newsprint (the cafepress blog)

May 27th, 2011

Employee Picks: What Makes Jenny Click

jenny chenJenny helps CafePress get more folks clicking over to our website. That’s why we were so curious to see what makes her click. And after checking out the designs she loves, it all makes sense. They each fit her personality perfectly (which is generally the case with self-expression, isn’t it?).

When Jenny’s not getting us clicks – or bragging to friends that one of our T-shirts is seen in The Hangover Part II movie – she loves going al fresco to hike, snowboard, eat at outdoor festivals and barhop (OK, she has to come in from the sunshine sometime … like at nighttime).

Here are some CafePress products that got Jenny’s mouse clicking away:

Awesome mug

Sorry I Can’t Hear You Mug: I own this mug. Not because I’m a Star Trek fan (I actually had to Google to find out where the quote is from). I like it because this happens to me all the time. True story.

beer t-shirtBeer Bear Deer T-Shirt: I’m a fan of beer, and this T-shirt is genius. Bear + Deer = Beer. There are a few designs on this topic, but I think this is the best so far.

T-Rex T-shirtsT-Rex Hates Pushups Dark T-Shirt: This design showed-up on our internal sales platform and gave me a good laugh. I think it’s hilarious. The shopkeeper should put it on tank tops
so I can wear it to the gym.cat mug

Chairman Meow Mug: I actually bought this one too for my parents, because they lived through the Mao era.
I thought they’d appreciate the humor…

May 24th, 2011

Cultural Barometer Weekly Hotlist: Herman Cain, the Rapture and Too Cool for School

rapture t-shirtPolitics continues to trend high at CafePress. With Herman Cain announcing in 2012 Presidential candidacy, the Georgia Republican (and former head of Godfather’s Pizza) is generating new designs and sales. Ditto for Barack Obama, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich.

There’s also a lot of activity around the May 21 Rapture Day prediction by Harold Camping. He has now sharpened his pencil, redone the math, and revised the date of the rapture to October 21, 2011. Stay tuned.

With school bells ringing for their final time this year, graduation 2011 and class of 2011 themes are seeing a spike too. Not to mention teacher gifts, which are obviously popular this time of year.

May 19th, 2011

Shopkeeper Spotlight: English Bloke + American Gal = A World of Fun

clowns t-shirtElias Skourletos and Beth Ponticello may be separated by an ocean (the Atlantic), but their minds are one. Together they’re the dynamic duo that makes up the popular CafePress shop, E2 T-shirts.

With Elias (the “idea man”) living in London and Beth (the “design queen”) hailing from Florida, you would think it would be a challenge running a successful business together. Not so. Not with CafePress anyway (not to mention Skype, webcams and other high-tech touches). Although they’ve met only once in person – when Beth flew across the pond recently – they’re constantly online bouncing ideas off each other for the next great T-shirt design.TshirtsByE2

Drawing inspiration from the news, current affairs, TV shows and simply walking the busy streets of London and Florida, the pair find more than enough topics for brilliant T-shirts (today they have more than 400 designs available in their shop). E2 T-shirts’ goal is to create designs that make people laugh, and ultimately brighten the day of people everywhere. With their multi-national background, it’s no wonder they’re also excited each time they rack-up sales in a new country. Because with designs this brilliant, two continents of customers simply isn’t enough.

May 17th, 2011

Cultural Barometer Weekly Hotlist: Navy Seals, 2012 Election Heating Up

navy seals t-shirtsStill top of mind, the recently-completed Osama bin Laden mission remains high on people’s minds, Designers and buyers are alike expressing themselves in no uncertain terms at CafePress. The sentiment seems to be slowly turning from anti-Osama designs to pro Navy Seals Team 6 designs.ron paul t-shirt

The 2012 Election is gaining serious momentum too. With Ron Paul throwing his hat in the ring and Newt Gingrich following suit, the designs are out in force. Ditto for the election gear focusing on President Obama.

Also trending high are new designs from The View – the ABC daytime talk show moderated by Whoopi Goldberg and her fellow panelists. Particularly hot is their Spring Mug.

May 13th, 2011

New Product Alert – Showing Your Walls Some Love

Iworld map decalf your walls could talk, they’d tell a lot about you.

They can tell people what your favorite colors are, what bands and movies you like, or even your favorite artist. Yup, I’m talking about those cool prints, posters, photographs, and now, something completely new from CafePress – Wall Decals!

Your room and house are the perfect places for self-expression – your passions, your hobbies, loves and interests that make you who you are. And now we’ve added this new product as another interesting type of wall art. Show your walls some love.

Our wall decals come in a variety of different shapes and sizes to fit any space you have, big or small. Choose from rectangular or oval shapes, which start at 21” X 7”, up to 38.5” X 24.5” and medium sizes in between.

Then comes the problem of mounting your posters and prints; you can get yourself into a pretty sticky situation – literally and figuratively. Since our wall decals are made of a reusable vinyl with a special adhesive, they stick to your walls without leaving any marks or damage. So if you decide that running decal looks a lot better on the wall by the door (an extra bit of motivation?) than in your room, you can move it in a breeze. It’ll save you from spending some dough on tape or that putty stuff to force your posters to stay on the wall!

Take a look at all of the wall decals, which start at $13, and start decorating!

May 12th, 2011

Employee Picks: Tee Time for Joey

Joey Grooms

When our pal Joey isn’t working the phones to drive up sales, he’s at the driving range working on his golf game. Particularly his long game, as he seems to be fairly confident about his short game (see design choice below).

In fact, Joey is such a golf nut he tries to recruit fellow CafePressers to join him for a quick 9 holes in the morning before work, at a course near the office. Since few of us are early risers, he hasn’t had much luck filling-out his foursome. But if we would join Joey on the course, chances are he would be wearing one of his favorite T-shirt from his favorites below:

big putts t-shirtI Like Big Putts T-Shirt: When the pressure is on, my putting game is on. Sometimes.

Hate/love golf t-shirtI Hate/Love Golf T-Shirt: Uhhh … I think this one explains itself …(see the golf t-shirt version here)
Tiger Blood T-ShirtTiger Blood T-Shirt: It’s not old (yet).

Sunday Funday T-ShirtSunday Funday T-Shirt: Sundaywear – it’s where the heart is for football fans.

Funny T-Shirt
I Never Finish Anythi T-Shirt: This is a really funny shir

May 6th, 2011

Hats Off to Your Matriarch.

mom t-shirtMoms make the world go ‘round, it’s true. And although us kids don’t come with a set of instructions, moms make their job look darn easy. And all moms out there know we don’t like to make things easy on you.

Every mom is completely unique. She is different than every other mom in every way, and for me, Mother’s Day is about celebrating that uniqueness. And with this Sunday being Mother’s Day, it’s a day to show her your gratitude to your maker.

Although gifts aren’t necessary, showing Mom you appreciate her is a nice gesture. Flowers or balloons could translate in mother language to, “My daughter started thinking about this yesterday.” Alas, it may be too late to order for this year, BUT if you didn’t, here are some ideas to ponder for next year about mom gifts:

Use photos to your benefit. Mom loves her kids and her family, and if you create something for her that has photos of her family in it, she’ll love it. Take a photo (old or new), enlarge and put on a canvas for all of those visitors to the house to see. Mom will have no problem showing off her gorgeous family.

Personalize for that person. Even the most average gift can be made into something spectacular if you add her name, a heartfelt message or something important to her. A mug she’d drink coffee out of every morning is great, but a mug with her family and a message on it skyrockets the mug’s awesomeness factor.

Think about her other loves. If your mom is crazy in love with a hobby, interest or passion, start there. My mom has a crazy obsession with Snoopy, so much so that I know even if I got her a Snoopy toilet brush for Mother’s Day she’d probably flip in joy. (I wonder if they make those…)

Enjoy Sunday and Happy Mother’s Day to all you mommas out there!

May 3rd, 2011

Employee Picks: Kelly – Manager by Day, Shopper by Night (oh, and some days too).

Kelly photoOur lovable Kelly is a true fan of the entertainment industry, including popular TV shows and movies. In fact it’s this passion which drew her to CafePress, where Kelly now works with some of the top brands in “the biz” (as they say). “It’s a fun job perk” she says, “being forced to stay current on Primetime TV!”

Kelly is also a big fan of online shopping (and hence gift giving – since she couldn’t possibly keep for herself all of the things she buys). “My cube neighbor Christy tells me I’m an excellent online shopper and gift-giver,” Kelly is proud to note. “I’m totally-excited about this being my secret talent … though it’s possible she’s just buttering me up so I’ll buy her a gift?”

When she’s not shopping online all day at CafePress (just kidding Kelly, we all know how hard you work), Kelly loves the other perks of CafePress. Like the massage chair on the 3rd floor. And, according to her, the “copious amount of cupcakes and other sugary items up for grabs in the kitchen most afternoons.”

Outside of work, Kelly loves living in San Francisco (where she’s a big Giants fan), taking photos and zipping up and down The City’s hills in her Mini Cooper. Here are a handful of CafePress products that she finds irresistible:

some e-cards magnet

Drink Order Rectangle Magnet: “Someecards KILLS me with their hilarious designs. As a daily Starbucks visitor, this could not be more appropriate. I sigh for the 50-year-old businessman ordering a grande mocha with extra whip and a sprinkle of cinnamon.”

chelsea handler water bottle

Shut Your Face Stainless Steel Water Bottle: “Chelsea Handler is the best/worst thing to watch on the treadmill (for fear of falling off while laughing too hard).
I enjoy this quote water bottle, as it reminds me to
stop complaining and keep running. Thanks Chels.”

Mini Cooper T-Shirt

Mini Cooper Car T-Shirt: “Mini Cooper drivers are crazy. We love our cars like they are children, so naturally I’d want to emblazon this on my body while I cruise around.”

Jamie Oliver Food Revolution bagThis is Not a Potato Tote Bag: “I love Jamie Oliver –cute accent, fun show, and great food. He has so many products that ring in that “funny but true” sentiment, and this my perfect farmer’s market tote.”

May 2nd, 2011

A Moment in History: Osama bin Laden – Your Thoughts

osama t-shirt9-11 t-shirtmilitary t-shirtosama tote bagobama got osama t-shirt

News broke late Sunday night announcing the death of Osama bin Laden. President Obama spoke from the White House, explaining the U.S. military raid on a compound in Pakistan where Bin Laden was hiding, and the subsequent assault that ended in his death.

As you may know, CafePress.com users comprise a robust community of diverse people who can create and upload their own product designs. The community expresses themselves in many ways – oftentimes focused on current events, news or pop culture trends – making the CafePress.com Marketplace a Cultural Barometer for the latest on what’s happening in the world.

The CafePress community quickly began voicing their thoughts and feelings about Osama bin Laden on t-shirts and other products minutes after reports of his death surfaced. So far, overall sentiment of Osama related designs centers on the following themes:

1. Celebration: For many, it feels like justice has been served, and the military accomplished their mission.
2. Commemorative: Remembering the 9/11 attacks and tributes to those affected.
3. A moment for the history books: Yesterday will go down as a milestone in U.S. history.
4. Patriotism: Many designs supporting the military. We’re seeing designs that are showing their pride for our friends and family bravely fighting for the U.S.
5. Hats off to the President: Designs are showing that we’re proud of our president and many are saying this cements President Obama’s chances of being re-elected in 2012.

How do you feel about this news? Share your thoughts with us below:

pollcode.com free polls
What sentiments do you feel about the death of Osama bin Laden?

Happy. Justice has been served.

Grateful. Happy to honor all those affected by 9/11

Historical Moment. Generations after us will hear about this day.

Patriotic. Our military protects our country and their hard work is paying off.

Kudos to Obama. Things are going in the right direction.

All of the above

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