[Z1IRo4Ap]

Just wondering what folks think of dojo merchandise. Is it something you rely on to help promote and support the club, extra funds to allow purchase of equipment, a necessary evil or something you feel uncomfortable with as it seems like you are hitting the members for more cash?

Obviously club teneguis are popular as are sew on patches but do you have a whole slew of promo items? One particular club has a really nice hoody which I'd like but is it not odd to think that? Would they want someone else wearing their gear or is it disrespectful to your own club [which also seems odd as we all end up with those other clubs teneguis].

Anyway just thinking.

[11Pecepebra]

Which club?

Our club has t-shirts and stuff. But they are sold as a non-profit thing and they are more for wearing to events, so it would only promote the club to other kendoka, I'm sure the public would even guess what they are about. http://www.cafepress.com/taiseidokai.153112428

[tsamprasxx]

We don't have for kendo yet but our aikido club has hoodies and stuff, non profit again. Just for the hell of it.

We plan to arrange some gear soon though.

[crestosssa]

I seem to be collecting club shirts. Anyone got anything to swap?

[Loonakind]

Our club made a custom tenugui when we hosted the last SEUSKF tournament that seemed popular with folks. The ones we had left over after the tournament we have been thinking about giving to new club members as a little gift. We also have custom t-shirts but they are generally not on sale to the public. Club members can buy them if they want but are not required to and the club makes no money on them (we sell them at our cost). We also have a club nafuda that club members are encouraged to buy, but once again we don't really make any money on it.

[lomonel]

Tenugui are usually a good idea, it requires initial investment for the bulk order but then you can sell those and make say 2-5 quid profit on each. Most club members won't mind paying for them if is supporting the club, and they'll still be cheaper than an internet order anyway.

Check out cafepress.com too for making and distributing your merchandise. All you need to provide is the graphics.

[satthackacibe]

Which club?

Our club has t-shirts and stuff. But they are sold as a non-profit thing and they are more for wearing to events, so it would only promote the club to other kendoka, I'm sure the public would even guess what they are about. http://www.cafepress.com/taiseidokai.153112428

UCL. When I think of profit it's only to invest back in the club.

[Dapnoinaacale]

If UCL ever make their 'Breaking Hearts and Faces' shirt I will get me credit card out.

[Caluabdum]

We don't have for kendo yet but our aikido club has hoodies and stuff, non profit again. Just for the hell of it.

We plan to arrange some gear soon though.

That's not quite true, I think we make maybe almost £1 or so on each depending on the number of orders and postage etc.. Hardly profiteering, or even profiting for that matter... especially seeing as most people already have one and aren't going to want to buy more any time soon. Perhaps we can use the profit to buy a bokken.... maybe two if we're really lucky. Though I do agree with the original poster, I don't like having to ask people for money, I wish we could all do this for free but reality has other ideas. Asking your students/club members for money is probably the crappiest part of running a club

I'm still tempted by the slogan "Aberdeen Aikido Club. Putting the harm back into harmony".... Maybe that'd sell enough hoodies for a few more bokken....

Mike

[Bridgester]

I'm still tempted by the slogan "Aberdeen Aikido Club. Putting the harm back into harmony".... Maybe that'd sell enough hoodies for a few more bokken....

He he, fantastic!

I suppose you could also put: "Putting the Aaaaiieee! back into Aikido!"

[FateHostera]

I seem to be collecting club shirts. Anyone got anything to swap?

i got one... but it's girly type. and size Small.... do you still want to swap?

[R1king]

We've done shirts in the past, and this last year we produced club jackets which turned out really nice. I think we made a few bucks on the shirts but the jackets we sold at cost, they were expensive enough already. We break even selling most equipment - our goal is to make kendo affordable to our members.

[MarythePuppy6]

i got one... but it's girly type. and size Small.... do you still want to swap?

Nah, dude. I need Love Walrus size....

We've done shirts in the past

How about KWF shirts? E-Budo did a similar thing and they did well...

[Catieliecutty]

I suppose you could also put: "Putting the Aaaaiieee! back into Aikido!"

Could do. One other one I toyed with was: "Our drinking club has a bit of an aikido problem", easily adapted for kendo

I also suggested for kendo:

Just 道 it

followed by the Nike symbol....

Cheers

Mike

[otheloComRole]

Our dojo makes t-shirts about once a year. We basically sell it to club members at a slight profit (still reasonable t-shirt prices, like $15) with the profit going to the club to help pay for club equipment and space rental. We've made hoodies and other types of shirts on some years. We get the number of orders ahead of time and we make only that many.

We've also thought about making tenugui, but the size of the order has put us off so far.

I don't have a problem with people buying extras for people not in the club. I personally have done it to give away as Christmas gifts.

Our next t-shirt will most likely have the following:
正藍: The blue that stays with you.

[TodeImmabbedo]

How about an annual Bizarre or Flea market?
Then people could sell used equipment and other goodies.
Money could be made by charging a modest entry fee and selling snacks.
Maybe have a raffle too.
This is what our Community center does.

[Yartonbler]

I also suggested for kendo:

Just 道 it

followed by the Nike symbol....

As in my new avatar courtesy of Mr Jo Duncan

Think the Nike symbol needs to be smaller and the text larger though...., maybe some photoshopping to do when I get home tonight

Mike

[Longwow]

How about t-shirts - "I've been hitting on men for ... years at .... dojo"? Or "At .... dojo we like to go tsuking on our holidays"? "Just DO it" (but hasn't someone else already said that?)

[Kausilwf]

I bought 4 Kenshikan tenugui when I visited Melbourne, both as a gift for my dojomates and for me. I'd like to have those things from my home dojo or to buy them from other dojos I visit.

[markphata]

we have:
-tenugis (wich i dont have, i have 7 tenugis already, no need another one )
-patches
-an special autoadhesive (design to be putted in the dou) with the dojo patch (this one es really cool)
and trhe best part:

the customized hand-made sport waterproof with thermic layer KENDO JACKET this one is REALLY cool, there are a couple of dojos that also have their own jacket, noy none of them are closely as cool as ours. ive uploaded a picture of me wearing it but it isnt noticiable, maybe later ill upload a picture for you to see the jacket is really cool.