I ask because I was just in a convenience store…and the guy had those “lance Armstrong/Livestrong” bracelets in all manner of colors. Most go for $1.00-a few for more. Suppose i were to set up my own foundation (“Ralphstrong”) and market my own bracelets-could I do it?
It seems like a wide-open field!
There’s nothing stopping you from trying. If the name of your bracelets is confusingly similar to “livestrong,” you might face trademark issues.
Plus, nobody can guarantee that anyone will actually want to buy your bracelets.
Definitely. Most people buy a Livestrong bracelet (or a bracelet for whatever cause) because they (a) support that cause, (b) want to be seen as publicly supporting that cause by visibly wearing a bracelet, and / or (c) just like Lance Armstrong.
The heyday for those “cause bracelets” was probably four or five years ago; one could find them for any number of causes (I bought a red one for diabetes awareness). And, a ton of bracelets showed up which had no connection to any sort of charitable or non-profit cause, but simply denoted interest in something (my wife had a Chicago White Sox bracelet she’d wear).
If you look at manufacturers of promotional products, you’ll find dozens of options for those rubber bracelets. They’ll print however many you want, with whatever message you like.
As others have said, you need to pick a name that won’t be a trademark infringement.
Also, if you imply that your bracelet is for a charitable cause, you need to have done your legwork to comply with registration requirements at national and state levels. You can’t just snap your fingers and be a foundation. The requirement are not terribly challenging, but there are a lot of steps.
You will have to find a market and make sure you are in the clear with all legal and tax and business issues but other than that why not? Everyone and there mom makes them now. Even the yellow ones are not always livestrong
The real money is when you stick a pretty hologram on the bracelet, and call it all quantum and shit. Then you can charge $25 for an item you can produce for cents.
See Powerbalance
Si
What possible reason could you have that would give you the slightest doubt that you would be able to make and market plastic bracelets?
Or just never get caught at it.
As I recall, a lot of those ‘charity’ bracelets were counterfeit, with the money never actually getting to the charity. Often the business selling them didn’t even know this – they were being suckered, too.