PWACers invited to take a break from
writing, to shop
The Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) has gone into merchandising, using a U.S.-based online service called CafeExpress to create T-shirts, children's clothes and fridge magnets branded with the PWAC logo. The PWAC store is up and running and if you want a mug or a button, this would be the place. The only drawback is that the PWAC logo being used is somewhat lame and incredibly old-fashioned. But you can't blame an organization for doing what it can to raise funds for a good cause. The organization says it has plans to sell some of its professional development materials through the shop.PWAC recently announced that it now represents 606 members across Canada.
Labels: freelancers
posted by D. B. Scott at
12:10 pm
5 Comments:
It's too bad that you have to support an american company to create the products... and shipping will probably reflect that as well.
I can't blame them for using CafePress, I know this is the easy route to create these kinds of products, and there aren't any Canadian companies who do the same kind of thing as CafePress.
But wouldn't be too hard to pay a local silkscreener to do t-shirts and ship em out...
DB do you have any context on that 606 number? I (an editor) was just thinking through my shortlist of top writers and only one is a PWAC member. Either I have an unconscious bias? or membership is not common? Maybe getting the word out through buttons and shirts i
I like the ideas of writers using pens. How very quaint.
DB,
Thanks for covering the PWAC store. Of course, we ran all the numbers, and looked for Canadian suppliers before choosing CafePress. PWAC's vast office and warehouse space is still just a bit too small for storing boxes of t-shirts and coffee mugs. CafePress is a 'virtual' store -- no inventory. When PWAC wants some bulk merch for special events, we will, of course, go the traditional route.
As well, everyone's entitled to their opinion on the PWAC logo -- even incorrect opinions like yours are welcome. Seriously though, our new logo was chosen by the people, for the people. It's PWAC democracy in action.
And, I still write with a pen. The pen's not dead yet. I retired my quill a few years back.
PWAC's membership numbers are indeed at that record high, and continuing to grow. Many of our members continue to work for Canada's top papers and magazines, but the trend for professional writing in Canada, as revealed by our 2006 report, is a move away from periodicals into better paying markets. It's not a happy trend for anyone who cares about Canadian culture, and one PWAC hopes to reverse with help from the rest of the industry.
I wasn't suggesting that the pen is dead; I use one hourly, myself. But the logo over all demonstrates a tin ear for iconography. Whether or not it is democratically selected, it is of the "lamp of learning" school of logo design, with an unnecessary literalism and a use of typography that is inapppropriate for the kind of go-ahead organization you represent.Hire a good designer and see what a difference it would make. I know you're an organization of writers, but even writers can use some help when it comes to modern design.
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