Do you like toys?

- Sometimes.

What kind?

- Eye-hand coordination thingies that require a little thought or geometry or physics, but no algorithms and little memory, things that would be challenging and engaging if you were stoned. Frisbee would be a good example.

Why?

- I'm 44, but that's something like 66 in Frisbee years.

Are you a collector and if so, how invested are you in collecting toys?

- No & not at all.

What kind of toys do you collect, if yes to previous?

- I have a few discs.

Are you into the DIY, indy pop-art plush industry, which specializes in handcrafted, limited edition, high-end collectors items?

- Not so much the high end collectors items deal.

If yes, we should hang.

- We should.

Given the strangeness of our global economy, and the US' touchy relationship with China, do you prefer to spend less money on an over-seas-manufactured, mass market item at a non-locally-owned, chain retailer, rather than on a pricier item, hand made, fair trade, in the USA, either from the artist or at a locally owned specialty shop?

- That sounds like an algorithm.

If yes, why? What priorities drive your consumer choices?

- Is this about immigration law? I go for scorching guitar hooks and self-effacing humor.

If no, lemme pat you on the back and buy you a pint (and introduce you to my inventory).

- The third round is on me.

If you were to commission a hand-made, custom stuffed toy, what would you consider a fair price?

- Whatever an aspiring cloth artist eager to move his inventory without driving away potential buyers thought fit to charge, less about fifteen percent, probably.

If you were a venture capitalist, would you invest start up capital in a globally known talent with a HUGE underground following and customers spanning the free world even if his credit is in the toilet? Suppose he had a tidy business plan, experience in the industry, and ideas for improvement, expansion and growth.

- LOL at the thought of being a venture capitalist.

Do you like what you've seen on www.stupidcreatures.com?

- Immensely.

Can you give any suggestions, or a wish list, of how the site could run more smoothly and clearly?

- Add MIDI music.

What a great response, Jonathan, save the bit about "less fifteen percent." Much of what you responded with is precisely the kind of market research I seek.

Perhaps my pitfall is trying to cater to the masses instead of to the niche. The niche audience has everything I want in a customer base. I should stay out of suburbia, and anywhere else with a population whose dollars are best spent on non-luxury items.

Thanks for the response. Now go buy lots of my stuff.

Do you like toys?
I love toys, I think they are one of the most creative things there is and I am really into creativity

What kind?
Pretty much anything. I am a cartoonist and designer and so I really like things that are character driven.

Why?
I like to see what's coming out of other people's minds. I used to be an artist for a licensee of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and that pretty much got me hooked.

Are you a collector and if so, how invested are you in collecting toys?
No I'm not a collector, more of an afficianado.

What kind of toys do you collect, if yes to previous?
I will pick up some figures from time to time.

Are you into the DIY, indy pop-art plush industry, which specializes in handcrafted, limited edition, high-end collectors items?
I would love to get more into that style, but ideally I would rather design and let someone else actually make it.

If yes, we should hang.

Given the strangeness of our global economy, and the US' touchy relationship with China, do you prefer to spend less money on an over-seas-manufactured, mass market item at a non-locally-owned, chain retailer, rather than on a pricier item, hand made, fair trade, in the USA, either from the artist or at a locally owned specialty shop?
I'm not opposed to national stores, nor am I opposed to buying from the local merchant. I see it this way, what I buy feeds someone. I sometimes wonder if all we really accomplish by getting all fired up about fair trade, etc. if we're really not just taking food out of the mouths of the people we are trying to help. This is an area where I struggle and I'm not sure I'm right here just trying to weigh the options. Given the choice I love to buy things that were hand made fro the person who made them, especially if I can talk to the person.

If yes, why? What priorities drive your consumer choices?
What priorities? I'm assuming that you mean of buying from the chain over the individual. If I am reading that right, price is the key component. The fact of the matter is I am an artist and a small church pastor. God has always provided for all my needs, but excess money is not all that available. I love to go to craft shows and when I am at a craft show I will not buy anything that was not hand made by the person selling it.

If no, lemme pat you on the back and buy you a pint (and introduce you to my inventory).

If you were to commission a hand-made, custom stuffed toy, what would you consider a fair price?
I have no idea. Commissioning is not in the cards right now. I have a high value on hand made stuff and the work of artists, but my wallet isn't necessarily able to bear that out.

If you were a venture capitalist, would you invest start up capital in a globally known talent with a HUGE underground following and customers spanning the free world even if his credit is in the toilet? Suppose he had a tidy business plan, experience in the industry, and ideas for improvement, expansion and growth.
Not even close to being a venture capitalist as a matter of fact I'd love to meet some of those folks too.

Do you like what you've seen on www.stupidcreatures.com?
Yeah the characters are very cool and creative. You might like what you see on my site as well http://www.newcreaturez.com Have no fear they're not toys just cartoons. (Unless you'd like to make some of them into toys, in which case drop me a line and we'll talk, lol)

Can you give any suggestions, or a wish list, of how the site could run more smoothly and clearly?
I think it's a pretty nice site keep up the good work.