New Company Launches Website Featuring Ongoing Web-Based Christian T-Shirt Design Contests

Market Wire, December, 2007

Can U Believe It? (CUBI) ( www.canubelieveit.com ) has found a niche in the Christian t-shirt market. CUBI is an online showcase for graphic artists to submit their ideas for t-shirts, and have them rated by CUBI's global social community. The community votes, comments, and helps decide which designs are "gotta have its." Winning graphics are printed on t-shirts for limited runs for purchase. Winning designers receive $1000 in prize money.

CUBI owners Wayne and Barb Harms were looking for a way to appeal to the entire Christian apparel market; they wanted unique, quality shirts with designs that people would be excited to buy and wear. Allowing full participation from the worldwide marketplace was a clear solution.

The Harms' ultimate passion is to fund grassroot Christian charities from their t-shirt sales. Their interest is in non-profit organizations getting little attention but making an impact. Every three months, a t-shirt graphic design contest is held to benefit a specific charity with 100% of the profits from the winning design. CUBI welcomes suggestions for charities needing support.

With over 30 years of experience as a graphic designer, Wayne Harms is a natural fit for this endeavor. His expertise provides the backbone and oversight to designers submitting work. Barb Harms, previously an entrepreneur in real estate investment, desired to make a larger impact in the youth evangelical movement. As non-traditional Christians, they have geared CUBI to appeal to young adults, primarily 18-34. The Harms' vision is for the CUBI community to help take the Word of God around the world "one t-shirt at a time."

CUBI expects participants to "have a ball" with their interactive website. Aside from voting and commenting on artwork submissions, those with design ideas, but no graphic art experience, are able to collaborate with a designer to produce a submission.

A "soon to be released" feature of the CUBI site is "Design Online." This is a state-of-the-art program. Members can design Christian t-shirts to be entered into contests, or they can design them for personal use for themselves or a group. CUBI will print personal shirts as orders are received. The "Design Online" feature is user-friendly whether or not they have graphic art experience.

Contests run continually, with a new one starting every few weeks. Submissions are always being accepted.

For more information, log onto www.canubelieveit.com

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Contact: Bernie Smith Email Contact