rhu t shirts and stickers .

well i have read this and i would be glad to help, if i can
currently i am unable to embroider anything onto fabric with a machine - but we are looking into the purchase of 1 - but i need at least £250 1st - this would mean that the logo would have to b able to be sewn on from a patch or something.
i do know someone who makes t-shirts and embroidered badges etc who may be able to help.

i also would need to make sure that i covered the cost of materials and perhaps do a standard style of everything in different sizes - if that makes sense?

things i can make =
pet mattresses (suitable for dog crates and as a comfy firm bed)
small animal hammocks - loads of different styles (including carry pouches)
i also make the made to measure dog coats and am investing in new fabrics all the time

take a look at www.spee.co.uk - basics are on there

ohh i forgot to add - i also make a range of festival clothing if any use?
this includes hats and ponchos

you can see them on www.mychoonz.co.uk and follow the links for clothing

would be intrested in making rhu digcoats

what about treat/bait bags that could double up to hold your poop bags. Just a simple bag around 5" square looped onto a belt, would be simple to make, and not cost very much?

oo I like that idea!

Its a great idea but not for big dog poops

yeah a big enough one to carry carrier bags lol

Not to put the poop bag in with the contents (it would get all squashy, yuk!!), I thought for carrying spare bags?

i thought u meant that too hence why i said big enough for a few carrier bags

Ann from B.I.N offered to do logos on t shirts etc

yes but wonder if she has pcs of examples sizes and prices

i have found a website that have patterns for dog coats so if we can get rhu logo to sew on then i would volinteer to make the dog coats and all funds go to rhu

I am thinking of making have made a spreadshirt store for RHU. I have made a few items with the web address on and will hopefully make some with the logo on as soon as I have more time, but I might need a higher resolution of the graphic for that so if anyone has the original (.psd or whatever) please can you send me a copy. I have put at least a £2 commission on each item but let me know if you think the prices are too high/low!

The shop is here:

http://rescuehelpersunite.spreadshirt.net

For anyone who hasn't heard of SpreadShirt before, they let you set up a shop on their website with products supplied by them with either your own designs or ones that other people have created printed on them, then you set a certain amount of comission for each item and if and when an item sells, they print it and post it and you get to keep a slice of the pie!

Obviously the biggest slice of the money pie goes to Spreadshirt but I'm thinking that even a little profit for RHU is something and this at least means no up-front costs for stock in bulk or anything like that at all.

****THIS NEXT BIT CAN PROBABLY BE IGNORED BECAUSE I NOTICED PEOPLE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON THIS!: ****

I have also had a little look into window stickers and the cheapest I've seen so far is about 8p each (min. 500) so I'm thinking maybe if we got as many people as possible to donate something small like a pound each we could afford a batch of those.

Let me know what you think. I don't mind organising it all if people are up for it.

I like it, not having to buy in bulk will be useful Im sure! Also having a range of items to buy will attract more to spend money!

Jo

i agree i like it too defo

wow - that's cool!

We really need more publicity, that is the key to more ppl joining, if ppl dont know about RHU, obviously they cant join. I feel we really need to set the ball rolling making and selling t-shirts, fridge magnets, putting posters up,car stickers etc etc etc.

yes i agree

right, lets get cracking then. Which target group is first? Do we want homes and foster homes or do we want transporters and homecheckers?
Your CV from after college isn't complete without voluntery work on it these days, so we should target college students to snag them early. They will be great for walkers and helpers in pounds and rescues, and great for home checks and transporting but not the best group for foster and homes.
Foster and homes would be different people. I need to put my thinking head on tomorrow to sort out what groups and how to target them most effectively. I don't beleive in flood marketing as it's so much wasted effort.
I'll do the college poster first and maybe we can get all members to get a poster up in every college near them?
I wonder if MYSPACE would be a good marketing tool for the young uns?

The problem with 'colleges' and younger ppl is they possibly have no animal experience, ie for home checking etc, poss no cars for transporting, i think more ppl will willing join and be an asset if we aim for the vet practices, PDSAs, RSPCA, and their shops as thats where animal lovers go. Even zoos etc......

oh, I see what your saying. I actually had in mind the college near me, Moulton Agriculteral College. I forgot to mention that bit didn't I? LOL what a der brain I can be. They are young, but they are getting hands on experience of animal care, agriculteral and domestic. Because it's fairly rural most of the kids, sorry, young adults, have cheap cars. They will not have experience of home checking of course - but then thats exactly who we are trying to get. New people who want to get involved but don't know where to start. The animal rescue world can be very insular. If your in your in. If your not it's very hard to get in. And although these young adults wont have money to spare yet, when they have graduated they will have, and then they will already have their favourite rescues to donate to. It's a new source to tap.
You are right about people going to the vets, pet shops and charities being a good source of helpers though. They are sadly more likely to already have give as you earn donations set up. But they can help with transport and possibly rehomes when the existing loved ones pass away.
Should we agree on a "launch"? and try to hand out leaflets at shops on the same day up and down the country? Those nice new leaflets that JOD? was it has done?

I like the paw print it is cool but what about all the other pawless friends we help?

The paw print idea is a simple and effective one, we cant include them all though.

The forum is here for all creatures though

Do you mean the paw print on the leaflet? Cos I can remove that or change it to have a few different animal symbols, no problem if that's what people want. I was just filling space really and also thinking that any dog lover (such as myself!) would immediately pay attention if they see a paw! hehe

All constructive ideas or criticism welcome

I will start a new thread for the targeted advertising discussion so we can make sure everyone sees it...

I would gladly make some doggie bandanas with the pawprint logo on if you think they would sell.