WildBlueSkies - Trends and strategies in Digital Media

Alootechie has a post on a new recently launched website Gnome.in

Mumbai-based start-up Fingerprints Fashions has launched the beta version of Gnome.in that aims to provide an online platform for designers and hobbyists to showcase their creativity, possibly win amongst a community of peers and have their products selling online as well as across stores.
Gnome.in has started off with designs for T-shirts and plans to gradually open up sections for other merchandise and products. The objective - create a community of design enthusiasts where members would pool in their creative works. The platform also facilitates a democratic voting process through which users can decide on the best designs every week.
Winning designs would be converted to the finished product which will be up for sale online at our website.

The model seems remarkably similar to Threadless, which is getting to be hugely successful. This also seems to be a growing trend for websites which now build communities with the objective of getting finished products which can then be sold.
Most of the examples of such sites that I know of, are built around creativity - take Our Stage for the instance where community members vote on the music uploaded by the artists. At the end of each month, the highest-ranking videos in each genre-based channel face off against one another, with the grand-prize winner taking home $5,000. Unsigned acts that receive plenty of votes can also win coverage on Paste and CMJ’s Web sites and opening slots at Soulive’s New Year’s Eve show and the Miami PLUG Awards.
Yet another indication of the world that the medium is helping us create - one where there is always a place for one to showcase their skills, and where passion would not go unnoticed.

Filed under: Business, Digital culture, Website Alert