Tshirts for Valve Replacement Com

[msiwik]

For those that hang out in the "active lifestyles" forum, you may that know 5 members are headed to Vermont to run the first-ever Valve Replacement Marathon Relay team (see separate thread "2006 Marathon Relay). Now we have to get work on tshirts etc. Is there an official logo for the site? Anybody have thoughts on tshirt design? (Team members - I have some connections here and get the tshirts made once we know design and size).

Who's the creative types out there? Send in your ideas.

[Philip]

I'm jealous!
Book me for next year.
Check the logo on the VR merchandise page. If you have shirts made of a material suitable for running (other than cotton) I would like to purchase one.
Philip

[Blanche]

THree chers for all of you, and good speed. We would be interested in shirts that are other than cotton too. In terms of logos and other creative things for the shirts, perhaps you might want to pass it by Hank. As owner and founder of valvereplacement I believe he holds some copyrights or something like that.

[JimL]

I know of two times when T-shirts have been printed up in the past. Both employed the logo from the homepage.
One was done by Perry from Chicago, and was a fundraiser, or supposed to be.
The other was done by Fyrfytr in preparation for the Golden, Colorado reunion.
Either could provide more information. I have at least one of each T-shirt, and a camera somewhere, if no one else can help.

[Mary]

If you all get a shirt designed, I'd buy one

[Christina]

I'll buy more shirts if the color is right. I don't care for the light colors that are on the site right now. The yellow and green look okay though. I would love to see the new shirts in royal blue and deep purple.
I still have about 5 shirts left. The navy has faded though and I don't wear them anymore. The one from the reunion in Golden still looks fine. It is white.

[tommy]

We would be interested in shirts that are other than cotton too. Synthetics rock for athletics.

I like the small logo over the breast on the front.
A large log on the front gets hidden by the race bib (for us shirt bibbers).
A large logo on the back is helpful to get visibility on the course (for the people you pass:D).

I'm in.

[rbl1999]

Did I miss something? Are there Tshirts available for AVR patients? Rose

[Perrster]

I designed custom tee and sweatshirts a few years ago as a fund raiser for vr.com/Hank. It was a success, but it was a lot of work handling all the variations of shirts that people wanted. Since then Hank has made use of the same logo on cafepress.com They have some snazzy shirts, hats, etc. See their link on the home page. You could save yourself a lot of expense by ordering existing shirts AND help vr.com with your purchase. Contact Hank or cafepress direct about it. Cafepress may even be able to help you with additional custom print if you wanted to add stuff. I don't think you can beat their deals with any custom prints. I hope this helps? Happy trails and good luck to all of you.

[Hank]

Hi Folks - A Marathon Relay - Awesome..

I wish I was healthy enough to run such a thing.

As far as the shirts go.

Please visit http://www.cafepress.com/valvesreplaced to purchase official ValveReplacement.com merchandise.

If someone would like a specific design or addition to the logo or additional text along with the logo, please let me know and I will place the design online.

I realize that most of the shirts are 2005 reunion shirts, but I will have that changed tonight or tomorrow.

[tommy]

Hank,

For endurance athletics, cotton is awful:eek: . It gets sticky :eek: and heavy :eek: with perspiration.

The best shirts are light-weight 100% polyester:) . Generally, those shirts have the tag on a lower seam - not in the irritating :mad: location in the back of the neck. That may sound picky, but after thousands of steps, any irritation gets to be a problem:mad: .

The tight-fit shirts usually have some spandex in them. You may get some sales on those from this crowd, but I would think that the polyester shirts would go well.

Perhaps you could add an option for a tag line such as "Valvathlete", or "Valvathlete in Training".:D

Please arrange for 100% polyester shirts on cafepress.:)

Thanks.

[Paul]

Man! I am so excited to see all the people interested in the relay!!

If anyone has any ideas about how we can use this event for a bigger purpose please throw it out there, either here or on the origional Thread (which is quite long now).

Mark Siwik has an atticle set up and I will be making some contacts here at the race venue.

Very much in favor of getting some quality running shirts made. I would take more then one, that's for sure. I have a synthetic shirt made by Hind that has a V-neck colar that I like a lot. I will be heading to the bike/run shop today and will talk to them about thier suppliers. It would be nice to touch the shirts before we go and order a bunch.

[Paul]

Hank,
Does ValveReplacement.com have an agreement or contract or such with cafepress? It's not clear form the site if they are set up to produce performace clothing although the stuff they do have looks nice.

In the future I would like to propose some cycling apparel as there seems to be may cyclists, moutain bikers and triathlets. There are many many complanies who produce team gear for the thousands of cycling clubs and teams.

So I am just wonderinig what commitments have been made and restrictions there are. Certainly everything that is done or even proposed with representing VR.com will be approved by you. I feel now that I should not have registerd the Relay team as ValveReplacement.com without review/approval.

[MitralMan]

then, that we'll do valvereplacement.com T's, rather than come up with a separate identity and logo?

I think that's what I'm reading. I'm fine with that, too, and happy to support Hank and the site!

[MitralMan]

..can we ensure that official valvereplacement.com T's will be the kind of CoolMax/polyester wicking material that runners need? What do we need to do to make this happen? And can we in fact relocate the logo so that it is visible even when we're wearing our race numbers?

Thanks!

MM

[edited to add:] I just left the following message for the cafepress customer service folks:

We'd like to order a bunch of runner's T-shirts from www.valvereplacement.com, as five of us are running a marathon relay this May in Vermont. But we want to make sure that these are not cotton T's, but instead synthetic/poly/CoolMax type shirts which wick away moisture and heat. Can you do this? Thanks!

H

Hi Folks - A Marathon Relay - Awesome..

I wish I was healthy enough to run such a thing.

As far as the shirts go.

Please visit http://www.cafepress.com/valvesreplaced to purchase official ValveReplacement.com merchandise.

If someone would like a specific design or addition to the logo or additional text along with the logo, please let me know and I will place the design online.

I realize that most of the shirts are 2005 reunion shirts, but I will have that changed tonight or tomorrow.

[Paul]

I think we are saying that we need to respect what Hank has done and the relationships he has established. However the reality is we can not run in cotton T-shirts. Hopefully the Cafe will have somethinig for us.

As far as the logo goes, I am not sure what we are saying. A new design will take some effort by someone. I HESITATE (!!) to speak for my incredibly talented graphic designer wife.... but :) :) :) She may be willing to take the basic design and add some runner type specifics to it.

The basic loge is ValveReplacement.com with the red heart. I think we should keep and work from that.

These are just my thoughts and I am very concerned that I don't offend or step on Hank's toes.

[MitralMan]

This is what I got back from Cafepress.com:

Dear Hugh,

Thank you for contacting CafePress.com!

Thank you or your interest in CafePress.com! We do not carry the item in question. We recommend that you perform a general search using www.google.com to obtain information regarding this product. We hope this information helps and apologize for any inconvenience. Please feel free to contact us if you have additional questions or concerns by replying to this message or calling us at one of the numbers provided below.

Your ticket code is LTK30014133351X. Please use this code in any further communication.


Best Regards,

Carmen D.

What if the relay team finds a source for custom athletic shirts and then turn this over to Hank (& Perry?), who remain(s?) in charge of the intellectual property. They (you guys?) establish the business relationship just as you have with cafepress. We buy from this new supplier and support valvereplacement.com.

See, for example, http://www.customink.com/custom/wick-id.htm

Make sense?

[msiwik]

This is what I got back from Cafepress.com:

Dear Hugh,

Thank you for contacting CafePress.com!

Thank you or your interest in CafePress.com! We do not carry the item in question. We recommend that you perform a general search using www.google.com to obtain information regarding this product. We hope this information helps and apologize for any inconvenience. Please feel free to contact us if you have additional questions or concerns by replying to this message or calling us at one of the numbers provided below.

Your ticket code is LTK30014133351X. Please use this code in any further communication.


Best Regards,

Carmen D.

What if the relay team finds a source for custom athletic shirts and then turn this over to Hank (& Perry?), who remain(s?) in charge of the intellectual property. They (you guys?) establish the business relationship just as you have with cafepress. We buy from this new supplier and support valvereplacement.com.

See, for example, http://www.customink.com/custom/wick-id.htm

Make sense?

I'd vote for that option. I know all of us are in favor of following Hank's lead on this. I also think the website Mitralman found is perfect for our needs in getting wicked shirts to wear in the event. There also seems to plenty of styles to choose from too which may be of interest to the the nonrunners in our midst.

[Hank]

How about this,

I will create a logo that shows the ValveReplacement.com Logo and incorporates whatever slogan or marathon name you like and send you the artwork.

You get the shirts made any way that you can, and we will call it the official ValveReplacement.com Marathon Relay Team.

Then you could simply compensate the site with some shirts that we can use for giveaways at the reunion this October!

By the way, only 1 more day to call and book your cabin!

[mntbiker]

Hank,
That sounds good to me (but then I am only on the sidelines).

Another suggestion to the ones organizing this, find out how many people would like shirts, tally it up and place one large order, calculate and come up with a price per shirt incorporating extra shirts for Hank. Any money left over could be donated on the vr.com website. I would take 2 shirts. I know they are running shirts but a wicking shirt is a wicking shirt and I would wear it while I ride.

[Arpy]

The West Australian arm of the VR website would be keen on buying a couple of shirts in support of our illustrious runners in Vermont / VR.com.

Russell

[Karlynn]

I'm glad to read that others not participating would like a shirt - because I would too! Solidarity - support - pride! :D I think this is a terrific thing you are doing.

[MitralMan]

Mark,

I'll do the ordering if you and Paul work with Hank on the slogan/marathon name/whatever.

I'm thinking we should start a new thread just for shirt orders, once we've defined what the things will actually say.

How about this,

I will create a logo that shows the ValveReplacement.com Logo and incorporates whatever slogan or marathon name you like and send you the artwork.

You get the shirts made any way that you can, and we will call it the official ValveReplacement.com Marathon Relay Team.

Then you could simply compensate the site with some shirts that we can use for giveaways at the reunion this October!

By the way, only 1 more day to call and book your cabin!

[msiwik]

Mark,

I'll do the ordering if you and Paul work with Hank on the slogan/marathon name/whatever.

I'm thinking we should start a new thread just for shirt orders, once we've defined what the things will actually say.


Hank et al:

1. I am in favor of a solution that brings some money in and positive public relations for the website and Hank's efforts.

2. I would like the solution to be something that we can work with now and in future races. For example, I can already look ahead and see us doing a marathon relay event again in 2007 - probably in N.E. Ohio and I am guessing we might even have enough for two teams by then.

3. Judging from the interest and discussion, it sounds like there would be ongoing interest in being able to buy athletic apparel. The website that Mitralman found - http://www.customink.com/custom/wick-id.htm - sounds ideal. I am just wondering if it make more sense VR.COM to have a direct relationship with this vendor in which site members can buy directly and VR.COM gets proceeds from each sale.

I don't want this to be more complicated than it needs to be and if others, especially Hank, want to take smaller steps or view this as a one-time deal, that's fine with me. Just raising possibilities here; that's all.

Mark

[Paul]

I just posted a reply to Philip on the 2006 Relay thread and thought that it would be applicable here as much of it has to do with the Synthetic T-shirt situation, so here it is un edited (i have to get back to engineering somethig today, although this is much more fun :) :) :) :) )

++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Philip,

I am not sure if we will post times, we will need to discuss it, it could be good for people to see, but it also doesn't really matter that much as we are all so different, recovering valvers or not.

The race is the Vermont City Marathon on May 28th.
The team is:
Paul
msiwik
mitralman
ChristineBP
LLJ

We have been moving forward wtih Hank's review and approval, on non-cotton shirts. What is in the works is an order of 18 to 24. The VT Race team will each buy one or two for our selves, the remaining available for purchase by any registered VR.com-er, then the remaining would be paid for by the VT Race Team and given to Hank (with our appriciation) to be done with as he sees fit, such as raffle or such at the reunion or curise.

This is all still in the works. I will be starting a thread soliciting interest in buying a shirt so we can get an idea of how many to order. I will also contact through the web site all the folks who have already expressed initerest. Our latest estimate is $32 to $35/shirt (with a few $/shirt going to Hank, he does have some expesnes keeping the site running) for a synthetic shirt with two or more colors on the front and back and it would not be VT City Marathon specific but would be run specific, something like: Valve Replacement.com Marathon Team or Running Team, or Valvolines or something fun, using Hank's basic logo you see above. My wife is a profesional Graphic Designer and will make it look sharp, but without much fluff. www.bleuskycreative.com Cheap plug, but she deserves it.

We have received interest from several heart related orgonizations as well as the Marathon its self. Mark has put together a 'team bio sheet' that he will send to the appropriate groups and he will be talking with them as needed. I want to also contact our local newspaper and our local Cardiac Rehab.

I think this is really getting exciting and we have every intention of continuing this in future years with hopefully many more VR.com-ers running. it would have been great to have 10 runners here this year, but just orgonizing this has been a little bit of work and there is still effort to be put forth with general PR.

I personally very much appreicate all the possitive comments that have been posted here and on the Tshirts thread. This all started when my wife and i ran and very much enjoyed the Jan 1st 5k as a way to put 2005 behind us. I has OHS and she had a baby. i simply thought how great it would be to use the Relay as a means to meet some of you in person.

Sincerely,
Paul

[tommy]

I like generic name "Valvathlete".

If you go with sport-specific shirts, dont' forget about us "Trivalvers"?

I'm looking forward to being on one of the marathon relay teams as well.

[MitralMan]

I sent them the VR logo from Hank (thanks, Hank!). Let's see what they come back with!

MM

[Hank]

I just wanted everyone to be know that these running madpeople (of course I mean that in a good way) have the full support and backing of ValveReplacement.com.

Whatever you guys need as far as ValveReplacement.com support, logos, etc. please let me know...

I am happy to be associated with anything that is good..

[Karlynn]

I just wanted everyone to be know that these running madpeople have the full support and backing of ValveReplacement.com.

Madpeople :D well I wasn't going to go there, but you opened the door. I've never understood why people like to run.:D Thus, I've never understood my husband. (But then he doesn't understand how I can play my guitar for hours without getting bored.)

If these shirts might be made available to the rest of the VR community - I know my madhusband would like one.

[MitralMan]

I'll let you know what happens when it arrives.

[MitralMan]

Very light weight, nice seams, no label to chafe (it's just printed). Looks like it runs true to size, so an XL is a little big for me as it should be (I'm a 43" chest). I think we're good to go. Paul, we just need you and your wife's talents to finalize what we want printed (beyond the file Hank has already given us), and I'll place and pay up front for the order.

MM

[Philip]

Is it too late to get in on this order?
Philip

[msiwik]

Is it too late to get in on this order?
Philip We should information in the next week or so about ordering. Mark

[Mary]

Are the shirts ready to go yet?
If not, please let everyone know when they are.

[msiwik]

Are the shirts ready to go yet?
If not, please let everyone know when they are.

Here's an update on the running shirt saga. Our marathon relay team ordered approximately 25 shirts, with four to be donated to Hank/vr.com. They are tasteful and equally importantly, designed specifically for racing/competition (wick sweat off you). What we discovered is that nobody makes custom design athleticwear that you can order on a one-off or two-off basis. Generally, manufacturers like to have an order of 30+ or more. So what we need to do is figure out a way to do a mass order for those who want to get shirts as well. The only way I know to do that is to solicit a volunteer who collects order information and money from everyone and then agrees to place the order and ship the shirt when it comes in - that's a lot of work (none of which the current team members can do). The other solution is to just wait until next year - the 2007 marathon relay team which will be in Akron, Ohio in October. At that time, we can place another large order on behalf of the team/interested site members. I think Mitralman and/or Paul will post a visual of the shirt we came up with. Suggestions/questions are welcome!