Shares in Wincustomize?

raising needed revenue

Friday, July 22, 2005 by starkers | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk

Dunno about the legalities or if anyone has thought of it before, but how about if subscribers could buy shares in WC? However, if it is stipulated that such shares have no cash return, perhaps things would be simplified in legal terms.

Standard subscription = status remains the same.

Subscription + shares = premium skins to the shareholder?

Each share costs $2 to $5 (say), and 1 share = 1 premium skin?

Or perhaps a group of shares could entitle the holder to items of software?

It's just an idea and may be elaborated or expaned upon, but it seems like a fair way to raise site revenues and also provide more cost effective premium skins and etc to shareholder-subscribers.

Comments please....help WC to help us
BX
Reply #1 Friday, July 22, 2005 6:55 AM
Fairly good idea ..
but I think there should be some "Power Shares" as well
Jafo
Reply #2 Friday, July 22, 2005 8:20 AM

Wincustomize.com is owned and run by a private company which itself is not 'publicly floated' so 'shares' would not be an option.

For Wincustomize to become an entity for public investment it would necessarily be listed on the stock exchange [in this case Wall Street].  To do so would open up all sorts of 'issues', most of which would render the proposition untenable...

starkers
Reply #3 Friday, July 22, 2005 10:25 AM
Thanks for that, Jafo....I was wondering about that aspect. Obviously, naming them 'shares' would unnecessarily complicate matters

However, perhaps the concept could still work if the said 'shares' were made available only to subscribers, aternatively named and never made redeemable for cash returns. Having clearly stipulated this, surely it would remain an internal affair, subscribers supporting their own community, and a public float isn't required.

For example: subscribers could have the option to purchase as many additional $2 to $5 units as they like, call them bonus subs, for argument sake, and each represents a premium product, or they could be bundled to obtain software items.

Yeah, the concept needs consideration, but I feel it has potential with the correct formulation and wording
danamooch
Reply #4 Friday, July 22, 2005 11:04 AM
well dammit, if it ever does trade, I'm in the IPO, and I want warrants and options
SATYROBE
Reply #5 Friday, July 22, 2005 12:38 PM
Like idea, german law makes it too expensive to come true, but selling premium pro-
ducts separately is what you are basically suggesting now, starkers, even if you
call em stubs, which is VERY GOOD! We need more premium products less boring. Period
If you submitted those, you should get some of the profit. Everybody earns more!
starkers
Reply #6 Saturday, July 23, 2005 12:56 AM
Satyrobe.. the idea's not so much about profit but the community as a whole supporting WC....that's the hope, anyway. If skinners were to donate premium skins to the cause, in the community spirit, to help keep WC viable, everybody wins.

"We need more premium products less boring". With so many quality skins that are not premium, that is far from the truth and not complimentary to all the skinners who freely share their works here.

Anyway, that was off topic. The thing is, having some credit points in the bank (so to speak) would be convenient to subscribers who want new premium skins and can just download them without the bother of regular or frequent credit card transactions and the like....the one-time subscription covers all.

Perhaps, given the site is experiencing some teething problems since the move, another difficulty could arise in resetting the controls to recognise the plus-subscribers and initiate the premium downloads without further charge. Although possible at some stage, it would be a major undertaking at this time.

And here was I, thinking that I'd found a way to help raise funds, when in fact, it seems I've just found a way to complicate technical matters further at this time

Oh well, back to the drawing board if it can't work.

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