My second kickstarter attempt: Triple P project (warning contains ponies)

[titankore]

Alright, on the 1st of December I will be starting my second attempt at a kickstarter. This is for my idea to make pillow plushies, specifically pony ones, but will probably eventually branch out.

This thread is to get feedback, advice, and also to tell my story of the ups and downs of running a kickstarter. Expect regular updates in a semi comedic manner.

Project goal:
Use silk screens to paint a character onto fabric quickly, and then make it into a kind of plushy. This makes them affordable to make and sell at low prices while still making a nice looking plushy.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1375574007/pony-pillow-plushy-take-2

Spoiler: first print run of the prototypes

Spoiler: first finished prototype

Edit: I got an email from Hasboro and they don't seem to mind. They would consider this fanwork and as long as I don't start a sweatshop making these things they are alright. If I do end up mass manufacturing them they will require me to get official license which includes an initial fee and a cut of the profits.

 

[Giftfromme]

AHAHAHHA this is hilarious. But good luck with your stuff and stuff

 

[titankore]

T-minus 4 days till launch:

Through exhaustive work I managed to broker a deal between two of the largest star systems in the brony sector. They... have ... agreed, to provide dilithium crystals to our warp engines... Hopefully, it will be enough for our... lofty goal.

Mr Chekov: Ve are ready to go Captain.

Kirk: Time... to go... where nopony has gone before.

Spock: Captain... did you just say "nopony"?

Kirk: Shut the hell up Spock, I'll say what I please. Now stop questioning me, it is bad for morale.

Zap Branigan: I like the cut of that man's jib.

 

[Prosis]

So, what would the money allow you to do?

Not trying to rain on your parade, but seriously, you've already demonstrated that you can produce these. Can't you just make a dozen, put em up on E-bay or Amazon and on a few pony sites, then use the profit to make more? What will you do with the Kickstarter money?

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Um, OP, don't you think a kickstarted business is a bit much for a fan made product? Hasbro tolerates stuff on Etsy because it's so small scale. Not so sure they'd sit idly by with something like this. Just a word of warning, because what you're suggesting is most definitely illegal, and you're opening yourself up for a lawsuit by doing it.

 

[titankore]

So, what would the money allow you to do?

That is a tiny prototype, the full sized ones are going to be bigger and also less rough. Also the prototype is filled with fluff from an old blanket, made with scrap cloth, and my sewing machine is on its last legs.

It is kind of like that kickstarter from a company that makes pewter figures. It already can make them but without outside funding it will take years to do what could be done in months with some extra cash.

Things like silk screen materials for large prints are expensive and so are a lot of other things involved.

 

[titankore]

Snip

Well the actual artwork is original, and it is hardly going to be a large scale operation. Mostly me, maybe one or two friends and producing about 20-30 pillow plushies a month, the majority of which will be going to backers. This is more about doing a project I love but at the moment can't afford to personally finance.

The supplies I couldn't scrounge to make the prototype cost me all of my non essential's budget for about two months.

 

[titankore]

T Minus 3 days:

I daresay that doubt has been cast upon my quest for the holy grail. Of course I have calmed my men with a rousing tale of honor and glory...

Squire: You got us drunk!

King: A strategic use of wine.

Squire: We all have hangovers.

King: Yes, but morale has improved.

Squire: No it hasn't.

King:... Then we will begin the flogging until morale improves!

Squire: Damn... Can we get more wine instead?

*Whips

Squire: I'll take that as a no.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Well the actual artwork is original, and it is hardly going to be a large scale operation. Mostly me, maybe one or two friends and producing about 20-30 pillow plushies a month, the majority of which will be going to backers. This is more about doing a project I love but at the moment can't afford to personally finance.

The fact that the artwork is original is irrelevant, they're copyrighted characters. If a copyright lawyer gets a sniff of that Kickstarter you're going to get slapped with a cease and desist at the very least. God forbid you actually get some profit from it, then the knives will come out.

I'd quit while you're ahead.

 

[MetalMagpie]

Well the actual artwork is original, and it is hardly going to be a large scale operation. Mostly me, maybe one or two friends and producing about 20-30 pillow plushies a month, the majority of which will be going to backers.

If you're using copyrighted characters (and you haven't paid for a license), you're infringing copyright. And I'm not sure 20-30 a month is small enough to slip beneath the radar.

 

[excalipoor]

Didn't Hasbro already crack down on people selling plushies on eBay? Probably better to just forget about it.

 

[generals3]

I only verbally support this because business is business. (despite my aversion for ponies )

 

[Rastien]

Um, OP, don't you think a kickstarted business is a bit much for a fan made product? Hasbro tolerates stuff on Etsy because it's so small scale. Not so sure they'd sit idly by with something like this. Just a word of warning, because what you're suggesting is most definitely illegal, and you're opening yourself up for a lawsuit by doing it.

Didn't Hasbro already crack down on people selling plushies on eBay? Probably better to just forget about it.

Heed the warnings big company's will sue the tits off you without batting an eyelid and you will be screwed to the floor.

What is being said here is not people just being a dick to you because it's a bad idea or they don't like ponys.

Personally i think it's a good idea yo! just don't use pony's as your design.

Big company's like hasbro's legal department are like a pack of fucking pit bulls if they find out that you are making money from their intellectual property they will not hesitate to fuck you over in every way possible and WILL prosecute you to the maximum they can.

Seriously Don't Do This Bro

 

[Soviet Heavy]

DOesn't this infringe on Hasbro's copyright? And doesn't this OP count as advertising?

 

[kiwi_poo]

Good luck to you. It sounds like a great project and I know there's certainly demand for it.

I'm not sure if the others are correct in thinking Hasbro will screw you over. I hope they don't, but... well, companies have done more for less.
It looks very promising so far. I'll definitely be following this project closely.

 

[Frezzato]

Um, OP, don't you think a kickstarted business is a bit much for a fan made product? Hasbro tolerates stuff on Etsy because it's so small scale. Not so sure they'd sit idly by with something like this. Just a word of warning, because what you're suggesting is most definitely illegal, and you're opening yourself up for a lawsuit by doing it.

Didn't Hasbro already crack down on people selling plushies on eBay? Probably better to just forget about it.

Heed the warnings big company's will sue the tits off you without batting an eyelid and you will be screwed to the floor.

What is being said here is not people just being a dick to you because it's a bad idea or they don't like ponys.

Personally i think it's a good idea yo! just don't use pony's as your design.

Big company's like hasbro's legal department are like a pack of fucking pit bulls if they find out that you are making money from their intellectual property they will not hesitate to fuck you over in every way possible and WILL prosecute you to the maximum they can.

Seriously Don't Do This Bro

I was just reading about when they sent two lawyers to this guy's apartment complex in Australia because they thought he had access to some prototype Nerf guns. Freaking NERF GUNS. Straight out of a bad 80's action movie. Except about the Nerf guns. Dun DuN DUN.

 

[Pinkamena]

I don't think this would be a good idea, Titankore. There are many legal hurdles you have to get through to sell merchandise based on copyrighted characters. Yes, Hasbro has been cutting all the plushie makers and other artists some slack because they know that they're not making a whole lot of money off of it. This is something different though, as you plan to mass produce it.

Before doing anything else, you need to contact Hasbro's legal department and ask for permission. You'll likely have to pay a hefty fee to become a licensed seller, as well as pay royalty fees of about 10-15% of your sales income.

 

[titankore]

Woot! Semi official approval to make these thing!

So now that that is taken care of and the project has started I need to think of something funny to say for the updates...

 

[kiwi_poo]

My, I wonder who made this kickass trailer for this kickstarter.

I hope the kickstarter works out, it'd be awesome if it does.