of cash

[S13Grl]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from bing on 9:38 am on Jan. 31, 2002
i'd put zilvia.net on the bottom of my rear windsheild... i'd buy a shirt too.

post pics of the shirts when you get'em, im sure alot of people would buy'em...

my girlfriend is a member now, but i wont let her pose for the calendar...

get irena to pose fully clothed then photoshop her naked body in over every one of our cars.... then make a virtual calandar that shows up on the forum with her pic on it.... hehehehehehhe


(Edited by bing at 8:59 am on Jan. 31, 2002)
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Are you kidding me? Hahaha! Photoshop me naked? Hhaha! Not gonna happen. So much for my picture-on-my-banner-in-my-signature so I could be cool.

[Kid Zelda]

Could we get Zilvia .. lick-and-stick tattoos ?

or whatever they're called &nbsp;.. ..

[craigs13]

i would buy some zilvia.net stickers if they were avalible.