Any entity that is going to challenge DAZ is going to have to be well-run and well-FUNDED. Even then, they are looking at best at capturing a portion of DAZ's market share. Over time, they could capture an increasingly bigger chunk, but only if they keep at it and keep getting it right. They're also going to have to make strategic decisisions, some of which might rub people the wrong way. What then? To join any kind of collective you must sacrifice some level of independence. I think Mariner hit the nail on the head.

Maybe what's needed isn't a artist's co-op, but a MARKETING co-op. (Seems to be what you are hinting at, davo.) Members would maintain their own product lines and websites, with the co-op focusing on attracting business for its members, and possibly offering services such as website setup help and payment transaction processing. Membership in the co-op could then be a fixed business expense instead of a percentage of profits.

As a requirement of membership, artists would be expected to participate in certain well-defined ways (submitting to a cutomer-complaints arbitration process, contributing promotional items, displaying co-op co-branding prominently on their website, etc.) The co-op would be motivated to attract more members, and less likely to fall into a closed circle of powerful insiders fighting out their personal ego-wars. (Yes, I know it's as hard to imagine such a thing happening in the Poser community as it is to imagine an artist with a big ego, but indulge me here ;-)

BTW - About TrueValue vs. Home Depot. Isn't that kind of like what we're talking about here? TrueValue hardware stores are locally owned, I believe, or at least franchises - but they get the marketing clout and brand recognition that comes with the nationally-advertised TrueValue name. It's at least possible that TrueValue kept Home Depot from wiping out the local hardware store in the way that Blockbuster wiped out the local video store.

• Jimdoria ~@>@

Message edited on: 02/09/2006 12:31

• Jimdoria  ~@>@