This is a pretty good idea. IBM has a logo store here but AFAICT, they have absolutely no WCG merchandise.

Since this seems to be a subcontractor, the idea of insuring only people who deserved certain badges could get them seems unlikely but if the idea is to promote the site and the work of WCG, I don't see how that really matters.

IBM could contract with them to have badges/pins/stickers for the few active projects we have plus ones with the new WCG logo. People could then purchase them directly from the logo store.

I've investigated the cost of creating similar promotional items in the past and it's nominal. Plus pins and stickers are excellent conversation starters that give members the opportunity to talk about WCG with complete strangers.

I would also suggest that the store stock pamphlets describing very briefly the kind of work WCG does and had done in the past highlighting a few of its notable successes. Sell these at cost in bundles of 50 or 100. Then members that have access to business owners could petition them to put them on countertops and in displays, free for the taking. People who are really dedicated could just pass them out by posting them to school/work bulletin boards or passing them out on the street.

These are the types of out-of-the-box approaches that could actually make a difference and would have only a nominal cost for IBM.

The people who are that concerned with privacy I think are a very tiny minority. I'm one to some extent since I use a VPN whenever I connect to the internet and sometimes even use anonymous proxy servers on top of that.

The fact of the matter is that if a govt agency wants to find you, they will.

And when you're ordering from someplace like the IBM Logo Store, you're not giving them your WCG user id. For all they know, you just think the badges/stickers are pretty. So if you're really paranoid about being identified with WCG, all you need to do is ask someone else to order them for you. I do this for friends on Amazon who don't have Amazon Prime on occasion. And I've done it with other vendors as well. If Amazon ever tries to build a profile of me based on what I've ordered, they're going to have some serious problems.

No vendor cares who you are as long as they get paid.

I like the Idea of official promo materials in IBM store!
would like to get official promo materials in "local IBM store"...for me Croatia! And so on, for every country in which IBM has headquarters...so that I don't have to have too much expenses for customs & import to Croatia, EU...maybe a good way to start is one store in US, another in EU...and build it up from there? :D

Also, all money collected from the store items with WCG logo could got to WCG...that way many of us can support the WCG financially!
But also it comes to opportunity that some money can be spent on sending t-shirts to special participants (special milestones, etc.) - of course, those that don't mind getting their address to WCG...we are doing here a good CAUSE! And those that like anonymity, probably won't even talk to people & get the new badges for getting more participants! :D


Like the idea of official "promo stickers" which we can put on t-shirts & stuff...though it raises question with quality of t-shirts on which you print...so it might come back badly, if someone uses low quality merchandise!




like this idea also, about the diplomas...but several problems with diplomas:
1. they don't speak
2. they are on a wall in your room!
so only guests that come to you, can talk about that! And that is limited...

When you walk around the town in WCG shirt, someone will ask you about it!


But I like the idea, A LOT! :)

Merchandize, the thermo-coffee mug for in car, next stop refill at a roadside bar you got a good excuse to show the logo with www.wcgrid.org, not to speak of having this on your office desk. And since desks are mobile these days, showing it in many a place around the office building. I'd order one, a desktop reminder 'oh yes, keep on crunching!'.

Badges are for scouts, which is where you start seeding, the younger infected the better, and they have an android smartphone usually 9 out 10 to show their app around if asked about the badge.