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Whether you want to sell thongs, mugs or mousepads showcasing your clever graphics and copywriting CafePress is the place for you — that is if you don’t mind sub par or, at best, par quality products. It’s actually kind of amazing that this on-line venture is almost ten years old, founded in 1999. It recently changed its low-key logo for a rather bold statement: A distressed, grunge, do-it-yourself attitude that seems to contradict the actual product. When I see the new logo I think of silkscreen printing, letterpress or some other form of hands-on printing and production approach which, in my very limited experience with CafePress, is far from its actual production values. As a logo it’s not bad — although it’s faddish and painfully unoriginal — but the biggest problem is appropriateness: It’s not.
Thanks to Darrel Austin for the tip.
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Jimmy Marks’s comment is:
I've heard decent things about cafe press - not that they're the best or that they're any substitute for a quality printer, but they get done what you need done.
As it is, I think the new logo works. It's close to what you expect from an operation like this, it makes you think of silk-screening/t-shirt printing, and it's youthful...moreso than the old logo which is deep-dish lame.
On Nov.10.2008 at 10:31 AM
JonE.’s comment is:
I think it could have be pulled off with a grungier website design, one that more or less matches the logo. But as is now, I agree with Armin, its not at all appropriate with the overall look.
On Nov.10.2008 at 10:34 AM
Jeff’s comment is:
Yeah the Web site is a let-down. Upsetting implementation. I think the new brand does a better job catering to its audience, but the cracks/fades remind me of iron-on quality tees.
On Nov.10.2008 at 10:44 AM
CJ’s comment is:
Wow. They really managed to suck any personality the website had right out. Look like a template design with a logo slapped on.
On Nov.10.2008 at 11:05 AM
RR’s comment is:
Hmm. Kinda disappointed. I've used CP in the past for shirts/calendars. I was initially skeptical of the quality - but was happy with the finished product.
This new treatment probably does little to reassure people who might not choose CP over quality concerns. Looks a bit too budget and do-it-yourself to me. And doesn't over much confidence in the final product.
On Nov.10.2008 at 11:54 AM
Jamie’s comment is:
I was just noticing the logo & website change last week and wondered if you would be featuring it here. ;)
Although CafePress may not be the best quality, it definitely has its advantages. For example, my nonprofit animal rescue cannot afford to purchase a large order of merchandise from a traditional printer....nor do we have enough volunteers to be able to deal with orders & shipping. CafePress is much more expensive since you're printing one item at a time, but it allows us to offer many different items to our supporters ...and we don't have to deal with inventory, shipping, or any of that time-consuming stuff. :)
I'm not in love with the new CafePress logo, but I do think it's an improvement from the old. At least it has a bit of personality now.
On Nov.10.2008 at 12:31 PM
Joao B.’s comment is:
Definitely cliche. I hope they didn't pay too much. Looks like it took about 10 seconds of thought and one trip to Dafont.com
On Nov.10.2008 at 12:37 PM
dc’s comment is:
how about an accent for café?
On Nov.10.2008 at 01:26 PM
Spencer Cross’s comment is:
Cafe Press's only advantage at this point is that it's been around for a long time. Competitors like Zazzle eat CP's lunch in every other way.
On Nov.10.2008 at 01:45 PM
Tom Hackett’s comment is:
Makes me think of a potato print:
George - LogoDesign.org’s comment is:
I've used CafePress and although it is true that you get what you pay for I've always found them the most reliable source when looking for cheap logowear. That new logo though, AAAGGGHHHHH! I actually was a HUGE fan of their previous logo, it's one of my favorites, nice and simple but still manages to be professional and memorable.
What were they thinking????
On Nov.10.2008 at 02:39 PM
ryan’s comment is:
I think it's not so great, I would say terrible but then I might get attacked.
It's way too trendy, and grunge is dead. It came and went already, way to be behind the times.
I think the old logo said 'quality' and the new one says 'we make your stuff in our dirty basement'.
This look would do a bit better for a site like etsy.com where people sell handmade items (art). Not that esty should use anything like this (ever).
On Nov.10.2008 at 02:43 PM
TactfulCactus’s comment is:
The missing bowls and counters make me twitchy.
On Nov.10.2008 at 02:59 PM
Marnie’s comment is:
Frankly, I find the logo a little too appropriate since that's how the printing on the clothing starts to look, in a pretty short time.
On Nov.10.2008 at 04:06 PM
Jonathan’s comment is:
If they carved the negative into a potato and then printed it, I'm really liking this logo, but that would be my only reason :)
On Nov.10.2008 at 04:06 PM
Mark’s comment is:
eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwww...it went backwards, dump the green PLEASE.
On Nov.10.2008 at 05:41 PM
Mr. Frankie L’s comment is:
The new Cafe Press logo gives off the vibe that anything I want can be slapped on the t-shirt; not DIY DIY but DIY for those who have the idea but lack the physical motivation or know-how.
On Nov.10.2008 at 05:44 PM
Anonymous’s comment is:
I dunno. I like it better than the original.
On Nov.10.2008 at 06:26 PM
Matheus’s comment is:
grunge = fail
On Nov.10.2008 at 07:33 PM
Scott’s comment is:
To be honest, I have mixed feelings. While the old logo was nice and better suited, the old logo also looked like every other online print vendor I have seen. I have used them a few times, and what I like about CafePress is that you can create any piece of design and have just one shirt made. Create single, one of a kind shirts if you choose. Now that does harken back to the day when screenprinting was done on a one or two color, manual screen press. So in that sense, I think the grungy (with a hint of spraypaint splatter) might be more of a homage to the old way of printing. However, I agree with many of the posts, that the website should also reflect this design convention to make it seem more purposeful.
On Nov.10.2008 at 08:07 PM
Mere’s comment is:
I was thinking it looked like a stamp or potato print too. It doesn't really fit with the rest of the site.
Their quality has really gone up over the years but Zazzle still offers better quality t shirt printing, better editing tools and a better site design.
On Nov.10.2008 at 08:35 PM
anon’s comment is:
wow, what a shock- yet another negative post on brand new!
On Nov.10.2008 at 09:54 PM
Shane’s comment is:
That's funny Is et up a cafe press account like 4 years ago, and was really doing it as an affordable way to design my own shirts, I figured a shirt for 9 bucks plus shipping was a pretty good deal. I have yet to actually purchase one of my own shirts, nor has anyone else. the other day I remembered these old accounts and decided to check up on them and noticed the redesigned the logo as well as the entire site, and my thoughts were spot on with your post. What's funnier is I thought of this site, and at first I thought I wonder why it wasn't on "Brand New" then I thought, well it doesn't REALLy deserve to be...
I guess I was wrong...
On Nov.10.2008 at 10:35 PM
damon’s comment is:
it's better than the old one in that it has a distinct style and flavour..it is a new kind of suck, but at least one that's less generic than dirt.
although that's not really true....only kinda.
On Nov.10.2008 at 11:38 PM
Maaike’s comment is:
I don't really mind the new logo - it's not very original, but then the previous logo wasn't, either. But the website reminds me a bit too much of last.fm, and the combination of the grungy logo with big, rounded buttons is rather awkward.
On Nov.11.2008 at 07:20 AM
ScottS’s comment is:
This looks completely incongruous with the look/feel of the web site/products. I would have chosen a different direction, one a bit more polished and more friendly. The distressed/off kilter nature of this logo just does not fit the business. I suspect this one won't last very long.
On Nov.11.2008 at 11:10 AM
Wünderwoman’s comment is:
I like the message (grassroots, do-it-yourself) but it kind indicates that the quality of their printing isn't so good. I haven't visited in while...maybe the offer a grunge look now!
On Nov.11.2008 at 05:35 PM
Matt’s comment is:
Most ugly logo - their original was bland but it worked. cafepress is supposed to be transparent and let the creativity come from you.
On Nov.12.2008 at 02:37 AM
Patrick’s comment is:
Not good. It's missing the hook. It's missing the accent on the e. It's missing talent.
In what looks like an attempt at making a reference to woodblock printing, it's safe to say that this has failed miserably.
I'm a fan of grunge - I design a lot for bands and entertainment companies that rely on it. But for short periods of time only. One year max. Not for corporate branding.
On Nov.12.2008 at 09:01 PM
Minder Singh’s comment is:
All you people are crazy. That website looks way better now. That old logo was the cheapest looking thing I've ever seen.
On Nov.13.2008 at 02:32 PM
Jeff’s comment is:
Their customers don't care what the actual printing process is. The screenprinted DIY look makes total sense for who they want to target.
I like it.
On Nov.14.2008 at 12:00 PM
Randy Hill’s comment is:
Nope, I just don't like it. It does look exactly like you think a product from them would look if you believe everything you hear on the internet. Actually I've ordered a few tees from them and the quality was darn good for short run item. So I don't think I would have gone with a grunge look (and not because I hate the grunge look). I would have gone with something that said "quality" (even though everything they make is not known for that).
On Nov.14.2008 at 03:10 PM
Molly’s comment is:
Why would you have gone with something that said "quality" if they're "not known for that"? If they're targeting a DIY/budget audience, rather than a "quality" audience, isn't this look pretty on-brand?
On Nov.16.2008 at 04:48 PM
Kelly Hobkirk’s comment is:
The new logo seems more memorable to me. I liked the old one though. I have to agree with Armin that it seems more appropriate for what they sell. This is purely from an outsider perspective though.
Perhaps they have recognized a pattern shift in their target market? Or they are having the intelligent foresight to shift their focus for the current economic reality? Given that things will be tough for the foreseeable future, this could be a good move.
On Nov.16.2008 at 07:23 PM
Linkin Mall’s comment is:
Recently CafePress began competing with the artists for whom it acts as printer and shipper.
CafePress rents web shops to its artists. The artist creates a website page and manually loads the desired blank products. The artist imports his image onto each product, arranges the products on the page, describes the products, titles the products and tags the images.
Initially, the artist would set a markup and received the markup for each product sold.
However, recently CafePress began competing with its artists, using the artists' own images. CafePress created a marketplace where a customer can search a keyword. That search brings up artist products. When the customer buys from the marketplace CafePress pays the artist 10% of the price CafePress set. Both the customer and the artist lose money. If the artist's shop sells a t-shirt for $21, the artist makes $3.01. If the marketplace sells the same shirt for $25, the artist gets $2.50. The customer pays $4 more, and the artist gets $0.51 less.
CafePress tells artists to "promote your own shop," but CafePress buys Google adwords using the very image tags the artist provided.
CafePress justifies this bait and switch of service terms by telling artists they can opt out if they don't like the new terms; however, many have spent as much as 7 or 8 years creating as much as 88000 images.
In spite of their sweat-equity, many shopkeepers (content providers) are building shops at other print-on-demand companies and then closing their CafePress shops due to the broken faith and trust, the financial hardship CafePress has delivered into so many lives, and the huge amount of time and dedicated effort all lost in the momentum of their own businesses. Would you keep your AMOCO station franchise if AMOCO built a company store across the street from you?
On Jun.22.2009 at 03:26 AM
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