Mumsnet merchandise - your input needed please

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all

After years of being asked to come up with MN merchandise and (aside from some incredibly tight t-shirts with virtual mother on them way back in the early-2000s) pretty much sticking our collective fingers in our ears, we've finally found someone who can help us produce and sell a qualiteee online range - hopefully available in time for Christmas. And we're looking for your input.

We reckon a range of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and mugs with Mumsnet in-jokes/ popular phrases - which is what folks have mentioned in the past - but is there anything else we've collectively missed? And what do you want on them? A T-shirt telling all and sundry to LTB? A mug asking whether YABU? A hoody announcing that it' really best to RTFT?

Ideas very much welcome please

Haven't read all the other posts but loving the sound of a reusable shopping bag, discreet pin badge and mug. Not sure I'd wear a T-shirt tbh

Idea for a childrens range:

"Neglected child of a Mumsnetter"

"My life is..... Tumbleweed"

Lots of funny quotes but I wouldn't buy any of it.

Yes, the danger is that the products are much more attractive to suggest and chat about than to own.

at the tumbleweed suggestion Quint.

I don't think "Is that you, UCM?" is cliquey as such, it's more retro.

Although of course the whole UCM/MN relationship didn't end well, so there'd be a certain irony to having her as a slogan...

No one up for a "I had bum sex at Centre Parks" Hoody then???

how about a design for mugs/tshirt etc that says:
[wunk]

I'd be into a mug/tshirt/hoodie featuring a very classy, subtle, vintagey looking cutted up pear. Like a lovely green pear with a slice cut out and cutted up pear in small lettering underneath.

Love the mooncup with "Sorry, this site is temporarily offline" on it.

I wouldn't buy a hoody or tshirt I don't think.

I would buy a woolly mug mug, especially as described by Pistey.

Or tea towel with Knives, Forks, Spoons

Or the shopping bag with list

I don't think that there's anything wrong with cliquey slogans, as long as they're not the only ones available.

I, for one, would not buy these products in order to advertise my use of MN. It's a guilty secret! But I might buy something sufficiently subtle and amusing, like a YABU/YANBU mug, or secret, like a pair of nice cottony judgey pants.

Oooo "judgey pants" pyjama bottoms!

Definitely big enough and definitely hoikable.

And private!

What about a card/postcard? With YABU/YANBU on it, turn it the right way up to express the sentiment.

I've cranked up my stitch designer programme and made a sample - it's on the photos.

Any use for the woolly hugs? Would be a footery instarsia, but a pretty cross-stitch.

Ugh, file's too big to upload. PM me if you want it. Hearts and flowers border round traditional lettering.

I'll never get to be Amy Butler at this rate.

PFB logo on clothes for LOs, naice bag, naice ham lunchbox... Or hamwich box...
YABU/ YANBU mug.

Thanks everyone, some really good stuff on this thread.

All being well, we'll have the designs we're going with at launch agreed and ready in a couple of days. At launch we'll have t shirts, mugs, hoodies, tea towels, aprons and a couple of car stickers because those are the things our supplier can produce using their print on demand system already. Shortly behind that will be some tote bags, and then we'll look at other stuff in due course.

We'll be picking up on quite a few of the suggestions made here, and adding to those some of the regularly used abbreviations, and emoticons. We also hope to be doing some specific Woolly Hugs designs. Our supplier also has a number of other children's licences, so there'll be a small range of kids tees available featuring other brands.

Can I just clarify, is this a licensing model or a merchandising model? (ie are you commissioning the manufacturer as a contractor, or selling the licence to the manufacturer?)

Licensing model. Albeit one in which we retain sign off on all product. So we're de-risking it from our perspective (the margins on this stuff are tiny, as you're possibly aware), but able to have a broad range of designs for all tastes.

I do think MN should rebrand. That Charlie's Angels logo is just so old hat...

I think the bunch of flowers/nest of vipers is a great idea. I'd wear it.

Will you be bringing out a range for men? I know you like to be "inclusive" these days.

If so can I suggest a "Cocklodger" Tshirt and a "GF's Rule" hoody?

There will be a couple of bits and bobs for blokes. We can easily do more based on demand.

A very imaginative MNer sent me this via PM. I really like it - quietly subversive and amusing. I could see it working as an expanded range.

What do you all think?

I think it depends how it's used TBH, but it doesn't look that commercial to me,

Should have clarified - it's too twee to have mass appeal & the style doesn't fit the actual content, if that makes sense - nice style for a jam label or the likes, but not really commercial otherwise - if that makes more sense

I guess the appeal for me is that it looks twee, but in fact isn't.

Possibly not obvious enough then.

Wouldn't work on a T shirt, but a tea towel or Mug could?

I can see where you are coming from & yes, tea towel or mug over clothing ( which I hate the idea of slogan tes anyway) Thouhn I'd be interested in what others think, but commercially IME that doesn't really work - I think the sort of people who would go for "twee" might not go for the content - if that makes sense -personally I would prefer a mug with a nice strong stylish box framed typeface YABU on one side - YANBU on the other, probably black typeface & maybe a range of decor related fashion colours