RE: Licensing Images. anyone Know Anything About This Group?

<p>Anyone know anything about this outfit?<br /><br /> Got this e-mail yesterday.<br /><br /> ***********************************<br /><br /><br /> On Saturday, April 30, 2016 11:06 AM, Erica C. at VIDA <erica@shopatvida.com> wrote:<br /><br /> Hi There,<br /><br /><br /> Hope you’re doing very well.<br /><br /><br /> I am reaching out to extend a special invitation to you to collaborate with our company, VIDA. We think your artwork would be a wonderful addition to VIDA's collection of art as wearable apparel. At VIDA, we transform 2D artwork into elegant, scarves, tops, and dresses, and we'd love to add your artwork to our collection!<br /><br /> A little bit about VIDA:<br /> VIDA is a Google Ventures-backed fashion e-commerce platform that brings together artists and apparel manufacturers from around the world to create original, inspiring apparel in a socially conscious way. We work with manufactures all over the world, and we offer literacy programs to our factory workers.<br /><br /><br /> Becoming a VIDA designer is an easy 2 step process and should take less then 10 mins.<br /> 1: Create your profile at studio.shopvida.com<br /> 2: Upload your artwork to create your products<br /> Note: VIDA is 100% free to join and post artwork. <br /><br /> I hope you'll accept our invitation to become a VIDA artist and join our ever growing global community of artists and designers. We will be deeply honored to have the opportunity to work with you.<br /><br /><br /> Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. I’m really looking forward to your submission on studio.shopvida.com! I've included a bit more information about the process of becoming a VIDA designer below.<br /><br /><br /> Best,<br /> Erica Carter<br /> Head of Artist Relations<br /><br /><br /> 44 Tehama Street | San Francisco CA 94105<br /> Phone: 1.877.529.VIDA | Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm PST <br /> website | email<br /><br /><br /><br /> A little more about the process: <br /> After your images are approved, we will make a special branded page for you with your artwork transformed into high-quality apparel and scarves. You may then share this page with your friends, family, and fans to help promote and sell your designs. We will produce, package, and ship your products to your customers and you’ll receive 10% of the net sales for every product sold, with no limit to how much you can earn. You earning depend entirely on your sales.<br /><br /> We’ve worked with world-renowned fine artists, photographers, designers, illustrators, and creatives like Trey Ratcliff, Lauren Rader, Karen Hutton, and Karen Walrond. Artists from VIDA have been discovered by and written about in popular publications and blogs including Women’s Wear Daily, Fashion Times, Fashionista, and more. </p>

<p>Drew I would contact the people that they mention if you can. I suspect that there will be a £ or $ sign somewhere and it has not so far been mentioned.<br>

When I Google it at the bottom of the page there was this:</p>

 

<h2 data-tag="" data-partnertag="">Related Searches for <strong>shopvida.com</strong></h2>

 

 

<ul data-tag="">

<li data-tag="" data-partnertag=""><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=Shop+Vida+Scam&FORM=QSRE1"><strong>Shop Vida Scam</strong></a></li>

<li data-tag="" data-partnertag=""><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=La+Vida+Horsham&FORM=QSRE2"><strong>La Vida Horsham</strong></a></li>

<li data-tag="" data-partnertag=""><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=Vida+Scarves&FORM=QSRE3"><strong>Vida Scarves</strong></a></li>

</ul>

<ul data-tag="">

<li data-tag="" data-partnertag=""><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=Vida+Clothing&FORM=QSRE4"><strong>Vida Clothing</strong></a></li>

<li data-tag="" data-partnertag=""><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=Vida+%26+Co&FORM=QSRE5"><strong>Vida</strong> & <strong>Co</strong></a></li>

<li data-tag="" data-partnertag=""><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=Studio+Shop+Vida&FORM=QSRE6"><strong>Studio Shop Vida</strong></a></li>

</ul>

<p>The first entry would give me cause for concern. <br>

<br>

I was contacted by a New York Agency who said that they wanted to put my work on display in their gallery but it turned out they wanted a substantial fee upfront.<br>

I think that you need to do some more digging before committing yourself or sending originals. <br /><br>

This sort of approach does your self esteem the world of good but the old adage applies "if it looks to good to be true....." I hope that I am wrong. <br>

<br>

Let PN folks know how you get on and good luck. <br /><br>

</p>

 

 

 

<p>The answer above is the kind that gives forums a bad name. Almost any company name can be attached to the word "scam" and show up in a search. Looking beyond a google search and actually taking the time to read leads to articles like this one:<br>

http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/12/vida-raises-1-3-million-for-socially-responsible-e-commerce/</p>

<p>Note that the article says designer partners participate without cost, in direct contradiction to the post above. In addition, if you go to the site, you see that the deal is that designers get a flat 10% of sales. Seems like a pretty good deal.</p>

 

<p><em> designers get a flat 10% of sales.</em><br>

Not exactly - they are promised 10% of NET sales. Essentially creatives are being asked to supply files and the company will do all production work, rewarding itself with a stiff 90% of net sales. The definition of net sales is crucial - the 90/10 split is already pretty generous in the company's favor, if they'e going to deduct expenses of any kind from gross sales, the net sales figure could turn out to be quite small, even before the 90/10 split. </p>

<p>Net sales in this case means it doesn't include shipping and taxes. And it's still not a scam like the first response implied.</p>

<p>I will add that 10% is pretty good for clothing licensing. I've done it with standard contracts and I haven't come close to 10%. Maybe you can share some information about your clothing licensing.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone:</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm apprehensive and optimisticabout this at the same time.</p>

<p>Still exploring and will probably upload an image or two (no more than that) to see how this works. Not real sure that much of my work would look good on a scarf though.<br>

Whatever the case, I'll report back.</p>

<p>Basically a version of Zazzle where they make tchotchkes with your photos instead of the customer's.<br>

Hard to get a real ego boost out of that.</p>

<p>I'm sure they have worked with a few 'world-renowned' artists (this would be good publicity), but I'd bet that 'friends, family, and fans' account for most of their sales. I agree with Mark - more like Zazzle or Cafepress (or publishing a book with Lulu) than standard licensing to a commercial client. Here the marketing is up to you, whereas I'd assume Jeff has worked with clients who do the marketing themselves.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Here the marketing is up to you, </p>

</blockquote>

<p> <br>

That's not correct. Vida is a storefront and is selling the products at wholesale to other retailers. They do the marketing.</p>

<p>Depends what you mean by marketing. The spam above is apparently sent out pretty unselectively, and is explicit about them wanting you to market the product yourself to 'friends, family and fans'. When you sign up, they supposedly continue to spam you about doing this: http://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/3wz9do/is_this_email_a_scam_i_want_to_believe_but/<br>

I don't see anything that suggests they do any marketing at all until you've already made a certain number of sales via them, but they then 'promote' your designs by including them in more or less prominent pages on their own website (depending on sales volume), and dishing out discount vouchers to you and your customers. Google "becomes a VIDA Slate designer" ( http://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=%22becomes+a+VIDA+Slate+designer%22 ) and you'll see a selection of shops by designers who have not yet achieved this, and a link to the site placement and voucher promotions Vida provide for different levels of existing sales. Probably this is different if you are already an established designer they can use to promote the site itself.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I don't see anything that suggests they do any marketing at all until you've already made a certain number of sales via them</p>

</blockquote>

<p> <br>

They sell on HSN.<br>

</p>

<blockquote>

<p> wanting you to market the product yourself to 'friends, family and fans'.</p>

</blockquote>

<p> <br>

Pretty much everyone expects that. Sign up for a new website or service and they want you to let everyone know. It's standard for almost anything online now.<br>

<br>

</p>

<p>Check out this website:<br>

http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/12/vida-raises-1-3-million-for-socially-responsible-e-commerce/</p>

<p>A nice conversation covering both pros and cons. Thanks everyone. </p>

<p>I am not moving forward with this vigorously at this time, but not giving it up altogether either. Waiting to get my website re-built to promote photography and will link to VIDA and Artsy Home. Maybe I'll get my daughter-I'm-law to put up something on Pintrest (whatever that is).</p>

<p>Right now I am struggling with putting together a website using Weebly.</p>

<p>this will answer all of these questions.... https://theartistsjd.com/vida-tos/</p>

 

<p>Vida charged me $249 USD shipping fee for a small box of purchased items weighing less than 5lb to Australia and took almost 3 months to arrive whereas my post office said it would only cost $42 to get 3kg sent to America. There is something very wrong here - be careful.</p>