Yesterday we were locked down inside a meeting room in a secret location in central London.
Like most meeting accommodation, the facilities were mixed. Lacking in biscuits but offering a selection of boiled sweets. We weren’t offered a cup of tea but there was a Starbucks very nearby. Pens and paper were liberally available for ideation.
And best of all it was cheap. Free in fact.
Actually, it was Russell’s house. These details are important when you’re a start up.
The point of this session was to discuss (and hopefully) resolve the ‘What happens when you press ORDER’ question. I’m happy to announce we cracked that. We can’t tell you what happens just yet for confidentiality reasons, but the gist of it is that you’ll get an order number.
We must apologise for bothering you with all this trivial chat about orders and fulfillment, it must be terribly boring for you. It is for us. So, on to more exciting news!
Today we are pleased to announce our initial launch product line up! (Subject to change.)
We want to launch with a variety of products that allows different people to use newspaper club to do different things, but at the same time we want to keeps simple and make it as easy as possible for people to make their own newspapers, hence us offering a 12 page newspaper over certain quantities.
For launch the very low numbers are only available in black and white; 12 pages and 5 copies, 20 copies, 100 copies or 500 copies.
And these are available in full colour; 12 pages and 500 copies, 1000 copies, 2000 copies or 5000 copies.
You could in theory influence this line up by commenting below.
Anyway, we’ve had a good productive week, but now it’s the weekend so we need to unwind.
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 at 4:14 pm
Russell Permalink
Actually, you were offered a cup of tea. And our secret visitor in fact had a cup of tea. Just for the record.
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 at 4:29 pm
Ben Permalink
I wonder if the secret visitor could build us a machine that would tweet this exciting launch product news?
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 at 4:42 pm
Loïc Boyer Permalink
Is that a UK ONLY I see?
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 at 7:25 pm
Gym Class Magazine Permalink
Yaay Newspaper Club!
Are my print specs still cool?
Come to think of it, may like to add another four pages…
You guys rock, by the way! :)
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 at 10:11 pm
Sarah Permalink
Okay, I’ve been thinking for a few entries that I need to get a job or move in with you guys, but honestly, THE WOMBLES? My favourite childhood albums (which I, err, may have just bought from Amazon on MP3)*? We should probably all just get married and be done with it.
*SO jealous you still have the vinyl, grr!
Sat, 26 Sep 2009 at 7:57 am
Ben Permalink
Loïc – UK only for launch, yes.
Gym Class Magazine – You’re using the PDF upload option which is unaffected by this exciting news and which we should talk about on here I guess.
Sarah – You’re welcome to move in. Do you come with your own office?
Thu, 1 Oct 2009 at 1:01 pm
The WIRED Intelligence Briefing | Newspaper Club Permalink
[...] a) You create and print your own newspaper. This will launch in Januaryish. [...]
Tue, 6 Oct 2009 at 3:12 am
Justin Permalink
What are the odds of the small runs being expanded to say, black + 1 colour of ink + the newsprint?
I suppose UK only excludes Canada, even though we’re practically British and can make good tea without saucers?
Tue, 6 Oct 2009 at 2:30 pm
Ben Permalink
Justin – Sorry to disappoint you but the chances are zero. Newspaper printing doesn’t work like that. It’s full colour or B&W.
And to further disappoint you, UK only means UK only. ie not places that are not in the UK, like Canada. Trust me, we’ve just had a meeting about this.
Tue, 16 Feb 2010 at 11:32 am
Mark Griffin Permalink
It would be nice to be able to have a smaller run of colour newpapers. What would be the unit cost of 50 say? Would it be prohibitive? How many for about £200?
£500 is a big outlay.
Terrifically exciting idea anyway!
Best / Mark
Wed, 17 Feb 2010 at 12:01 pm
Tom Permalink
Hi Mark,
500 is the minimum we can print for colour newspapers at the moment, but obviously we’d love to bring that down. The technology isn’t quite there yet, but soon, soon…