ABC and CafePress have introduced a new ABC Online Store where of fans of the TV networks shows will be able to buy official merchandise along with merchandise designed by other fans.
CafePress technology will allow visitors to the site to design their own t-shirts, posters, water bottles and other custom products. These fan-designed products will live alongside official merchandise in the ABC Online Store.
“In keeping with ABC’s ongoing commitment to technological innovation, we sought a merchandising solution that would fully leverage the power of the internet to significantly enhance and deepen our relationship with the ABC viewer,” said Mia Rondinella, VP of Business Planning & Development at ABCEG.
“Embracing the voices and enthusiasm of our fans is very important to us. Of equal importance to us was the ability to incorporate the latest in supply chain optimization technologies to enable us to more nimbly execute our retail strategy,” “We selected CafePress based on its proven experience engaging and monetizing mass consumer audiences online.”
This new arrangement expands upon a licensing agreement announced earlier this year which allowed fans of selected ABC television shows to design and sell authorized show merchandise on CafePress.com.