Brooklyn Dash 37 November 16, 2012 Share November 16, 2012 So I'm in a business class at Arizona State, and I'm working in a group that was relatively randomly put together, but surprise! There's another brony in my group, so while we were all brainstorming business ideas in the group he and I threw out some pony ideas, the rest of the group wasn't into it. We broke off and are now doing our very own pony stuff! So, I'd like to run this by some fellow bronies, because if at the end of this class we end up feeling like this is actually a strong idea, chances are good we'll make it into a real thing. So for the sake of bronydom, tell us what you would like to see in an online retailer oriented towards bronies but inevitably also including some non-brony parts of the my little pony community. What we're thinking at this point is that the site will be an online retailer who works with Hasbro (similar to toybiz.com, but more specifically oriented towards the mlp community). We're interested in bringing merch made internationally to one central location (our online store) and keeping it in large quantities, buying all of the international pony merch we can find so that we can resell it to bronies worldwide. We're interested in buying quantities of custom-made merch from craftsponies and helping them sell it on our site, and we're considering doing a brony-to-brony and commissions section of the site, though at that point we run into copyright issues. All merch would be similarly priced to the prices seen in physical locations (Target, Walmart), if not less expensive because we're looking into buying wholesale directly from Hasbro. We're thinking of calling it ponyparaphernalia.com, but since paraphernalia is kind of hard to spell we're still considering other names. What do y'all think? Do you like this idea? Would you use a site like this? What part of the site would be most useful for you or are you most excited about? Do you think this is stupid? What would you like to see in an online retailer who markets pony products? We're interested in building the site specifically to meet the community's needs so hearing from everypony would only help us more to create something that we would all enjoy and be able to use! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otter 1,942 November 16, 2012 Share November 16, 2012 Definitely do not use "ponyparaphernalia.com" as the URL. (I'm a Grammar Nazi and even I have trouble spelling that.) Maybe shorten it to "ponyp.com" or something similar. But other than that, your idea sounds great. Although admittedly, I usually avoid small online retailers, I would definitely shop there (Being as I know you created it with the intention of doing legitimate business). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founder Twilight Sparkle ✨ 8,520 November 16, 2012 Founder Share November 16, 2012 Interesting... starting some kind of online store/merch community for bronies is something I've been interested in doing myself at least as far back as May, and we have a moderated commissions section here where anyone can get some custom pony work done. As much as I like the idea, however, I simply haven't had the time to properly research all the legalities and "gotchas" involved in starting up an online store dedicated to My Little Pony. No doubt that having a Hasbro license would be a very, very good idea; but that's about all I know on the matter, really. @@Brooklyn Dash, if you are at all interested in working with me/MLP Forums to realize this idea, I'd love to chat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Dash 37 November 16, 2012 Author Share November 16, 2012 @feld0 Oh that would be fantastic! Regardless of whether or not I personally am going to continue to be involved with the venture, for this class we're spending several weeks on generating a functional business model, and so I would happily give you any research of mine to help you get started, including business plans, strategies, etc. I am really considering following through with it though, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarajevo 124 November 16, 2012 Share November 16, 2012 I cannot wait to see how all of this turns out, it sounds amazing!! Especially when you're catering to a website that's as big as this :3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge 382 November 16, 2012 Share November 16, 2012 If you start one I'd love to get involved in making a few designs. It would mean my graphic design skills would actually come into use for once. Also I'd probably buy from you if you can deliever internationally... which you really should. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Dash 37 November 16, 2012 Author Share November 16, 2012 International delivery is definitely something we're including as a priority, the site is intended to bring bronies together worldwide through merchandise, right now we're trying to decide if we should have it be just official merch or official+fanmade or what we're going to do in regards to that. What would y'all like to see in regards to what kind of merch is in the store? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Whales 311 November 16, 2012 Share November 16, 2012 Firstly, I think this is an excellent idea. You would be able to reach Bronies on an international level. Have you thought about shipping costs, where you will storage all of your merchandise? I know advertising would be easy. You have tones of forums you could reach out to. I know as far as the store goes I’d like to see things that I could not get in stores. Plushes and things like that. I think the fanbase is large enough to where you could get legitimate business plus it is still growing so this would be a good time to implement your online store. I agree with the idea of keeping your url short and easy to remember. Also, as far as your prices I know I personally wouldn’t mind paying a little extra to buy from a vendor like yourself because you are running it yourself and you are trying to hook up Bronies internationally so that’s really awesome. I’d also try to look into getting vendor passes to set up your shop at cons that would be good for business and would help get the word out. In all I love this idea would love to see it put into action. I hope some of what I said comes as useful to you. I don’t really know about anything about business. Best of luck! I look forward to buying from you in the future! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Dash 37 November 17, 2012 Author Share November 17, 2012 Vendor passes at cons are a great idea! In regards to your questions, I'm pretty sure we would have standard shipping USPS and FedEx for bronies to choose the security/timeframe of their shipment and have the price adjusted accordingly. We would have a headquarters/office to keep our inventory at so that we don't lose track of shipments and stuff, that they're going directly through us It's good to hear that y'all would be interested in using this too to get fan made stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betez 1,734 November 17, 2012 Share November 17, 2012 I'd love this. I think it would be awesome to have an online brony store. Someone definately does need to make this. It would be amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Party Cannon 874 November 17, 2012 Share November 17, 2012 A cool idea you have there sir. I suggest not starting one up right away. The reason why is the combination of WeloveFine and Hot Topic already provide the vast bulk of these goods. They are already established businesses so they can price their goods accordingly (in addition to running sales and such). I think that if this fandom leads to licensing companies producing more specialized, perhaps and especially collector grade products, then I think would be the time to start that business. In the business world, My Little Pony FIM relatively does not have a big enough variety of licensed merch to warrant its own website. Look at Star Wars' website and see how many products they offer. Obviously Star Wars and it's fandom is unmatched, let alone by MLP. Still, it gives you an idea as to the plethora of licensed merch that would warrant its very own online shop. I hope this dream becomes a reality for you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunbro 4 Lyfe 938 November 17, 2012 Share November 17, 2012 go ahead, it seems like a good retail point. heck keep it going till i get my own house ( when im 23 probably) then ill come buy some merch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aureity 3,055 November 17, 2012 Share November 17, 2012 This thread appears to be related to the My Little Pony franchise and/or the Bronydom in general. Thus, it has been sentenced to Sugarcube Corner. This is an automatically generated message, by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TailsIsNotAlone 3,694 November 17, 2012 Share November 17, 2012 Capital idea, my friend. I would love to have a store like this around. Just stock quality merch, don't rip us off, and get a Hasbro license so everything's legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Dash 37 November 19, 2012 Author Share November 19, 2012 (edited) Would you all mind filling out a short survey so that we can fine-tune our store to be exactly what bronies want and need? It would be really lovely and help you just as much as you're helping us https://docs.google....oQ1FCQzQzSXc6MQ Definitely do not use "ponyparaphernalia.com" as the URL. (I'm a Grammar Nazi and even I have trouble spelling that.) Maybe shorten it to "ponyp.com" or something similar. But other than that, your idea sounds great. Although admittedly, I usually avoid small online retailers, I would definitely shop there (Being as I know you created it with the intention of doing legitimate business). I cannot wait to see how all of this turns out, it sounds amazing!! Especially when you're catering to a website that's as big as this :3 If you start one I'd love to get involved in making a few designs. It would mean my graphic design skills would actually come into use for once. Also I'd probably buy from you if you can deliever internationally... which you really should. Firstly, I think this is an excellent idea. You would be able to reach Bronies on an international level. Have you thought about shipping costs, where you will storage all of your merchandise? I know advertising would be easy. You have tones of forums you could reach out to. I know as far as the store goes I’d like to see things that I could not get in stores. Plushes and things like that. I think the fanbase is large enough to where you could get legitimate business plus it is still growing so this would be a good time to implement your online store. I agree with the idea of keeping your url short and easy to remember. Also, as far as your prices I know I personally wouldn’t mind paying a little extra to buy from a vendor like yourself because you are running it yourself and you are trying to hook up Bronies internationally so that’s really awesome. I’d also try to look into getting vendor passes to set up your shop at cons that would be good for business and would help get the word out. In all I love this idea would love to see it put into action. I hope some of what I said comes as useful to you. I don’t really know about anything about business. Best of luck! I look forward to buying from you in the future! I'd love this. I think it would be awesome to have an online brony store. Someone definately does need to make this. It would be amazing. A cool idea you have there sir. I suggest not starting one up right away. The reason why is the combination of WeloveFine and Hot Topic already provide the vast bulk of these goods. They are already established businesses so they can price their goods accordingly (in addition to running sales and such). I think that if this fandom leads to licensing companies producing more specialized, perhaps and especially collector grade products, then I think would be the time to start that business. In the business world, My Little Pony FIM relatively does not have a big enough variety of licensed merch to warrant its own website. Look at Star Wars' website and see how many products they offer. Obviously Star Wars and it's fandom is unmatched, let alone by MLP. Still, it gives you an idea as to the plethora of licensed merch that would warrant its very own online shop. I hope this dream becomes a reality for you. Capital idea, my friend. I would love to have a store like this around. Just stock quality merch, don't rip us off, and get a Hasbro license so everything's legal. Edited November 19, 2012 by Brooklyn Dash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Whales 311 November 19, 2012 Share November 19, 2012 Just finished up the survey for you there. I hope the information we provide helps you with any sort of data you need. Best of luck! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Dash 37 November 19, 2012 Author Share November 19, 2012 Cheers man! Thank you very much for doing that We are absolutely taking all of the information we're receiving from the surveys into account because our goal is to meet bronies' needs and make them happiiiii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge 382 November 19, 2012 Share November 19, 2012 Done and done It'd be great to see this up and running because if/when it does I'll make a bulk order to stock on my shop (yeah I have a comic book store so it'd be nice to get some unique stuff in). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discorded Bluenote 126 November 21, 2012 Share November 21, 2012 That could work out fine with me, I guess. I'm not really adept in anything, so I wouldn't be a great big help. Sorry. I'd love to see how it turns out though~ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Dash 37 November 24, 2012 Author Share November 24, 2012 Well I would like to take a second to thank anyone who helped me out by participating in that survey I posted! Thanks to you guys I ended up having nearly 400 responses to the survey! We have so much data now that we don't know what to do with it! You guys rule! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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