IMPACT! MINIATURES

Cephalopod · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject: Carrying Case Decals

Hey all,

Just an idea I hadn't seen while lurking the past couple of months: Decals depicting the logos of famous Elfball teams from years gone by. It seems to be a perfect fit for the carrying cases that you have one the site. A nice, easily read, large font Elfball at the top, a team logo in the center, and then Impact! Miniatures at the bottom would ear geek cred and advertise the product all at the same time.

GalakStarscraper · The Big Man Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 6176

Problem with that is two folks unfortunately

1) Either we give them away which is free advertising for sure ... but an extra cost when many folks will never use them.

2) We charge for them in which case we have a lot of outlay to get stock and odds are very few folks would buy them.

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Bottom line is yeah it IS a very cool thing if I knew everyone would put the sticker on ... but I've found the case is its own sticker. We get a lot of folks saying ... cool case ... where did you get that? And then the role of the sticker has been filled without it.

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Not disregarding the suggestion ... just this year ... we are trying to be a little more fiscally conservate with what we do and this idea would fall in the category for me of something we would do if we had spare cash to try and jazz up one of our products.

Galak

Dark Lord · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2682

I do think when you can do it stickers are a great idea.

The Impact logo is cool and the word lends itself to a number puns and imagery that would work for stickers.

And stickers are a great way to advertise!

I know a recipe for making my own stickers..well more like stamps with a wet-n-stick back.

There are also blank stickers you can buy at office supply stores. Print them out and viola! Cold laminate them for extra weatherproofing.
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Xtreme · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 251 Location: Indianapolis

You could have a check box when buying the cases for people that want stickers and those that don't. Maybe even a small additional fee, .50 or so just to scare of those that would take free stuff just cause it was free.
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Dark Lord · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2682

The problem is that stickers have to be printed. Printing has to be done all at once. Printing is expensive.

So for Tom to be able to break even on stickers (or even make them worth the advertising) he would need to print thousands of them...and the cost of that would be pretty darned high, I bet.

IMO the second Impact can do it, they should because the advertising stickers generate is huge.

Take a look at any small skate company, shoe company, or clothing brand. They all throw stickers around like they were nothing...they do it for a reason. A cool logo on a slick looking sticker in junior high makes the monkeys want a cool looking sticker on their bike/folder/locker too.
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Cephalopod · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject:

Heya,

I fully understand about the issues with printing. I was just thinking that the cases, while handy, look awfully plain in the store. Having either optional decals or if they came with pre-applied decals (at a higher cost) that would be something I'd pick up (though, that being said, I do plan on picking up a couple of the cases on my next order). I certainly didn't think it would be something that would happen instantly, or even necessarily at all.

Hmm. I wonder if I can get my wife (the artist in the family) to make a couple for me to print out at home. Would Impact! be averse to homemade stickers offered for download from a fan?

Dark Lord · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2682

I suggest stencils and spray paint. (It's what I'm planning on.)
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"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
Bill Cosby

Cephalopod · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject:

Tarota · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 101 Location: Colorado

If it's just laser-printered stickers you're after, you could do worse than printing the cover from the rulebook. I've got one of those, actually; it came with my Elfball box, which dates from right when the "clean" cover stabilized in its current Divine Wind vs. Deadlings form. I suspect it was meant to be put on the box, but I've been keeping an eye out for alternate locations for it too.

I assumed we were talking about higher quality stickers, though, which might survive a rainstorm or two. Unless I'm mistaken (and Dark Lord's recipe suggests I might be), those take a little more specialized equipment to print out.

It might be worth looking into as a con demo giveaway or something: try the game, get a sticker. But I'd put it firmly in the "optional" category :).

Dark Lord · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2682

My recipe for stickers is:

1 package unflavored gelatin
1 tbsp cold water
3 tbsp hot water
1/2 tsp sugar
several sheets white paper
scissors
paint brush or sponge
drawing/printing materials

1. Draw or print your design on the papers

2. Sprinkle gelatin into the cold water. Let it soften for 5 minutes

3. add hot water stir until gelatin is completely dissolved

4. add sugar, stir to dissolve

5. paint the solution onto the back of the paper (lay it on thick) and let it dry.

6. flatten the paper under heavy books. If you're brave you can lay the paper (glue side down) on foil, or something smooth (don't use wax paper) and iron it with an iron on the lowest setting (no steam) Careful not to burn it.

Now just lick and stick!
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Dark Lord · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2682

Another recipe is 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts white glue. But I wouldn't lick those.

Now as far as weather proofing goes...

You can apply clear packing tape to smaller ones before you cut them out of the paper. You can also buy spray on Acrylic Medium, and clear enamel which you use to seal your miniatures (although this is the shiny stuff not the dull coat)

Another thing you can do is create several small images on the sheet and use a sewing machine to perforate the sheet for a postage stamp like thing.
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"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
Bill Cosby

Darkson · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

Isn't there a "sticker paper" sheet you can buy for laser-printers? I'm not 100%, but I thought I saw some somewhere.

Of course, I've no idea (assuming that it does exist) how good it is.
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Dark Lord · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 2682

Yes there is. http://www.mcgpaper.com/stickers.html

It's about $20 per 10 sheets (8.5 x 11). The most you're gonna fit on a page is 6 (because they really need to be at least 3" on the smallest edge).

That's about 35 cents per sticker but that before you get a design. They could use Impact's logo I guess. You could probably fit 6 of those on a page.

But the real question here is if Tom gave away 100 stickers would it generate at least $4 in sales?

And he may need to earn back more than that, I can't say. The time to make them has to be considered too.

Personally I think it's a great idea but it's really easy to say that and throw up numbers in a post without ever seeing Impact's books.

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"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
Bill Cosby

GalakStarscraper · The Big Man Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 6176

Books right now have lots of red ink. Its something I can definitely consider. Throw in a sticker with each case.

Let me pay off the partnership loan that we have outstanding from recovering from when Ewan left and then ... I'll be in a MUCH better spot to consider extra like this.

Which is my long way of saying:
"Can be done ... not right now .... talk to me after GenCon"

Galak

Darkson · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject:

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of people doing for themselves if they wanted one, not making more outlay for Impact.

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What the hell am I doing on a mini's forum? I DON'T PAINT!!!
Nor do I

"Don't talk back to Darth Vader. He'll get ya. "