Transcript:

CindyCP: Thanks for joining us today! Were here today to talk about the Value T-Shirt transition, and how we recommend handling it in your shops. We do get a lot of questions in these Workshops, and sometimes we cant get to all of them. If we dont get to yours please email it to us at smart07@cafepress.com.

CindyCP: If everyone can hold off on sending questions for a few minutes while I recap, and post a few thoughts, Id appreciate it I promise to leave time for Q&A

CindyCP: So, whats happening? Its actually pretty simple. Were not going to be selling the Value T-Shirt from the CafePress Marketplace after July 10.

CindyCP: The Marketplace is sort of like the CafePress store. When you visit CafePress.com and go shopping directly from our home page thats the Marketplace.

CindyCP: It will also be removed from Create & Buy. The Value T-Shirt is NOT being discontinued. It will remain available in your individual shops, unless you decide to remove it. And that is completely your decision.

CindyCP: In July, after the change is implemented, your individual shops will not look any different. Unless you remove the Value T-Shirt it will still be there.

CindyCP: However, when a shopper comes to CafePress and starts shopping (either by browsing through different pre-made portals, or through the CafePress Search), they will no longer see the value T as a purchase option.

CindyCP: All in all, the most important thing to remember is that NO ACTION is really required on your part. We feel that the Mens White T-Shirt is the closest comparable product to the Value T-Shirt

CindyCP: So, if you dont have your Value T-Shirt designs on a Mens White T-shirt, we recommend that you add them.  That way you maintain a good representation of your design in the Marketplace.

CindyCP: Of course this is up to you. If you already have that same design on 6 other t-shirt styles and feel thats good enough, no problem, those will still be in the Marketplace for purchasing.

CindyCP: So, weve been asked a few times about how to proceed.  If  you want to add the Mens Basic T-Shirt to your shops in the instances where you dont have a Value T-Shirt design represented, we recommend the following.

CindyCP: If you dont already have one add a product pull down menu to your shop.

1. To do this go to the following link:
2. http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/help/help_pulldown.aspx
3. Add the code in your Custom HTML for any Premium Shop to display a complete product listing so your customers can shop by product type
4. Open two browsers. On one browser use the product pull down window to select all of your Value T-Shirts.
5. on the other browser open use the pull down menu to select all of your Mens Basic White T-Shirts (its listed under white t)
6. Compare and contrast one screen to another, and this should give you an idea of what Value T-Shirts you dont currently have featured on Mens Basic White T-Shirts.

CindyCP: After doing this, if you determine that you want to add a Value T-Shirt design to the Mens Basic White T-Shirt, the following steps should help. This is the most basic way to add a product to your shop:

1. Log into your CafePress.com account.
2. Under Shop Management click on "View All Shops". This will take you to a listing of all the shops you have in your account.
3. Click on the "Products" (or for Premium Shops "Section + Products") link for the shop you want to add products to.
4. Press the orange "Add Products button. This will direct you to the product list where you can select all the products available for you to choose from.  If you need to, you can add up to 9 White T-Shirts at a time.
5. You then use the "Select Image" link to choose the image from your basket.  If you are adding multiple shirts and want to give each a different image, leave the image blank for now, and move on to the next step.
6. After selecting your product(s), and returning to the Products page, you can begin customizing your products by check marking/ selecting the item and choosing an option from the Make Changes To drop down menu.  If you haven't added an image, choose this option from the drop down menu.  Also make sure to add your mark up and Product Description.

CindyCP: Again, this is the most basic way to add a product to your shop, please feel free to use another way if it works better or faster for your needs and shop.

CindyCP: Now wed like to open up to Q&A Questions?

Karen: If it's so bad why keep the shirt at all?

RyanCP: We wanted to give you as the shopkeeper the option to continue to sell this shirt if it agrees with your brand.  CafePress has determined that this shirt is not in line with our brand values, and that we don't want to carry it in our store AKA the Marketplace & Create and Buy.

sc: so basically - if someone is in Marketplace and say view all product - they will not see the value T - but if they go to your shop they will see the value T

BrittaCP: Exactly.

scarebaby: Is there no room for an inexpensive tee at all in the Marketplace anymore?

RyanCP: At this time, we feel like it's not in line with where we want to take the CP brand, so the short term answer is no.  There is always a chance that our direction will change and we will adjust accordingly.

boldavenue: the plus side of that, scare, is that it can keep those bargain shoppers coming directly to your shop rather than browsing the MP.

CindyCP: Based on shopkeeper feedback, we determined that the Value T is a necessary item for individual shops.  So that's why we opted to keep it in the shops.

Fricka: I've found that some folks really want a t-shirt for just a day and don't care about the quality... this way I can still offer them the Value T option in my own store. Also I price mine much cheaper than my other shirts so folks know to expect a "bargain" shirt.

sc: so if our designs are on everything already - then this makes no difference to us, except that we may sell less value T's

RyanCP: This is our hypothesis, however, only time will tell the true effect of removal from the Marketplace.

graphicgeek: Im trying to figure out what i need to do about my value t-shirts

CindyCP: If you have the same designs on the Men's White T as the Value T, then you don't need to do anything.  Your shop will remain the same and the designs will remain represented in the Marketplace.

Teesed.com: Thank you for at least giving us the ability to make the Value Tee call in our shops.

juliejkd: if you want quality merchandise in your store then you are suggesting that you take the value t out of your shop?

RyanCP: This is the decision we've made for our store, the Marketplace, but it is an individual choice.  You can order a value t and make the call for yourself and your brand.

Carl: will affiliate links to value tees continue to earn a commission - even tho they're technically no longer in the Marketplace?

CindyCP: At this time the Value T will remain in the XML feeds and the existing links to the CafePress product page (green pages) will remain active.  However, this is likely to change in the future.

CindyCP: Over the next couple of months, we are planning on turning off the Value T product from the XML feed.  We plan to provide advanced notice of this change when we have complete details.

CindyCP: For the time being until the above changes are implemented, if an affiliate has a link directly to a Value T in the Marketplace, the product detail page will show up and the affiliate will receive credit for any sale which is the current process.

jean/rotemgear: Curious why it/s being discontinued for C&B since that seems like the perfect market for it.

CindyCP: The decision was made to remove it from Create & Buy also due to the branding association as well as the customer satisfaction scores.

CindyCP: We are seeing a lot of questions come through about why the change was made and we really want to make sure that we answer questions about how shopkeepers can manage the change.....  Any questions in that area?

Shannon (hazeleyes7): So if we have a family reunion coming up, we should make a hidden section, put our designs on the value t and then buy it that way?

CindyCP: That would be one way to continue to purchase the Value T for personal events - great idea!

Jim: So the pull-down menu code link you gave us...that is the only line of code? I have one now but it is several lines long. I used it from another shopkeeper.

BrittaCP: That's all you need

Jim: Thank You.

sc: in my shop probably 50% of all my sales are value T's - so I will be losing a lot

RyanCP: We've found through our research that our buyers have very low price sensitivity, meaning if you offer that same image on a white tee, you will still get the sale.  I would expect that you would see no loss in sales if you add the same image to our white tee.

kab: perhaps it could be left on C&B, but one screen would explain that a better quality shirt is also available

CindyCP: We considered that as an option but felt that there was still flexibility to purchase the Value T by setting up a shop for self purchase.

blazing_sales: doesn't sound like the shopkeeper has to do much of anything, really....if anything, simply revamp product description and maybe worry less about tagging since it won't show up in the Marketplace anymore.

BrittaCP: @blazing: you'll still want to tag your images, since its the images tags that allow for your images to be searchable in the Marketplace.  So if you are using the same image on a Value T-shirt that you are want to put on a White T-Shirt... make sure it's tagged.

SagArt: Is there a way to bulk remove them if we decide not to offer them?

RyanCP: Unfortunately no, you will need to edit your own shop.

briosa: I logged in late so this may have been addressed...Having a design on something other than the Men's White T, in addition to the Value T, will not insure that the design will be in the MP?

RyanCP: if you have the same image on other items, it will continue to show up in the Marketplace.

blazing_sales: if removed from the Marketplace, would a Value-T still get crawled by search engines scanning the keywords in product description and show up in search engines?

CindyCP: As long as it has a product description, Google should pick it up and direct to your shop.

UncleFrog: Will we be able to create new Value-Ts with new designs in the future? (I was tardy, too. apologies)

RyanCP: Yes, however, they will only be sellable through your shop, and not our shop, the Marketplace.

Ophelia: After it's gone from the XML, if a value tee is in a shop (not the Marketplace) and an affiliate directly links to it in the shop, will they get commission?

CindyCP: Yes, links to shops will not be affected when the Value T is removed from the XML feed.

UncleFrog: Did the satisfaction ratings on the Value-T's decline after the process went to 100% Heat Transfer?  Or was that a non-factor?

RyanCP: The satisfaction ratings have been consistently low regardless of printing process in terms of this item.

jerseygirl: Will CafePress have some sort of an announcement in the Marketplace that CP will no longer be offering the Value T but some shopkeepers will continue to do so and welcome them to explore SKs shops? Or will it just go out w/ a whimper?

CindyCP: We are not planning on messaging this in the Marketplace.

UncleFrog: Did CP find that discussions with CPV people to be helpful in shaping the way the communications on this rolled out?

CindyCP: Immensely!  We incorporated many great ideas from the CPV members and are grateful for their insights and help!!!!

SagArt: Ryan, does the dissatisfaction center around the thinness of the shirt material?

RyanCP: Quality is scored on many levels; besides thickness and weight we also look at cotton quality, the hand (how the material feels), stitching, construction, product consistency, cut, and fit. The Value T-Shirt rates low on quality scores across the board.

Cyndi: OK, so...anything else we need to know?

CindyCP: Not if you don't have any more questions.  If you think of things after the workshop, please feel free to send them to smart07@cafepress.com.

juliejkd: thank you for the workshop

boldavenue: Will there be any change to the default product description?

CindyCP: The product description on the Value T has been updated on the site to better reflect the actual product.

jerseygirl: Is the Value T also creating room for some NEW products that may appear in the near future? hint hint :P

CindyCP: We have regularly been launching new products this year, so keep and eye out for more to come.

jerseygirl: Thank you - I have really been enjoying the new gear!

CindyCP: Thanks, that's so nice to hear!

boldavenue: Cindy, is this the updated one: Get back to basics with the Value T-Shirt. Enjoy a great look and fit at a reasonable price. The Value T is made of cool, midweight 100% cotton and is perfect for casual summer days.

CindyCP: Yes.

boldavenue: Any additional suggestions on managing customer expectations for those of us who will still offer value tees? Maybe the way we word our own descriptions-?

CindyCP: We have found that managing customer expectations involves creating descriptions that don't over-promise as well as pricing the product appropriately.

BrittaCP: Alright gang, we're going to wrap this up now.  Thank you for coming.  Next week, if youre interested we'll be having a chat on AdWords. YaY!

boldavenue: thank you all so much!!!

MarcCP: bye!

CindyCP: Thanks very much everyone!!!  Have a great evening.

jean/rotemgear: Thanks, guys! Good chat!

jerseygirl: Thank you for taking the time to explain this to us - it is much appreciated!