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Since this project started in an open forum , I'm going to keep this project in that spirit and update you all as things occur as best I can. I'm fighting off the little angel on my shoulder that is saying ' you're asking for a real headache!" But the devil wins!
First I'm going to post a draft of my letter to MINI USA requesting permission to use the Wings. I'm trying to think positively about this..let's see what happens. Obviously if this letter starts in the legal department it will die there, so any and all suggestions concerning how to get them to submit are appreciated. If they won't...well , let's cross that bridge later.
Secondly,
I've added a polling feature at MotorSwag.com that is in the testing phase.
I'm going to make the first poll one that identifies the companies we want on this jacket, so we don't waste our time or the time of vendors who don't make the top 10. I'll post a link to the poll when it's ready. Some have already responded and that's good...at least the poll works.
Please let your motoring buddies know about this project and someone start a thread on MINI2 and invite them over to chime in. I'm not a sponsor there yet, so I can't post commercial content.If you post, let us know as to not clutter MINI2.com with lots of threads.
Please PM me with vendor/sponsor ideas so this thread doesn't get too cluttered with that. I'll add them as I get them. I'd like to start the official poll by Tuesday, so get those names in here.
The list so far includes: (* denotes permission has been requested)
MINI USA*
John Cooper Works
Castrol
Pirelli
Yokohama
Phil Wicks Driving Academy
North American Motoring*
Motoring File *
MINI2.com*
c3 *
Webb Motorsports*
Cooper Flags
Alta Performance
Avon
Borla
Magnaflow
Helix
Nology
Hamaan
Work Wheels
M7 Tuning*
Mini Mania
MINI Sport
Out Motoring
Tire Rack
Moss Mini
Dinan
Stratmosphere
Aesthetic Creations
RSpeed Mini
Terry Sayther Minimotive
Pilo Racing
PIAA
Dunlop
Quaife
Schrick Cams*
MINI USA
Dear___________________. April 10, 2005
First let me congratulate MINI USA on topping 100, 000 MINIs sold in the U.S. Best wishes for continued success.
I am writing on behalf of the members of NorthAmericanMotoring.com, members of other online MINI forums, MINI owners clubs as well as many of my own customers at Motor Swag.com. We are producing a racing/rallye style motoring jacket with the cooperation of North American Motoring as well as various MINI performance manufacturers and vendors.
This project started as a reaction to the counterfeit MINI racing jacket being sold from an off-shore vendor. This fake jacket features the MINI Wings logo in both small and very large formats and the logos of John Cooper Works, Castrol and others. We assume this jacket is not a licensed product although very many people in the forums have purchased them and continue to do so, as there is no equivalent product available. By the way, what happened to the MINI MOTION jacket?
Our proposal is to feature the MINI logo on a patch as well several other logo patches including the trademarks of Castrol, JCW, Pirelli, the major MINI performance shops and online motoring hang –outs, etc. All of these patches are available for sale in various places but we are contacting each company separately to obtain permissions and of course MINI USA is at the top of our list.
We would like permission to use the MINI trademark for this one time item and would appreciate your timely reply including details of licensing arrangements, required disclaimers, etc. We expect that even without your permission, buyers of the jacket will purchase the widely available counterfeit MINI patches and sew them on this jacket themselves. Alternately hundreds more fake MINI jackets will make their way here from Thailand. Our aim and preference is to not support the infringing producers of these items and instead we beseech MINI to help make this project successful by granting this limited permission. And what's better than free advertising from a lot of happy MINI owners?
Our production will begin within 30 days. We look forward to your timely and favorable response.
Sincerely, Jeffrey de la Rosa American Swag MotorSwag.com
We'll just see what happens here. I expect they'll need more time than we want to wait. Positive, Jeff, positive!
The Vendor Announcement post inviting vendors to give permission is garnering no responses. We'll have to approach them individually. If you have close relationships with a vendor/sponsor and want to approach them on your own, every encouragement will help. Please have them contact me with permissions/questions and do not post those here. I really don't want to rile anyone or offend anyone on this project so let's repect peoples' personal preferences on particpation.
MINIHUNE has a great idea I'd like to go with. 2 2"x4" velcro chest patches (L and R) where you can put a graphic patch of your MINI model and/or your local club logo, MINI wings, etc. This would involve making a few velco-backed option patches available for purchase. I would include 2 patches with the jacket. Individual car colors are not an option at this point, but you can certainly have your own made and I'll point you in the right direction for that when we get there. If the quantities are high enough , all things are possible.
I'm going to put up an I WANT a JACKET item at www.motorswag.com to use as a gauge for quantities and preferences. It will have a $0 price and options. This way I'll have a list of people to email with updates and a good idea of what people might buy so I can nail down pricing on this thing. Feel free to starting 'ordering'. This is a no obligation free service.
I've asked one of our resident MINI artists to contribute MINI artwork. If we don't get that I'll get or draw an alternate.
'm having a phone meeting with the jacket supplier on Monday. I think we'll be able to do a few different jacket color choices without a problem.
We also need to talk about the jacket back. Some like large graphics, others don't. We need to come to a concensus on this to facilitate a smooth production process. Should I do a poll on this , too or just take feedback here?
I'm gonna get on with my Sunday chores...have fun!
Team Mighty MINIZ is not a vendor, more of a club.
Agreed, but aren't Motoring File MINI2.com and North American Motoring clubs also? Not trying to argue - just asking for the qualifications. I was thinking more along the lines of this for the TMMZ patch:
Quote:
Originally Posted by DVLMINI
MINIHUNE has a great idea I'd like to go with. 2 2"x4" velcro chest patches (L and R) where you can put a graphic patch of your MINI model and/or your local club logo, MINI wings, etc. This would involve making a few velco-backed option patches available for purchase. I would include 2 patches with the jacket. Individual car colors are not an option at this point, but you can certainly have your own made and I'll point you in the right direction for that when we get there. If the quantities are high enough , all things are possible.
NAM, MINI2 and Motoring file aren't clubs. they are blogs, boards etc. as for individual clubs and cars, i dont think velcro is the way to go... IMO, there is going to be room on the jacket to add patches. i would prefer to have additional patches that could be collected down the road... club patches, individual car patches, event patches? individual groups and organizers can make these patches and when you join these groups or attend these events, you get a patch and have it sewn on.
i know that my club will probably have patches made that i would want to add to this jacket.
__________________ mike roberts co-founder stlmini | formerly president, currently apathetic blue d3mon:78 austin mini | cash:07 MCS JCW
Would the final jacket product have a fixed set of logos, or could you choose which logos you wanted for your particular purchase?
I'd have to do a fixed set of logos. Variables you could choose from would be 2 of the front patches: 1 MINI Wings or MINI Text 2 MC, MCS, MCSa graphic (I know --no MCa graphic- will consider when I get all the costs together)
if we go with the velcro ideas.
Since only 2 people have used the mock order(FREE) at www.motorswag.com
we're off to a slow start. It's not a commitment to buy, just a indication that you'd probably buy one of these jackets.
I'd have to do a fixed set of logos. Variables you could choose from would be 2 of the front patches: 1 MINI Wings or MINI Text 2 MC, MCS, MCSa graphic (I know --no MCa graphic- will consider when I get all the costs together)
if we go with the velcro ideas.
Since only 2 people have used the mock order(FREE) at www.motorswag.com
we're off to a slow start. It's not a commitment to buy, just a indication that you'd probably buy one of these jackets.
more list updates in post #1.
I don't know if my mock order went through, since I stopped at the CC info, but I would be interested in two of the black ruberized ones.
I don't know if my mock order went through, since I stopped at the CC info, but I would be interested in two of the black ruberized ones.
Nope. I've fixed it so that you can choose "jacket" as payment type (shouldn't require any CC info) and "jacket" as the shipping method.
Please try again.
Motoring File has joined the list of agreed sponsors.
Thanks, Gabe. When voting in the weeks to come, please remember the folks who jumped on first. Gabe replied with his yes within 10 minutes of my email.
[QUOTE=GBMINI]John Cooper Works is not in your vote list?
QUOTE]
Poll has been edited to include JCW and others. Will become official this weekend(poll will reset to zero) when we've given people time to find this thread and add sponsor nominations.
I don't know the likelihood of getting JCW to participate. They have this deal with MINI. Woo hoo! An unlined nylon windbreaker for only $81!
This is really shaping up.
Keep up your great work everyone.
I'm going to sticky this tread to make it easier to work on.
Let's hear more ideas and requests/suggestions.
__________________
#43 Street Modified (SM) Class SCCA Hawaii Region
2005-2009 Solo Run Off and Points Champion (Hawaii)(2nd 2006 Points)
2005-2008 Overall PAX: 8th 2006, 7th 2007, Tied 10th 2008.
2010-2011 Modified FWD RallyCross (Points Champion) http://www.sccahawaii.org/pics2008/s.../img_38944.jpg
$81.00 huh? Basic black. Boy, I've seen better jackets at Good Will!
This is a great thread. Thanks to Minihune for mentioning it to me.
Good luck on he R&D. I look forward to the completed product!
Aloha!
JCW04
[QUOTE=DVLMINI]
Quote:
Originally Posted by GBMINI
John Cooper Works is not in your vote list?
QUOTE]
Poll has been edited to include JCW and others. Will become official this weekend(poll will reset to zero) when we've given people time to find this thread and add sponsor nominations.
I don't know the likelihood of getting JCW to participate. They have this deal with MINI. Woo hoo! An unlined nylon windbreaker for only $81!
Hello!!! Hello performance shop owners...we want to plaster our jackets with your logos! I'm guessing you're all very busy developing new products or under a MINI right now, but take a few minutes and read up on this project when you can. and check your email???
I've purchased (at retail--yikes) 3 sample jackets that will be on site for inspection at Dragon 2005. If you're there you can try them on. If not you can report back to the forum your comments.
[font=arial]1 Ferrari Team Black Horse Jacket size L[/font]
[font=arial]1 Williams Bmw Blue White Jacket size XL[/font]
[font=arial]1 Mitsubushi Red Black Rally Art Jacket size M[/font]
Good news is you may choose your color(s) .
I also had a nice chat with the folks at JCW this morning and have been put in touch with the right person to speak with about permissions. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, since this could take a long time to come to fruition. I'm offering some cool GB oval jackets (check the site later today). Can you have too many jackets?
Hi- I can't find the poll or mock ordering link. the URL above takes me to your home page (http://miniswag.stores.yahoo.net/). I'm using Mozilla Firefox 1.5.
www.usminiclub.com Obie: my '05 MINI Cooper - Jet Black, Premium and Sport packages, chrome side vents with white/clear repeaters, M7 STPs, K&N 57i intake, Megan Racing MINI Cooper cat-back exhaust, TSW engine damper, Alta 19mm anti-sway bar, Ian Cull anti-nanny circuit.
Keaira a '06 MSCC w/ Premium, Sport, and Cold Weather package.
