Zazzle Archive

About two months ago I wanted to print some very simple round stickers for CloudContacts. In the past I’ve used Sticker Robot which produced some absolutely awesome vinyl stickers for CN. This time I just wanted something basic – the CN logo and it didn’t need to be die-cut or on vinyl.

I decided to place orders from both Zazzle and VistaPrint for the stickers. I would have ordered all of the stickers from Zazzle but I had a Living Social voucher for VistaPrint and so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to compare the stickers and the experience from both companies. Zazzle was sending a ton of coupons to their newsletter subscribers although that well has seemed to dry up since the holidays are over.

Since VistaPrint offers a lot of “free” products, it’s important to understand that I paid full price for the stickers. Based on the overall experience, I won’t Vistaprint again and am completely disappointed that they continue to send me printed matter in the mail including an offer for Google advertising today. I never asked to be contacted post-purchase or to be added to their mailing lists. While I could understand that with their free products you are opening yourself up to be spammed with their co-branded marketing offers, I paid for the stickers.

Summary: In every aspect from design tools to after-purchase contact, Zazzle kicks the ass of VistaPrint.

Continue reading “Here’s Why Zazzle Bests Vistaprint” »

Quick printing service Zazzle has launched a new series of cards today that focus on the social networking craze that is upon us currently. The cards look like the popular social networks including LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace.

Card options are available in three sizes: skinny, chubby and traditional business and are available in a variety of finishes. Prices range from $7 for 20 cards to $20 for 100 business-size cards.

If you want to push one network, this is pretty cool as the cards look like the social network as they use the logo and style of the site you select. With most users on multiple networks, why not create a card that features all of the networks? And where’s the Twitter card?

Zwinky, part of NY-based IAC (Nasdaq:IACI), is announcing a new partnership today with Crunchy-award winner Zazzle to allow merchandise to be printed with the avatars people create on Zwinky.

The Zazzle Kiosk makes Zwinky one of the first virtual worlds to give users the opportunity to customize and purchase merchandise for the real world. All merchandise can be created and shipped to the user within 24 hours.

This is a sound business move for Zwinky as those who embrace their avatar would be the same crowd that would wear their avatar as a tshirt or drink a beverage from their avatar mug.

Recent winner of the Crunchy for Best Business Model, Zazzle has used some of that business model to acquire semi-competitor GoodStorm. The Zazzle blog offers some additional information on the deal. GoodStorm will become a Zazzle community focusing on non-profits and cause-related items. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Zazzle (and Goodstorm) offer billions of retail quality, one-of-a-kind products shipped within 24 hours. Under the terms of the deal, the GoodStorm brand will remain with its offering being integrated into Zazzle’s on-demand retail platform. The deal strengthens Zazzle’s position in the non-profit and cause marketing categories.

"The GoodStorm acquisition enables Zazzle to launch a true vertical dedicated to social causes and non-profit organizations. Their relationships and client roster brings an additional value-add to Zazzle’s already impressive line-up of non-profit partners," said James Heckman, chief strategy officer, Zazzle.

In other Zazzle news, they launched Zigg earlier this week. Zigg is a Digg-clone for the products in their system. It’s build on the coRank platform. If they were smart, the product in the first slot each day would receive a discount on any orders.