Free Swag!!!

crummerpoker

Hello Everyone,

I am currently in the testing phase of a new clothing line that I have come up with and need your help!!!

In order to improve on the designs and also see if people will like the concept I need your feedback (good or bad). Please check out the link below to view the first designs of SOUL READER APPAREL:

http://www.crummerpokersupplies.com/product/apparel

Please take a look at what I have so far and post your comments in this thread for all to see. It will help me in deciding whether or not the concept is workable.

If you post your comments in this thread you will be entered into a draw for free swag. I am giving away 3 Tshirts and 3 hats. Just make sure you post your comments and also the colour of hat and tshirt you want if you win. I will make the final draw on May 25th, 2009.

Also, if you sign up to the Soul Reader Apparel group on Facebook you will be entered into a draw for free threads once the final designs arrive in the fall.

Thanks so much for any and all feedback you can provide.

Bob Crummer

Milo

Soul Reader logo is not bad. Very similar shape to the popular Tap-Out line. The side shirt idea is also somethin I have not seen a lot of, so points for that, too. Not a big fan of the Grimm Reaper design, but that is just me. Decent colour combos for all products.

Might pick up one of the ball caps for a lark, when I run out of my current supply . . .
Oh, and Black Hat, Charcoal Side Logo Shirt (XXL), for purposes of the contest. Thx.

blackmagicz

It needs to be more poker related. Having some symbol that I have never seen before and trying to relate it to poker is very difficult.

I also don't get the whole grim reaper thingy.....as a Soulreader wouldn't you want some sort of gypsie/crystal ball reading theme....

Maybe something along the line of two people at a table heads up and having one person being "possessed" (red eyes...blah blah....scary dude) and the other guy having his torsoe open (like ribs showing.....) and you can see two cards there...(the whole soul reading effect)

Goodluck...

I always wanted to do a clothing line for poker but more of a humorous end...a couple of my favorite shirts were going to be:

"Don't tap the fish tank, you'll scare away all the fish"

"I am a superuser online that's why I can't win live"

DrTyore

It's funny that Milo mentioned the "Tap Out" line

I've never been a fan of that "style", but I immediately got there too... I like the "side logo" styles best, the front one is fine though.. I'm not a fan of the grim reaper stuff, but I've never been all "deathy".

I dig the hats too, but some of the colour choices are a bit odd I'd say (in both hat & shirt).. I don't dig the orange too much... and the red in the hat looks more pink (but if it's the same as the red shirt, it's likely just a bad picture).

Other than that, is there no medium shirts? I know that poker players aren't exactly known for their svelte body types, but....

I'd like the white hat if I win

Mark

Cerberus

I think this line would definitely be more geared towards me lol. I love the colours as I'm all about anything bright orange or bright anything. I think the logo is actually quite interesting. I see what they're saying about the TapOut logo but it still comes across as different. The big thing to me is if I saw the logo by itself would I know what it was for? Not yet, but that's what brand marketing is all about. You create something so that eventually all you need is that logo and everyone knows exactly what it is.

The side logo shirts are definitely different. Perhaps some with the logo over one shoulder would be neat too. I don't ever wear hats so the ball caps don't work for me. The grim reaper icon is well done in that it doesn't look like every other reaper on every generic shirt so kudos for that.

All in all, I like it.

Orange shirt, orange hat for me please.

SuitedPair

I would suggest getting a marketing spin doctor to re-write your details page before going to full market. a great idea, just needs the right words (IMO

Like the logo. Means nothing to poker now but look at the FTP logo. If it didn't say "Poker" in it you wouldn't know. now everyone knows the symbol without the wording.

Side shirt is great. Reaper doesn't do anything for me.


Orange shirt if selected XXL. GL

actyper

Design is fine, most important is marketing. Can't give away 3 tshirts, have to give away a crap load of them, and get the right people to wear them.

Graham

To be completely honest, I don't really like it. Like others have mentioned it doesn't really have that poker connection. The hats have a nice look, but are not something I would personally buy. If your goal is to target poker players, I think it should have more of a poker look / feel. Otherwise you are competing with every other clothing line out there and I don't think your designs are strong enough to succeed.

MarcoGD

Graham wrote: »

To be completely honest, I don't really like it. Like others have mentioned it doesn't really have that poker connection. The hats have a nice look, but are not something I would personally buy. If your goal is to target poker players, I think it should have more of a poker look / feel. Otherwise you are competing with every other clothing line out there and I don't think your designs are strong enough to succeed.

I agree.

The line is actually very nice but, I think it would do better as a 2nd generation release; once the connection to poker is made and the brand can be identified by the logo.

That being said, orange shirt for me.

Milo

Graham wrote: »

To be completely honest, I don't really like it. Like others have mentioned it doesn't really have that poker connection. The hats have a nice look, but are not something I would personally buy. If your goal is to target poker players, I think it should have more of a poker look / feel. Otherwise you are competing with every other clothing line out there and I don't think your designs are strong enough to succeed.

Disagree 100%, and here's why:

What is a "poker connection"? Putting 2 Aces on the shirts? Done to death already.

The logo is key.

As others have pointed out, FTP's logo is easily recognizable now, but on day one? Not so much. Same goes for Tap-Out, which this logo resembles. No one but hard-core fight fans had ever heard of those guys until the UFC blew up. Same thing goes here, with the added advantage that the Soul-Reader logo will have a 'familiar' look to the casual shopper.

One thing you might consider for a second generation might be "bowling" shirt styles with the logo on the pocket, and something similar across the shoulder blades on the back. You're welcome to use this idea if I get the first one off the line . . .

Graham

Milo wrote: »

Disagree 100%, and here's why:

What is a "poker connection"? Putting 2 Aces on the shirts? Done to death already.

The logo is key.

As others have pointed out, FTP's logo is easily recognizable now, but on day one? Not so much. Same goes for Tap-Out, which this logo resembles. No one but hard-core fight fans had ever heard of those guys until the UFC blew up. Same thing goes here, with the added advantage that the Soul-Reader logo will have a 'familiar' look to the casual shopper.

You are comparing this with companies that had million dollar budgets to brand themselves that were operating in billion dollar industries. Unfortunately I think the avg. person that is looking for poker shirts or hats is going to want some reference to poker on them. Unless the OP already has a huge following I think this kind of design is too risky. Like Marco said, this could be used as a 2nd launch, but for an initial launch I think that it needs more poker in it or at least something different than just a silk-screen t-shirt with an ok logo.

Milo

The Tap-Out boys were living out of their cars before the MMA explosion. Hardly a multi million $$$ branding budget. That is what I was referring to in my post. As for the connection, call it Soul Reader pokerware, then . . .

I think a lot of poker connecting ideas have been over-used, that's all . . .
Are any of us interested in shirts/hats, with AA's on them, "Big Slick", or "Deuces Wild"? Not me. I like that these are more subtle in their approach. ymmv

actyper

I agree with Milo. Another comparison is Affiliction, which had nothing to do with mma until some fighters started wearing their gear. I don't want to wear poker related clothing with chips or cards on it. I want to wear something that says I play poker but i'm also in with today's trend.

Wetts1012

actyper wrote: »

I don't want to wear poker related clothing with chips or cards on it.

Youre missing out on being part of the hip crowd imo.

Milo

I recognize that shirt from the SET. No wonder you missed the $$$ . . .

Either it was the shirt, or the wings . . . right?

actyper

Wonder if that shirt brings good luck, ship it over!

JimmyHo

not sure what a person's soul has to do with playing poker? reading a person's soul... its a stretch. wasn't there a thread on suggested poker t-shirt ideas way back when?

Graham

Milo wrote: »

The Tap-Out boys were living out of their cars before the MMA explosion. Hardly a multi million $$$ branding budget. That is what I was referring to in my post. As for the connection, call it Soul Reader pokerware, then.

Whether or not that is true (according to their site the first year they did 30k in sales) I think they really started making huge money when they signed on big names like kimbo which cost money to do.

Anyway, all I am saying is it could work, but it will be VERY difficult as I think the OP is limiting himself to a relatively small market that will be difficult to enter.

moose

Soul reader - that's enough to relate it to poker for me.
Typo on the Charcoal Grim Reaper shirt - it says Black back instead of blank back.

Your Grim reaper shirts w front crest/reaper back have no shot of the front.

I wish the pop up pictures were larger.

I would take a black hat large, and xl royal grim reaper shirt with the front crest/reaper back.

Thanks.

payperview

Hi Bob,

I do like you logo (Even if it has a Tapout look). I dont think it has to be poker related. If u do make the trianges on the logo look as if ur flipping through a deck of cards and in the corner maybe put evil eyes? Just brain storming. As you see I am an MMA fan and poker player. MMA fans and poker fans I believe fit your demographics. The logo side t-shirt is great and unique. Something I would consider purchasing. The Grim reaper to represent soul reader I am not big on as stated already (maybe a heart with smoke, as in burning your inside). I like all the colors but but orange may be your weakest seller. I hope this helps. I do like ball caps any color;)

blackmagicz

What would be cool would be something a long the ghostrider theme playing at a table where they are looking at each other and the cards start to burn through the other players chest....

(sorta along my other post but I was at work and my creative thoughts were blocked due to recycled air)

GTA Poker

why's that dude continually smelling his armpit?

fail.

ReefAquarium

Make the graphics on the tshirts bigger.
Print them higher so they are more visible when in a seated position at the poker table.
Print the graphics off centre.

crummerpoker

Thanks everyone who has posted their opinions so far. Some of the posts have brought up some great questions and I will try and spread some light on them.

The style of the Grim Reaper will look totally different on the final designs than they do now. They wont be in the centre of the shirts and they will be a lot bigger and more finished looking. These designs are something that I could do locally quickly to get an idea of how they would look in person.

The goal was to make a brand that poker players could be apart of without shouting to the world that they are poker players. The most common and cliché poker gear basically is the “I’m all in” shirts and suited cards on shirts. I didn’t want that.

Grim Reaper – I associated the Grim Reaper to death and the impending death of your opponent (not literally obv.). I assume since you are reading your opponents soul that they will soon meet a timely death at the table…It’s a dark and sinister figure that matches well with aggressive players – dominate and crush weak players.

Sizing – As these are simply test shirts/hats, I made a small sample of shirts with only L, XL, and XXL. My friends are big…lol…The hats are fitted so they should be fine for the majority of people. By the way, the hats are the most comfortable I have ever worn and was the main reason I chose this style.

As for the suggestion that more than 3 shirts need to be given away – These are test shirts and if I give them all away I will never know if they will sell. They are priced well for the first run and there will be more give-aways when and if the final designs get printed.

Most poker players will get the name of SOUL READER. Like I said before, I wanted a brand that was subtly focused on poker players. For people that don’t play poker, they will not associate the brand with cards at all. It would be nice for people to ask “what is that?” and have a poker player explain that poker is the best game in the world…

The website for the clothing is not ready yet. I had to scramble and use what I already have to show the designs. The tables and supplies website where the clothes are listed is not great for adding the graphics and this style of product so I apologize for that.

All of your comments mean something to me. Thanks for posting them. Keep them coming!