GCU Forum - Potential Partnership Update

Cherie_131661 Senior Member artist Posts: 466	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #15 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:50pm All three of my thumbs say it best!! Cherie
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Elizabeth_137795 Gold Member artist Posts: 724	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #16 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 4:06pm Absolutely....go for it! Any exposure we here at GCU can get would be fantastic. elizabeth
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Penny_134243

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Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #17 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 4:16pm

Quote from Mindy on 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.

Thanks for the quick reply! Yes, you're right, it does all add up!

Penny

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Kathy_131728 Gold Member artist Posts: 610	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #18 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 4:35pm Sounds good Mindy. Thanks for the update! Kathy
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Mindy GCU Administrator Community Manager Posts: 6567 Gender:	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #19 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 4:40pm Quote from Sheryl_133470 on Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:31pm: Do you have any thoughts as to when this could take place? Sher Likely mid year if it's a go.
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Mindy

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Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #20 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 4:43pm

Quote from Tessa_139072 on Mar 16^th, 2010, 3:45pm:

So does this mean card sales in GCU and the Partnering Company?

Sorry, not sure I understand your question. Card sales on GCU will be business as usual but in addition this partnering company will be selling some of our GCU cards on their site. Does that answer your question?

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Rosalie_136698

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Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #21 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 4:48pm

It sounds like a good opportunity for more exposure to GCU and the Artists as well, obviously, the more exposure the better it is for all of us, even if we are not a chosen Artist. The only thing I would bring up would be the possible quality of the cards if they are doing their own POD as the quality at GCU is the best offered. Rosie Cards

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Peggy_137160

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Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #22 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 5:06pm

if the BOC credit linked directly to MY GCU site, I wouldn't mind cutting my commish by 1/2, should one of my cards be chosen. I had actually PMd Mindy a few months ago, suggesting GCU offer gift cards as well, so folks could easily purchase gift and card all in one place! I figured if my grocery store can offer over 50 different retailers for gift cards, it shouldn't be that hard for GCU to do it. Sounds like someone else had the same idea!

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Mindy

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Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #23 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 5:47pm

Quote from Peggy_137160 on Mar 16^th, 2010, 5:06pm:

if the BOC credit linked directly to MY GCU site, I wouldn't mind cutting my commish by 1/2, should one of my cards be chosen. I had actually PMd Mindy a few months ago, suggesting GCU offer gift cards as well, so folks could easily purchase gift and card all in one place! I figured if my grocery store can offer over 50 different retailers for gift cards, it shouldn't be that hard for GCU to do it. Sounds like someone else had the same idea!

Hi Peggy, sorry. I don't use the PM function Sad

We have looked into offering gift cards on GCU it just has not been a project we're ready to take on yet.

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Mindy

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Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #24 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 5:49pm

Quote from Rosalie_136698 on Mar 16^th, 2010, 4:48pm:

It sounds like a good opportunity for more exposure to GCU and the Artists as well, obviously, the more exposure the better it is for all of us, even if we are not a chosen Artist. The only thing I would bring up would be the possible quality of the cards if they are doing their own POD as the quality at GCU is the best offered. Rosie Cards

Quality would be a requirement. We are confident it is their goal too and we will be sure to be involved in the process to make sure this happens.

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Joan_135833 Gold Member artist Posts: 591	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #25 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 6:03pm An intriguing prospect; great going in envisioning this idea and best of luck in developing it! Joan
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Janet_134086 Gold Member artist Posts: 610	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #26 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 6:23pm Thank you Mindy, That is wonderful news! We have talented artists, the cards speak for themselves, and free advertising is a "Win-Win". Janet Lee
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Carol_136775 Full Member artist Posts: 165	Re: Potential Partnership Update Reply #27 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 6:42pm This sounds like a good deal all around. Driving traffic to GCU can only benefit us all. Kudos to GCU Admin for always pushing the envelope and consistently trying to improve exposure and increase sales.
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Patricia_139273

GCU Newbies
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Posts: 1

Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #28 - Mar 16^th, 2010, 11:23pm

Mindy,

Wonderful idea, great potential!...I have a couple of important questions that need to be asked now even though considerations/negotiations are still early in development:

1) If this becomes reality, how will the cards be selected that would give the GCU very large membership a "fair opportunity" to have their cards picked up by these venues? Who will decide? Will you have a contest, or something similar?

2) You indicated that some sort of credit will be given on the back of the cards. Wonderful. But...what about the creative rights? Will the artist, independently or through GCU, need to:
   a) relinquish their full rights to these designs, meaning the design will be "exclusive" and strictly for that venue and the artist will not be able to sell it, or use elsewhere for commercial purposes; or
   b) agree to give a "limited, one time use rights other than what is now given through GCU?;
   c) have guidelines for reorders that restrict reprinting to GCU to prevent the venue from printing the cards/designs themselves; or
   d) have the selected cards distributed to these venues completely via the current GCU policies/methods that would allow the designs to be available to everyone with the rights protected by the GCU policies?

It is a great venture and it will be complex since GPU will need to be the middle person and have the responsibility of handling the selections, coordinating the efforts, and paying the artists. Hope some sort of "arrangements" can be made to have this become a reality.

Thanks.

Patricia

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Lisa_135184

Junior Member
artist

Posts: 94

Re: Potential Partnership Update
Reply #29 - Mar 17^th, 2010, 11:22am

Not to sound like the devils advocate but...........
I would opt out just like that other facebook thingy.
Selling more but getting even less commission is never something i would do. Its not fair to me the artist to have more out their with even less financial gain.
Seeing GCU making a gain without doing any work, and then spiliting with me 25cents isnt worth it.

To some, exposure is their gain, and hopes for more sales through here by it.
But I dont want more sites all over, with my cards and having more concern about piracy (from buyers, or browsers) from other sites.

This is my personal opinion. (not up for a debate)

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