What are the barriers for the competitors to replicate your business model?
For us having a very strong community of designers and buyers is something which we feel is a strong entry barrier. Today we have been able to scale up to 13000 designers earning through the platform. So if they are able to earn from the platform and be successful on the platform; then we become the platform of choice.
Second, the type of supply chain we have cracked in terms that there is no minimum order quantity on the production. They can order from one t-shirt at a time. The delivery timeline is right, we are not asking them to wait for 7 days. We are producing it in 24-48 hours and shipping it out. Typically a te-shirt personalized and printed only for you is delivered in 5-6 days.
Measure of Success for FREECULTR express?
We have put it very loud and clear that we aim to be able to make 3 lakh entrepreneurs by 2016. If we are able to give a platform to these designers who are selling on our platforms to quit their jobs and earn only from this and use this money to fulfill there dreams. So lot of people want to quit their day jobs and follow their passion. So through our platform if they can fulfill their passions and focus on what they really want do and convert their passion into a profession. In short developing an alternative career option such that people who want to travel they can actually go, travel, fund their travel by selling their t-shirts and make money out of it. Thus by giving freedom to these people we are just allowing them additional source of income.
There is one guy on the platform who tweeted, that I had a dream to sell t-shirt since 1990 and you guys made it happen. That kind of stories really touches us, that we are able t make dreams of people come true. Enabling people to design without any investment is the base on which we work. If you have a great idea, we will convert it into a product.
How are the designs chosen?
FREECULTR doesn’t choose any design. They allow the people to submit everything and anything and then the algorithm or the product ranking system automatically brings the high selling designs on the top and the designs, which are converting faster, are chosen. So, if the design is good it sells.
How can one design T-shirts?
For the sake of simplicity, FREECULTR express provides a guide to Tee Creation for all the budding artists to use this platform/opportunity to the best of their ability.
What advice would you offer to a soon to be startup founders out there?
Crowdsourcing platform need to make sure that the content is unique and original. Engaging with the community is very important i.e. how fast and how well engaged are you with them. Are u reaching out to them, are you hand holding them? Like we have recently launched a micro site called free-culture express, it is portal which tells them on what to design and how to design.
Hand holding them at every stage, because your will know your platform the best. Its like launching a very new product, to create a segment your need to really first tell them how to use the product. Like we are planning to hold a designer meet wherein we will get the people together, we will just get them to understand the platform more, talk to us directly, get their feedback. So it is a two-way thing. We are also learning a lot from them, because they are the guys using the platform. To engage with them on a two way balance.
