RedBubble

RedBubble Post Card - The roadmap

Hello all,

Thought you might be interested in a sneak preview of what’s in the RedBubble road map for the next two to eight weeks. And a caveat to start with – things change – so please don’t take this as a rock solid guarantee.

Groups

First up we’re looking to introduce an early version of ‘groups’ this Thursday. The group functionality will evolve a lot over the next six months – so what you’ll see on Thursday is just the first step. Our thinking on groups is that they will allow people to immerse themselves more fully in their areas of interest. For example, we could have a landscape photography group or a street photography group. At the moment RedBubble has 15,000 members – and it can be hard to engage with a collection of 15,000 people. Groups will allow us all to engage with smaller collections of people – with a shared interest.

T-shirts

On 4 October we’ll switch all our t-shirt manufacturing the US (using a technology that can print white inks). We’ll also be adding a new style and new colour. Again this isn’t the final destination for t-shirts … just another small step.

Tools for buyers

Over the next month or two we’ll update the site to make it easier for buyers to find what they are looking for. This has yet to be finalized but could include such things as a buyer path through the site and improved search functionality.

Tools for artists

Over the next month or two we’ll also look to provide artists with more tools to promote their work – widgets and fingers crossed a ‘private’ version of RedBubble: e.g. peter.redbubble.com which could serve as a ‘shop front’ for any traffic I’d like to direct to RedBubble (i.e. it wouldn’t include comments, it would only include my images and wouldn’t link to the rest of RedBubble).

Other new products and features

Gift certificates, an updated canvas product, larger wall art products, integrating payment into the website, and a few features to encourage people to use RedBubble for their best work (e.g. an updated upload process and the studio idea that we’ve previously written about here).

Competitions

A competition for writers and visual artists – our writers haven’t been feeling as much love over the last little while and we want to start addressing this.

And there’s probably a whole bunch of stuff I’ve forgotten about (and there’s a few things that we’re working on that are not quite ready to go in the road map) but this should give you a sense of what’s in the pipe works for the next couple of months.

- Peter

thickblackoutline, about 1 year ago

it all sounds superb!!
(psst, are you going to actually start doing postcards… i got excited)
;)
Jo O'Brien, about 1 year ago

I’m going to collapse with happiness
peter, about 1 year ago

They’re not very hard to do – it’s half a greeting card. The challenge for us is where does it fit relative to the other things on the list. It’s probably just a little further out at this stage … but if lots of people asked for it … we do listen ;)
Mel Brackstone, about 1 year ago

Sounds great!
Jessica Tremp, about 1 year ago

exciting times
kathleen, about 1 year ago

I cannot wait… love this evolution thing… it’s like riding a big wave… I guess.. I’ve never done that but it might be similar… eek!
Lachlan Kent, about 1 year ago

oooo…. this is so exciting!!! (I have the unfortunate predisposition to sounding like a girl in my writing when I’m excited)
Chris White, about 1 year ago

Bring it all on, sounds exciting!
rxaphotography, about 1 year ago

‘private’ version of RedBubble:

This sounds awesome. Can’t wait for it to happen.
Naomi Frost, about 1 year ago

How exciting. Can’t wait til Thursday….
Gary L. Suddath, about 1 year ago

sounds great
Disenchanted, about 1 year ago

BRING IT ON! You guys are doing a smashing job… =D
Steve Axford, about 1 year ago

Wow, like jumping into a volcano, I can’t wait. But seriously, moving forward is good – how about a Melbourne group – for those people who actually live in this city of ours, or able to get here?
Tiffany Dryburgh, about 1 year ago

All sounds fantastic!

There was some discussion – and some proposed designs – for business cards a while back. Are these still in the pipeline?
Melinda Kerr, about 1 year ago

private section-ripper
David Sundstrom, about 1 year ago

Great news guys!
Andrew Brown, about 1 year ago

Steve has a good point, groups based on a particular style of photography wont suit people like me who has no idea what their area of interest is or chooses not to specialise?
Darren Stones, about 1 year ago

Appreciate the update, Peter.

Can’t wait to see Melinda Kerr’s private section. :)
Elaine van Dyk, about 1 year ago

I think my work fits in the same category as Andrew Brown’s – I don’t specialise, I just go with the flow or whatever pushes my inspiration in one direction or the other. But I’m sure I’ll find a way to place my work somewhere.

Otherwise this all sounds very exciting. Just wish I understood all this widget stuff….....
webgrrl, about 1 year ago

ahhhhhh thats what the “G’ was for….... Groups..
and not gallery as most was thinkin..

Lookin forward to all the new bits.. BIG THANK YOU to RB Team as always, for doing such a good job of getting better each day :)

p/s i think RedBubble really need to look at overhauling the payment/sales section, to a more detailed info.. or/and.. a monthly statement, so when we doing our accounts, we have dates, product details, and what has been paid to artist and what hasnt, returns/refunds, cancelled orders, etc.. The current system is ok.. if you are selling just a few, but those selling regularly.. come tax time, its going to be inadequate
artstruggle, about 1 year ago

FAN**INGTASTIC!!!! the bigger, bolder and brassier the better!
David Librach ..., about 1 year ago

It’s like x-mas in September. :)
Evangeline Than, about 1 year ago

Thanks for listening to us – we know we’ve been whingey! :)
botanicfanatic, about 1 year ago

Thanks for letting us know this, Peter. It must be hard trying to keep 15,000 members happy! This list might put a few fears to rest :)
Gnangarra, about 1 year ago

Wonderful ideas, the personal front end sounds really interesting.

Postcards would be great, volume volume volume what a wonderful combination could really work with that, just think having tourist places buying 100’s of postcards at a time ordering thru your own front end

Not to mention all the framed stuff as well.

Bring ‘em on
Natalie Manuel, about 1 year ago

I can’t wait for the shopfront!
peter, about 1 year ago

Tiffany – Business cards are still in the pipeline – we’re having trouble finding a technology to cut them. Our cards are thicker than normal – which means that existing cutting technologies have a hard time.
Juilee Pryor, about 1 year ago

FANTASTIC idea with the groups. Can’t wait. Also if you are going to get the tee’s done in the US is there any chance of a heavier weight style? The current ones a tiny bit thin. And the sizes are slightly odd. The large womens is basically barely an australian size12. I’ve bought a few in various sizes and have settled on a mens medium which is what fits me best. And I’m not really all that large. Tall but not wide if you get my drift. Anyway thats my two bobs worth. except to say bring it on.! “)
Ruth Palmer, about 1 year ago

BRAVO! I’m totally impressed with the Red Bubble Team!
Martin Pot, about 1 year ago

Sounds like there’s some good stuff coming in the next few months!
Helen McLean, about 1 year ago

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
marieancolie, about 1 year ago

Sound as gifts and so exciting. So many new things and great ideas and realizations since I jioined you !

This is no exceptions and I say . Oh oui, très bonne idée :)

Merci !!!!!
Mike Emmett, about 1 year ago

All very exciting, but I’ll admit to getting very excited at the idea of postcards, as suggested by the title! I do an offset run of 500-1000 every now and then, and they go very quickly.
Dave Pearson, about 1 year ago

Regarding the “shop front” approach (which sounds excellent): will the actual image name portion of the URL of each image stay the same? The reason I ask is that on my main photography site I’ve already started linking to images for which prints are available on RedBubble and switching from http://www.redbubble.com/people/davepearson/art/195876-1-lights to something like http://davepearson.redbubble.com/art/195876-1-lights would be dead simple (just a change to a single line of code) if the name of the image (195876-1-lights in this case) stays the same.
Pilgrim, about 1 year ago

Dave. we are absolutely committed to not changing URLs. They must always, always, always link through. To change URLs is to kill your SEO activities.
freebornman, about 1 year ago

Sounds good to me guys…............
Cathie Tranent, about 1 year ago

Sounds great guys ….

I have no problems with the Tshirts coming direct from the US – I ordered a black and a white one a couple of weeks ago and the one which came from OS actually arrived in 6 days – the one from Victoria (next door) the following day!!

Roll on Thursday!! :)
Leia, about 1 year ago

Soooo looking forward to the girls tshirt styles, can’t wait to wear them in summer!
theurbannexus, about 1 year ago

I think it’s great how well you guys communicate with us here. The roadmap is exciting, and look forward to the evolution :)
Durotriges, about 1 year ago

Sounding good RB! :-D
Faizan Qureshi, about 1 year ago

Yay! Sounds great!
shanghaiwu, about 1 year ago

15,000 members/I am thrilled for you!
imageworld, about 1 year ago

it all sounds great, the ideas you are coming up with will make redbubble prosper, like the studio idea, will there be a critique forum coming along as well?, like the idea’s for improving the selling angle here that should work very well, bit worried about the upload process but then again that should inspire us bubblers to take even better shots, will ti effect the work we have allready uploaded? anyhow great to see you pushing bubble along in the right direction, well done
Tiffany Dryburgh, about 1 year ago

Thanks for the update, Peter. Looking forward to all the wonderful improvements and will sit tight for the business crads.
Dave Pearson, about 1 year ago

@Pilgrim: Thanks for confirming that. I assumed this would be the case (hence the fact that I’d already dropped a different online print sales company in favour of RedBubble (after only been here for a week too)) but thought it best to check in the light of this proposed new facility.

Can’t wait…
Benjamin Scheurer, about 1 year ago

fantastic….this looks very promising!
Meach, about 1 year ago

It wouldn’t be the first time that someones been personal about my front end.
Seriously it all sounds pretty damn cool – bring it on.
banditart, about 1 year ago

hey i really dig the idea about the groups good stuff fellas but rekon ya need to pull traffic in that isnt artists or photographers but dudes roamen the net wanting to spend buket loads of money on cool stuff on red bubble and it seems ya onto sumin like that to go hard fellas ya cant beat being busy hey
John Hurle, about 1 year ago

RB just gets better and better. Well done Bubble team. I particularly appreciate that you are so responsive to the wishes and ideas expressed by those that use RB.
Clare Bentham, about 1 year ago

sounds grreaaat
Nicole Chaffey, about 1 year ago

I like the idea of postcards that thickblackoutline suggested.. I’d be more prone to put my paintings up for sale in that format.. Art cards/avante-cards and the like seem really popular at the local art supplies place.. I know I’m an avid collector! :o)
RonniLeigh, about 1 year ago

I have butterflies in my stomach thinking about all the improvements. I do believe if the store fronts go stickly to viewing our work. The appearance will be so much more professional in the public’s eye. The seperations of groups is another awesome step.

I just hope in the end my art is exceptable to the Red Bubble comapny in the future.
Cathleen Taraw..., about 1 year ago

Yay, yay. Did I say Yay!
jumpy, about 1 year ago

redbubble is so hot right now, keep it up gang and tanks :D

whoooooooo
tambatoys, about 1 year ago

All sounds GREAT!!
Valli Boldini ..., about 1 year ago

All sounds brilliant to me! Look forward to the changes!
Christopher E..., about 1 year ago

sounds great!! on the personal site thing…just drop the /people/ my url for the site is www.redbubble.com/people/cewing…..just drop people…less typing for anyone we give the site addy , and they dont have to try to remember a long address?
if you work on the search engine , shouldnt really have to worry so much about grouping, grouping is a good thing..but it will be very tedious for you guys, and with all the other work you already have, we dont want you burnt out on new ideas for promoting :)
i think its great you guys do listen, and you do work on helping us out in selling our work..many many thanks for that
richiedean, about 1 year ago

More power to your elbow !
Vonnie Murfin, about 1 year ago

You are the greatest, Redbubble!!!! I am so glad I found your sites. This is a dream come true. Thank you!
dendoo, about 1 year ago

i am very excited about the changes as well. the private rb sounds wonderful, the groups features sounds wonderful…maybe i can actually find some more designers/illustrators on rb, the possibility of postcards sound so…wonderful. its just wonderful, good luck with the changes!
Paul Louis Vil..., about 1 year ago

Well done the Red Bubble gang!
Looking forward to seeing all the changes and upgrades!
Thanks for supporting us as Artists and allowing us to be ourselves with our own works.
Gregoryno6, about 1 year ago

Sounds like a great package of ideas.
Christina Martin, about 1 year ago

Sounds great
gromol, about 1 year ago

All sounds GREAT!

It’s always great when you share your plans with us. We have things to look forward to now! Thanks for sharing!
Stephen Colquitt, about 1 year ago

Love the sound of groupings and love the idea of limiting uploads to maintain quality. Looking forward to seeing all the new stuff, and thanks for the update guys
Belinda Leopold, about 1 year ago

Sounds bloody great! :)
SnowDog, about 1 year ago

Sounds great Peter. Looking forward to the Groups section.

Would also like to see postcards and business cards.

Thanks for keeping in touch with all of us , this is one of the big things that everyone I am sure likes.
Heather Rivet..., about 1 year ago

fantastic
bmthour, about 1 year ago

Sounds great, thanks for the update.
Barbara Gordon, about 1 year ago

Exciting!
gordontant, about 1 year ago

@ PETER

Business cards

I know with the Greetings Cards you use stunning quality card, my question is does it have to be as good for the greetings cards? can they not be used on half thickness?
with the thickness of the greetings card you wouldnt get many in your wallet!
nodakami, about 1 year ago

Thumbs up ! So many good surprises. Such e responsive team, you guys are great !
matjenkins, about 1 year ago

this site never ceases to amaze me:):):)
gimme an R gimme an E gimme a D…yeh you get the point
cant wait for all this to unravel
doing great guys!
Loredana Crupi, about 1 year ago

All sounds fantastic….can’t imagine what this place is going to look like in 12 months time!! Great stuff RB !!
Sharon Stafford, about 1 year ago

Woo Hoo! Can’t wait to see the group section. And looking forward to the possibility of postcards and business cards (can they be two-sided, pretty please??). Thanks for the updates!
Michelle Duerden, about 1 year ago

Love the idea of a shop front. So much better for Joe public to see our work & comments to be kept for our bubbling peers only.
CAN THIS SITE GET ANY BETTER!!!!
Rany Lutz, about 1 year ago

That all sounds good people!!!!!!!!!
Arienmir, about 1 year ago

Really great ideas, I love the way you´re improving and growing and I´m very happy to be part (I´m a little part I know) of this wonderful site.
Brenda Anderson, about 1 year ago

Thanks for the update. Can’t wait!
Anita Donohoe, about 1 year ago

Sounds like some exciting changes coming!
Thank you!
ECGardner, about 1 year ago

You’re doing an awesome job, RB. It will be fun to grow along with you!
lightsmith, about 1 year ago

gunna be a bundle of fun!
berndt2, about 1 year ago

Excellent- can’t wait to see!
Amanda Cole, about 1 year ago

Yahhhh more to play with!!
Dennis Klau, about 1 year ago

one more sleep
MSixty, about 1 year ago

Private version of Red Bubble would be brilliant so we can send people to a site where they can easily view/buy artwork!

This site will get alot busier for everyone…...
Bear, about 1 year ago

Can there be an increase in the range of sizes for T-Shirts?? I know it ain’t cool to be fat, oops, I mean “larger framed” but some of us were just not born with skinny genes (note: not jeans!!).
Dave Sandersfeld, about 1 year ago

Incredibly effective evolution of RB. Your team deserves a big hand and probably a vacation after this is all done.

I am grateful for the loose artist grouping. Historically, I am a out-in-the field nature photographer and I look forward to those other’s ‘Bubble” like me within easy clicking; but I also can find the other endless rooms where i can see what others do creating fractals and photoshop works too. Then I am incredibly impressed by your basic artists that need no photography to create amazing images! Thank You!
This 12 ring circus will be easy to navigate! I have been lost previously?
Victor(Vic) Be..., about 1 year ago

heh, nice !
more competitions for photographers please !
Markku Vitikainen, about 1 year ago

Looking forward to getting private shop front. Really great idea!