GCU Forum - Potential Partnership Update

Mindy

GCU Administrator
Community Manager

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Potential Partnership Update
Mar 16^th, 2010, 2:41pm

GCU is discussing a possible partnership with an online gift card retailer. The solution would be POD paper greeting cards for them to sell online to accompany their gift cards, a natural fit. They sell poplar gift cards like Nordstrom, iTunes, Sears, Chili’s, Cold Stone, etc.

We want to share this possible partnership with the artist community to get your feedback. Overall we are very confident in the value this partner would bring and welcome the additional card sales and exposure. We also hold great confidence in the overall quality of their business practices and reputation.

They would offer on their site a selection of GCU cards of which:

a) they would select a limited collection of around 100 or so cards
b) some type of artist's credits will appear on the back (may differ from today’s BOC)
c) they would do the POD printing not GCU
d) they will pay GCU 50 cents for each card sold of which will be split 50/50 between GCU and artist. Each party will earn 25 cents per card sold. This would likely be reported on a monthly basis and paid as part of your GCU quarterly earnings
e) they may or may not use the artist provided inside verse
f) their usage would be limited for this purpose only
g) sale volumes will be low at first with plans & hopes for continued growth

NOTE: If you are not interested in participating in this opportunity artists will have the option to easily Opt-Out.

If we move ahead, this will require a good amount of GCU's effort on developing tools and reporting for this partner. We see this as another great opportunity to sell more of your cards! Cheesy

Please let us know what thoughts or questions you have.

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Andi_140318 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 10	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #1 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 2:46pm Awesome! Sounds terrific! Thanks for your great work!
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Audrey_132599 Senior Member artist Posts: 429	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #2 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 2:57pm Thank you for filling us in, Mindy.This sounds like a great opportunity! ~Audrey
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Padma_139696 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 4	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #3 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:01pm Sounds like a great opportunity! Mindy. I would say go for it!
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Tanya_135475

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artist

Posts: 1008

Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #4 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:06pm

Well it sounds a good idea, just hope they are versatile in their choices if it goes ahead, that's the only concern I guess, other than that it sounds like a good oppertunity to get better known. I wish you luck with it, it could generate a lot more custom for GCU as well to a top idea in that respect as well. I can't see many artists opting out though, it does open up another outlet.

Hugs
Moonie

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Penny_134243

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 1337

Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #5 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:08pm

Quote from Mindy on Mar 16^th, 2010, 2:41pm:

GCU is discussing a possible partnership with an online gift card retailer. The solution would be POD paper greeting cards for them to sell online to accompany their gift cards, a natural fit. They sell poplar gift cards like Nordstrom, iTunes, Sears, Chili’s, Cold Stone, etc.

We want to share this possible partnership with the artist community to get your feedback. Overall we are very confident in the value this partner would bring and welcome the additional card sales and exposure. We also hold great confidence in the overall quality of their business practices and reputation.

They would offer on their site a selection of GCU cards of which:

a) they would select a limited collection of around 100 or so cards

Please let us know what thoughts or questions you have.

Hi, Mindy,

Interesting update, thanks for sharing this with us.

My question: The "100 or so" cards that you have mentioned, does this mean 100 +/- cards from the current total GCU selection of over 300,000 cards? If so, realistically, this would have very little effect on the average artist who has cards here at GCU, just by sheer numbers, we have over 3700 artists, so most artists would not even have one card represented.

Just a point of curiosity on my part.

But an great idea to promote GCU, for certain!

Thanks,
Penny

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Sheryl_133470 Gold Member artist Posts: 705	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #6 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:17pm Wow, that does sound very interesting. Can't wait to hear more information about this new endeavor. Thank you.... Sher
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Mindy

GCU Administrator
Community Manager

Posts: 6567
Gender: female

Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #7 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:20pm

Quote from Penny_134243 on Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:08pm:

Quote from Mindy on Mar 16^th, 2010, 2:41pm:

GCU is discussing a possible partnership with an online gift card retailer. The solution would be POD paper greeting cards for them to sell online to accompany their gift cards, a natural fit. They sell poplar gift cards like Nordstrom, iTunes, Sears, Chili’s, Cold Stone, etc.

We want to share this possible partnership with the artist community to get your feedback. Overall we are very confident in the value this partner would bring and welcome the additional card sales and exposure. We also hold great confidence in the overall quality of their business practices and reputation.

They would offer on their site a selection of GCU cards of which:

a) they would select a limited collection of around 100 or so cards

Please let us know what thoughts or questions you have.

Hi, Mindy,

Interesting update, thanks for sharing this with us.

My question: The "100 or so" cards that you have mentioned, does this mean 100 +/- cards from the current total GCU selection of over 300,000 cards? If so, realistically, this would have very little effect on the average artist who has cards here at GCU, just by sheer numbers, we have over 3700 artists, so most artists would not even have one card represented.

Just a point of curiosity on my part.

But an great idea to promote GCU, for certain!

Thanks,
Penny

Correct, from the total card selection. A drop in the bucket compared to what we offer. Their plans are to start small and general but we suspect with good results we can sway them to offer a bigger selection and look to some of the more specific cards (relation & age specifics) we have that will help them further differentiate themselves from their competitors.

Just another way to increase sales. It all adds up.

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Lisa_131617 Full Member artist Posts: 189	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #8 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:29pm I think any 'drop in the bucket' will make a ripple.... a ripple will grow to a wave and so on, and so on. Right on! Cheers to GCU. Lisa
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Sheryl_133470 Gold Member artist Posts: 705	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #9 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:31pm Do you have any thoughts as to when this could take place? Sher
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JULIE_134623 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 29	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #10 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:38pm that's awesome a great opportunity!!!
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Oma_132016 Full Member artist Posts: 240	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #11 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:44pm Wow! I think this a great opportunity for GCU. Even if it's just a few cards and selected artists getting the extra exposure, it would be worth it. If this partnership really goes through, I wish all the lucky artists all the best. Oma
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Tessa_139072 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 32	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #12 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:45pm So does this mean card sales in GCU and the Partnering Company?
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candace_131548 Full Member artist Posts: 220	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #13 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:47pm Sounds wonderful. Every little bit helps! Candy
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Sandra_133229 Gold Member artist Posts: 787	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #14 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:49pm I think it is a good idea. As you said, any artist not interested in having their cards included can opt out. I like it! Way to go GCU, on your continues growth!
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